Report.

In September 2017 “  pulling  »The first we published on our site the results of our work on reproduction and quality for the 2017/2018 season.

We forecast the Ica level of the CNB (current reference) between 1.59 and 1.61. He finished at 1.61.

We had planned a complicated season. She was.

Not too bad for woodcock observers, who bring to their work in addition to their experience, all the rigor and seriousness of a scientific approach.

At least as well and has been for several years as the Woodcock network of the Oncfs, which in October 2017 predicted the Ica Cnb at 1.63 in a range of 1.49 to 1.77.

Faced with these results, how will those who treat us as pessimists and other niceties go about continuing to claim that we are wrong about the real state * of the European Woodcock herd?  Woodland?

Balance sheet.

In 2017/2018 what we did for Woodcock  ?

Once again, not much  !  

As soon as it comes to proposing and taking action to reduce or stop withdrawals  ; whether it be like this year because of a reproduction considered bad to mediocre by the Bécasse de l'Oncfs network  ; or last season because of the cold snap with prolonged frost  , there is hardly anybody left.

The last wild game that can be hunted with our dogs is abandoned in the open countryside by the hunting world, as well as by the majority of woodcock hunters.

On the ground as one might expect, given the dryness of the biotopes in particular in the southern half, the very heterogeneous attendance was amplified by the phenomenon of packages throughout the territory.

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Important differences between the Age / Ratio depending on the region. Low numbers, especially young people in the eastern half  ; even more marked in the South-East and the South. Presence just normal on the western half with a correct proportion of young people.

Despite normal weather conditions during fall migration and wintering, 2017/2018 will remain a complicated season. Its management, or rather its lack of management, will leave traces on the overwintering herd, in particular the adults, leading to a drop in survivors to ensure reproduction in 2018.

      Philippe Vignac                                                   Franck Ricaud     

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May 2018

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* The result of our research indicates that the European herd is on a downward trend, especially over the last decade.