Over the last 30-plus years, the woodcock population across its range in the Midwest and northeast U.S. has shown a steady decline which biologists believe 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 10 years. Interest in pursuing the “timberdoodle” throughout the forests of Wisconsin remains high with over 19,000 woodcock hunters spending 72,000 days in the field in 2006. Wisconsin ranks second in the nation for woodcock harvest at almost 43,000 birds. Overall, hunters should expect to see woodcock numbers similar to the last few years and depending on the weather, should enjoy a good fall.
Woodcock season: Sept. 22 to Nov. 5, with a daily bag of three birds.
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Kent Van Horn, DNR waterfowl ecologist - (608) 266-8841
