Sensible approach, sustainable sport
Oct 27, 2021
4 minutes
WITH MIKE SWAN
The cry of ‘Woodcock!’ gets everyone on the shoot excited, and no wonder — we are all fascinated by this elusive and enigmatic bird. We may consider it a gamebird but really it is a wader, more closely allied to curlew, lapwing and redshank than to the likes of pheasant and black grouse. That wonderful cryptic camouflage plumage sets it apart, too, and is no accident; it indicates a very palatable bird. “The better the camouflage, the better the meat” is a general principle, so give me a woodcock over a woodpecker every time.
It is well known now that home-breeding woodcock are in decline, with both range contraction and
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