I posted the pic as I was leaving from with my phone, so here are the details.
I am finally figuring out how to hunt woodcock here in Texas. It's taken me 3 years, but I'm getting there. I found a hunting spot that is hawkable last week. I can drive up to it and it consistently holds birds. Last week I moved 20 birds in an hour and half. This morning I moved 9. Apache caught 1 and then I shot the rest of my limit with a gun.
I knew the wind was supposed to get up, so I flew Apache first thing this morning. Apache rode the fist hooded while the dogs worked out in front. The cover is pretty thick, so I figured it would be easier to maneuver with him hooded. About 5 minutes into the hunt I realized my female wirehair hadn't checked back in with me. I usually hunt with beeper collars, but the batteries were dead today so I was collarless. I started looking for her and finally found her here:
I snapped a picture of her and then unhooded Apache. I began making the sh-sh-sh-sh sound I make when flushing for him. Apache was slicked down looking. The bird flushed and had a hard time clearing the brush. It was about head high when it finally cleared and Apache was already on his way. Apache was pumping hard and closing fast. The woodcock banked left and I could only see about 30 ft of the flight. I pulled the telemetry out and found him about 20yds away plucking his prize