Woodcock with a bow

Woodcock with a bow

Shooting woodcock with a bow is a lot easier than a lot of bird hunters think. With a good pointing dog out in front, some Johnny flu flus and Snaros from Snaro.net it is actually great fun and very rewarding.  Woodcock hold on point very well and most of the time the bird is only a few feet and sometimes only inches out in front of the dog which really allows a hunter to zero in on where the bird will flush from.

Birds Eye View in Wisconsin is a great resource for all thing aerial. Even woodcock!

Woodcock with a bow

Shooting woodcock with a bow requires a dog that holds rock solid on a point, a bit of practice, and a few Snaros from Snaro.net. As well as woodcock hold on a point the hunter can usually manuever for the best possible shot, and unlike shotgunners a bowhunter doesn’t need to wait for the bird to fly 15-20 yards for the best shot pattern. A 6″ Snaro is a great option if the birds are hiding in shorter hazel brush, and the 3″ works great when the birds are hunkered down in the taller tag alders.

Woodcock with a bow

I usually carry two extra Snaros in my hunting vest when I’m shooting woodcock with a bow, put extra arrows without tips in my quiver, and the nature of bird hunting allows me the time to screw a Snaro onto another arrow if by chance I lose one. Losses are rare though because I’m shooting at the birds before they get too high and the loops of the snaros don’t let the arrow disappear into the creek bottom.