The Pennsylvania Game Commission is seeking public input for the next 30 days on a draft woodcock management plan, which can be reviewed on the agency’s website (www.pgc.state.pa.us) by clicking on “Draft Woodcock Management Plan” in the center of the homepage.

“We are seeking public comment on the draft woodcock management plan to ensure the resulting final management plan considers the thoughts and concerns of Pennsylvanians about this species,” said Calvin W. DuBrock, Game Commission Bureau of Wildlife Management director. “As written, the plan is science-based, progressive and promotes responsible management. We’re interested in hearing from Pennsylvanians who would like to offer comments, and to see if we’ve missed something or if they share our management vision for the future.”

Developed by Bill Palmer, Game Commission biologist, the woodcock management plan provides a comprehensive and current summary of woodcock taxonomy, biology, population trends, habitat relationships and trends, hunter harvest, economic significance, partnerships and population restoration approaches in Pennsylvania.

The draft plan has a goal of returning woodcock populations to densities that provide improved hunting and viewing opportunities, and outlines two objectives and 20 strategies to achieve the goal.

The first objective focuses on monitoring woodcock populations statewide and on demonstration areas, as well as population demographics, hunter numbers and harvests, and determining woodcock hunter preferences, knowledge and satisfaction.

The second objective is the heart of the plan, and calls for the creation of nearly 800,000 acres of early successional forest habitat on private and public lands.

“This will be a significant challenge,” Palmer said. “It will involve monitoring early successional forest trends, identifying and protecting important breeding and migration habitats, establishing habitat demonstration areas and holding workshops to educate landowners, developing partnerships with private and public landowners and conservation groups, creating habitat, identifying landowner preferences, and securing the funding to accomplish the habitat work.”

For more information, please visit the Pennsylvania Game Commission – State Wildlife Management Agency website: http://www.pgc.state.pa.us/pgc/cwp/view.asp?a=11&Q=174772

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