Pennsylvania Game News - October 2014 - 37

Exotic invasive vegetation
on the other hand can make the
determination of potential woodcock
habitat more difficult. Vegetation
such as bush honeysuckle, multiflora
rose, autumn and Russian olive and
privet grow under various conditions
ranging from slopes to riparian areas
to forest understory. When stands of
these invasives are encountered, land
managers should look to topography
and soils to determine whether such a
site has potential to become woodcock
habitat.
Habitat Components
Woodcock use different habitats at
various times of the day and throughout
the year. For instance, males use small
fields and forest openings at dawn and
dusk for singing grounds. Old fields
with goldenrod and shrubs are used for
nesting, and larger open areas, such as
hayfields, are used for ground roosting
at night. Should one of these pieces
be removed, the likelihood of finding
woodcock decreases substantially.
Additionally, some often overlooked
habitats are easily maintained to
contain multiple components and it's
important to be able to recognize them.
Habitat management
Woodcock habitat management isn't
overly complicated. Reverting fields
with patchy shrubs and bottomland
shrublands are key. Over time, these
habitats will advance toward forest as
tall-growing trees such as maple, ash,
poplar and oak become established
and grow.
This doesn't happen all at once.
A few scattered trees start showing
up, and over time begin shading the
shrubs and dropping more tree seed.
OCTOBER 2014

Young Forest Habitat
on private Land
The creation of quality young forest habitat for woodcock, grouse and many other
species, must not be limited to public lands,
such as state game lands or state forests.
The majority of Penn's Woods - 71 percent - is private land.
To reverse population declines of young
forest wildlife species, we must create and
protect habitat on private lands, too.
The challenges that face private landowners are varied and many. Private forests
often are degraded by poor timber harvesting practices, invasive plant species, gypsy
moth or ash borer tree mortality, high deer
populations, and other factors. Private landowners, even with the best of intentions,
can lack the technical expertise to enhance
wildlife habitat on their properties.
Fortunately, excellent resources are available. The Game Commission's Private Landowners Assistance Program (PLAP) provides
technical advice to landowners interested in
providing habitat for rare or declining wildlife species, including woodcock. The state
Department of Conservation and Natural
Resources also has a private forest owners
program that provides a forester in each
county to offer management assistance.
The natural-resources division of Penn
State Extension provides a wealth of information through many publications,
webinars, workshops and conferences. In
addition to providing technical assistance,
these entities can link landowners to potential funding sources to implement habitat
management actions.
In 2012 and 2013, the Game Commission
facilitated creation of 2,427 acres of young
forest on private land open to hunting
through the Voluntary Public Access and
Habitat Improvement Program. Although
that funding source has expired, the agency
continues to partner with the U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources
Conservation Service to create young forest
on private property. To date, that program
has obligated funding for the creation of
an additional 5,700 acres of young forest
in Pennsylvania. Assistance through the
PLAP does not require that land be open to
hunting. If interested, contact your Game
Commission region office.
37
Pennsylvania Game News - October 2014

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