On our shoot near Forfar today, we counted 20+ woodcock, stunning bird.
That fills me with hope for my expedition to Sussex on Staurday! There were none a fortnight ago.Saw 2 at our small wooded shoot in East Sussex this past Saturday
they make supper the same night ,or better cold roast the next day ,i never hang woodcock, ducks or snipe,How long do you hang them?
On Arran, they are as common as our house sparrows.
They don't need any hanging, I eat them right away. They're a perfect, delicious one-person meal. I just season them, spread some butter on them, roast on a high temperature for 20m, then leave them to rest for 15 before serving. If you like, you can leave the guts in and spoon them into a pan where you mash them into a sort of paté with cream, red wine and a splash of Calvados. They essentially crap themselves on take-off so it's fine, but not everyone's thing.
Put up several this morning, very strange time for them to be laying around open ditches. Is it?