I had no issue at all finding Woodcock in Maine and NH last season. I've kept a journal for 15 years now and last year we moved more birds than ever. Maybe I'm getting better at finding cover and hunting them in general or just luck. I am friendly with a very well know older gentleman hunter here in NH that had terrible luck moving them last season. I pushed my 6-7 month GSP pup to get on as many wild birds as possible with my old girl showing her the ropes. Flights came through the typical week or so later in the season. I don't think the population is decreasing much from hunting pressure. I believe it is lack of habitat just like grouse. Get rid of the new homes and return the forests to young growth and the population would boom. We can talk about a large freak storm (spring or fall) covering an area the size multiple states that could wipe out many times the about of birds all hunters could imagine in a season as well. I'm not going to blame the law-abiding hunter who is enjoying quality time in the uplands with his best friends. I live for those few days a year with my dogs.
If someone thinks 3 is a steep limit, check out the 8 per day limit in Quebec and New Brunswick.
Come on up to the North country Tom, plenty of birds for the both of us.
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