normal in the Leesville vicinity the last six months of 1951, there was 
less favorable wodcock habitat in the area. Many small creeks, branches, 
bay galls, and seepy hillsides, which *housed" woodcock during the two 
preceding winters, were dry this season. The soil of many of the post 
oak flat feeding areas was dry and hard packed. These dry areas contain- 
ed no wodcock. In the two previous years, under mist conditions, 
woodcock were present. 
The woodcock coverts at Alco, Louisiana were checked on three 
occasions this winter. No woodcock were found; very scanty wodcock 
sign was noted. The post oak flats were dry and hard. In the winter 
1950-51 a similar single round at Alco netted 1) woodcock points. The 
"Clubhouse" area at the Red Dirt Game Management Preserve is another 
example. Three rounds of the area were made with dogs, and no wodcock 
were found. During the previous winter it was not uncommon to get 10 to 
1k woodcock points on a like round. The dry condition of the area was, 
no doubt, responsible for the poor utilization this year. 
The best woodcock count this season was obtained January 17, 1952 
in Rapides Parish (TSN R5W) between Temple and Flatwoods, Louisiana. 
Here, along Cypress Bayou and the adjacent seepy hillsides, 16 wodceock 
points were made in a four hour round (point per 15 minutes). The Bayou 
contained water and the hillsides were moist. Woodcock probings were 
numerous on these moist hillsides. Where conditions were favorable, 
woodcock were found. 
In addition to the less favorable conditions for wintering wod- 
cock in this area, it might be mentioned that the south experienced a 
mild winter. Woodcock may have lingered in more northern coverts or 
spread out over a larger area in the south. 
In this connection Goodrum observed wintering woodcock as far west 
as Van Zandt County, Texas. To the east he observed woodcock on the Leaf 
River Refuge, Greene County, Mississippi and the Eglin Air Force Base, 
Okaloosa and Walton Counties in West Florida. Aldrich saw one in Refugto 
County, Texas. 
. Migration 
The first woodcock observed this fall were seen on the Red Dirt 
Game Management Preserve on November 7, 1951. In 1950, the first wod- 
cock was noted on October 7 on the same area. These observations indicate 
a later arrival of the birds for the winter 1951-52, 
From the field data obtained this winter, the woodcock reached peak 
numbers in this region the third week in January (Table 2). During this 
week the dogs averaged a point for every 36 minutes afield. In the 1950-51 
season, peak numbers of woodcock were observed in the Leesville area‘ the 
