During the spring of 1979 we moved back to the Houston area and bought a nice home in Cypress in the Lakewood Forest Subdivision. The house was in Section 2, Section 3 was just being developed and, still to go, were Sections 4 and 5. In Section 5, as we explored the area, we found numerous ponds and the piney woods abounded with wildlife! Since it was only 5 minutes from our house, Randy, Brad and I quickly took advantage of this situation.

Lakewood Forest, Section 5

Confining our activities to Section 5, September 1 found us having “limit” dove shooting and the birds just seemed to continue to pour in. By November and quail season, my dog “training” had found several coveys that provided excellent shooting. Wood ducks and mallards frequented the ponds and sloughs near Cypress Creek and we were eagerly awaiting the December opening of duck season.

Brad scored first on a beautiful wood duck, drake that he had mounted and gave to a friend so I thought I’d try my luck on a “woodie”. Two days of rain slowed me down and finally taking off of work early, Rooster and I hit Section 5.

The first pond we “snuck” was void of ducks and we were slinking on to the next one when, just ahead, Rooster came down hard on point. Looking down, quickly checking the brush and grass for snakes, I spied the telltale holes poked by woodcock, one more step and tweep, tweep, flutter, flutter and two woodcock took to wing. My pump boomed twice ending their escape and Rooster fetched them both in. We cooked them that night and they were wonderful!

These were the only two woodcock to come out of Section 5, because by January 1, 1980, things had changed. Access was denied, posted signs were up and cables were strung across the 2 entry roads. The boys and I “snuck” back in once but we felt very awkward carrying our shotguns through the resident’s backyards in broad open daylight!