Food must be available during all seasons. Woodcock are attracted to moist forestland in early stages of succession. They tend to use edges rather than interiors of big, even-aged thickets. These species can be planted, or, if they already grow in a given area, encouraged by cutting down large trees which may be shading them and stunting their growth. Females nest and raise broods near breeding grounds.
Good cover includes edges of thickets, young conifer plantations and old, brushy fields.
Feeding and resting cover is used by hens and broods, males and migrating timberdoodles. The life of good woodcock cover is about 20-25 years in Pennsylvania. As the cover matures, different tree species take over, and it grows less suitable.