John, yes there is walked up woodcock shooting here in 'Limey Land' but it requires information from someone in the know with permission to shoot on the land. I used to have access to some excellent shooting in the Goyt Valley in north Derbyshire, which is in sight of Manchester, until someone waved some pound notes in front of the Farmer's nose which was more than I was prepared to pay. Plenty of snipe, woodcock and hill partridge (grey partridge but a faster and leaner breed). Shame as that would have been ideal.
They do breed here in certain areas; north Derbyshire being one such, but the majority come in as continental migrants in late October on the full moon. It's a chancy business as they can be here today and gone tomorrow. They feed at night so are put up from under bushes where they are resting up. Needs a dog really to nose them out. On driven shoots sometimes quite a few come out and sometimes none. I rarely bother to raise the gun to them on driven shoots as then they are then often rather easy; the best system is to walk them up with a dog which requires quick snap shooting. Good luck in your search. Lagopus.....
