The Youth Pheasant Hunt is a great way for young adults (ages 12-17) to practice firearms safety, develop shooting skills, and join in a pheasant hunt with an experienced hunter in a friendly environment.
photo provided by masswildlife
The Massachusetts Youth Pheasant Hunt Program was developed by MassWildlife to provide an opportunity for Hunter Education graduates aged 12 to 17 to practice firearms safety, develop shooting skills, and participate in a special pheasant hunt under the guidance of an experienced adult hunter.
The program is divided into multiple parts:
- Seminar and Range Practice: Participants get hands-on instruction in shotgun shooting fundamentals and firearm safety, learn upland hunting basics, and focus on how to have a safe and fun hunt.
- Pheasant Hunt: Participants get to experience a real pheasant hunt under the supervision of an experienced hunter on 1 of the 6 Saturdays prior to the regular pheasant season. This year, the pheasant hunting season starts on October 14, 2023.
Requirements:
- Be between the ages of 12 to 17
- Have graduated from a Basic Hunter Education course (in any state) before the day of the hunt
- Participants 15 to 17 years of age must have a hunting license, a pheasant/quail permit and a Firearms Identification Card (FID). Steps
Steps
- Make sure you meet all the requirements above
- Register for the Program by August 31, 2023
- Complete the Seminar and Range Practice
Please note, all other regular pheasant hunting regulations apply including bag limits, hunting implements, hunter orange requirements, etc. Be sure to review the pheasant hunting regulations.
The Lee Sportsmen’s Association, located at 565 Fairview Street, is a participating club. The course will be taught by MassWildlife. The dates and times are as follows:
- August 26, from 9:00AM – 11:00AM, September 16, from 9:00AM – 11:00AM, and October 07, from 9:00AM – 12:00PM.
Massachusetts wildland firefighters sent out again
The Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) and the Department of Fish and Game (DFG) sent a crew of 19 firefighters – 17 from DCR and two from DFG – recently to Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest in western Montana to help battle the large fires that are burning across the state.
This is the third crew of wildland firefighters DCR has deployed to assist in fighting the wildfires raging across the country and neighboring regions this summer. In June, DCR deployed 11 firefighters to assist in fighting wildfires in Quebec, Canada, and in July, in partnership with DFG, the department deployed to the region another crew of 16 wildland firefighters that included two firefighters from DFG. Response efforts are now shifting to the western United States, with more than 80 large fires currently burning more than 534,000 acres in 14 states.
“As these wildfires continue to rage on across the country, burning thousands of acres of forest to the ground, DCR and DFG firefighters have stepped up again to help our partners in need fight these devastating blazes,” said DCR Commissioner Brian Arrigo. “DCR is proud of our dedicated and hardworking firefighters who will be on the frontlines in the Northern Rocky Mountain region over the next two weeks, working to stop further destruction of our natural resources.
Included in the group of 19 was Jacob Morris-Siegel from the Mass Division of Fisheries and Wildlife Western District Office located in Dalton.
Intro to Fly Fishing for women – taught by women
The Taconic Chapter of Trout Unlimited invites women to join Betsy Clark and Diane Holhubner. (both trained at the Wulff School of Fly Fishing) to learn about the basics of fly fishing and get a chance to get experience on the river. The free event occurs on September 9 from 8:30 to 11:00 am on the Hoosic River in Williamstown. No fishing experience is necessary. You will learn about the components of a flyfishing rod, learn about a couple of types of flyfishing flies, and how to do a roll cast.
You don’t need to bring anything, for they will provide the rods and tackle to use but they do suggest that you wear comfortable shoes that you don’t mind getting a little wet. If you have river shoes that would be great. A hat and sunglasses might make you feel more comfortable but they are not necessary. They will be on a gravel beach for this event. Bring your own water bottle, they will have herbal tea available as well.
This event is for anyone who identifies as a woman.
They will meet at the parking lot on Syndicate Road. It is a new lot which doesn’t show on google maps. They will then walk a short distance on a dirt trail down to the river. To register, click onto https://bit.ly/45ORY2v
BEAT celebrates 20th anniversary
The Berkshire Environmental Action Team was established in 2003 when a vernal pool at Berkshire Community College was being threatened by the development of soccer fields on the campus. Over the past two decades, BEAT has taken on many fights and projects — often leading them and creating a path for environmental change and progress.
BEAT’s mission has remained the same: To protect the environment for wildlife in support of the natural world that sustains us all. But its vision and goals have continuously expanded and evolved. They see a world where communities work together to sustain their environmental health and economic vitality; all people recognize their interconnectedness to, and dependence on, the natural world; the air and water are clean; rivers and streams flow naturally; and there is plenty of interconnected, natural land where wildlife thrive. Its goal is to make all of this happen — and its newly renovated Environmental Leadership & Education Center is one of the first steps in reaching that goal.
You are invited to join the folks at BEAT on Saturday, September 2, from 1:00 to 3:00 PM, to see the renovations, hear about what’s to come, and meet BEAT’s staff and board.
Executive Director Jane Winn will lead an optional tour of the building at 1:15 PM, and a steam-table demonstration will start at 2:00 PM. They’ll also have finger foods and refreshments for guests.
It’s not necessary to RSVP in order to attend, but it would be greatly appreciated.
Email team@thebeatnews.org with any questions.
Berkshire communities to get culvert replacement grants
The Culvert Replacement Municipal Assistance (CRMA) Grant Program is one of the many resources the Healey-Driscoll administration utilizes to help municipalities replace undersized and deteriorating culverts with crossings that meet improved design standards. The grants target culverts whose replacement brings significant ecological and resilience benefits and helps municipalities deal with the increasing aging road infrastructure costs.
“With extreme weather becoming more frequent, projects like these are a climate-smart investment to help cities and towns adapt to climate change,” said Governor Maura Healey. “It is important that we upgrade culverts and small bridges to prevent flooding and reduce public safety risks.”
The MA Division of Ecological Restoration (DER) is awarding $811,000 in grants to 14 municipalities through the CRMA grant program. Nearly half of an estimated 25,000 small bridges and culverts in Massachusetts act as barriers to fish and wildlife because they are undersized or poorly positioned. Installing culverts that meet the Massachusetts Stream Crossing Standards allows rivers to flow unrestricted, improves access for fish and wildlife, and lowers the risk of flood damage.
Berkshire County Grants
Town of Egremont: $48,811awarded for Karner Brook Culvert Replacement
This award will fund design and engineering, permitting, and some construction for a culvert replacement project on Blunt Road to improve stream connectivity of a tributary to Karner Brook.
Town of Richmond: $55,200 awarded for Sleepy Hollow Road Culvert Replacement
This award will fund the design and engineering for a culvert replacement project on Sleepy Hollow Road to improve stream connectivity of Cone Brook and two tributaries.
Town of Great Barrington: $55,933 awarded for Housatonic River Tributary Culvert Replacement
This award will fund the design and engineering for a culvert replacement project on Brush Hill Road to improve stream connectivity of a tributary to the Housatonic River.
Berkshire Clean, Cold, Connected Restoration Partnership
Housatonic Valley Association, awarded $199,899
This Partnership supports a network of organizations, agencies, and communities working for healthy aquatic systems and building climate resiliency in the Hoosic, Housatonic, and Farmington River watersheds.