MADISON -- Interest in pursuing the “timberdoodle,” as woodcock is also known, throughout the forests of Wisconsin remains high with more than 19,000 woodcock hunters spending 72,000 days in the field in 2006, according to federal harvest surveys. Wisconsin ranks second in the nation for woodcock harvest at almost 43,000 birds.
Over the last 30-plus years, the woodcock population across its range in the Midwest and northeastern U.S. has shown a steady decline, according to state wildlife biologists, who believe the drop is primarily related to changes in forest habitat.
However, in Wisconsin, this decline appears to have leveled off with no significant change over the last decade, according to Kent Van Horn, migratory wildlife ecologist for the Department of Natural Resources.
“Overall, hunters should expect to see woodcock numbers similar to the last few years and depending on the weather, should enjoy a good fall,” Van Horn says.
Woodcock season runs Sept. 22 to Nov. 5, with a daily bag of three birds.
Woodcock hunters need to note that because woodcocks are a migratory bird species, hunters must be registered for the Harvest Information Program (HIP), a federal program that helps the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service monitor the harvest of migratory bird species by randomly selecting a sample of HIP registered hunters and asking them to participate in a harvest survey.
Becoming HIP registered is a simple process. When hunters apply for a license they are asked if they intend to hunt migratory game birds in Wisconsin this year. If they answer “yes,” they are asked about the number of ducks and geese harvested last year and whether or not they hunted other migratory birds. Once those questions are answered, the hunter is HIP registered.
Detailed woodcock hunting regulations can be found in the Migratory Bird Regulations available on the hunting regulations page of the DNR Web site and at DNR service centers, license outlets.
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Kent Van Horn, DNR waterfowl ecologist - (608) 266-8841 or Kimberlee Benton (608) 261-6458
