Last hunt of the year with the girls

[vaturkey]

Found a few Woodcock. They will most likely be gone with the cold front arriving tomorrow night. My first two birds of the year as Woodcock have been impossible to find. First time I have pulled the trigger this season. Sophie knows the drill well, but the light bulb came on for Annie today. She had solo points today, found and held till flush and also backed. I thought she could do that, but today we had enough birds where it happened. Might have a good one.

PS. I have a bird in each hand and zoom in on the hat.

Double PS. That is Annie on point being backed by a friend's Brit.

[vaturkey]

That be me walking in on an Annie Woodcock point carrying the meat in the pot 20 gauge Fox.

[DarylC]

Great pic Tom. That should be your screen saver for next year.

[Foxnut]

Tom,
Thanks for the report and glad you finally got some birds your way. Annie is looking great!!

[Jeff S]

Great pictures Tom and nice to hear that Annie got some action. The “light went on for Annie”, I hope the light remains “on” for next season. Great way to close out the year.

[Stan Hillis]

Annie is a beautiful dog, Tom!

[vaturkey]

Great pictures Tom and nice to hear that Annie got some action. The “light went on for Annie”, I hope the light remains “on” for next season. Great way to close out the year.

Thanks Jeff.

The last two years have been god awful in Va for Woodcock. Annie was 10 months old last year and I think she and Sophie found 2. In both cases Sophie pointed and Annie backed, but she really never got a snootfull of Woodcock scent and instead was mostly (IMO) just backing Sophie. About 3 weeks ago (I posted it here) the season was out, but once again Sophie found a few birds and Annie backed.

Yesterday was the first time she actually hunted a bit away from Sophie and I was shocked/happy when her Beeper went into point mode at about 110 yards off. I and the person with me beat our feet through a pile of green briar just in time to watch the bird fly off. They be really skittish now. Then a few minutes later she went on point and was backed by my friends Brit. Went in on the flush and up it came and two shots went off and the bird kept flying. After that she pointed two more rock solid but we missed shots of birds in the air. Sadly I was only to shoot my 2 birds off of Sophie's points but Annie backed both times. I am still looking forward to knocking down a bird Annie has pointed by herself and seeing her (hopefully) make the retrieve.

I've found once a young dog figures Woodcock out they figure them out. Now, it could turn into a mess next time, but I think now if there are Woodcock around she will find them and point them and hold point. Once she drills herself into the ground she just doesn't move. Sophie was the same way. Sophie right now is certainly better as Sophie will relocate on moving birds as needed and then pin them. Annie will figure that out as well. Everything in the dog world IMO revolves around doing things the right way. Don't shoot bumped birds no matter what. It creates awfully bad habits to fix.

Be interesting to see if I can find a few more birds and see how she handled them. Late season Woodcock typically require a more careful dog as they are much more apt to run off from a point.

[ROMAC]

Tom,

Sounds like a grand time! Woodcock hunting is infectious for sure. Annie looks like she is coming into her own and will make a fine woodcock dog.

Give us some details man! Which gun, chokes, shells? etc...I'd love to hear it all.

[vaturkey]

Roger, meat in the pot is my favorite gun of all time. I think she has been my favorite gun since Sophie was 2 years old. She is a Savage made 20 gauge ejector Sterly with factory 2 3/4" chambers. Restocked with a mid grade stick of English walnut and then engraved as a second generation AE by Chris Rossiter. Chokes opened up to .004 and .014 by Mike Orleen. Weight 5 lb 13 oz with 26 inch barrels.

It was made to fit me. 1 3/8" DAC and 2 3/8" DAH and 14 5/8" LOP, 1/4" cast. Ebony forearm tip and POW grip.

I shoot it pretty well, but I don't shoot clays with it anymore.
Already had 2 broken ejector guide pins.

Ammo is pretty much anything, but these Woodcock were killed with Wincherster AA number 8s. A wonderful Woodcock load.

PS. Pic taken last season in Virginia

[bbman3]

Tom that is a beautiful Fox! Bobby