Upland Birds
Woodcock hunting regulations.
Huntable in 33 states · 33 with a general season.
Hunting regulations change. The information on this page reflects what we know about species presence and hunt availability based on state agency listings. For current season dates, bag limits, weapon restrictions, tag requirements, and reporting obligations, verify directly with your state wildlife agency. You are responsible for confirming current regulations before hunting.
State by state
Where woodcock is huntable.
Tap a state for woodcock-specific regulations and a link to the agency. Bield does not yet ship specific season dates or bag limits — verify with the agency before hunting.
- AlabamaAlabama Wildlife & Freshwater FisheriesYGeneral seasonVerify →
- ArkansasArkansas Game and Fish CommissionYGeneral seasonVerify →
- ConnecticutCT DEEP Wildlife DivisionYGeneral seasonVerify →
- DelawareDelaware Division of Fish and WildlifeYGeneral seasonVerify →
- FloridaFlorida Fish and Wildlife Conservation CommissionYGeneral seasonVerify →
- GeorgiaGeorgia DNR Wildlife Resources DivisionYGeneral seasonVerify →
- IllinoisIllinois DNRYGeneral seasonVerify →
- IndianaIndiana DNR Fish and WildlifeYGeneral seasonVerify →
- IowaIowa DNRYGeneral seasonVerify →
- KentuckyKentucky Department of Fish and WildlifeYGeneral seasonVerify →
- LouisianaLouisiana Department of Wildlife and FisheriesYGeneral seasonVerify →
- MaineMaine Department of Inland Fisheries and WildlifeYGeneral seasonVerify →
- MarylandMaryland DNR Wildlife and Heritage ServiceYGeneral seasonVerify →
- MassachusettsMassWildlifeYGeneral seasonVerify →
- MichiganMichigan DNRYGeneral seasonVerify →
- MinnesotaMinnesota DNRYGeneral seasonVerify →
- MississippiMississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and ParksYGeneral seasonVerify →
- MissouriMissouri Department of ConservationYGeneral seasonVerify →
- New HampshireNew Hampshire Fish and GameYGeneral seasonVerify →
- New JerseyNJ Division of Fish and WildlifeYGeneral seasonVerify →
- New YorkNY DECYGeneral seasonVerify →
- North CarolinaNC Wildlife Resources CommissionYGeneral seasonVerify →
- OhioOhio Division of WildlifeYGeneral seasonVerify →
- OklahomaOklahoma Department of Wildlife ConservationYGeneral seasonVerify →
- PennsylvaniaPennsylvania Game CommissionYGeneral seasonVerify →
- Rhode IslandRI DEM Division of Fish and WildlifeYGeneral seasonVerify →
- South CarolinaSC Department of Natural ResourcesYGeneral seasonVerify →
- TennesseeTennessee Wildlife Resources AgencyYGeneral seasonVerify →
- TexasTexas Parks and WildlifeYGeneral seasonVerify →
- VermontVermont Fish and WildlifeYGeneral seasonVerify →
- VirginiaVirginia Department of Wildlife ResourcesYGeneral seasonVerify →
- West VirginiaWV Division of Natural ResourcesYGeneral seasonVerify →
- WisconsinWisconsin DNRYGeneral seasonVerify →
About the species
American woodcock are migratory shorebirds (in the same family as snipe) that hunters pursue as upland gamebirds. They breed across the Northeast and Upper Midwest and migrate through the Mid-Atlantic and Mississippi flyway to wintering grounds in the Gulf states. They feed almost exclusively on earthworms and concentrate in young, wet hardwood thickets.
Federal frameworks under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act allow most range states to run woodcock seasons with daily bag limits typically 3 birds. Pointing dogs are nearly required — woodcock hold tight under cover and flush in twisting, fluttering flight that's notoriously hard to hit.
Pattern woodcock on your land.
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