WILSON'S SNIPE POPULATIONS AND HUNTING PRESSURE IN THE NORTHWEST 
Thomas D. Burleigh 
U. Se Fish and Wildlife Service 
After a long closed season, extending from 1940, Wilson's Snipe 
were legally hunted again in 1953 and 1954. To determine existing 
populations and hunting pressure in the northwestemm states where 
hunting was permitted, a detailed study was made during the two weds 
open season in Oregon and Washington in 1953, and in Oregon, Washington 
and northern California in 195), 
Oregon 
Both in 1953 and 195) the open season was the latter part of 
October. Suitable snipe habitat between Astoria and Tillamook was 
investigated in 1953, while in 195) the coast region south of Tillamook, 
to Coos Bay, was included in this study. Open marshes suitable for 
snipe were found along this entire stretch of coast, the more extensive 
areas offering the most optimum conditions being at Coos Bay. Both 
years snipe were noted in rather small numbers, and the conclusion was 
reached that October was too early for the bulk of the birds breeding 
farther north to have come this far south. The snipe is a hardy 
species, and is probably influenced in its southward movement in the 
fall by weather conditions in the northern part of its breeding range. 
Neither year was much interest in snipe hunting noted, and the 
total kill for the State for 1953 and 195) was thought to be negligible. 
Washington 
In 1953 the two weeks open season was the latter half of November, 
in 195 it was two weeks earlier, from the lst through the lth. The 
first year of this study suitable snipe habitat was investigated from 
Everett, south on the coast to Willapa Bay. The best area, both from 
the standpoint of the numbers of birds noted and interest in snipe 
hunting, was the open marsh on Grays Harbor, and for this reason the 
study was largely concentrated in this limited area in 195). Both years 
snipe were recorded in far greater numbers than in Oregon, and in larger 
numbers in 1953 than in 195, indicating an increase in transients from 
the north after the middle of November. Open marshes on Grays Harbor 
from which 30 to 4O birds could be flushed in late November, yielded a 
maximum of 12 to 15 birds when carefully searched in early November a 
year later, Assuming that weather is an important factor in the fall 
migration of this species, numbers noted in November could vary con- 
siderably from year to year, but it would appear now that in Washington 
the latter part of the month witnesses the arrival of the bulk of these 
birds from their northern breeding grounds. 
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