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| WOODCOCK (Scolopax rusticola L.) | |
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Šljuka-bena (Scolopax rusticola L.) - Hunting season: 01.10.-28.02.
Hunting:Waiting on overflight places or hunting with pointer dog. Rifle: Double or over/under 12, 16 or 20 bore shotgun, low weight and with cylinder or skeet choke. The cartridge must not contain too much lead large: numbers ranging from 8 to 10 are best. 
Woodcock (Scolopax rusticola L.) is a traditional game species
in the Republic of Croatia. During spring and autumn migration woodcock reside for a short
period in our hunting grounds. They usually inhabit areas covered by hornbeam and oak
forests, due to their characteristic way of feeding.The Woodcock prefers woods based on soils rich in humus, where availability and density of earthworms is higher. The Eurasian Woodcock, is a medium-small wading bird found in temperate and subarctic Eurasia. It has cryptic camouflage to suit its woodland habitat, with reddish-brown upperparts and buff-coloured underparts. Its eyes are set far back on its head to give it 360-degree vision and it probes in the ground for food with its long, sensitive bill, making it vulnerable to cold weather when the ground remains frozen. Breeding period in Europe begins in February until August, according to local conditions within the breeding range. Egg-laying period is from mid-March in the Baltic region, while in the UK and Ireland laying starts early March with peak between mid-March to Mid-April, late clutches happening till mid-July. Woodcocks live in dense damp woodland and are so well camouflaged that they would be rarely seen if it wasn't for their roding display flights when males fly back and forth over woodlands on spring evenings. The purpose of these flights has long been a mystery but apparently the males are cruising up and down looking for a female to mate with.  Eurasian Woodcock are crepuscular (most active at dawn and dusk) and rarely active during the day unless flushed, when they fly off with a whirring wing noise. The flight is somewhat owl- or bat-like; Woodcock fly fast and direct while migrating or crossing open country, but fly erratically with twisting and fluttering once in woodland. They are usually solitary and migrate singly, but may congregate when weather or geographical conditions force them to do so. Eurasian Woodcock forage in soft soil in thickets, usually well hidden from sight. They mainly eat earthworms, but also insects and their larvae, freshwater molluscs and some plant seeds. Because they rely on probing into the ground to find food, they are vulnerable to cold winter weather when the ground remains frozen. The most used dogs for hunting woodcock in Croatia are setter, english or german pointer dog or epagneul breton. These species of dogs are meant to find, point and fetch the game, as they have soft mouths and can bring you back your catch without tearing it up. Woodcock shooting is traditionally carried out by two methods: shooting from a ground on overflight places and close-quarter hunting with pointer dogs. The shooting of the woodcock requires more skill and experience than any other game. It is an unpredictable bird, that requires careful treatment, but is worth all the trouble. The rifle for hunting woodcock must first of all be light. The woodcock is not very resistant on shot, so sizes that can fit are 12 and 20 in addition to almost disappeared 16. Therefore barrel shotgun must have two powers: to be short because a good shot always take place in small distance and to have minimal choke (cylinder or skeet). The cartridge used in hunting woodcock must have two requirements: not too heavy, because the shooting takes place at close range and have significant capacity expansion of impact. The cartridge used in hunting woodcock must have two requirements: not too heavy, because the shooting takes place at close range and have significant capacity expansion of impact. Precisely for this reason, the weapon-making industry makes available cartridges called 'dispersanti' that are characterized by container with internal fins which tend to separate the swarm of dots allowing the dispersal of shot. The cartridge must not contain too much lead large: numbers ranging from 8 to 10 are best. | |
Open fire roasting is the only means of doing culinary justice to this noble bird; the inequality of roasting because of the legs makes it clear that such a delicate operation cannot be anyhow effected in a baking oven. The time for cooking may be estimated at from fifteen to twenty minutes, but if over-cooked the bird becomes tough, and without savour. Serve on toast, and garnish with watercress. Among Woodcock traditional specialties, one of the most esteemed is preparing its intestines. Along with these way of preparation, there are plenty of different recipes for preparation of woodcock meat. USEFULL LINKS: |
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