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Winter Woodcock Hunting in Louisiana

by RuffedGrouse.com staff

Winter in Louisiana brings with it a unique opportunity for hunters: the pursuit of the elusive American woodcock. Known for its erratic flight patterns and remarkable camouflage, the woodcock offers a challenging yet rewarding experience for hunters looking to enjoy the colder months in the Bayou State. Whether you’re a seasoned upland hunter or a curious newcomer, here’s a guide to winter woodcock hunting in Louisiana.

Understanding the Woodcock

The American woodcock (Scolopax minor), also known as the "timberdoodle," is a migratory bird that winters in Louisiana’s dense forests, swamps, and thickets. With their long bills and rotund bodies, woodcocks are well-adapted for probing soft soil in search of earthworms, their primary food source. Their mottled brown plumage blends seamlessly with the forest floor, making them challenging to spot.

Woodcocks are known for their unpredictable, zigzagging flight when flushed, which adds to the excitement and difficulty of hunting them. These birds typically inhabit areas with moist soil and plenty of cover, such as young forests, river bottoms, and overgrown fields.

When and Where to Hunt

Woodcock season in Louisiana usually runs from mid-December to late January, coinciding with the bird’s migration and peak wintering period. Always check the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) website for specific season dates, bag limits, and regulations.

Prime woodcock hunting locations in Louisiana include:

Kisatchie National Forest: With its diverse habitat, this forest offers excellent opportunities for woodcock hunting. Focus on areas with young pine stands and mixed hardwoods.
Atchafalaya Basin: The swampy, dense cover of this region is ideal for woodcocks.
Private Lands: Managed lands with early successional growth can provide prime woodcock habitat. Be sure to obtain proper permissions before hunting on private property.

Essential Gear

Hunting woodcock requires some specialized gear to make your experience more enjoyable and successful. Here’s what you’ll need:

Shotgun: A lightweight 20 or 28-gauge shotgun is ideal for quick handling in tight cover. Use #7.5 or #8 shot for better spread on these small birds.
Comfortable Clothing: Wear durable, water-resistant upland hunting gear to protect against thorns, briars, and damp conditions. Blaze orange is recommended for safety.
Good Footwear: Invest in waterproof boots with good traction to navigate muddy and uneven terrain.
Bird Dog: A well-trained pointing or flushing dog can greatly enhance your woodcock hunting experience. Breeds like English pointers, setters, and spaniels excel at finding and retrieving these elusive birds.

Tips for Success

Scout Ahead: Look for moist, shady areas with plenty of leaf litter where woodcocks feed and roost. Fresh probing holes in the soil are a good sign of their presence.
Hunt Early or Late: Woodcocks are most active during dawn and dusk. Plan your hunts around these times for better chances of success.
Move Slowly: Woodcocks rely on their camouflage and will often hold tight until they are nearly stepped on. Move deliberately to increase your chances of flushing a bird.
Follow the Flight: When a woodcock flushes, watch its flight path carefully. They often land within a short distance, giving you another opportunity to flush them.

Conservation Matters

Woodcocks are a migratory species, and their population is influenced by habitat availability and environmental factors. Hunters play a crucial role in conservation efforts by following bag limits, reporting banded birds, and supporting organizations like the Ruffed Grouse Society and the Louisiana Wildlife Federation.

By respecting the resource and promoting habitat preservation, we can ensure that future generations of hunters enjoy the thrill of woodcock hunting in Louisiana’s wild landscapes.

Closing Thoughts

Winter woodcock hunting in Louisiana combines the beauty of the state’s natural habitats with the challenge of pursuing one of North America’s most fascinating game birds. Whether you’re trekking through Kisatchie’s forests or wading into the Atchafalaya Basin, the experience is about more than the hunt — it’s about embracing the adventure, camaraderie, and connection to the outdoors that make this pursuit so special.

West Virginia Ruffed Grouse and Wildlife Restoration program announced by Governor Justice

by: Jessica Phillips

The launch of the West Virginia Ruffed Grouse and Wildlife Restoration Program to help wildlife habitats was announced by Governor Jim Justice.

According to a press release, the West Virginia Ruffed Grouse and Wildlife Restoration Program is intended to help strengthen wildlife habitats by carefully planting soft mast-producing trees and shrubs on private timberlands that were recently harvested.

We’ve been working for quite some time to launch this program, and let me tell you, I am extremely excited to announce its launch. As a lifelong hunter and angler, I’m so proud of the work my administration has done to invest in West Virginia and promote our state’s world-class natural resources.

The strides made in this program will greatly boost our wildlife, from grouse to deer and on and on, while also becoming a huge economic driver. This program is the real deal, and I cannot wait to see how it benefits landowners, our wildlife, and our economy.
Governor Justice

The program will not only help ensure that various types of wildlife, such as white-tailed deer, ruffed grouse, and songbirds, have important sources of food, it will also help local economies and landowners.

Read full WVNSTV article

Hiring Regional Engagement Coordinator | WI & W UP | RGS AWS

Job Type: Regional Engagement Coordinator
Location: Remote or home office centrally within ~130-mile radius of Stevens Point, WI
Region: Western Great Lakes (WI, Western UP MI)
Posting Open Date: Oct. 14, 2024
Posting Closing Date: Nov. 15, 2024 (Or until filled by an exceptional candidate)

Background:
At RGS & AWS, we believe forests are essential, not just for wildlife, but for all life. For more than 60 years, our foundation has been embedded in the tenets of sound science and the belief that sustainable forest management is integral to wildlife conservation. We create landscapes of diverse, healthy forests that provide homes for wildlife and opportunities for people to experience them. These same forests clean the air, filter water and support local communities.

We’re seeking an outstanding individual to increase member engagement. This position will includeorganizing fundraising banquets and events, along with engagement and education events for local chapters in your region, as well as helping develop and drive policy advocacy. The Regional Engagement Coordinator will empower volunteers to become conservation leaders, working with chapters that engage a larger network across the region for conservation delivery, advocacy and fundraising.

Qualifications:
• Experience planning, executing and evaluating fundraising events with more than three years of experience collaborating with and leading community members, volunteers, staff and board members in project/event management.
• More than three years of experience with public speaking, email communications and other means of communicating with the public and community groups.
• Ability to lead and motivate with a passion for forest and wildlife conservation.
• Well-organized with experience managing multiple projects under deadlines.
• Ability to establish a home office centrally within the regional service area.
• Willingness to work hours that sometimes extend beyond the typical workday and workweek, including travel throughout the region (valid driver’s license required).
• A degree in communications, marketing, public affairs, social or environmental sciences or similar field is preferred.

Position Summary:
The Regional Engagement Coordinator will work directly with RGS & AWS volunteers to engage various stakeholders to increase advocacy, membership and fundraising opportunities at the local, state and regional levels. Specifically, the coordinator will:
• Work directly with chapter volunteers to help them organize and orchestrate fundraising events and activities such as banquets, shoots and online events. Responsible for a fundraising budget in the region.
• Effectively communicate with members, donors and supporters, including in-person, email and social media outreach, keeping them advised of relevant news and success stories.
• Support, encourage and empower current chapter leadership and cultivate new leaders.
• Host regular "meet and greet" events (in-person and virtual) with RGS & AWS staff and other professionals, offering presentations that engage donors, members and volunteers.
• In collaboration with the Vice President of Communications & Marketing, build relationships with local media (print and electronic) to publicize RGS & AWS activities and accomplishments.
• Support the RGS & AWS Membership Department on promotional drives and campaigns.
• Work directly with the RGS & AWS regional staff, the Development Director and Conservation Team to create on-the-ground positive involvement with local communities and businesses.
• Identify potential relationships with companies, foundations and donors capable of magnifying the RGS & AWS mission through their philanthropic vision.
• Notice opportunities to increase mission impact and convey them to colleagues across RGS & AWS program areas.
• Make independent decisions based on analysis, experience and judgment with appropriate oversight from supervisor. Work with supervisor to manage priorities, especially during busy seasons.

Compensation | Application Instructions and full job posting