woodcock in ia?

Post Reply
redsetter18
Rank: Just A Pup
Posts: 7
Joined: Sun Oct 03, 2010 10:15 am
Location: sw ia

woodcock in ia?

Post by redsetter18 » Sun Oct 03, 2010 11:28 am

is there woodcock in iowa i know we have a season for them never seen one tho

Mountaineer
GDF Junkie
Posts: 1630
Joined: Tue Feb 16, 2010 7:23 pm
Location: State?...The one where ruffed grouse were.

Re: woodcock in ia?

Post by Mountaineer » Sun Oct 03, 2010 12:38 pm

Yes

redsetter18
Rank: Just A Pup
Posts: 7
Joined: Sun Oct 03, 2010 10:15 am
Location: sw ia

Re: woodcock in ia?

Post by redsetter18 » Sun Oct 03, 2010 7:21 pm

ok so how and where would i go about getting some shots off at them

User avatar
daniel77
Rank: Master Hunter
Posts: 247
Joined: Mon Dec 28, 2009 8:27 am
Location: Louisiana

Re: woodcock in ia?

Post by daniel77 » Sun Oct 03, 2010 7:37 pm

You generally find them in wetter areas where they can easily probe the soil for the earthworms that make up 90% of their diet. I seldom see them very far (miles) from water, or in real open areas. They don't have a problem being fairly near houses and towns, and may hang out in the scrub brush and thin tree lines just along a bayou or canal.
I'm a bit East of Iowa, and don't know that area very well, but if you are willing to drive a bit, the Atchafalaya flood plane, including Indian Bayou and Sherburne WMAs, is said to be some of the best woodcock hunting in the entire country. A lot of the Nat'l banding of woodcock actually occurs @ Sherburne WMA. We even have some guides from the great white North who come down here to guide for woodcock during the migration.
Do keep in mind that our season doesn't open till Dec. and the limit is only 3. You'd do best to find them with a dog, as they are very well camo'd (you generally only spot them by noticing their eye) and they will darn near let you step on them before they flush. Without the dog to find them, you may pass within a few feet of them and never know it. There are at least two other more experienced La Woodcock hunters on here who may add a lot more. Good luck.

*please disregard a bunch of what I just wrote regarding Louisiana. I mistook the IA for an LA, and there's a town called Iowa, La forty miles west of me. Sorry.
Two cannibals were eating a clown. One looks up at the other and says, "Does this taste funny to you?"

Mountaineer
GDF Junkie
Posts: 1630
Joined: Tue Feb 16, 2010 7:23 pm
Location: State?...The one where ruffed grouse were.

Re: woodcock in ia?

Post by Mountaineer » Sun Oct 03, 2010 8:46 pm

Best chance would be when some flights come thru.
The RGS website posts some ongoing flight info......FWTW.
Read up on woodcock flights and preferred cover.
Hunt that woodcock cover....a dog helps.
Woodcock will also be where you find them.

They are a, somewhat, difficult bird to determine population figures.
The end of any funnel is a tad concentrated.
Treat them respectfully and gently....the little bogsuckers are a special bird.

User avatar
twofeathers
Rank: Champion
Posts: 380
Joined: Mon Aug 24, 2009 2:05 am
Location: Eastern Iowa

Re: woodcock in ia?

Post by twofeathers » Sun Oct 03, 2010 11:01 pm

I've been hunting eastern Iowa for about 20yrs never seen one. Of course when I was younger I may not have known one if I had.

User avatar
56-26
Rank: Senior Hunter
Posts: 127
Joined: Wed Oct 08, 2008 11:07 am
Location: Iowa

Re: woodcock in ia?

Post by 56-26 » Tue Oct 05, 2010 3:30 pm

Seem one last year hunting in SE Iowa. Didn't know what it was so I didn't shoot it. The guy I was with told me it was a wood cock and that we couldnt shoot it. Only time I've seen one.

User avatar
gittrdonebritts
Rank: 5X Champion
Posts: 1252
Joined: Sun Aug 02, 2009 4:09 pm
Location: Malta,IL

Re: woodcock in ia?

Post by gittrdonebritts » Tue Oct 05, 2010 7:01 pm

I saw one in Illinois last year me and the dogs just stared at it like it was an alien hahaha

Post Reply