does anyone else see this 'wadknocker' as a stick? I'm new, so I'm asking in earnest.
Wads fit the bore rather loosely, and they are easy to remove. Wads become stuck when there is next to no gas pressure in the bore, the shot just dribbles out the muzzle and the choke alone is enough to stop the wad from exiting the barrel.
Yeah, Wad Knockers are available, their intended market is the competitive shooter who needs a tool fast because they're standing on the firing line. Field expedient has always been to treat the barrel as a blow gun. Unload for obvious reasons and keep the chamber open, then create a seal between the muzzle and your mouth, one good blast of air and the wad is out and you're back to hunting. I'm not sure how well this technique works with the heavier wads designed for steel shot but it works very well on the wads from field loads. And yes, a cleaning rod or dowel will push the wad out easily.
But don't be the guy who used a stick, got it stuck, then used a 3' section of all-thread to unstick the stick then sticks the all-thread. Yeah, his hunt was over, but it was a good laugh.