There was relatively little interest in snipe hunting in 1953, 
although the few hunters contacted admitted little difficulty in getting 
their daily bag limit of 8 birds. In 1954 there was a noticeable increase 
in the number of snipe hunters in the field, but in no instance noted was 
the individual hunter successful in getting his bag limit. Neither year 
was the total kill large enough to cause any concern. 
California 
Field investigations were limited to the northern part of the State, 
and were concentrated to a large extent at Eureka, on Humboldt Bay, and 
at Los Banos, in the San Juaquin Valley. Humboldt Bay, with its extensive 
stretches of open marsh, would appear to be one of the major gathering 
places of the Wilson's Snipe on the Pacific coast. By early December 
suitable marshes supported large populations of birds, numbers noted 
being far in excess of those recorded on the Washington coast even in late 
November, 
At Eureka, excellent snipe habitat was found. The bay is bordered 
by wide stretches of open marsh, and here snipe occurred in abundance. 
Despite the limited time spent in the field, I now feel that this area is 
one of the more important stopping places for the Wilson's Snipe on the 
West coast, Numbers noted each day exceeded considerably my figures for 
either Oregon or the state of Washington, and as favorable conditions for 
a species such as this prevail throughout the winter months, it is probable 
that many individuals present in December remain until the northward move- 
ment in the spring. 
At Los Banos I found radically different conditions. Here the open 
marsh was largely artificial, being the result of deliberate over-irrigation. 
The primary object, of course, was to provide duck hunting, but the result- 
ing marsh areas provided good snipe habitat. I found snipe less abundant 
than at Eureka, but present in good numbers and consider the San Joaquin 
Valley a suitable habitat for this species during the winter months. 
Snipe hunting was found to be a comparatively popular sport in 
California, but as there was an equal abundance of waterfowl, particularly 
brant, on which the season opened the same day as that for snipe, hunting 
pressure was not excessive. 
Actual numbers of snipe observed 
Eureka (Humboldt Bay) San Joaquin Valley 
December 6 73 December 9 23 
e 7 87 * 1 7 
tt LU, Poe 59 "612 56 
tt 15 112 
ul 16 90 
" 17 79 
xafternoon only 
40 
