Looking for woodcock

[bauerline]

I took the dogs out today and decided to run them in the wood/swampy area in hopes to find some woodcock close to home. We sometimes find them in this area but not today. The dogs did have a point:

Turned out that we found where the quail were hiding. These birds decided to run instead of fly away. The dogs relocated several times and I was able to get some pictures. Nittany and Blitz did a good job of not presuring the birds when they relocated. The quail came to a small creek but that didn't stop them and they kept running up a hill through the briars. The birds then turned around and went back down the hill so the wind was no longer in our favor. The dogs got a little closer to them and a single quail flushed. These birds tend to run when they are in the woods but if I find them in the fields they flush as a group and fly a good distance before landing.

 

[bauerline]

The dogs were pretty muddy at this point so I thought I'd keep running them while I had time. I was on a path at the edge of the woods when I thought I saw some sqirrels on a log. After a closer look I realized it was a group of hens walking with a rooster not too far behind. They were in an area that held a lot of standing water. I was suprised to find them in this area instead of the fields. The cover is still in good shape:

As I was walking out I heard two roosters crowning. One was a pretty good distance away and the other one I heard was the first one I saw in the woods. I had the dogs rinse off in the pond before going home.

If I'm going to find any woodcock I think I'll have to try a different area.

 

[mhuf]

We've (myself and my Small Munsterlander)been seeing quite a few, and hearing many more, for the last two weeks. Prime mating season and lots of males "peenting" and circling in flight at dusk. My biggest dilemma is keeping my dog away from the nesting females.

 

[FLDBRED]

Brian, With all those birds around who needs Woodcock! lol. Nice post and pictures. Is that your pheasant pen in the background?

mhuf, welcome to the site! Would love to see a picture of your pup. You don't see to many of them around. :thumbsup:

 

[bauerline]

I know I'm lucky (maybe the dogs are the lucky ones) to have an area to get into birds with the dogs. I thought it would be nice to have the dogs work 3 different kinds of birds on one run. There is another part of the club that I can try that is mostly woods with a stream beside it. Maybe I'll try that area next time.

That is the flight pen for the pheasants in the background. I should be picking up the chicks in another 5 or 6 weeks. I'll be down at the club working with the chainsaw and I hope to get the brooder house and maybe the JH's cleaned out, too.

mhut- if you get a chance post some pictures of your dog. We all like to see pictures from other people on here. Welcome!

 

[mhuf]

Great Forum..thanks for the welcome.
Here's a photo from last fall. First Grouse of the season

 

[mhuf]

and another

 

[bauerline]

Is that a citori in the 1st photo?

 

[FLDBRED]

mhuf,
Beautiful looking dog!:thumbsup::thumbsup:

 

[mhuf]

yes bauerline White Lightening in 16 ga. 26" and I really enjoy it. You've got good eyes!

Thanks FLDBRED for your comment.

 

[bauerline]

I have then same exact gun in a 20 gauge that I love. Thought I recognized it.

 

[pointshoot]

nice looking dogs, good pictures and an interesting field report.i like the pictures of your dog running area.
the sm is a good looking dog,goes with my idea they dont need to big to be good

 

[mhuf]

I have then same exact gun in a 20 gauge that I love. Thought I recognized it.

I recently acquired a Beretta BL-3 in 20 ga. that is as new. Fixed chokes (f & m) but a very sweet gun. Can't decide whether to use it or put it in the safe?

 

[FLDBRED]

Just got in, we flushed 11 Woodcock. We went early this morning in hope of hearing some roosters crowing.

mhuf,

How would you compare your Small Munsterlander to say a English Setter, temperament , range etc.. My hunting buddy has been thinking about one.

 

[bauerline]

Sounds good, FLDBRED. Thats a good number of birds to come in contact with. I was out for a last quail hunt at a preserve and we had a great time. The dogs did better than we shot at first but we ended the day on a good note. I went out with a friend from our PF chapter and we eached ended up with 7 quail.

I saw on a different board that a woodcock nest with eggs was found already. I guess I'll stop looking for them now if some of the birds have started to nest up. Now its time for trout season!

 

[FLDBRED]

Yep...were done too! We didn't see any signs of nesting, but we were talking about that very thing on the way there.
Now it's habitat work, crowing counts, scouting, and working on American muscle machines!

 

[terrym]

Small Munsterlander? My buddy has one and thet are great grouse/woodcock dogs. Closer ranging than my Brittany and quite a bit calmer dog. Very trainable and soft dog. About the same size as a Brittany.

 

[FLDBRED]

Thanks terry !

 

[mhuf]

I don't have much experience with English Setters to offer an educated comparison; but my Small Munsterlander is a great Woodcock and Grouse Dog. Although, sometimes ranging a bit too far, but that's my fault for not reining her in often enough.These are very intelligent, high energy dogs with unwavering prey drive. A good family dog that really gravitates to the one that takes her hunting regularly. This is a NAVHDA dog who has achieved NA prize I and UT prize III. So she knows what she's doing most of the time and probably more often than I do.

 

[mhuf]

Sounds good, FLDBRED. Thats a good number of birds to come in contact with. I was out for a last quail hunt at a preserve and we had a great time. The dogs did better than we shot at first but we ended the day on a good note. I went out with a friend from our PF chapter and we eached ended up with 7 quail.

I saw on a different board that a woodcock nest with eggs was found already. I guess I'll stop looking for them now if some of the birds have started to nest up. Now its time for trout season!

I have also seen woodcock eggs. Last Saturday in the snow. Had to run my dog, all week, and again today in an entirely different area.