Anybody seeing any woodcock yet?

I've seen a couple.

Anybody remember hunting plovers?

My neighbor saw a few woodcock up around Navasto.

I actually jumped my first back in mid-October. I am thinking that Dr. Whiting may be right about TX having a small resident population.

They are here in fairly good numbers now, I can hear them flying in and out of the woods at dawn/dusk.

My place is in Houston county.

Is Davy Crockett National Forrest open to the public?

Yessir it is.

So most years is waiting until deer season is over to hunt woodcock not the peak time ?

I think it only gets better as the season progresses and more birds arrive, so IMO the 3 weeks after deer season is the peak time. At least as a general rule at my place.

That's good news, thank you! Last year was my first year hunting woodcock and I'm really looking forward to this season. Woodcock has supplanted squirrel as my favorite critter to hunt. I don't like to hunt deer and can't afford to travel all over for birds or hunt private quail ranches. So woodcock are about the only feasible upland game for me.

They are one of my favorites too. I have gained a lot of respect and appreciation for them. They are amazing little birds.

They definitely are amazing little birds, Nogalus Prairie. It's crazy how far they migrate on those stubby little wings. They don't get enough respect or attention as they should from hunters, biologists, and especially TPWD.

Is that Dr Monty Whiting from SFA?

Yes.

Not to contradict dr whiting but the earliest I have seen a woodcock here in east Texas is September. This year I noticed a few birds show up in October but I have not seen many this year. It seems in wet years I see more birds in texas.

Lousiana is the best woodcock state in the nation

Yes sir it is! During unseasonably wet years a lot of their preferred habitat is inundated and we have more birds that spill to the west looking for suitable habitat. As a long time forester in East Texas as well as a life long bird hunter, the woodcock is right in my wheelhouse.

Anyone having any luck?

going out today to give it a try.

My season ended as soon as it began. Went out on the 22nd. Not a lot of splash, moved 1 bird but no shot. It was ok, because my dog and I are both green. Cut the hunt short because I started feeling poorly. That led to 5 days of fever and coughing, little food, little sleep. I came down with pnuemomia and have been in the hospital since Friday. While here they noticed some heart stuff so tomorrow their going in with a catheter and looking for a blockage. Them's the breaks.

Sean

That’s unfortunate, hope you get to feeling better soon.

Thank ya!

Prayers up Machine. Hope you mend quickly.

X2

Praying for you Machine.

X4 , Forrest