The American woodcock is a neglected game bird in most southeastern states. Reasons for disregarding this species include: a belief that woodcock are sparse in areas other than Louisiana and southwestern Mississippi; little knowledge pertaining to woodcock habitat; the practice of only hunting woodcock incidentally to other game; and a consensus that quail dogs cannot be used for hunting woodcock. During field activities associated with a rangewide study of parasitism in woodcock, surprisingly high populations were revealed in South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Arkansas, and southeastern Mississippi. Woodcock habitat was characterized and suggestions were presented for alerting southeastern hunters to the presence and value of this game bird.
