Woodcock opens today....

C

Canadian_Zuk

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Pickering, Ontario
Who else is getting out tonight? I love hunting these odd little creatures, How does everyone cook theirs? I've been wrapping the breast in bacon and roasting them in the oven. I'd love to try some new recipes. Perhaps breaded and fried medallions next time :)

Please share if you have a favorite way to prepare them
 
I just cut the breasts in half; season with salt, pepper, and rosemary; and roll them around in a hot, cast iron pan with some olive oil. Cook rare. Crusty bread, San Giovese, and perhaps some home made pickles (beats, yellow beans). This is definitely more of a rustic lunch than black tie affair.
 
canoetrpr said:
If anyone would share with even a hint of where one might consider hunting woodcock around this part of Ontario, this newbie would appreciate it.
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They are migrating now. I find I'm most successful when getting them at sun down as they settle in for the night. I sit/walk/wait in fields with rows of pine or spruce trees to my south, I pass shoot them as they come in to roost in the trees overnight. I just pace up and down the tree line waiting for the next one to come in and manage to flush the occasional bird. I'd be interested in hearing how the hard core Timberdoodle harvesters go about it too!
 
They're nocturnal - so the evening activity you are witnessing is them waking up, stretching their wings, and then leaving on the red-eye.

Hard core is get up late, have a huge breakfast, take a nap, and hit the field around 10am. Seriously. They arrive at dawn, fidget around looking for a place to bed down, and then settle in for the day. Arriving late morning offers better scenting conditions for the dogs, and a more spirited flush since they have had time to rest a little.
 
looch said:
They're nocturnal - so the evening activity you are witnessing is them waking up, stretching their wings, and then leaving on the red-eye.

Hard core is get up late, have a huge breakfast, take a nap, and hit the field around 10am. Seriously. They arrive at dawn, fidget around looking for a place to bed down, and then settle in for the day. Arriving late morning offers better scenting conditions for the dogs, and a more spirited flush since they have had time to rest a little.
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Thanks for the education!! I had no idea they were nocturnal, I've always witnessed them landing in the evening and assumed it was to take a migratory break like waterfowl. I see many of them running the logging roads up North on the ATV. Never actually on the road, but often only a few feet to the side running deeper into the bush. I never considered that they were bedded, I always thought they were feeding. :)

Thanks again for your input. Last year was the 1st year where I actually went out to target woodcock, I've gotten a few by chance during previous years hunting other critters. So much to learn, lol
 
Canadian_Zuk said:
Thanks for the education!! I had no idea they were nocturnal, I've always witnessed them landing in the evening and assumed it was to take a migratory break like waterfowl. I see many of them running the logging roads up North on the ATV. Never actually on the road, but often only a few feet to the side running deeper into the bush. I never considered that they were bedded, I always thought they were feeding. :)

Thanks again for your input. Last year was the 1st year where I actually went out to target woodcock, I've gotten a few by chance during previous years hunting other critters. So much to learn, lol
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What I wrote was a very basic/brief explanation of their habits. Of course they need to eat - and they need to eat a lot! It's likely that they are done with that by 10am, though.

I used to go too early and the dogs would go nuts tracing the bird's haphazard, meandering scent trails.
 
Marinate breasts in olive oil/lemon/garlic ... bacon wrap & grill on BBQ. Best rare to med/rare ... don't overcook.

Also very nice worked into a good pate recipe instead of duck or goose liver.
 
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