Woodcocks...Manitoba 2012

[sherlockbonez]

woodcock eh.....i got a few living in the forest behind me.. didnt know they were edible.. do they taste like pheasant/partridge??

Yes, if your patridge is made entirely of liver.

 

[M12shooter]

Not sure if it's the same in Manitoba... but in NB, I'd go hang out in old gravel pits around dusk. esp. if there is any young deciduous forest or alder in or near the gravel pit. A buddy of mine tipped me off to this years ago. I thought he was nuts, but it's true! Around dusk you'll see or hear them flying by; generally fairly low. It's the best way to bag a few if you don't have a dog... and bring your shotgun, not a sack and flashlight... it's not BS!

I see lots of them buzzing around at sunset along bush trails. If you happen to find some water filled ruts they tend to be congregate at these. Pass shooting them would be no problem but finding them without a dog would be another.

 

[DragonFire]

I`ve seen them in the Braintree/Moose Lake area but that was years ago.

DF

 

[M12shooter]

I`ve seen them in the Braintree/Moose Lake area but that was years ago.

DF

The Interlake was absolutely loaded with them last few years, again right at dark otherwise you wouldn't even know they're around.

 

[fishslinger]

One of the best ways to cook woodcock is to simply season them with salt and pepper and sauté them in butter medium rare. If over cooked thay have a very strong livery taste to them.

 

[Varmit]

I have two dogs, one will retrieve them but the other won't.

 

[jabaroo]

saw half a dozen or so of these curious-looking birds in the Sandilands forest this spring. As I was driving out of one of the paths off Fire guard 19 about 10 minutes after dusk, I would see them sitting on the path in front of the truck. They would fly very much like grouse when they are flushed. Funny enough, they usually flew about 50 ft and landed back on the road!