La woodcock today he is the star of the woods: in recent years a considerable number of hunters have focused on this surprising bird not exclusively by choice. The abandonment of other hunts especially due to the scarce presence of game together with the spread of woodcock has made it a more than attractive prey.
It must also be taken into account that the queen of the woods is able to live in surprisingly diverse habitats and that all around her, many of the typical birds that once inhabited the peninsula are disappearing.
So the hunter did not have much left to do: he had to specialize and he had to opt for specialized dogs. For this reason, the problems to be faced for modern hunting are at least two: new perspectives that make woodcock hunting sustainable even in the long term, and dog specialization.
Sustainable hunting: new perspectives
Perhaps, I say and underline it, if in the peninsula there were still an abundance of partridges, quail, pheasants or partridges, swamps and good-natured territories for the life of sedentary game, not all hunters would have concentrated on woodcock, which today must withstand important pressure.
This is why a new vision of woodcock hunting is necessarily to be developed. An intelligent hunt, a hunt with hindsight, which protects the passion of the hunters and the survival of the queen in our woods. The elements that can give life to a new perspective are at least three:
- the elaboration of a new consciousness of the Italian hunter;
- the knowledge of the rhythms and times of the woodcock, which are respected and benefited;
- the presence at the side of the hunter of a capable and specialized dog.
Take appearance hunting for example. Unfortunately today it is still drastically widespread despite being illegal and repeatedly reiterated that it is a deleterious hunting technique, which does not respect modern scientific criteria. In short, to put it simply, the hunting values that have always been valid must now be placed in harmony with the contemporary world, as long as you want to go on a long way to hunt for woodcocks.
Woodcock alone or in company
Le hunting techniques there are many possible woodcock. It can be practiced for example by an individual alone with one or two dogs at his side: this is one of the best ways to appreciate not only the woodcock, but also its environment and hunting activity. You literally get in tune with the environment, you can experience the charm of the forest in autumn; the sportiness and the hunting challenge in this hunting mode is expressed to the maximum.
If, on the other hand, you choose to go hunting in pairs, the hunting performance is simplified, the possibilities of catching increase but this does not mean that the charm is negatively affected.
The environment of woodcocks
Woodcock hunting is never easy, but sometimes the hunter can make it even more complicated. In fact, the queen can be chased in lands that are known like the back of her hand, frequented for generations, or you can opt for unknown territories, large, inaccessible and fascinating, which drag you into a storybook. It is in this type of situation that the hunter must give the best of himself, and that the good relationship with his dog must come out. A difficult hunt, but able to give us stronger, truer emotions. In that case, the boundless forests, small groves, streams, bushy pastures, plains or hills become real protagonists to be fully experienced and respected as a precious treasure that we have received on loan and that we must return. intact.
The woodcock dog
Since the life environments of the woodcock are varied and the hunting techniques many, it would be a mistake to say that there is only one hunting dog that suits this kind of hunting activity.
Instead, it is more correct to say that whatever dog will accompany you in pursuit of the woodcock, the requisite that must not be lacking is intelligence. Let's justify the statement immediately: hunting dogs must all be intelligent and well trained but when it comes to woodcocks things are exasperated. When confronted with the dog, the woodcock is in fact able to substantially change its behavior, from one moment to the next, from one day to the next. It is above all this that puts the dog in difficulty: it is the intelligence, the shrewdness, the experience that gives our auxiliary a few more chances of success.
The excellent search skills that allow our friend not to leave out any corner of the forest, the quality of the stop and the ability to maintain contact through the guide are welcome. These are all traits that should not be lacking in the dog that is confronted with the woodcock, which shows itself to be intelligent, prepared, collaborative and indispensable for a more aware and modern vision of woodcock hunting.
You May Also Like ..
I agree 100% with the condemnation of the unethical and miserable practice of hunting the woodpecker by some hunters.
However, as for times not suspected, I have always maintained that the Woodcock "GOES DEFENSE UP MOUNTAIN NOT DOWN".
As long as in Belarus it is possible to hunt the woodcock looking in the month of May, (with the egg in the ass as they say in Lombardy) at the miserable cost of € 15 each, when in neighboring Croatia, or in Crimea, Ukraine, Macedonia, and other Eastern European nations, where there is no limit of game bag (just pay !!!) AND ITALIAN HUNTERS WHO GO TO THOSE COUNTRIES HAPPY HAPPY WITH CARNIERS OUTSIDE THE COMMON REASON, specialized hunting agencies or not, who advertise the possibility of making excellent daily game bags.
Do you want in Italy to impose limitations of game bag, shorten the hunting period, gathering of wings, studies, conferences, etc.
A greeting
I hunt in Croatia and it is not as Mr. Ratti says. Where I go hunting starts at 8 and ends at 16. There is also the limit of game bag which is 3 head of woodcock, many times they are not done and those that are they make you sweat for the infamous territory.
I believe that hunting the Woodcock abroad is just a huge deal for all these hunting agencies, which in recent years have sprung up like mushrooms in November.
Having said that, wouldn't it be better for all of us fans of this noble hunt to make it here in our house and ask all those who govern us to ban it abroad?
Anyway, dear friends, I am convinced that if we do not give ourselves a regulation, in a few years if we want to show a Woodcock to our grandchildren we need to get some photos or review some old videos.
Good things to all.