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Post by brokennock on May 7, 2022 7:08:21 GMT -7
.... and man.
Just wanted to share an experience a had a few days ago. A brief story, probably made not so brief in writing (mostly due to my ineptitude).
I was driving home around 16:40 the other day, driving through a heavily wooded area that includes a Wildlife Management Area. It is a mix of hardwoods and hemlock, with some wetland due to several springs in the area. All of a sudden a hawk of some type, not an adult retail for sure, too small and too light in color, swoops down ahead of my truck and proceeds to fly ahead of me down the middle of the lane, just barely higher than my truck roof. I past under it and could see it still flying down the road in my rearview mirror. Then I noticed something smaller, but not little, in the air to my right and ahead of me, essentially flying down the road over the breakdown lane. As I passed it, I recognized it to be an adult woodcock, some here call them a timberdoodle. I'm thinking that this bird is in trouble. I tried to drive and watch in the rear view mirror,,,, wasn't working,,, but I could see them both. I pulled over at a wide spot on the side of the road. The woodcock passed me, the hawk was still coming. As the hawk reached the tailgate of my truck I stuck my arm out the driver's side window and waved. The hawk veered into the woods on the opposite side of the road. I looked ahead and the timberdoodle was still flying down the breakdown lane. Another ten or so yards and it flew into the woods on the right side of the road, right being both starboard and correct.
I wonder if that woodcock knew of it's pursuit?
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Post by paranger on May 7, 2022 7:12:51 GMT -7
Very interesting, indeed! You are a good wingman...😉
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Post by spence on May 7, 2022 7:50:34 GMT -7
Congratulations. Few things are more pleasing than getting a glimpse of Mother Nature doing her thing.
Spence
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Post by spence on May 7, 2022 15:40:07 GMT -7
Woodcock, eh? Too bad you didn't have your cocking piece with you.
The Pennsylvania Gazette March 16, 1774 THO: PALMER Gun Smith AT his Shop, on the North Side of Market street, between Fourth and Fifth streets, hath for Sale, a Quantity of well made RIFLES, that he will dispose of very low for Cash. He likewise makes all Sorts of SHOT GUNS, such as straight Rifles, Cocking pieces, Fuzees, &c. in the best and neatest Manner, which hath gained the Approbation of some of the best Judges within the three Provinces.
The Pennsylvania Gazette May 14, 1761 Imported in the Ship Fanny, from London, Capt. Lane, and to be sold by JOSEPH WOOD, At his Store, at the Corner of Market and Second streets....boys guns, fowling pieces, cocking pieces of various prices,...
The Pennsylvania Gazette April 8, 1762 ....a parcel of neat cocking and squirrel pieces, bottle corks, &c. &c.
Wallace, Davidson & Johnson Order Book 1771-1774, Chancery Papers Exhibits 1773-1776, MSA no. 528-27, Maryland State Archives, Annapolis, Maryland, 47 In 1772, Charles Carroll ordered: 1 neat cocking Gun 3 feet 1 In & ½ in the Barrell with brass mounting to be bot of Wm Turvey - Stanton or Wilson, or a good as one as can be made may be got for four Guineas.
Spence
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Post by brokennock on May 7, 2022 18:37:13 GMT -7
Hmmm, great, excerpts, thank you. So, what be the difference between the "cooking piece," and the "fowling piece"? Can it only be used to shoot male birds? Maybe, if birds such as woodcock and quail are it's primary targets, it could be of smaller bore than a feeling piece meant for larger waterfowl?
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Post by spence on May 7, 2022 19:00:02 GMT -7
I've done very little woodcock shooting, but enough to know I would like a shorter, lighter, more nimble gun.
Pteryplegia, or the Art of Shooting Flying George Markland 1727
THERE SPRUNG a single Partridge_ha! she's gone! Oh! Sir, you'd Time enough, you shot too soon; Scarce twenty Yards in open Sight!_for Shame! Y'had shatter'd her to Pieces with right Aim! Full forty Yards permit the Bird to go, The spreading Gun will surer Mischief sow; But when too near the flying Object is, You certainly will mangle it, or miss; And if too far, you may too slightly wound To kill the Bird, and yet not bring to Ground. As Virtue 'twixt two Vices does consist, The same in Shooting justly is confest; But when the Trees diversify the Scene, No Mortal there can keep the Golden Mean. Spite of the Rules of Art he must let fly In one of the Extremes, too far, or nigh, Must nimbly take Advantage of what Leave The Opens, Glades and Interstices give. Where Woodcocks dodge, there Distance knows no Laws; Necessity admits no room for Pause.
Spence
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