Woodcock flights

[OH Osthaus]

Originally Posted by Kevin McCormack

Of all the upland birds, I rank them most effectively hunted with a dog; walking them up without one is great fun and exciting, but like grouse, many times they will let you walk right past them a few yards before flushing. A decent bird dog nails them in place and they hold very tight till the last second before taking wing.

may I add that recovering shot birds is exponentially better with a dog. Dead woodcock are often quite difficult to spot on the leaf covered ground

And I cannot count the birds I have shot at and KNEW that I missed, that one of my dogs has then picked up and brought in