Woodcock

[jimmy100 48]

i aint had a woodcock for ages but they are by far the best bird to eat imo top game!!

[J Darcy 5,871]

I don't know if i am totaly wrong, but i was always told to gut woodcock and leave snipe with their guts in......The reason being that snipe always excrete as they take off in alarm.

Wouldnt fancy eating woodcock with guts in, though i have ate them when i was younger, treat them just like woodpigeon if my memory serves me correctly....

[jasper65 6]

Shot a couple January 30th on one of the local Cock shoots! for some reason the comercial Guns though out the year wouldn't shoot them but on the cock shoots they was fair game. before then I havn't ate one since the mid 90's but boy do they taste good ... Our's went straight in the oven Gutted and headless with Foil on for about 3/4 Hr, the last 10 with it off......

 

Can't wait to get some more next season now

 

Jasp

[IanB 0]

I don't know if i am totaly wrong, but i was always told to gut woodcock and leave snipe with their guts in......The reason being that snipe always excrete as they take off in alarm.

Wouldnt fancy eating woodcock with guts in, though i have ate them when i was younger, treat them just like woodpigeon if my memory serves me correctly....

 

Woodcock excrete on flight just like snipe.

[Tiddler66 3]

A bit late writing this, but here goes....Woodcock like snipe empty their guts on take off....The traditional way to eat both is to pluck them and push the long beak through the thighs....place on a large piece of bread and roast at 200 degrees c for 30-35 mins....and then eat the guts and the brains too. The bread is the best bit as it gets toasted and it soaks up all the juices. I have done it both ways but I prefer to take out the guts and remove the head....otherwise the intestines spill out over the toast as you start hacking off the breast meat.....and I have never fancied eating them. my dad cooks them with the guts in but removes them with a tea spoon prior to eating....comes out in one go....Woodcock tastes great but I have often found it to be a bit tough.....I have been told to wrap the bird in foil and let it rest for 20 mins or so before eating it.......I will try this next season, and report back...Best wishes during the boring part of the year...Tiddler66

[blacktabs 3]

Easiest way to shoot woodcocks is when their roading [navigating woods by the roads] they give a whistle as they see you giving plenty of time for a shot atb.

[Tiddler66 3]

If you can locate a flight line, then you can have a shot at them.... they seem to stick to the same path at the same time each night....but it is at the dark end of dusk....usually far too quick for me

[blacktabs 3]

They start about an an hour before dark near me and in numbers all on the main drags of pinewoods the whisle gives you plenty of notice and they are not flying fast if you stick out on the road so they can see you and listen for the call its not hard to shoot them.

As they fly over if youve not had a shot listen and they make a croaking sound must be an alarm call thing only feathered friend i like to see me. lol

As kids if we found a nest they went in the pan big eggs for a little bird.

Edited March 25, 2010 by blacktabs

[Tiddler66 3]

Sounds like English Woodcock are more sociable, noisier and less discrete than Welsh one s!

[blacktabs 3]

Must be i have hit them with a catty as a young one but no sport not like walking them up if thats your sport.

Just thought id share what ive done dont bother now but still whistle the old pheasants up but thats another story perhaps welsh pheasants wouldnt understand an english whistle S! atb