Fox Collectors

Well, the migration has been so delayed/poor in the areas I hunt because it has been so hot and dry that I put off getting out and instead concentrated on bow hunting the beginning of the rut. I finally couldn't stand it any longer and got out for an 11,000 step stroll in the concentrated areas I hunt where I knew there were springs and seeps to help attract what few were on the move.



I flushed 4 birds and brought 2 to bag. A big healthy female and a smaller male, probably a first year bird. All in all a great day, certainly better than being at work. I'm hearing that the migration is more concentrated west this year in PA due to the conditions, but still off. Other reports are saying there are birds still up north where in years past they would have moved out from already. A site online that tracks banded woodcock shows only a few females have left Nova Scotia for Maine, but so far none of the birds they track has come down the coast. This is only a small sample, but in years past it has at least shown when the birds left the tagging areas en masse. It looks like we are going to have a late migration this year, if it materializes in my area I hunt in any good numbers remains to be seen.
My fingers are crossed for deep freezing weather up north and some wet weather with strong steady winds from the north east to get the birds moving.



Of course Reynard got the nod and I chose the 30 inch barrels that have tighter chokes than the 28 inch barrels but tried to offset the potential handicap by using 7/8th ounce RST spreader 8's. All in all it was a beautiful day and now I'm home and showered about to sit down to some enchiladas and get ready to watch the Eagles game. Life is good.

Thanks for the report, and nice pictures. Reynard looks great..

glad you found some action.thanks for report and pics,enjoy that amazing shotgun

Thanks.

I needed to take the longer barrels out to take them through their paces. Last year the 28's were never off the gun and my shooting, at least in my head, was so much improved I didn't want to break the spell. The shorter barrels are definitely choked for the close in work that woodcock most often presents.

The spreader RST's helped the pattern open up yesterday but couldn't move the trees that doodles seem to take a 90 degree turn around just as I was shooting.

I saw a huge buck taking a break in one of those wallow-like wet spots. Rubs and scrapes were everywhere, very little chalk from birds though.

I can't wait to get back out there.

Roger,
Thanks for the report and pics. I think your observations on the woodcock migration is the norm this year. With the warmer, drier conditions the migration was definitely delayed in MI. I will have to look at that migration map for the central U.S.

Thanks for the report, Roger. You may be drier than usual up there but it's not so down he'ah. We had 12.9" from Debby in August, 6" from Helene last month, and 5.5" last week from some unnamed system that came up from the Gulf. We've still got 200 acres of peanuts to harvest and it's looking bad. November is usually not good weather for harvesting peanuts.

Maybe the migratory doves will move into the peanut fields and give me some much needed distraction. I take my encouragement from whatever sources I can.

Good job Roger.

I have hunted south central PA WMAs more then a few times and have not put up a Woodcock yet. I finally hit a VA WMA this past week and put up one bird. It flew 3 times and yet no flush was over 8 feet off the ground the entire time. Tired flight bird imo. Coupled with the drought in every I hunt is the warm weather. We had our first freeze this past week and the day after was 70 degrees. Another weird year so far.

I spent way too much time in a spot that usually has standing water but was dry and saw no birds. If you can, find spots with water. The birds that are in flight will find it.

What a difference a week and high wind and rainy conditions makes.

Looks like woodcock are on the move finally. Should be much improved in the good areas.