Our over-all average for the 25 birds weighed at the end of the 
critical period in the Vermilion-Iberia section was 147.2 gms. This 
is notably lower than the average weight of 178.0 gms. for 60 normal 
birds weighed by Reid during the past two years on the regular winter- 
ing grounds of west-central Louisiana. 
From these data it is apparent that woodcock that had been driven 
south by the freeze lost some body weight (average of about 30 grams) 
during the emergency. However, this loss did not seem to be critical. 
None of the birds we examined was emaciated. While they had no body 
fat, they were plump and in excellent flesh. We are convinced, there- 
fore, that woodcock did not suffer greatly from exposure or starvation 
during their emergency movement to the Louisiana coast. Had the 1951 
freeze lasted another week, the story might have been different. 
Tilegal_ Hunting 
Woodcock were quite vulnerable to hunters in the Vermilion-Iberia 
section. The narrow wooded strips were easy to cover without a dog, 
and the birds made easy targets when first flushed in the open parked 
woodlands. Once disturbed, however, they became very wild and erratic, 
and were difficult to hit. 
Shooting was heavy during the freeze, and undoubtedly quite a few 
woodcock were killed illegally during the critical period. However we 
find from personal observation, and from talking with wardens, that much 
of the bombardment during this time involved robins and other small birds. 
The run-of-the-mill "Meat-hunter" probably was more interested in robins 
than in the hard-to-hit "becasse." Also some of the shooting we heard 
represented illegal duck hunters, for ducks and blue geese literally 
swarmed into the rice fields during the worst of the weather. Rabbit 
hunters also contributed to the barrage, since the season for rabbit and 
quail was still open. 
Woodcock are very vulnerable to night shooting, and headlight 
hunters contributed materially to the heavy kill during the 190 freeze. 
We spent two nights working the Vermilion-Iberia section with a head- 
light, and saw no evidence of night hunting at this time. Woodcock 
were reported in farmyards and around watering troughs at dusk every 
evening, and could have been killed with ease. Doubtless some of these 
birds were killed, but a surprising number of farmers seemed to enjoy 
having the birds around. ; 
Glasgow reports, however, that night hunting was quite prevalent 
in the areas he worked, particularly following the freeze. 
