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Woodcock Thread
#6110209
12/30/15 11:17 PM
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Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 27,091
Nogalus Prairie
OP
THF Celebrity
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OP
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Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 27,091 |
Finally got a chance to get out there and hunt them with Jenny. She did great - her Daddy, not so much. Yesterday's hunt: 8 points, 11 birds (one point got up three!), 5 shots, 2 birds to bag. They were the two biggest birds I have ever taken - guess I can only hit the slow, fat ones. Jenny's "There's a bird in there but if you want him you'll have to get him yourself" point.
I learned long ago you can't reason someone out of something they don't reason themselves into.
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Re: Woodcock Thread
[Re: Nogalus Prairie]
#6110218
12/30/15 11:20 PM
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Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 27,091
Nogalus Prairie
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THF Celebrity
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OP
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This morning's quick hour and a half hunt: 4 points, 4 birds, 2 shots, 1 bird to bag. Jenny's "Whoa! There's one right here I almost ran by!" point:
I learned long ago you can't reason someone out of something they don't reason themselves into.
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Re: Woodcock Thread
[Re: Nogalus Prairie]
#6110238
12/30/15 11:32 PM
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Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 25,402
Creekrunner
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 25,402 |
Great pictures, beautiful dog, cool birds. I have got to hunt them someday. 'Doubt I can hit any, but want to at least see 'em.
...and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth. Gen. 1:28
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Re: Woodcock Thread
[Re: Nogalus Prairie]
#6110308
12/31/15 12:06 AM
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Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 91,416
bill oxner
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 91,416 |
Great pictures. Great looking dog.
Quail hunting is like walking into, and out of a beautiful painting all day long. Gene Hill
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Re: Woodcock Thread
[Re: Nogalus Prairie]
#6110317
12/31/15 12:10 AM
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Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 866
Catch Dog
Tracker
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Tracker
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 866 |
Were these birds found in Corsicana? Or close to that area? I have a place down there that's wooded, but majority is under water.
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Re: Woodcock Thread
[Re: Catch Dog]
#6110332
12/31/15 12:16 AM
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Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 27,091
Nogalus Prairie
OP
THF Celebrity
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OP
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Were these birds found in Corsicana? Or close to that area? I have a place down there that's wooded, but majority is under water. No Catch Dog, these were at my place in Houston county. Corsicana area does get some birds in the wooded areas, but not near the numbers as east TX on average. This was by far the best December hunt I have had - I assume the cold front and moist conditions are the reasons. Thank you for the kind words for Jenny guys - she has been a real blessing to me and I have sure enjoyed her.
I learned long ago you can't reason someone out of something they don't reason themselves into.
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Re: Woodcock Thread
[Re: Nogalus Prairie]
#6111585
12/31/15 05:53 PM
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Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 27,091
Nogalus Prairie
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Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 27,091 |
To me, they taste just like a dove. I breast them out and eat them the same way - they are just larger. (Technically, woodcock threads should be in the migratory bird section since they are in fact migratory birds, but traditionally they have long been considered upland game by most.)
Last edited by Nogalus Prairie; 12/31/15 06:00 PM.
I learned long ago you can't reason someone out of something they don't reason themselves into.
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Re: Woodcock Thread
[Re: Nogalus Prairie]
#6111699
12/31/15 07:15 PM
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Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 1,061
Baylor_Bears
Pro Tracker
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Pro Tracker
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 1,061 |
I am gonna play 20 questions on this one. Do they hold pretty tight when dogs are working?
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Re: Woodcock Thread
[Re: Nogalus Prairie]
#6111711
12/31/15 07:25 PM
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Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 27,091
Nogalus Prairie
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Posts: 27,091 |
Mostly, yes. Very tight. Sometimes one will run/move a little ways but that is the exception rather than the rule. They will usually get up only when you approach very close. The thicker the cover the tighter they hold. The first one I killed in the picture held about 1-2 feet off the end of Jenny's nose. I'm pretty sure I could have stomped him to death if I had wanted to.
I learned long ago you can't reason someone out of something they don't reason themselves into.
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Re: Woodcock Thread
[Re: Baylor_Bears]
#6111935
12/31/15 09:27 PM
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Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 162
ALM TXhunter
Woodsman
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Woodsman
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 162 |
Their breasts are a darker color compared to other game birds I have eaten. I have read that they are not one of the better tasting game birds on the dinner plate, and I think some people are grossed out because they eat a lot of worms. Nonetheless, I prepare mine wrapped in bacon and find them delicious! NP: Are you finding them in any particular cover this year (any trends different from other years?), or the is it the same scenario "they are were you find them" (or however the quote goes...)
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Re: Woodcock Thread
[Re: Nogalus Prairie]
#6111996
12/31/15 09:55 PM
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Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 27,091
Nogalus Prairie
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THF Celebrity
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OP
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Posts: 27,091 |
Mostly in the thick stuff (primarily yaupon) on those two hunts. It could be different when I go back this weekend.
I learned long ago you can't reason someone out of something they don't reason themselves into.
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Re: Woodcock Thread
[Re: Nogalus Prairie]
#6112061
12/31/15 10:32 PM
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Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 27,091
Nogalus Prairie
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THF Celebrity
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OP
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A couple more just for fun. "Can't we go hunting already, Daddy?" Tuckered out on the ride home.
I learned long ago you can't reason someone out of something they don't reason themselves into.
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Re: Woodcock Thread
[Re: Nogalus Prairie]
#6112095
12/31/15 10:50 PM
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Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 18,543
NewGulf
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 18,543 |
Awesome pics NP, sharp looking 4 legged friend you got there and the food looks excellent!
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Re: Woodcock Thread
[Re: Nogalus Prairie]
#6113048
01/01/16 04:43 PM
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Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 105
ChasCZ
Woodsman
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Woodsman
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 105 |
Onion, bacon, soak in Italian dressing overnight, grill and OH MY! Please save us a few for their return trip north in the spring. Great birds for a young dog to learn on, strong scent and they hold well.
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Re: Woodcock Thread
[Re: Nogalus Prairie]
#6113063
01/01/16 04:57 PM
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Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 27,091
Nogalus Prairie
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OP
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Chas here is a video of one that stayed behind in Michigan celebrating the new year:
I learned long ago you can't reason someone out of something they don't reason themselves into.
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Re: Woodcock Thread
[Re: Nogalus Prairie]
#6113579
01/01/16 10:41 PM
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Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 105
ChasCZ
Woodsman
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Woodsman
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 105 |
I've watched them do this in the spring. Funny AND fantastic at the same time.
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Re: Woodcock Thread
[Re: Nogalus Prairie]
#6114004
01/02/16 01:57 AM
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Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 7,825
poisonivie
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 7,825 |
Pee on Photobucket
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Re: Woodcock Thread
[Re: Nogalus Prairie]
#6114157
01/02/16 03:23 AM
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Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 97
Rick Titus
Outdoorsman
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Outdoorsman
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 97 |
Where does the good looking shorthair come from. Beautiful bird dog!!
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Re: Woodcock Thread
[Re: Rick Titus]
#6114200
01/02/16 03:59 AM
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Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 27,091
Nogalus Prairie
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THF Celebrity
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OP
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Where does the good looking shorthair come from. Beautiful bird dog!! I got lucky. That's it. I kept jumping woodcock at my farm and thought "How cool it would be to hunt them." I have never hunted birds or had a bird dog in my life. A nice guy posted a litter of GSP puppies for sale in the classifieds on here and a little female caught my eye. So I bought her. I had no idea how to train a bird dog. Bought a couple of books and gave her some rudimentary training as a pup. Took her out at a year old and she just had the instinct. At first she flushed and chased any bird she saw. When it happened to be a woodcock I would praise her. After a couple of trips she knew what we were after, would hold a point and I finally scratched one down - it fell in sight and she retrieved it and brought it to hand. I don't think I have ever been so excited. By the end of the season that first year she was working cover beautifully, locking down on points, steady at the shot, finding birds, and retrieving them to hand. She is 5 now and a joy to watch. I still don't know the first thing about bird dogs - but I do know the Good Lord has blessed me with this one.
Last edited by Nogalus Prairie; 01/02/16 04:18 AM.
I learned long ago you can't reason someone out of something they don't reason themselves into.
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Re: Woodcock Thread
[Re: Nogalus Prairie]
#6114337
01/02/16 11:32 AM
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Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 105
ChasCZ
Woodsman
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Woodsman
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 105 |
I ran Setters in grouse and woodcock trials for a couple of decades and even towards the end I had young dogs that would "train" me more than I trained them. When you get dogs like that all you can do is look up and SMILE.
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Re: Woodcock Thread
[Re: Nogalus Prairie]
#6114351
01/02/16 12:29 PM
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Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 91,416
bill oxner
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 91,416 |
Where does the good looking shorthair come from. Beautiful bird dog!! I got lucky. That's it. I kept jumping woodcock at my farm and thought "How cool it would be to hunt them." I have never hunted birds or had a bird dog in my life. A nice guy posted a litter of GSP puppies for sale in the classifieds on here and a little female caught my eye. So I bought her. I had no idea how to train a bird dog. Bought a couple of books and gave her some rudimentary training as a pup. Took her out at a year old and she just had the instinct. At first she flushed and chased any bird she saw. When it happened to be a woodcock I would praise her. After a couple of trips she knew what we were after, would hold a point and I finally scratched one down - it fell in sight and she retrieved it and brought it to hand. I don't think I have ever been so excited. By the end of the season that first year she was working cover beautifully, locking down on points, steady at the shot, finding birds, and retrieving them to hand. She is 5 now and a joy to watch. I still don't know the first thing about bird dogs - but I do know the Good Lord has blessed me with this one. Sounds like a good one. They have several NSTRA trials in your area each year. You should run her in one of them and extend your season.
Quail hunting is like walking into, and out of a beautiful painting all day long. Gene Hill
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Re: Woodcock Thread
[Re: Nogalus Prairie]
#6115256
01/03/16 12:42 AM
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Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 27,091
Nogalus Prairie
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OP
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Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 27,091 |
A great day today. 4 points, 4 shots, 3 birds.
I learned long ago you can't reason someone out of something they don't reason themselves into.
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Re: Woodcock Thread
[Re: Nogalus Prairie]
#6115325
01/03/16 01:25 AM
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Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 91,416
bill oxner
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 91,416 |
That's 75 percent shooting. Greatness.
Quail hunting is like walking into, and out of a beautiful painting all day long. Gene Hill
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Re: Woodcock Thread
[Re: bill oxner]
#6115405
01/03/16 02:04 AM
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Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 27,091
Nogalus Prairie
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That's 75 percent shooting. Greatness. Thanks Bill. It was one of those rare days when all 4 points were in fairly open stuff. That almost never happens. The third shot centered a pine sapling or I may have had a 3/3/3 day. Which I would like to have one of before I'm gone but don't expect to.....
Last edited by Nogalus Prairie; 01/03/16 02:10 AM.
I learned long ago you can't reason someone out of something they don't reason themselves into.
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