Woodcock?

[Smellydog]

Seen more than usual already this year on my ground. They're safe here, as I'd never contemplate shooting one. In fact, one of the nicest things about having acquired the freehold sporting rights to the land that I farm is that now no-one else can shoot the woodcock either!

I don't mind a couple to a muzzloader if their numbers are good. Then I also eat them so...

Seen some good things with the little mites.
Like the time one would fight others away from its patch of running water during a frozen snowfall.
Then there was the one escaping a persistent sparrow hawk, both instances right in front of me.
Never a dull moment outdoors.

 

[Smellydog]

I personally would not judge anyone's choice of taking them or not, just as long as they are used of course.

 

[75]

Quite a few around Derbyshire now - I think there was a fall of them about 2 weeks back when we had some easterlies and clear skies as I flushed about 6 one morning when I'd seen none for months. Had one fly past my highseat in the gloam this morning at a range of about 4 feet.

 

[Foxyboy43]

I don't mind a couple to a muzzloader if their numbers are good. Then I also eat them so...

Seen some good things with the little mites.
Like the time one would fight others away from its patch of running water during a frozen snowfall.
Then there was the one escaping a persistent sparrow hawk, both instances right in front of me.
Never a dull moment outdoors.

Indeed good moments with these fascinating birds SD.
My first encounter with a borrowed Axion thermal was spotting a feeding woodcock which when I walked into it took off at great speed - the “highlight” was the two foot “hot” rod emanating from it’s rear end - in the thermal picture it looked like a woodcock on a stick!

 

[olliehopes]

I personally would not judge anyone's choice of taking them or not, just as long as they are used of course.

I had a pair ( not a left and right, unfortunately) on the last drive of the last day of the season on a syndicate I was on a good few years ago. There was plenty about at the time and thought, why the hell not!

Saved them in the freezer until the following Christmas and made a game terrine with them, along with many other tasty bits of game I'd harvested throughout the year!

 

[Rake Aboot]

Putting them up in every wood I’m beating through for the last couple of weeks now
Scottish Borders.

 

[jall55]

I personally would not judge anyone's choice of taking them or not, just as long as they are used of course.

Totally agree SD
I just get more pleasure watching them now than i do shooting them - and i have shot quite a few - same with snipe really

When we shot one or even half a dozen they all felt special as you hunted for the pin feather and then wore that with pride

As i say though no more - i watched about 10 go past me on a shoot Monday and me and my mate waved our caps at them in comical fashion - as we shouted WOODCOCK WOODCOCK LEAVE THE WOODCOCK !

 

[willie_gunn]

Came across two by using the thermal when stalking last Sunday - the first I'd seen this year.

Then yesterday there were two put over the guns on our shoot. No-one raised a gun to them.

 

[old keeper]

Like others, on our shoot they are only shot by those who want to eat them.

Very many years ago when I was still quite young I was lucky enough to have a right and left at Woodcock in front of witnesses. In those days you became a member of "The Bols Snippen Club" and got a little silver two feather badge badge. Sadly, somewhere along the way I lost it. Happy memories though!

 

[User00053]

Just a thought have fifty or so pinion feathers which I collected over time if any use to someone?

 

[willie_gunn]

Like others, on our shoot they are only shot by those who want to eat them.

Very many years ago when I was still quite young I was lucky enough to have a right and left at Woodcock in front of witnesses. In those days you became a member of "The Bols Snippen Club" and got a little silver two feather badge badge. Sadly, somewhere along the way I lost it. Happy memories though!

You can still buy a replica, if you're feeling flush!

Bols Snippen Club Right and Left Badges - Fine Shooting Accessories

It is many years since Bols gave out a bottle of apricot brandy, a tie and a silver badge for that most select band of shooters; those who have shot the witnessed right and left at woodcock. However we have a replica and also our own design (BWC - British Woodcock Club) that is similar but with...

fineshootingaccessories.com

 

[Foxyboy43]

You can still buy a replica, if you're feeling flush!

Bols Snippen Club Right and Left Badges - Fine Shooting Accessories

It is many years since Bols gave out a bottle of apricot brandy, a tie and a silver badge for that most select band of shooters; those who have shot the witnessed right and left at woodcock. However we have a replica and also our own design (BWC - British Woodcock Club) that is similar but with...

fineshootingaccessories.com

See what you did there - very good!

 

[willie_gunn]

Just a thought have fifty or so pinion feathers which I collected over time if any use to someone?

Now Colin Woolf says he's no longer going to do any more paintings using woodcock pin feathers, they are probably useful for decoration only.



You can buy brooches that let you display half a dozen pin feathers at a time, though again a limited market I'd imagine:

 

[Pine Marten]

I did this with the ones I saved from when I was in the KWCA and they had the roughshooting leases of a couple of woods. First use I'd made of my flytying kit for years.

 

[Foxyboy43]

I did this with the ones I saved from when I was in the KWCA and they had the roughshooting leases of a couple of woods. First use I'd made of my flytying kit for years.

View attachment 339452

What a super idea and a lovely memento. I just wish I had known this before I stopped shooting them 25 years ago.

 

[Pine Marten]

What a super idea and a lovely memento. I just wish I had known this before I stopped shooting them 25 years ago.

Thanks! I've only shot two since and lost one of the damned feathers so I'm quite some way from the sequel. That said I'm far from done with this season!

 

[stavross]

I've not seen many so far.
How many are you seeing? Anyone?
@stavross @jall55

We’re starting to see good numbers now, we pushed about 10 out of one small drive on Saturday and throughout the day we would of seen around 40, most people on the shoot won’t lift their gun to them and those that did missed, if they can’t hit a flying chicken then there’s not much chance of hitting a woodcock, a very fast bird that can test the best

 

[old keeper]

You can still buy a replica, if you're feeling flush!

Bols Snippen Club Right and Left Badges - Fine Shooting Accessories

It is many years since Bols gave out a bottle of apricot brandy, a tie and a silver badge for that most select band of shooters; those who have shot the witnessed right and left at woodcock. However we have a replica and also our own design (BWC - British Woodcock Club) that is similar but with...

fineshootingaccessories.com

That's the one, Willie!

Not the same though as it would seem anyone can get one!

 

[bogtrotter]

Lifted close to a hundred today.

 

[Ste eibar]

Saw four on the syndicate shoot last Saturday. West Scotland..