US Fish & Wildlife Service
Date of this Version
2007
Citation
Kelley, J.R., Jr., R. D. Rau, and K. Parker. 2007. American woodcock population status, 2007. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Laurel, Maryland. 17pp.
Abstract
Singing-ground Survey data indicated that the numbers of displaying American woodcock (Scolopax minor) in the Eastern Region in 2007 declined 11.6% from 2006; however, the Central Region was unchanged. There was no significant trend in woodcock heard in either the Eastern or Central Region during 1997-07. This represents the fourth consecutive year that the 10-year trend estimate did not indicate a significant decline. There were long-term (1968-07) declines of 2.0% per year in the Eastern Region and 1.8% per year in the Central Region. The 2006 recruitment index for the U.S. portion of the Eastern Region (1.5 immatures per adult female) was 7% lower than the 2005 index, and 8% lower than the long-term regional average. The 2006 recruitment index for the U.S. portion of the Central Region (1.6 immatures per adult female) was 11% higher than the 2005 index, and 2% higher than the long-term regional average. The Harvest Information Program indicated that U.S. woodcock hunters in the Eastern Region spent 144,200 days afield and harvested 78,000 birds during the 2006-07 season. In the Central Region, U.S. hunters spent 344,300 days afield and harvested 232,600 woodcock.