Most pointing dogs will start holding points better with age and experience. Just keep teaching whoa, and hang on for the ride. You don't need a professional trainer. Sounds like you you have the makings of a great bird dog.

Also, thanks guys for the pictures. I'm a slow reader.

Good hunt(s),and thanks for the pics too. That'll keep me going for the end of a somewhat disapointing season for me and my dog. You obviously have a pocket of them there, which is the way it works with woodcock in particular. A good friend of mine and I could tell many tales about wc hunting near Lufkin, on property that is no longer accessible, to us anyway.

I have a few more east Texas places to try next week, then maybe back to Louisiana to end the season.

Well I got no dog... but Imma give it one more go...haha gluten for punishment!!

Yes I walked most of the wooded areas on my place and found most of the birds in one area. Going to go as many times as I can get away and focus on the area where I found them. Also going to try the National Forest bordering where I found them. It is so true that woodcock are unpredictable and just "where you find them".

Bill your dogs are beautiful too. It is very encouraging to hear you say I don't need a professional trainer. Jenny and I are really just having fun and that's what it's all about in my book.

My thoughts on woodcock are like 71snipe said in that they will be in "pockets". But find those pockets and there is a good chance you will find them in the same place every year near the same time provided the conditions are the same.

Snipe on the other hand, which do not share the same habitat and an entirely different kind of bird, you never know. Everything can be exactly the same and a place that had 100s of birds one year, can never have a bird stop there again. I rarely hunt snipe in the same place every year. But for woodcock when I had access years go to more places to hunt them, they were very predictable from year to year.

I did that several times before I got Jenny. It is fun as heck and a really good way to scout during the offseason too. My problem is I am not a very proficient shotgunner (understatement of the year) and when I would finally flush one it would startle me so bad I couldn't hit it. I think some trap or skeet shooting practice is in order.

Well that's very good to know and encouraging.

Definitely skeet, 7 1/2, an 8 shot at 1300 fps w a wide open choke. Even found some shotguns w spiraled bores to open the shot pattern even more. Short barrels.
I wouldn't ever own an O/U while quail and pheasant hunting. Did years of it in Kansas in early 90's
I would (will) definitly use on woodcock!

Fiocci 8 1/2 spreader load works very well for this kind of hunting

Where do you order them?

Out of stock, but this is where I get them.
http://www.ableammo.com/catalog/fiocchi-...e-p-120517.html

#8 is in stock and if you check the site there are other spreader load options from the same brand, but I don't think the 1 oz load option does as well. May be a different wad design.

http://www.ableammo.com/catalog/fiocchi-...e-p-111700.html

From the 2013 Fiocchi catalog.

Spreader Loads
Fiocchi Spreaders are available in 1 and 1 1/8 ounce versions for close target
presentations. The 1 ounce Interceptor Spreader at 1300 f.p.s. is great for
shooters who prefer 1 ounce loads. Two loads with 1 1/8 ounce (the Power
Spreader at 1200 and the Rino Spreader at 1250 f.p.s.) offer loads with
velocities common with other target loads (and similar target leads). Softer
shot and purpose-oriented spreading wads induce larger patterns at shorter
ranges for specific applications. These are great in single-barrel target guns
when you can’t change chokes between two targets. For example, if you
encounter a pair of targets with the first shot close and the second far, load
the Spreader to shoot first and follow up with your usual target load for the
longer shot. Problem solved.


Kent makes a spreader load also, but I have not tried it.

Pricier but all spreader loads are above the typical field loads.

www.polywad.com

Way too much. The Fiocchi shells pattern really well and I am willing to spend a couple extra bucks over promo loads for the better shot to kill ratio and less meat damage on close game. But I see no good reason to spend the extra 5 or 6 bucks over the Fiocchi spreader to get those.

What I want is a #7 steel spreader load that patterns well.

Wouldn't pay Polywad's price either for 12 gauge but provides some perspective for the 12 gauge Fiocchi pricing.

If MBK needs spreader loads for another gauge, I think RST and Polywad are the only option.

watch where they land and be ready on round 2 hard to shoot period where I'm seeing most of them b/c there's no way to swing on them. Glad yall got one

Ya. My rule this year has been "just get to shooting". It is a challenge but you will never get a bird unless you get started shooting.
Haven't shot a big pine at close range yet but have shot through my share of yaupon holly thicket b

I've peeled a little bark off. That's how I knew I'd stopped my swing!

X2

I humbly must say I have shot more pines than woodcock. Nor am I too proud of the fact that each pine hit has often been followed by a cuss word.

my problem would me running arms through young honey locust and just not able to actually move the gun. They;re holding in some thick mess.

Couldn't stand it and went back out this afternoon. Went 2 for 3! As you can see, Jenny is much happier with me.

What a cool picture!

She flushed and fetched the first one and dropped it right into my hand. So cool!

The second one we kinda flushed together and I shot it,watched where it fell, and walked to it and still couldn't find it. She was just sitting by me as I kept telling her to find it. I thought that was kind of strange until she finally nudged it about 6 inches from my boot. I guess she thought I was guarding it.

Tikka doesn't want to pick em up. She finds them though. I'm still thrilled she points. Worse case I will force break. She did finally bring one back. I made a big deal out of it.