Shot size for woodcock.

Raven Armament · September 5, 2010, 06:41 PM

Will be pursuing woodcock this fall for the first time. I handload all my ammunition. I will be using a 20ga single shot. I can load any shot size I want.

Conditions are mostly open field on a 140 acre farm. Partly wooded, thick hardwoods but I'll be trying first in open fields. Been riding all day on the ATV with my 4yo son and we flushed several dozen birds. Choke is modified. No dog.

What is recommended for shot size? Thanks.

ACP230 · September 6, 2010, 02:17 PM

When I hunted woodcock I used six or seven and a half shot in my 20 gauge.
I was also hunting grouse in the same areas so didn't want to go to smaller shot. Sixes worked fine on the birds I took.

Some folks say eights are better for woodcock, but I'd only use them if I was hunting woodcock exclusively.

Jo6pak · September 6, 2010, 02:31 PM

I use mainly 7 1/2 in my 12ga. for grouse, so I would bet that will work for woodies as well.

Neve exclusivley hunted woodcock, a few times I've bumped one while rabbit of grouse hunting, but never actually hit one.

I find the toghest part of hunting without a dog is choosing shots. Many times a shot in or over heavy brush may need to be passed on, for it can be very difficult to recover the animal.

Have fun, be safe. Those little buggers can be tough to hit.

RaySendero · September 6, 2010, 03:29 PM

Yep, 7½s

BlueMike · September 6, 2010, 03:29 PM

I also use 7 1/2 in a 20 gauge. Are you using a dog? Woodcock are a lot of fun to hunt with dogs if you can catch a bunch passing through your area...but they pass through our area pretty quickly. The best part is if (when) you miss they won't fly far and the dog will be able to pick them up again quickly. You can spend a couple of hours hunting in a small area if you can find them.

Best of luck on your hunt...Mike

hooligan1 · September 6, 2010, 05:17 PM

Yeah the 7 1/2's have killed lot's of different birds for this household!!

oneounceload · September 6, 2010, 06:01 PM

Load those 7-1/2's to basic target loading at 1200 fps

publius · September 9, 2010, 01:19 AM

#8 for woodcock and quail. 7 1/2 or maybe 6 if grouse are a possibility.

nathaniel · September 9, 2010, 08:29 AM

Any lead I buy is 7 1/2. I've killed just about every small game animal with it. I started using steel shot for everything cause we hunt alot of public land and its a buggar switching from lead to steel so I bought some 4 shot. Talk about overkill there wasnt anything left of the woodcock. so I bought some steel small game loads that were 7 shot. Either way right around the 7 area.

Raven Armament · September 9, 2010, 08:44 AM

Excellent. Thank you, gentlemen.

pbrktrt · September 10, 2010, 03:35 PM

I always used my #9 skeet loads and killed a ton of woodcock with them. But with no dog it may be tough to find them after you knock them down. Try to wait to shoot until they kind of reach the apex of their initial launch and they are a little easier to connect with. Your modified choke is a little tight IMO but would work if you let them get some distance. Good luck and save the legs, they are some good eating white meat. It is a strange little game bird, eating only earthworms but cooked properly they are very tasty. The whitewash will let you know if they are there or have been recently.

James R. Burke · September 11, 2010, 05:42 PM

7and half. If it is just woodcock 8 would work good also, and give you some more pellets.

September 5, 2010, 06:41 PM	#1
Raven Armament Junior member Join Date: July 27, 2010 Location: Midwest Posts: 45	Shot size for woodcock. Will be pursuing woodcock this fall for the first time. I handload all my ammunition. I will be using a 20ga single shot. I can load any shot size I want. Conditions are mostly open field on a 140 acre farm. Partly wooded, thick hardwoods but I'll be trying first in open fields. Been riding all day on the ATV with my 4yo son and we flushed several dozen birds. Choke is modified. No dog. What is recommended for shot size? Thanks.

September 6, 2010, 02:17 PM	#2
ACP230 Senior Member Join Date: October 18, 2000 Posts: 708	When I hunted woodcock I used six or seven and a half shot in my 20 gauge. I was also hunting grouse in the same areas so didn't want to go to smaller shot. Sixes worked fine on the birds I took. Some folks say eights are better for woodcock, but I'd only use them if I was hunting woodcock exclusively. __________________ "To disarm the people (is) the best & most effectual way to enslave them." George Mason.

September 6, 2010, 02:31 PM	#3
Jo6pak Senior Member Join Date: August 5, 2010 Location: West Coast...of WI Posts: 1,663	I use mainly 7 1/2 in my 12ga. for grouse, so I would bet that will work for woodies as well. Neve exclusivley hunted woodcock, a few times I've bumped one while rabbit of grouse hunting, but never actually hit one. I find the toghest part of hunting without a dog is choosing shots. Many times a shot in or over heavy brush may need to be passed on, for it can be very difficult to recover the animal. Have fun, be safe. Those little buggers can be tough to hit. __________________ NRA Life Member, SAF contributor.

September 6, 2010, 05:17 PM	#6
hooligan1 Senior Member Join Date: July 18, 2010 Location: Independence Missouri Posts: 4,586	Yeah the 7 1/2's have killed lot's of different birds for this household!! __________________ Keep your Axe sharp and your powder dry.

September 6, 2010, 03:29 PM	#4
RaySendero Senior Member Join Date: August 23, 2010 Location: US South Posts: 857	Yep, 7½s

September 6, 2010, 03:29 PM	#5
BlueMike Member Join Date: August 26, 2010 Posts: 26	I also use 7 1/2 in a 20 gauge. Are you using a dog? Woodcock are a lot of fun to hunt with dogs if you can catch a bunch passing through your area...but they pass through our area pretty quickly. The best part is if (when) you miss they won't fly far and the dog will be able to pick them up again quickly. You can spend a couple of hours hunting in a small area if you can find them. Best of luck on your hunt...Mike

September 6, 2010, 06:01 PM	#7
oneounceload Junior member Join Date: April 18, 2008 Location: N. Central Florida Posts: 8,518	Load those 7-1/2's to basic target loading at 1200 fps

September 9, 2010, 01:19 AM	#8
publius Senior Member Join Date: January 25, 2005 Location: Mississippi/Texas Posts: 2,505	#8 for woodcock and quail. 7 1/2 or maybe 6 if grouse are a possibility. __________________ "Suppose you were an idiot, and suppose you were a member of Congress, but I repeat myself." Mark Twain

September 9, 2010, 08:29 AM	#9
nathaniel Senior Member Join Date: March 11, 2010 Location: North Dakota Posts: 600	Any lead I buy is 7 1/2. I've killed just about every small game animal with it. I started using steel shot for everything cause we hunt alot of public land and its a buggar switching from lead to steel so I bought some 4 shot. Talk about overkill there wasnt anything left of the woodcock. so I bought some steel small game loads that were 7 shot. Either way right around the 7 area.

September 9, 2010, 08:44 AM	#10
Raven Armament Junior member Join Date: July 27, 2010 Location: Midwest Posts: 45	Excellent. Thank you, gentlemen.

September 10, 2010, 03:35 PM	#11
pbrktrt Senior Member Join Date: January 9, 2008 Posts: 313	I always used my #9 skeet loads and killed a ton of woodcock with them. But with no dog it may be tough to find them after you knock them down. Try to wait to shoot until they kind of reach the apex of their initial launch and they are a little easier to connect with. Your modified choke is a little tight IMO but would work if you let them get some distance. Good luck and save the legs, they are some good eating white meat. It is a strange little game bird, eating only earthworms but cooked properly they are very tasty. The whitewash will let you know if they are there or have been recently.

September 11, 2010, 05:42 PM	#12
James R. Burke Senior Member Join Date: January 3, 2009 Location: U.P. of Mich/Quinnesec Posts: 1,897	7and half. If it is just woodcock 8 would work good also, and give you some more pellets.