According to the MassWildlife web page, the number of 2023 antlerless deer hunting permits is the same as it was in 2022. Also, there have been no changes in the permit numbers in the individual wildlife management zones. The allocated permits are as follows in the various zones. Note, Zones 1 through 4 are the zones in our area:
Zone 1 – 800 allocations, Zone 2 – 400, Zone 3 – 2,050, Zone 4N – 800, Zone 4S – 600, Zone 5 – 1,950, Zone 6 – 400, Zone 7 – 3,000, Zone 8 – 3,100, Zone 9 – 7,200, Zones 10 and 11 – no cap, Zone 12 – 1,350, Zones 13 and 14 no cap.
It’s obvious that in zones 10, 11, 13 and 14, in the eastern part of the state with no caps on antlerless harvests, they are still having troubles getting the deer population down to targeted deer densities.
Deer hunters should be aware that the deadline for applying for an antlerless deer permit is July 16. All three Massachusetts deer hunting seasons—Archery, Shotgun and Primitive Arms, are ‘bucks only’ if you do not possess this permit for the zone in which you are hunting.
According to MassWildlife, Massachusetts deer management is built on the harvest of does to regulate the population. Any deer with at least one three-inch antler is classified as a buck and your Massachusetts hunting license contains two antlered deer tags. You may take as many bucks as you have tags for on the same day.
Antlerless deer tags are allocated by zone based on population goals in that zone. Most hunters apply for their permit when they purchase their Massachusetts hunting license, but you can also apply online by going to MassFishHunt or in person by going to one of the MassWildlife District Offices or the MassWildlife Field Headquarters in Westborough.
If you apply for an antlerless deer permit by the July 16 deadline, you still must check to see if you have been awarded the right to purchase the permit.
The award period begins August 1 at 8:00 am and ends on December 31. Your odds of obtaining a permit are the same regardless of when you check your permit status. You can check the status through MassFishHunt or by visiting a MassWildlife office or license agent location. There is no fee for the application, but those who are successful are required to pay a $10 fee.
At the June meeting of the Berkshire County League of Sportsmen, DFW Western District Supervisor Andrew Madden suggested that hunters verify that they already applied for an Antlerless Deer Permit before the July 16 deadline. I’m glad he did. All along I thought that I had an application in because I applied for one when I bought my 2023 sporting license in December. Well, it turned out that I didn’t have an application on file or it wasn’t recognized. I immediately reapplied.
Just to be on the safe side, hunters might want to verify that they have their applications in by checking their records through MassFishHunt. Madden suggested that you contact the District Office in Dalton if you need assistance.
Basic Hunter Education|
Basic Hunter Education is mandatory for all first-time hunters. If you held a hunting license prior to 2007 or have successfully completed a Basic Hunter Education course from any jurisdiction, you already qualify to buy a Massachusetts hunting license.
If you are 18 years of age or older and you want to purchase your first-ever hunting license, you must complete a Basic Hunter Education course. Those wishing to obtain only a firearms license do not necessarily need Basic Hunter Education.
A Basic Hunter Education courses will be offered at the Worthington Rod and Gun Club on 458 Dingle Road (Route 112), Worthington on the following dates:
Monday, July 31, Tuesday, August 1, Thursday, August 3, and Friday, August 4. All classes run from 5:30 to 9:00 pm and attendance at all 4 nights is required.
To enroll, call (508)389-7830.
Pittsfield Sportsmen’s Youth Derby
There were about 30 children who attended the Pittsfield Sportsmen’s Club kid’s fishing event last Saturday at the Reynolds Pond in Cheshire. According to club spokesperson Sandra Bushey, everyone caught fish and had a wonderful time. Only one of the five tagged fish was caught. A girl named Isabella caught the tagged trout and won a fishing pole. Several of the PSC directors volunteered and everyone that was there had a fun day. Fortunately, it poured rain right after they finished at 1:00 p.m.
Isabella is on the left holding the bag. Picture provided by Sandra Bushey
Kid’s Fishing Derby
Bring your children aged 13 and under next Saturday, July 8 to the monthly Friends of the Berkshire National Fish Hatchery youth fishing derby at the Hatchery’s Lower Pool at 240 Hatchery Road, New Marlborough.
It runs from 9:00 to 10:30 am. Watch them learn to fish and compete for prizes. No child goes away empty handed.
Massachusetts Junior Duck Stamp Contest
Jasmine Wang from Lexington won Best of Show in the 2023 Massachusetts Junior Duck Stamp (JDS) Contest. Her colored pencil drawing of a black-bellied whistling duck was selected from 185 entries. Wang’s award-winning work will represent Massachusetts at the National JDS Contest. 
Students from kindergarten through grade 12 from across the Commonwealth submitted original works of art depicting waterfowl in appropriate wetland habitat, demonstrating both artistic talent and a knowledge of the value of wetlands for wildlife. In March, MassWildlife held the judging, at which time the top winning artists were selected. Combinations of the top artworks are being exhibited throughout Massachusetts.
The Massachusetts JDS Program is sponsored by MassWildlife and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, with support from the Massachusetts Sportsmen’s Council. You can support the JDS Program and wetland conservation by purchasing Junior Duck Stamps featuring national winners from previous years. Stamps can be purchased at duckstamp.com.
To learn more about the Massachusetts JDS Program, and to access the traveling exhibit schedule, visit mass.gov/dfw/jds.
Picture not what it appeared to be
Last week I featured a picture of a big brown trout that Lawrence “Skip” Dean, of Becket, caught out of Lake Buel earlier this year. He didn’t measure it but released it as soon as possible to fight another day.
If you looked closely at that picture, you probably saw blood on both of Skip’s hands and on the fish and thought, as I did, no way would that fish ever survive. Most anglers know that it is a foregone conclusion that if your fish is bleeding, it will die shortly thereafter.
Well, Skip called me last week because he thought that some people would not believe that fish survived. It was not the fish’s blood on his hands, he said, it was his own. While removing the lure from the fish’s mouth, it thrashed around and its sharp gill shield and teeth cut his hands.
He said that when he returned the fish to the water, he held the fish near its tail so that it would get reoriented. After a while, the fish gave a sharp flip of its tail and shot off for deeper water. It is probably lurching around in Lake Buel today albeit a little smarter.
Happy 4th of July
Here’s hoping you have a great holiday. But after the hustle and bustle of the parades, picnics, visitors, and fireworks are over, you owe yourself a little peace and quiet.
In the Summer 2023 issue of Mass Audubon’s Explore magazine, there’s an article entitled Picturesque Ponds. “Take a beat from your busy summer” it says, “to sit by a peaceful pond and ground yourself in nature. Listen to the chirps of nearby birds or the kerplunk of a turtle jumping into the water.” It goes on and lists a few favorite ponds that “will have you feeling calm and reconnected in no time.”
Pleasant Valley in Lenox being one of them listed.
“Walk on the newly constructed All Persons Trail at Pleasant Valley, which follows a scenic stretch of the Pike’s Pond shoreline. Flanked by tall pines and other trees, this pond is a perfect place to get your water and forest fix. Sit on the boardwalk bench to try and spot the bobbing heads and flat tails of beavers cruising the pond at dawn or dusk.”
Sounds nice, ey?