Southern Woodcock Report
27 Dec 2025
It’s hot and dry! We moved four birds from the most moist soil type cover we could find, riparian areas with privet, greenbriar, etc. Normal (accessible) higher ground covers were very dry and devoid of birds. I did have to fight Pete out of some young pine cutovers that were too dense to access. He pointed on the edge and I suspect there may have been a good number of birds in that type of cover. I reckon the birds are getting some relief from the heat from the insulating effect of the young pines and some moisture due to the mulch on the floor. Rain and cooler weather in the forecast. Fingers crossed that it helps distribute birds into more accessible areas.
Pete is hanging in there and still looks good on the ground despite the heat. He is locating birds in tough conditions. Versie tagged along yesterday and got in on two of his points. He’s had about five contacts this season in total. I believe he recognizes woodcock as game, but is still putting things together. He has yet to point and handle his own bird. One good hunt with decent bird numbers should do the trick. Possum has been out once, but needs a better handle, so I’ll focus on that for the next week or so before dropping him in the woods again.
