Wing Survey results arrived today

[finsfurfeathers]

So the wing survey results arrived today.
Talley
4 adult male woodcock
5 adult female woodcock
17 immature male woodcock
8 immature female woodcock
Thing I found interesting
1. with the cold wet spring/summer last year apparently they still had a good recruitment
2. pretty good taking a majority of immature male birds (least detrimental to population growth)

[JMatthews]

Great results.

[Lor79]

Interesting, thanks for sharing Fins!

Lorenzo

[finsfurfeathers]

So no one else participating in the survey?
Was curious as to others results.
Really the only way they are sampling the population and hunter activity.

[JMatthews]

I got my report back. I have been sending in wings for over 10 years now. It’s always interesting to get the results.

[finsfurfeathers]

So what are your thoughts...……
Can't be the only one reporting on woodcock
Wondering if we are doing a disservice to us and our quarry.
Little to no reporting what does it mean to the regulating bodies when it comes time to set limits?
Could be sending a message that there is little interest/harvest here and the quota could be better allocated else where?
Are we sending an accurate harvest of what actually is being taken as an 8 bird limit still after years of know decline just doesn't add up.

[huntervinni]

Just got mine back as well and results are as follows:
3 adult male
4 adult female
13 immature male
4 immature female

[finsfurfeathers]

Very similar results eh? Interesting as to the high number of immature males taken. wonder if it was related to the nesting condition. seem to recall something about temperature and sex rations.
Or our dogs have a nose for them young males which if I had the choice would be my preferred target.

[huntervinni]

It is a coincidence that there are a lot of immature males but as to the reason why.......one can only guess. They are a mysterious bird for sure and still a lot of research needs to be done in my opinion. Maybe the males have different flight patterns than the females? maybe like you say, temperature and sex rations? maybe we missed the female flight as they do tend to migrate before the males? One can only guess when it comes to the habits of the "Prince"

[terrym]

It would be Interesting to see how the surveys compare from different flight paths. My guess is it would similar and that weather during flights of females affects harvest quite a bit? Although Vinni I know you would be chasing these in a hurricane if needed....lol.
Interestingly when I lived in Quebec and hunted snow geese hard we mostly killed immature males. I bet deer harvests trend that way too. Could just be the dumb ones get filtered first?