Woodcock

Padc

Anybody coming across many woodcock yet? Seem very scarce

shotie

have tryed alot good spots and havnt met any yet, had a few bagged this time last year and had met a good few, think weather has been very mild ,only last few days its getting cold, maybe next few days things will improve

allan450

very patch at the moment.The full moon always brings them in and the next moon after that.bramble still very green its sore on dogs.iv bust up a few dogs already.They will be getting rested for the week until they heel.

Tommyaya4

Got one opening day sure till have being a resident bird haven't even seen another since

useurowname

Met a right few the 1st nov but didn't shoot at any(don't shoot them until pheasants are wise) scarcer since bagged one Saturday, rose two more. I certainly would say they're far from scarce this year.

deeksofdoom

There's a full moon on the 25th of November, so they should be showing next weekend.......... fingers crossed!

Straffan1979

allan450 wrote: »

very patch at the moment.The full moon always brings them in and the next moon after that.bramble still very green its sore on dogs.iv bust up a few dogs already.They will be getting rested for the week until they heel.

+1 on the briars this year- look like theyre still growing in parts-a b*****d on man and dog - first real heavy frost tonight will knock back the growth

Snakezilla

Flushed 2 today , first ive seen this season. Didnt bother raising the gun to them.

Vegeta

Flushed 4 yesterday morning from the side of the road when heading deer stalking.

springer12

Met 2 on Sunday but didn't get a shot. Hopefully we might see a few next weekend with the full moon during the week.

allan450

A few came in last night by the looks of things today.

dodderangler

Seen 5 today didn't bother to shoot any cuz I wouldn't of returned any without having a dog with me. Cover was too thick

Padc

Wouldn't be seeing half as many this year as last year. Would the mild weather have an effect on them?

bizidea

Was out today in covers that would usually hold a lot of birds and only flushed 4 would have expected to see an awful lot more birds the covers are still very heavy especially the briars I'm wondering would the evergreen plantations be a better bet might be a lot drier definitely seems to be a lot less birds this year

Padc

We done 2 evergreen plantings today. Rose nothing in them. Rose 7 in small hedges but hunted alot of good ground for those 7.

Capercaillie

Padc wrote: »

Wouldn't be seeing half as many this year as last year. Would the mild weather have an effect on them?

Harsh weather on the Continent will drive birds further west. Very mild in Europe now.

Padc

Is it the harsh weather in the east that triggers the migration?

bizidea

The funny thing is a cover we done two weeks ago which would usually hold 4 or 5 birds had 20 - 25 birds in it but the covers that would hold the birds usually had feck all in them no one else is hunting these covers so it's kind of a strange year for us

Padc

bizidea wrote:

The funny thing is a cover we done two weeks ago which would usually hold 4 or 5 birds had 20 - 25 birds in it but the covers that would hold the birds usually had feck all in them no one else is hunting these covers so it's kind of a strange year for us

Last year from Dec on had no problem rising them(hitting different story:)). This year year is hard even rising a few but still great bird to hunt.

bizidea

Hitting them can be the problem al right lol

Padc

Recently changed from 7n halfs to 8s n there has been a difference

shotie

32g remington 8s best thing for them i find , but not seeing many of yet only 3 seen so far hunting alot ground

Padc

RC 8s I'm using

bizidea

Still finding them very hit and miss not finding birds where we usually would find them and a lot of birds in places we usually wouldn't see too many.I use 10s in the right barrel remmington if I can get them or else 9 or 8 in left barrel you really don't need much lead to bring woodcock down

allan450

put up between 30/40 birds today was some craic in that weather.i use the same combo.10s and 8s

bizidea

What kind of cover were you seeing them in Allan450 what part of the world you hunting in

allan450

mayo/sligo area all in the timber.mix of old and young scot pine.with heather on the ground.It was very dry no drip on the pine either.Their was an other fall of them on the last moon on xmas eve.

Padc

Mate of mine used an 8 and 71/2. Uses 3/â´ n full chokes. Hits 9 outta 10 on tat combo

bizidea

Around Galway roscommon border myself must try a couple of places like you're describing see how we get on they just don't seem to be holding in their usual places here. we try to hunt each cover here maybe 3 times max during the season twice in the season if we can at all so we don't put too much pressure on the birds

allan450

To wet in the bush.put the same number out today.In the same sort of terrain lovely to see them

strangles

A few of them around today,if the 20 bore had been aiming correctly id have had a couple of more

bizidea

How do you find the 20 bore for woodcock never fired one but could see the advantage when you're hunting all day it would be a lot lighter than a 12 do you still get the distance with the 20.do the cartridges have a lot less lead in them

allan450

bizidea wrote: »

How do you find the 20 bore for woodcock never fired one but could see the advantage when you're hunting all day it would be a lot lighter than a 12 do you still get the distance with the 20.do the cartridges have a lot less lead in them

Thats all i shoot with is a 20 bore.what people dont relies is you have MORE range with it.The barrels are tighter so its like having real tight chokes in a 12.il always have one anyway.

Dawggone

allan450 wrote: »

Thats all i shoot with is a 20 bore.what people dont relies is you have MORE range with it.The barrels are tighter so its like having real tight chokes in a 12.il always have one anyway.

I spent many years shooting woodcock with a buddy that had a 20 bore. He was lethal with it...he could bring them down at ranges that I couldn't with the 12 bore.

strangles

Ya love the 20 bore,ive a 12 bore semi auto & only time i use it anymore is if im goin after ducks. It took me a while to get into shooting with the 20 but wouldnt use anything else now

bizidea

Would have never have realised that I would have thought you would have a lot less range.would you have to be a much more accurate shot with a 20 getting it hard enough to hit them this year with the 12 lol

strangles

The 20 bore definetly throws a tighter patern. When it comes to range theres a lot of different opinions on distance but anything that falls for me is a bonus so im no expert on range,the only thing i can say is my gun (yildiz u&o)
seems to shoot more accurate with 25g cartridges than the heavier loads. I use Remmington shur shot 7s for snipe & woodcock.......

bizidea

Ya have me thinking now lol seen a lovely 20 berreta but passed by it straight away I am actually thinking of buying a gun for woodcock shooting only was thinking of a 26 inch 12 bore but maybe a 20 would be a better option any opinions

allan450

bizidea wrote: »

Ya have me thinking now lol seen a lovely 20 berreta but passed by it straight away I am actually thinking of buying a gun for woodcock shooting only was thinking of a 26 inch 12 bore but maybe a 20 would be a better option any opinions

Dont worry about 26 inch barrels or 30 inch what ever comes up nice for you.my 20 bore is 28 inch and the 12 bore is 30 inch.The lenght has and never will effect you dropping woodcock.i shoot 8/9/10 out of 20/12 bore nothing else for woodcock.I actually seen a french shell made purely for woodcock a 40 gram 8:eek:

strangles

.I actually seen a french shell made purely for woodcock a 40 gram 8:eek:[/QUOTE]

Ya A but i think theyve massive woodcock in France lol:cool:

Padc

Last weekend of it!

bizidea

It doesn't be long Goin around will be out tomorrow evening for a few hours and then all day Sunday until the dogs or myself can't hunt anymore have a feeling it will be my legs that pack up first.will be breeding my bitch for the first time this year with our best dog can't wait to see the results should be serious pups fingers crossed so that will keep the mind occupied for a while along with a good bit of vermin control