immatures per adult female has varied considerably among 
States and Provinces, and within these harvest areas, between 
years. Some of this variation was probably caused by differ¬ 
ences in hunting season dates, weather, and closures because 
of fire hazard. Nevertheless, overall weighted age ratios 
have not varied more than 4 percent from a 6-year mean of 1.81 
immatures per adult female, suggesting little change in wood¬ 
cock productivity continentwide since 1959. Note, however, 
that since 1961 (when the highest rate of 1.88 immatures per 
adult female was obtained), ratios have decreased annually to 
1.77 in 1964. Table 4 compares 1963 and 1964 age ratios by 
State where killed. 
The woodcock wing-collection survey also provides infor¬ 
mation necessary in establishing effective regulations. For 
example, it furnishes information on the distribution of the 
kill within the season, thus indicating some implications of 
earlier opening and later closing dates. It also provides 
information on the frequency with which various bag sizes are 
attained; this indicates effectiveness of daily bag limits in 
altering the harvest. 
Harvest trends The effects of hunting on both continen¬ 
tal and local woodcock populations are relatively unknown at 
present. However, trends in the annual woodcock harvest are 
indicated by kill surveys conducted in States and Provinces 
comprising more than half of their range (table 5). These 
data, although not based on statistically sound surveys in 
several instances, indicate that the woodcock harvest has 
more than doubled during the past decade. In fact, probably 
more than 750,000 woodcock were shot during the 1964 hunting 
season compared with an estimated 300,000 in 1954. Michigan 
ranks first in the North American harvest of woodcock with a 
1964 kill of approximately 176,500. New York and Wisconsin 
also reported shooting more than 100,000 woodcock during the 
1964 season. Other "known” primary harvest areas in recent 
years have been Maine and Massachusetts, with annual kills 
exceeding 30,000. 
-5- 
