Grouse and Woodcock in Missouri

[northern cajun]

SD, all of what you said makes sense as far as migration and feeding. Maybe I should head to MO next spring with my pups.

You should head to South Louisiana in the winter time. Its the bomb!!

December 19- January 31 best woodcock hunting in the world.

[SpringerDude]

Went out today anticipating a good flight from the North wind last night. Less birds today than what we had on Saturday.
Still moved 4 birds and got 3 in 15 min. Then wandered around for a while longer checking spots to see where the birds might be.
I am hoping they will be more coming in during the next couple of nights.

[Stoneface]

I've gone out specifically looking for Woodcock for the first time this year. I just feel lost when I've gone out after them. I mean, I find myself wanting to hunt quail cover because it feels unnatural and I have no idea where to look in the first place. When I went the day before Halloween I tried to hunt under the trees and in some thick stuff, but I found myself so thick into thorns that I couldn't hardly move! Took me about an hour to move a half hour. I just went home.

[SpringerDude]

I do give some blood when hunting them but you shouldn't be in the cover so thick you can't walk. That is where the dog should be. I have shot several limits this year at Bois Darc. Shot birds at Talbot and other public places. After this afternoon's hunt, I have had 134 bird/dog contacts and seen over 90 woodcock. Bagged a bunch of birds even at 3 bird per day limit. Ton's of them moving through the Ozarks. But then again, there are ton's of quail at Bois D'arc and Talbot to chase around as well.

[MO_GSP]

Kicked up a woodcock this weekend was on the edge of a wood lot near a pasture and bean field about mid morning

[northern cajun]

I've gone out specifically looking for Woodcock for the first time this year. I just feel lost when I've gone out after them. I mean, I find myself wanting to hunt quail cover because it feels unnatural and I have no idea where to look in the first place. When I went the day before Halloween I tried to hunt under the trees and in some thick stuff, but I found myself so thick into thorns that I couldn't hardly move! Took me about an hour to move a half hour. I just went home.

I dress for war!

Where we hunt if you don't have tough brush clothing you will bleed from many parts of your body. Then other days the hunting is easy.

If the dog is in the thick stuff someone has to flush em.

[Stoneface]

I know it, man, but it doesn't cost anything to bleed and those upland clothes are pricey. I just, in September, bought my first pair of boots. Paid $200 for them. I'm still choking on that one and only bought them because if they ever wear out I can return them and LL Bean will replace them for their entire lifetime. They keep me dry, but not very warm. In the past I've just brought several pairs of old shoes and socks. Haha. Get home, let them dry out for a couple days then hit the field again. I think maybe I need to just pony up and fork out the cash.

[SpringerDude]

If the dog is in the thick stuff someone has to flush em.

That is the advantage of hunting with a flushing spaniel. They do the work and you shoot over the top of the cover instead of having to wade in. ; )

[northern cajun]

http://www.fws.gov/migratorybirds/NewRe ... 202012.pdf

The latest and greatest.

[Mountaineer]

Woodcock are a tough bird to evaluate with route surveys only as good as the route and the surveyor.
Be nice to see more than a leveling or NS trend tho.
U.P. birds were up a good deal this season but the migratory nature says timing plays into that notice.
Sandy no doubt influenced the east coast woodcock.
Hopefully, the Feds get it all correct.
I would think they are fairly close.
Hope also that everyone participates in the wing survey and Wingbees.....and uses judgement when hunting the little bogsuckers.
The bottom of a funnel is a poor window for evaluation.

[SpringerDude]

Woodcock are still in Missouri. Hunted for a couple hours this evening and moved 11 birds and had approx 16 flushes. Really a nice evening. Got to meet Stoneface and had a nice hunt.

[Stoneface]

Had a blast, man. Beat the heck out of quail. Just wish my dogs would have known what the heck we were after so they would have gotten a few points.

[SpringerDude]

Seen it happen before. They will get the hang of it when you can get them into birds again. The Spring Migration is a great time to put a dog into a ton of birds. Gives you something to dream of during the winter time.