Woodcock - Where are they?

[andrew06]

I am planning on attempting to hunt woodcock with my GSP this fall. Where would be a place to look for them? I've heard alder thickets / swampy or marshy areas but not sure how good the people who said that actually know.... Has anyone hunted them? What kind of habitat would you look for them in?

[Huntmaster]

I've never hunted woodcock around here, but did do a couple hunts around Niagara & Welland area. We hunted swampy & heavy Brush areas near wetlands, they like the soft mud and cover. The hunt was only 20-30 min, as I remember. The birds fly just before dark. I went through a box of shells and never shot a one, they were the fastest side to side flying bird I've ever tried to hunt. Something like a whistler, but much, much, smaller. Had a blast though. I have seen them around the islands and back lakes here but never tried a hunt.

[Sharon]

I always find them along the river flats here in London.They always fly into the first open air over their head. Point your gun there. Don't track them with the gun, just point and shoot into the first open air spot. I haven't found a really tasty way to prepare them yet. They eat worms so to me they taste like worms. I feed them to my husband who thinks he's eating chicken. LOL

[Huntingonthebrain]

Tsk Tsk Sharon....such a mean trick. Don't worry I won't tell.... mmmmm wormy chicken

[Maverick]

We don't have a big resident population on our farm. We do have some near the creek that runs through it along the flat flood plain regions.
When the migrations starts though and they are down from further north. Well, the dogs and I are like kids in a candy store. We get a pretty good flight in most years, just have to time the migration right.

Mav.....