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Woodcock are one of the oddest birds in North America. They are a shorebird that got lost and ended up in the scrubby parts of the forest, and look like they were put together with the leftover parts of other birds. Oddities aside, each spring they rise to great beauty with their sky dance at dusk. Greg Hoch combines natural history, land management, scientific knowledge, and personal observation to examine this little game bird. Woodcock have a complex life history and the management of their habitat is also complex. The health of this bird can be considered a key indicator of what good forests look like.

“A fall of woodcock into a covert you have either chosen or to which you have been directed is a magic all its own,” Tom Huggler writes in this book devoted to the woodcock and to those who await the return to their favorite coverts each autumn. This book, with a new introduction by Charley Waterman, casts a similar spell as it chronicles Tom’s travels to New England, the Maritimes, Maine, Louisiana, then back to his beloved Michigan in search of a better understanding of the woodcock, and finally, a better understanding of himself. Like the annual migratory flights of the woodcock, A Fall of Woodcock follows no particular line, but rather meanders along the main currents and causeways of Huggler’s life, dropping down here and there in places that both sustain it and give it meaning. It covers his early hunting years, old friends and new ones, four-legged partners, woodcock researchers, and a visit with H. G. “Tap” Tapply. Huggler also traces his evolution from a run-and-gun birder to a slower but surer hunter who sets his own pace and his own bag limits. Those familiar with the magic and mystery of the American woodcock are sure to find a kindred spirit here. Skyhorse Publishing is proud to publish a broad range of books for hunters and firearms enthusiasts. We publish books about shotguns, rifles, handguns, target shooting, gun collecting, self-defense, archery, ammunition, knives, gunsmithing, gun repair, and wilderness survival. We publish books on deer hunting, big game hunting, small game hunting, wing shooting, turkey hunting, deer stands, duck blinds, bowhunting, wing shooting, hunting dogs, and more. While not every title we publish becomes a New York Times bestseller or a national bestseller, we are committed to publishing books on subjects that are sometimes overlooked by other publishers and to authors whose work might not otherwise find a home.

This antiquarian book contains a fascinating treatise on the woodcock, and includes information on its natural history, habit and habitats, how to find and hunt them, and much more. This informative and practical book is highly recommended for those with an interest in hunting woodcock, and it would also make for a great addition to collections of hunting literature. The chapters of this book include: “Opening Days”, “Characteristics and Habits”, “The Yearly Cycle”, “Migrations and Flights”, “Banding Operations”, “Fight for Survival”, “Woodcock Cover”, “Hunting Equipment”, “Dogs and Guns”, “Hunting Methods”, “The W. D. A.”, etcetera. Many antiquarian books such as this are increasingly hard to come by and expensive, and it is with this in mind that we are republishing this book now in an affordable, modern, high quality edition. It comes complete with a specially commissioned new introduction on ornithology.

This antique text contains a comprehensive guide to woodcock shooting, including a wealth of helpful information on such topics as equipment selection and natural history. The perfect book for those with an interest in the hunting of this wildfowl, 'Woodcock Shooting and the Gun for the Job' is timeless in its value and constitutes a great addition to collections of hunting literature. The chapters of this book include: 'Woodcocks', 'Woodcock Shooting', 'Charges for Woodcock Shooting', 'Woodcock Shooting Continued', 'The Gun for the Job', and 'More about Guns'. We are proud to republish this book now complete with a new introduction on the subject of shooting wildfowl.

"It seems as though wherever wingshooters and dog people get together, and the talk turns to the things they read and the writers they respect, the name Steve Smith is one of the first mentioned. His biography includes over 35 years as on outdoor editor and involvement in the sporting industry. But through all of this, there was always woodcock. Smith did his graduate work on them, has hunted them in a dozen states and provinces, waits impatiently for the spring skydancing displays, and still can't sleep the night before the season opens. In the words of famed author Tom Davis: Other gamebirds excite; the woodcock beguiles. With his inimitable blend of wit, insight, expansive knowledge, and deep but lightly worn wisdom, Steve Smith beautifully chronicles his lifelong love affair with this enigmatic charmer"--Amazon.

A Lifetime of Grouse and Woodcock Hunting By: Rodger Lundell Interest in bird dogs was planted as a seed in Rodger Lundell when he saw his first grouse flush at age five. From the mid-1940s to present, grouse and woodcock hunting has served as his major diversion on a year-round basis, hunting in season and developing his English setters, which includes continuous conditioning. A Lifetime of Grouse and Woodcock Hunting celebrates the great joy of spending time in the outdoors and hunting wildlife, especially with English setters.