Don't anyone freak out!
But only careful plucking will do.

This brace were:
Frozen whole within minutes of shooting.
Dunked and shaken briefly in a cauldron of 167 degree water, with a dash of Murphy's oil soap added.

Carefully plucked, starting with the wings, working up the feather tracks, around the beaks, and finishing at the eyelids.
Then another quick swish in the water (smelled faintly like plucking a chicken) and finished with tweezers.
Rinsed in cold water, all wounds probed with tweezers to remove any shot or drawn feathers, rinsed, and patted dry.

The skin of migratory woodcock is resinous with fat. You can see it in the scald water, and it gets on your fingers as you pluck them.

When carefully done, you end up with these (a boy and a girl).



Apologies if these food prep photos are over the top.

Out there doing it best I can.