Woodcock Reports

Was out running the dog last week in SE WI and she pointed two woodcock. I was suprised see some this far south already. Has anyone else seen them earlier this year?

Hunted yesterday in the Mead wildlife area of Marathon County. Found the woodcock in somewhat open popple near a hayfield. Must have flushed atleast 25 woodcock and between 2 guys probely fired almost that many times. Our shooting wasn't the best as we only got 3. Also flushed 4 grouse with no shots. My friend's lab did pretty good for only her second time out. Was a good couple of hours.

The dogs kicked up four each day up in Iron cty Saturday and Sunday.

In 3 days of hunting last weekend jumped about 70 wodcock so the flght has arrived in oneida County. Our crew bagged 26 in the couple days.

Flushed 4 on Friday up in Iron cty close to the TFF. Do not hunt them so all are flying.

I live in northern IL. and flushed a woody today checking my deer stands. I see them on occasion but not this early in the fall.

woodcock are in at incredible numbers in northern oconto county. Last weekend out with my dad and my old dog so did not cover a lot of ground and flushed at least 25 birds. Yesterday just me and the young dog hunted hard flushed a minimum of 74 woodcock. If a bird was flushed and I thought it might have been one previously flushed it was not counted, actually had a lot more than 74 flushes. Had many flushes of multiple birds at once and would sometimes get in a good spot and flush bird after bird every 50 feet or so. Had limit of woodcock in 14 minutes then was trying to fill out on grouse. Only flushed 9 grouse.

Jumped one Labor Day Weekend in Gogebic Co. MI. Not surprised though. Will be out chasing grouse this weekend up there.

I've seen WC in the Mazomanie area that were not migrants.

Anyone running into any timber doodle? Going to get out in the Fon Du Lac area this weekend and wondering if they are migrating that far south yet?

How far south are you? There are many native birds in WI and I have put them up as far south as Portage. I don't hunt much further south than that, but would guess with the right cover, there are some even further south. I would guess about 50% of my WC I shoot every year are hatches from WI birds. The only banded bird we shot was banded about 4 miles from where we shot it.