South Carolina Woodcock - Page 2

Steve Hodges · 01-13-2021, 03:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mills Morrison

I am hoping to get in some woodcock hunting before the season goes out.

Mills, leave some to come back north so we can hunt them next fall

Woodcock survey · 01-13-2021, 04:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stephen Hodges

Mills, leave some to come back north so we can hunt them next fall

This thread got me to thinking and i realized that they are hunted from Sept in Canada, with a limit of 8 i think, until at least Jan. here. That seems like a lot of time. It did not matter when years back Evans said once they passed him no one bothered them. As they migrate they are subject to a 5 month season. Food for thought and i am not being critical of you southerners at all, just wish i was with you.

Harold Pickens · 01-13-2021, 05:40 PM

I've always thought that 8 bird limit a bit excssive, and figured they would drop it, but hasnt happened. I remember when we could shoot 5/day in Michigan, and we did, but we cut back on our own before they dropped the limit to 3. Only shot at 2 this year, and thought the one was a grouse going out off a spruce copse in the snow--of course I got that one.

Dean Romig · 01-13-2021, 05:48 PM

For a migrational bird that is incredibly excessive and should be reduced to 4 birds per day (8 possession) per state... and the season per state should be capped as well to 21 days/state.

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Mills · 01-13-2021, 08:29 PM

It is 3 a day in Georgia and that is fine with me.

Mills · 01-13-2021, 08:30 PM

Almost no one hunts them in Georgia. I think the total killed in the state is about 500 a year

Chris Pope · 01-14-2021, 09:53 AM

Great topic! I'm a recent transplant to SC from the northeast and grew up on woodcock and grouse (still spend the month of October up near the Canadian border and a couple weeks in SD every year since retired.) We have 2 bird dogs (and an old Parker) that would love to find a woodcock or two down here in SC but I am clueless as to what kind of cover to find woodcock here. We did hear the mating ritual in a half grown up and swampy woodlot late last winter...I assume the muck boots is a clue same as up north? Any guidance would be appreciated.
On a happy note we have found a couple wild quail on national forest WMA land but they are few and far between!