Among the many species of waders that inhabit our territories, woodcock is a unique representative of forest game. Russian hunters are familiar with this bird.
general information
She is a representative of the waders squad, a family of plovers. Woodcock - migratory bird. It nests almost throughout the forest strip, not meeting only in Kamchatka and Sakhalin. Basically, this bird hibernates outside our territory, although some of the livestock still remains in the Caucasus, southern Crimea and Central Asia.
The woodcock leads an extremely secretive life, hiding in the afternoon in places well protected by dense shrubs, ferns or young trees. With the onset of twilight, this bird, reviving, begins to run from place to place in search of food. Its main food is worms, various larvae, slugs and many insects, which he takes out of moist soil with his long beak, at the end equipped with sensitive nerve trunks.
Mining types
Woodcock hunting, the photo of which is evidence that this is a typical sandpiper, is considered one of the curious and fascinating pastimes. This nondescript bird with gray-brown plumage, dark stripes and a long beak became an object of sporting prey due to its rather large number and very interesting habits. In order for woodcock hunting - in the spring or in the fall - to be successful, a person will need to show considerable ingenuity.
There are many types of shooting this bird. Each of them is interesting in its own way, however, the most common is the hunting of a woodcock with traction.
In addition to this method, there are also shooting with the help of a gundog dog, as well as with semolina, in drops, on mud, etc.
Seasons
The traditions of prey of this bird in different geographical latitudes are different. In Russia, the opening of the season is hunting for woodcock in the spring. It is also held in the fall season. Spring woodcock hunting lasts from fourteen to twenty-three days. An interesting fact: in contrast to our country, in France, for example, shooting a forest sandpiper is allowed from September to March.
Since the main periods of breeding and feeding of woodcock chicks in different areas of the Russian vast territory are different, there is no shortage of birds. This forest sandpiper does not cause much interest among poachers. It does not represent special value in culinary circles, therefore, rather, it is interesting as an object for sports shooting. Apparently, therefore, a certain length of time for its extraction does not carry any particular threat. Woodcock hunting lasts up to two months in the fall, depending on the region.
Spring shooting
This hobby can be called gambling. It requires the shooter not only to have weapons and special uniforms, but also to conduct shooting under certain conditions. The most popular is woodcock hunting in spring. It is, perhaps, the most affordable and fascinating option for the extraction of upland game.
Spring migration of this bird in warm weather may begin in February. With the advent of the first thawed patches - from the end of March until the middle of May - woodcocks arrive at their nesting sites. They can fly either singly or in pairs, or in groups of six or more individuals. In search of convenient places for females, flying around forest glades and clearings, as well as overgrown clearings, they select mainly semi-open areas.
An important factor on which hunting for woodcock in spring depends on its success is the weather, which affects the behavior of game. Warm, but cloudy or very humid evenings are considered the best. At this time, production flies low and slowly. Therefore, just at this time hunting in the spring woodcock will be the most effective.
At the same time, you need to know that this season you should not shoot females in any case, so as not to ruin the brood. The males of this bird, not caring about their offspring at all, do not contribute to its conservation.
Thrust
This is the name of the massive years of sandpiper in the evening and morning dawns. The most popular is traction hunting. Woodcock in spring during summer can be detected by the characteristic sounds made in the air. Traction can be observed depending on the weather both in the evening, immediately after sunset, and in the morning, just before sunrise.
The massive evening of the evening lasts about an hour or more, while the morning is much shorter and is completely over by sunrise. Where there is a lot of woodcock, flocks can go one after another during this period practically without a break. Then the thrust stops. During the night time between evening and morning summers, occasionally a sandpiper can stretch one or the other, no more.
Equipment
Woodcock hunting in the spring on traction is carried out using fractions No. 7 or 8. Since this bird is not large, and it flies quite high, the main requirements for weapons are sharpness of battle and constancy. From the shooter, of course, accuracy will be required with the ability to determine the flight path of the game.
If the forest sandpiper flies slowly and in a straight line, then the trigger can be pulled, taking aim at the tip of the beak. If the woodcocks fly far enough, do not run after them, since they, having made a sufficiently wide circle, will again bypass the hunter in an arc.
With limited lighting, additional difficulties can be created. Therefore, a person must possess not only good vision, but also an eye. And most importantly - he will need patience and perseverance. Some people use dogs in the hunt for woodcock for traction, but in this case their presence cannot be called decisive.
Traction hunting
In the evening, you must come to the place of shooting in advance, at least half an hour before sunset. Once in place, you need to look around and choose the most suitable point for the shot. When determining his location, the hunter should take into account at least three important circumstances: the most probable flight path of the woodcock, as well as the convenience for round fire, so that you do not inadvertently miss a sandpiper that came flying from either side without a bullet, while hiding itself behind a bush or Christmas tree itself, so as not to give out his presence ahead of time. The third characteristic that makes woodcock hunting effective in spring is the height of the surrounding trees.
It should be remembered that a sandpiper, as a rule, pulls at the very tops of trees, underestimating in those places where the forest is lower, and rising high above the tall trunk. Therefore, for parking it is best to choose a place in the middle of low vegetation, where young trees and shrubs predominate.
Features
Woodcock hunting in spring on traction is more effective if decoy is used. This is an old traditional trick of experienced professionals. If the bird flew by, you can also throw up a hat or mitten. The woodcock sees with a side vision the movement, taking an object for a female or an opponent. Here the hunter will need an excellent reaction, since the sandpiper can be very swift, and therefore you will need to shoot offhand.
In windy weather, the thrust is quite weak or the birds fly faster or higher than under normal conditions. In this case, when aiming, you need to have a sufficient lead, as during the hunt for ducks and other fast game. In this case, the front sight must be taken out before the flying woodcock. With favorable weather, there is no need for this. It is quite enough to bring the fly to the tip of the beak of prey, accompany it in this way for several seconds, and then shoot.
No wonder traction spring woodcock hunting was considered elite in former times. Of course, its result matters, but the process itself is even more important, which consists of preparation, long tracking of the bird and enjoyment of waiting for the moment of the shot. This is not shooting prey, this is hunting for the sake of the hunt itself.