The return of cooler weather means many Massachusetts sportsmen and women will head into the woods for the fall 2020 hunting season. The Early goose hunting season and the early black bear hunting seasons begin this upcoming week.

The Early Canada goose hunting season (statewide) begins this Tuesday and runs through September 25.  For Early Canada Goose season only, hunting hours are 1/2 hour before sunrise to 1/2 hour after sunset.  The daily bag limit is 15 and the possession limit is 45.  I suspect the reason for this early season and the large numbers of geese allowed to be taken has to do with cutting down the large local resident population that is befouling our lawns and beaches.  The regular goose hunting season in the Berkshires starts on October 12 and runs through November 14.

Waterfowl hunters aged 12–14 do not need stamps (or a license). Waterfowl hunters aged 15 or older must possess a MA waterfowl stamp which is valid from Jan 1 through Dec 31 and may be obtained online at mass.gov/massfishhunt or wherever hunting licenses are sold. Waterfowl hunters aged 16 and older are required to possess a federal waterfowl stamp which is valid from July 1 through June 30.

Waterfowl stamps are required for most hunters who hunt any ducks (including sea ducks), geese, and brant.

Federal eDuck stamps may be obtained online at mass.gov/massfishhunt or wherever MA hunting licenses are sold.  They are temporary stamps expiring 45 days from the date of purchase. Before the eDuck expires, a physical Federal Duck Stamp will be sent to customers via U.S. mail. Upon receipt, it must be signed across the face in ink and carried while waterfowl hunting. If a physical Duck Stamp does not arrive after a few weeks, contact Amplex at duckstamp@amplex.com or (800) 852-4897. Physical federal waterfowl stamps are also available at all National Wildlife Refuges and select post offices

New this year, there will be two special waterfowl hunt days for veterans, but they are only applicable during the regular goose and duck hunting seasons in October. (More to come on this in a later column).

 

The early Black bear hunting season opens statewide on September 8 and runs through September 26.

 

There are no blaze orange requirements during this season.  Hunting implements allowed during this season are rifles, revolvers, muzzleloaders and archery equipment.  Be sure to check the regulation abstracts dealing with caliber size, draw weights, etc. Shotguns are not allowed during this season. If you are a Massachusetts resident bear hunter, you must have a hunting or sporting license and a bear permit.  If you are a non-resident, you must have a big game license and a bear permit.

 

Hunting hours begin ½ hour before sunrise and end ½ hour after sunset.  

It is illegal to use dogs for bear hunting and to bait bear. This includes the use of lure, scents or any other substance as a bear attractant.

Successful hunters are asked to submit a tooth and hair sample to MassWildlife. Teeth are used to determine a bear’s age, and hairs are used to study bear genetics. You can learn how to collect and submit them by clicking onto the MassWildlife web page.

As of 7/20/20, it is unlawful for hunters to intentionally or knowingly leave a wounded or dead game animal in the field or the forest without making a reasonable effort to retrieve and use it. Each retrieved animal shall be retained or transferred to another until processed or used for food, pelt, feathers, or taxidermy. This does not apply to animals unfit for consumption or use—animals and their parts that are damaged, destroyed, decayed, rotting, diseased, or infected.

 

Non-hunters, please know that many public lands are open to hunting including Wildlife Management Areas, most state parks, and many town-owned lands. Research the property you plan to visit to learn if hunting is allowed.

MassWildlife notes that hunting is a safe activity and non-hunters should feel comfortable using the woods at any time of year. Although hunting accidents are extremely rare, wearing blaze orange will help minimize your chances of being mistaken for game animals during the hunting season. While hunters are required to wear blaze orange during certain seasons, all outdoor users who are in the woods during hunting seasons should wear a blaze orange hat or vest as a precaution.

MassWildlife recommends the following:

• Be safe, be seen. A brightly colored orange vest or hat will help you stay visible. Avoid wearing any earth-toned or animal-colored clothing. Remember, hunters are often active during the early morning and late afternoon when animals are most active. Be especially aware of your own visibility during these times when light is dim.
• Keep pets leashed and visible. Place a blaze orange vest or bandana on your pet to keep it visible. 
• Know when and where hunting is allowed. Get information about hunting regulations and season dates from the MassWildlife website.  Wildlife Management Areas, Wildlife Conservation Easements, and Access Areas are open to hunting. Most state parks and forests are open to hunting, and many towns allow hunting on municipal lands.  Research the property you plan to visit to learn if hunting is allowed. If being in the woods during hunting season makes you uneasy, find a location where hunting is not allowed or plan your outing for a Sunday or another day outside of hunting season. Hunting on Sunday is not permitted in Massachusetts. 
• Make your presence known. Talk loudly or whistle to identify yourself as a person. You may also consider wearing a bell. If you see someone hunting or hear shots, call out to them to identify your location. 
• Be courteous. Once you’ve made your presence known, don’t make unnecessary noise to disturb wildlife or hunting. Hunter harassment is against state law. Avoid confrontations with hunters. If you think you’ve witnessed a fish or wildlife violation, report it to the Massachusetts Environmental Police at 1-800-632-8075. 
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Be tick free

Here are some safety tips for non-hunters passed onto us by the NY State Department of Environmental Conservation

• Wear light-colored clothing with a tight weave to spot ticks easily.
• Wear enclosed shoes, long pants and a long-sleeved shirt. Tuck pant legs into socks or boots, and shirt into pants.

• Consider using insect repellent on your clothing. 
• Stay on cleared, well-traveled trails. Walk in the center of trails. Avoid dense woods and bushy areas.
• Keep long hair tied back.
• Bathe or shower as soon as possible after going indoors (preferably within two hours) to wash off and more easily find ticks that may be on you.
• Do a final, full-body tick check at the end of the day (also check children and pets), and remove ticks promptly.

Fall trout stocking about to begin

Four thousand brown trout over 9 inches long, 33,000 rainbow trout over 12 inches long, and 27,000 rainbow trout over 14 inches long will be stocked across Massachusetts this fall. Fall stocking season will begin around mid-September depending on water temperatures and wrap up around mid-October.

To avoid crowding at stocking locations, the Mass.gov/Trout stocking report will be updated on a weekly basis this fall. 

Remember to practice social distancing while you’re on the water, on the trail or in your duck blind and enjoy the great outdoor sports the Commonwealth has to offer in the fall.

 

License-to-Carry Course

The Lenox Sportsmen’s Club will be hosting a Ladies Only –LTC and UTAH Course next Sunday, September 13 from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm at its clubhouse.  This course is Mass State Police Compliant.  The cost for MA certification is $70, other states cost $125 and a combination of any two states cost $150. You must pre-register.  Contact Tom Nadolny at  413-822-6451 or tnadolny1@gmail.com for more information or to pre-register.