woodcock

I have killed many woodcock over points. They have saved many a day in the grouse woods especially in years when grouse counts are on the low side. For many years I participated in the wing sample program ... sending in wings to the USFWS for studies. Each spring they would report back to me the sex and age of the birds I shot the prior season.

We have had 20 - 30 points in just a couple of hours when the flight is "in". Other days it is an occasional find.

Woodcock will be walking around in the woods and often the dog locks up in an area and the bird gets up 10 - 20 yards away. Other times they take flight under the dog's nose.

One year turkey hunting I came across a hen woodcock that was acting wounded. I looked around and found a nest of four recently hatched woodcock chicks. This was before cell phones with cameras.

Taste wise I would put them on par with prairie grouse. Marinate, cook over hot coals wrapped in bacon and you will have no problem eating what you kill.

I have steadily moved back to a ratio favoring prairie birds over the past half dozen years so my run ins with woodcock are fewer.
 
Timberdoodles are a blast to hunt...very exciting and have kept things interesting during some terrible grouse years here in CT. I am not a big fan of how they taste...quite dark, oily, and gamey (likely due to the fact that their primary diet is worms). I need to try out some good recipes...any suggestions.
 
good eating

thought this one went too sleep. start out with a good bottle of red wine, make sure you do not cook them more than just barely done, i fillet mine, or breast them, i then like them with marmalde or raspberry perserve, both bring out a nice taste, otherwise look up a recipe for dove or duck, never over cook them

cheers
 
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