Woodcock?

[TylerS]

I've never had the chance to shoot a timberdoodle, but I'd love to try. I think in all my years of hunting ruffs, I've flushed a woodcock only once, and it took me by such surprise I never fired a shot.

I imagine grouse and woodcock habitat overlaps quite a bit, but are there some places where woodcock are more abundant, or that would be better to up the odds? I've heard they like the damper areas, so would creeks or pond edges be places to start?

Besides having never harvested one before, the real reason I want to hunt doodles is so my dog gets the chance to find a bird that holds tight. When Remy is healed up, I think a hunt for woodcock and ruffs would be just what the doctor order to get him back into hunting mode.

[Jarrid Houston]

Right on, seach the damper areas of semi-swampish. They will hang out in some similar spots as ruffies, but you have to be on your game to shoot these fast guys. Super hard. Think I have only got like 3-4 the last 5 years of grouse hunting, but thats up north by Bemidji. Gd luck.

[srfishin15]

I took my first and only woodcock last year, after multiple shots Dang things are hard to hit! It flushed out of a small grove of trees next to a swamp pheasant hunting. We've flushed a couple others different times but they always seem to be near swampy areas. I've never hunted specifcally for them thats just what I've experienced pheasant hunting.

[TRZ II]

They make for great sport. Shoot many a year, I could shoot a limit nearly every weekend if I wanted too. My area near Moose lake is full of them even now, I saw several last weekend. THey love water and will be around puddles heavy in the evening. Not much meat on them and not especially taste, pretty bland. They fly really fast and are good sport. Find water and you will find cock. I personally don't shoot many anymore not worth cleaning.

[Jarrid Houston]

Thats the way I see it too. Its like keeping a small perch, when one should be getting walleye. Pretty bland taste, and not much meat, but FUN to shoot.

[life=outdoors92]

a good place to start is near a creek. find a spot where elders border it along with aspen and walk slow. also when walking aspen stands, concentrate on sunny hills and low spots where maybe the trees give way to a little grassy cover swamp area. they love transition spots such as wet aspen/elders, swamp/elders/aspen and creek/swampy woody borders. also, the trick to hitting them is right away. more often than not, they jump strait up when the flush and thatss when u need to hit em otherwise, as everyone has stated, its gets darn near impossible to hit. good luck this season! and don't be surprised if your dog doesn't pick them up, i have seen many a dog simply pick one up, drop it, and sit by it and wait for you to pick it up.

[TRZ II]

I'd keep small perch before woodcock at least they taste good! I'm sure I will see at least 10 driving into my cabin tonight after this rain, they love puddles in the road.

[TylerS]

Thanks for all the advice! After reading what to look for, I definitely know a few "wood-cocky" areas to try. Can't wait!

[DanH]

Woodcock also have an interesting song.

http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/American_Woodcock/sounds

[Steve Foss]

Only a small percentage of the woodcock out there will get up without a dog to flush them. Their instinct is to sit tight and still and let their camo do the work. There are WAY more woodcock in the Minnesota northwoods than most folks think.

Earthworms are their main diet, and you've already gotten really good advice on where to find them.

Most flushes in my part of the country are straight up to clear the tallish brushy environment they like (alder lowlands). If you're ready for that kind of flush, you often can pop them before they reach the top of their flush. Once they level off and head out of Dodge, they are really tough to hit.

edit: Ooops, didn't see that life=outdoors already covered the vertical flush!