Stan,
Shooting Woodcock in Michigan, I've seen a few pause after going straight up and clearing the canopy in the trees. I swear I thought some even looked back at me in a mocking fashion.
Karl
Hunting in young aspen (popple) with a lot of vertical density, they will often go up and out. It may not be exactly a pause, but you do have a moment when it's kinda like hitting a hanging curve ball. Unfortunately, those moments don't come often enough. Or else when they do, you're still trying to get yourself clear of the pucker brush to shoot.
None of the ones I missed last season paused and looked back at me..........or anything else. They just beat it out of there as fast as possible. Years ago I recall a few seemingly "pause" as they went from vertical to horizontal flight. But, they don't seem to do that anymore down here.
SRH
