Woodcock

[limulus]

Jap x Michigan greens are pheasants particularly suitable for flat land as they are much lighter than than the traditional english ringnecks which tend not to fly to well around here.
I use 1/2 and 3/4 choke for pretty much all my shooting now except early season partridge were I open them up to 1/4 and 1/4
Although we have flat land we also have some decent woods too which have the woodcock in. They also seem to take residence at every lone tree or small spinney on the estate.
When the conditions are right and we are 'on the woodcock' we can expect to shoot well into double figures on a driven day.
Partidge are redlegged partridge (you get fined for shooting a grey partridge around here!)
Not sure about black grouse never having been rich enough to even have a go at red grouse.

Tony

 

[jigga]

black grouse are off the list for now,

 

[gitano]

black grouse are off the list for now,

Everywhere in the UK?

Paul

 

[trouble]

its legal to shoot black game but most estates opperate a self imposed ban and heavey fines because populations are at a low level

 

[gitano]

That's too bad. They're such a gorgeous bird.

Paul

 

[mudman]

Jap x Michigan greens

Japanese Green X Michigan Blue Back ?

Two smaller varieties of pheasant which are both noted for flying high on flat ground, as a pure strain Michigan blue backs were also noted for there ability to wander far and wide, very pretty birds though. I guess one of the reason they are crossed is to produce a bird which is more likely to remain on the release ground whilst keeping the flying abilities of the Michigan.

 

[Brianm]

I have been told that there is a total ban on woodcock shooting on FC land.

Is this true ??


Brianm

 

[dryan]

Saw a lot last year, not seen any this year, hopefully they'll fly in soon, beautiful birds!

 

[countrryboy]

Gitano u can shoot black grouse on some estates, in some areas there can be quite high numbers locally if the habitat and keepering is good. Althou i'd imagine very few if any will advetise it, it would also be a very small day bag wise

 

[jimbo123p]

Total ban on woodcock in Scotland and that is likely to remain as this new coldsnap bites. Same ban as wildfowl including raised mallard, Jim

 

[bambislayer]

black grouse are off the list for now,

Black Grouse season ends 10th of December, so wouldn't be getting shot

 

[gitano]

Thanks, All.

it would also be a very small day bag wise

That's SOP here for most game both big and small. Although in some of the remote areas the daily bag on ptarmigan is 10/day.

I would actually pursue black grouse as a 'trophy', as I would like to have a male/female pair for the taxidermist. In fact, I would purchase birds for that purpose. By that I mean that if some estate was raising black grouse for release or rehabilitation on their estate, I would be willing to simply buy a pair to send to the taxidermist.

Regards,
Paul

 

[243varmint]

Was out stalking last Sunday. Stalked down a hedge line, pheasants in the hedge, just before the wood. stopped due to a flush of pheasants, looked down to the butt of the hedge and there was a woodcock looking straight back at me. He was no furher away than my sticks!!!!!!!!

I now a bloke who's cousin used to work on the boats crossing the North Sea. In winter if the weather was bad the Woodcock used to to 'hitch' a rid on the railings around the boat.
Since seeing this he could no longer bring himself to shoot them.

Jonathon

 

[RED-DOT]

I was working on a drilling rig off Holland in 1980 and the morning shift filled 3 full size skips with dead starlings that froze to death overnight on the handrails.

 

[countrryboy]

Paul

i meant to reply earlier, U should mibee start a thread around next August time(Season starts 20th for black game) and see if anyone on here could suplly u with a brace. There is 1 large driven moor i beat on they do occasionally get shot, by accident i should add, not sure wot the fine is but would imagine the people who can afford £150+ a brace and shooting 100's of brace days they won't be worried about it.
There are another 2 local smaller moors with good local stocks who do a lot of management for them; but they don't shoot them and are invite only so usually more experienced guns and they are left well alone.

Was jist wondering how would u import a brace to the US if someone got them for u. Can u jist send the freshly frozen birds as a package or would the skins have to be treated/cured or bird stuffed before they send them.
Are the US strict on importing things like dead or stuffed animals

all the best cb

 

[gitano]

Thanks for the info, countrryboy. Your suggestion about timing is a good one.

As for importing: I have to check to see of black grouse are on the CITES list. If they are, then importation takes on some extra paper-work. If they aren't, then the best way would simply be to skin the bird, pack on some Borax, and ship wrapped in paper. I'm sure a taxidermist there could prepare a skin for transport for not too much cash. I'm going to check on the CITES listing. If it isn't on CITES then I'll see about contacting a taxidermist or two before next August.

Thanks,
Paul

cb - I checked, and black grouse (Tetrao tetrix) are not on the CITES list. I'm amazed, frankly. Therefore, I will contact a couple of taxidermists and see if I can't get something set up with them before I get too far down the road on getting a skin or two.

Thanks,
Paul

 

[swatty]

there seems to be a few around for the last two years we shot 29 last weekend one wood produced around 50 woodcock for only 2 shot so we saw many more than we bagged they were all in top condition considering the bad weather

 

[countrryboy]

Nae bother paul.

I do a few days on various grouse moors but could not guarantee blackgame in the bag, also i doubt my skinning ability would make life very hard for u.
I would be surprised if someone on here can not hook u up with some/or someone. Althou a lot depends on the late spring early summer weather for there breeding/fledgeing success, there generally fairly fragile populations years off good progress and hard work can be wiped out by a couple of wet breeding seasons.

all the best cb

 

[gitano]

years off good progress and hard work can be wiped out by a couple of wet breeding seasons.

Indeed. That's a problem for all the 'grouse' it seems. We have that problem with ruffed grouse (Bonasa umbellus) and sharp-tails (Tympanuchus phasianellus) Cold, wet Springs 'hammer' 'em.

Thanks,
Paul

 

[Cut+Squirt]

Hell of a woodcock about this year.............prob the hard winter in Scandnavia.