Since we are discussing our favorites ,I have to say ,Deans story on the American Woodcock was a treat to read ! The Timberdoodle is my favorite hunt ,when my Old Brit ,Chip was alive and well he could wind Woodcock at 40 yards if the conditions were right , haven't stopped thinking about my Old Buddy since reading the story ! Very Nice Dean ! We have some really good cover for Woodcock and there were many days when the flights were moving I would have a few dozen nice solid points in a morning's hunt ! Like yourself Dean ,for many years I have had a self imposed limit on the "Little Fellow " of around a Dozen to 15 Birds a season ,just enough to enjoy getting out for them and heat up the Barrels on the 410,and a few batches of my Woodcock Pate' !

Thanks Russ. Sometimes I wish we could hunt woodcock like we fish for trout... catch and release.

It was a good article and also a good picture of Dean's woodcock gun. Is that the 16 gauge lifter that was for sale at one of the southerns a few years ago? Nice gun

I thought that's what non-toxic shot was for?

That's the one Mills. The only change is Geoffroy's trademark woodcock.

I figured that was Geoffrey's work. Nice touch

Always Dean ,That's the same way in Archery ,You wait for that big Buck and wait and wait and........... you get the idea ,then when You finally have him in hand it always makes you sad !

It's funny, when Rich and I hunted with Dave Miles years ago, we always shot woodcock because Dave loved eating them. Now that Dave no longer hunts, both of us still hunt them and let the dogs have all that fun, but when the bird goes up, we just throw the gun up and "say" bang. It's different but we both feel if your not going to eat them then don't shoot them.

The older I get, the more I follow this rule. And respect the lives of more and more animals. I never did like the taste of most waterfowl. Or woodcock. Ruffed grouse are different. And if I happen to hit one, I use if for the table.

Otherwise, I end up saying "bang" a lot. At least figuratively.

Oh, don't misunderstand.... I LOVE to eat woodcock cooked the same as tuna, and venison tenderloin - seared on the outside and just about raw on the inside... Fabulous eating!