Author Archives: Gene

About Gene

Gene was born and raised in Lenox, MA. He grew up on a small family farm where he developed his love for the critters that also lived on that land. At an early age he fished for the wild speckled brookies that were in the brook that crossed his land. After a 4 year stint in the USAF and graduated from college, he returned home to Lenox. Although a banker by trade, he was an avid sportsman and loved hunting and fishing. Among his many accomplishments were: President of the Taconic Chapter of Trout Unlimited (TU), Chairman of the MA/RI Council of TU, received the Stream Champion Award from TU National, received various awards from the Housatonic Valley Assoc., Secretary of the Berkshire County League of Sportsmen. He was the recipient of the 1990 Berkshire County Sportsman of the Year Award, After retiring from his banking career, he began writing a weekly outdoor sports column for the Berkshire Eagle in 2004 and continues to do so to this day. Since becoming an outdoor sports columnist, Gene picked up three more awards: The Berkshire County League of Sportsmen John Zuber Award, the Massachusetts Sportsmen's Council R L Gribbons Award, and the Worcester County League of Sportsmen's "Words of Wisdom" Award.

Coronavirus disruptions are far reaching

Posted on by

 

As readers are well aware, the coronavirus has severely affected our day-to-day lives, including the outdoor sportsmen, hikers, and other nature lovers. Cancellations began coming in from all over and I will try to relay as many of them as I can. Let’s start with information received from Marion E. Larson, Chief, Information & Education, Massachusetts Division of Fisheries & Wildlife
“Due to the State of Emergency declaration by the Governor, MassWildlife is following guidance provided to state agencies to help reduce the spread of a disease that has serious health implications to many people. At this time (3/17/2020), MassWildlife offices and hatcheries are closed to the public until further notice. MassWildlife has also canceled workshops, clinics, courses, and events through April 15 including Hunter Education courses, Learn to Hunt Turkey Seminars, and the Becoming an Outdoorswoman Turkey Hunt Programs.

All Youth Turkey Hunt Seminars have been cancelled. This means that the only youths who may hunt on the Youth Turkey Hunt Day of April 25, 2020 are those past participants who have completed a Youth Turkey Hunt seminar and Basic Hunter Education. While we know this is disappointing news for young hunters and their mentors, they can still hunt together during the regular spring turkey season.

MassWildlife has been notifying participants and volunteers in all of these programs by email, phone, and letters. Cancelations are also noted on program calendars. Despite this, today we learned that some people taking the Cheshire hunter education course didn’t receive the cancellation emails. We’re working to resolve those email glitches and truly apologize for the inconvenience.

Trout Stocking: MassWildlife’s primary concern is for the health and safety of our staff. That being said, designated Emergency Personnel continue to operate our hatcheries. As circumstances allow, trout stocking will continue.

We would like to take this opportunity to encourage people to get outside and connect with the natural world during this time of upheaval and uncertainty. Studies have shown that being outdoors provides important benefits to our health and well-being. Visit a neighborhood park, a wildlife management area or state park or forest with your binoculars, fishing rod and fishing license, or backpack. Practice healthy “social distancing”, keep your pets leashed, and wave to others you might see along the way.

Since this whole situation is still very fluid, please visit Mass.gov/MassWildlife for updated information on events or to purchase a license. Be well!”

Just about all of the local sportsmen’s clubs have been affected in one way or another. Many clubs have had to postpone its Easter ham shoots, game dinners, gun and archery leagues, LTC classes, etc., until further notice.

The Pittsfield Sportsmen’s Club planned on holding a Venison/Italian Buffet next Saturday to benefit its Land Development, but due to the coronavirus threat, it had to be postponed to a later date. I hope to include information on that dinner if/when it is rescheduled in a future column.
(Incidentally, in last week’s column, I erroneously listed Fran Tromblay as the PSC’s current president. I was wrong, the current president is Stanley Bushey. My apologies.)
The Berkshire Chapter of Ducks Unlimited and the Lee Sportsmen’s Association’s 6th Annual Youth Sportsmen’s Gala which was scheduled for April 4 has been postponed. At this time, it is uncertain when it will be rescheduled due to CDC and state restrictions and the availability of the Country Club of Pittsfield. Since we should be following social distancing guidelines of staying at least 6 feet away from one another, they have cancelled their weekly Gala Committee meetings until further notice.
The Lee Sportsmen’s Association Board of Directors has decided to cancel all youth teams, programs, leagues, turkey shoots, orientations, trainings, and other scheduled events until at least March 27. The Board will reconvene on March 25 at its regular meeting to reassess the situation. All ranges are closed until at least March 27. The Berkshire County Pistol League Shoot-Off has been cancelled.
The Lenox Sportsmen’s Club has announced that all events and leagues are cancelled and will not resume until further notice. That includes the Spring Ham Shoots, the April LTC- UTAH Class, and all Archery and Gun Leagues. Some ranges such as the Lenox Sportsmen’s Club GEAA Rifle Range is open. The archery, rifle and pistol ranges will remain open for individual members to use. Anyone using the club should help others by cleaning any surfaces they encounter. Supplies will be made readily available. It has not been determined whether or not the Cub Scout Summer Camp is still on.
The Stockbridge Sportsmen’s Club has postponed its Archery Scholarship Fundraiser Shoot and breakfast. Also, its youth Archery Fun Shoot has been postponed. All archery and shooting leagues are suspended until after April 1. Individual use of the ranges will still be allowed. Its annual Game Dinner has been moved to October. As of now, the next firearm license course will be on Sunday, April 26th at 1:00 PM.
The Great Barrington Fish & Game Club has cancelled its Ham Shoots.
The Cheshire Rod & Gun Club has postponed its Ham Shoots that would have started today. Its Youth Archery class is also postponed until further notice.
Pete’s Gun Shop in Adams, which was to have its FID Classes at the Cheshire Rod & Gun Club on April 4 has cancelled it and will be moving all those who are signed up to its May 17 class. They will be contacting all of those who are signed up.
The Berkshire County League of Sportsmen’s Silvio O. Conte Awards Banquet which was scheduled for Saturday, April 25 has been cancelled. Also, all BCLS meetings will be cancelled until it can meet after this virus is over. If there is a need to go over things the delegates can use phone, text or email. It is hoped that the League can hold the Conte Dinner at a later date this year.
The Massachusetts Sportsmen’s Council Banquet which was scheduled for April 11 in Sutton, MA has been postponed. No future date has been set.

The MA Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) has announced the temporary closure of the following facilities in our area: Mount Greylock State Reservation Visitor Center, in Lanesboro, the Savoy Mountain State Forest Campground in Florida, the Western Gateway Heritage State Park Visitor Center in North Adams, and the Beartown State Forest Campground in Monterey. The closures will last through April 1 at which time DCR will reassess circumstances. Additionally, during the temporary closure all associated events at these locations are cancelled.

Importantly, all state parks and comfort stations across the Commonwealth remain open and available for the public to utilize. DCR reminds residents and visitors to avoid gathering in large groups, maintain social distancing, and practice healthy personal hygiene to stop the spread of the virus.

The Berkshire Natural Resources Council has cancelled all events through March 31. It may extend these cancellations as necessary; updates to future events can be found at bnrc.org/upcoming-hikes or on Facebook. Most of its staff will be working from home during this time; email is the best way to reach them.
The Council encourages us to take care of our minds and bodies. Spending time in the natural world can help alleviate stress and anxiety. Its trails are always free and open to the public for this reason. It hopes we can find time to get outside, take deep breaths and feel rejuvenated and to please maintain a healthy distance from anyone else we encounter on the trail.
To find details about their trails and more visit: bnrc.org/trails-and-maps/top-berkshire-trails/or check out the BNRC Berkshire Trails app.
MassAudubon announced that its buildings have been temporarily shut down but its 38,000 acres of protected land is there for you to explore. To prevent the spread of COVID-19, there will be no bathrooms available. For safety reasons, please don’t allow children to play in the Nature Play Areas.
Local waters stocked recently

In spite of all of the MassWildlife cancellations, the Western District staff was able to stock some of our local waters with rainbow trout. The following are waters stocked as of last Thursday: Deerfield River in Buckland, Charlemont and Florida; Konkapot River in Monterey and New Marlborough; Farmington River in Otis, Sheffield and Tolland; Green River in Alford, Egremont and Great Barrington; Mansfield Pond in Great Barrington, Richmond Pond, Onota Lake, Stockbridge Bowl, Westfield River in Cummington, Chesterfield, and Savoy, Littleville Lake in Huntington, Laurel Lake and Pontoosuc Lake..

Coronavirus disruptions are far reaching

Posted on by

 

As readers are well aware, the coronavirus has severely affected our day-to-day lives, including the outdoor sportsmen, hikers, and other nature lovers. Cancellations began coming in from all over and I will try to relay as many of them as I can. Let’s start with information received from Marion E. Larson, Chief, Information & Education, Massachusetts Division of Fisheries & Wildlife
“Due to the State of Emergency declaration by the Governor, MassWildlife is following guidance provided to state agencies to help reduce the spread of a disease that has serious health implications to many people. At this time (3/17/2020), MassWildlife offices and hatcheries are closed to the public until further notice. MassWildlife has also canceled workshops, clinics, courses, and events through April 15 including Hunter Education courses, Learn to Hunt Turkey Seminars, and the Becoming an Outdoorswoman Turkey Hunt Programs.

All Youth Turkey Hunt Seminars have been cancelled. This means that the only youths who may hunt on the Youth Turkey Hunt Day of April 25, 2020 are those past participants who have completed a Youth Turkey Hunt seminar and Basic Hunter Education. While we know this is disappointing news for young hunters and their mentors, they can still hunt together during the regular spring turkey season.

MassWildlife has been notifying participants and volunteers in all of these programs by email, phone, and letters. Cancelations are also noted on program calendars. Despite this, today we learned that some people taking the Cheshire hunter education course didn’t receive the cancellation emails. We’re working to resolve those email glitches and truly apologize for the inconvenience.

Trout Stocking: MassWildlife’s primary concern is for the health and safety of our staff. That being said, designated Emergency Personnel continue to operate our hatcheries. As circumstances allow, trout stocking will continue.

We would like to take this opportunity to encourage people to get outside and connect with the natural world during this time of upheaval and uncertainty. Studies have shown that being outdoors provides important benefits to our health and well-being. Visit a neighborhood park, a wildlife management area or state park or forest with your binoculars, fishing rod and fishing license, or backpack. Practice healthy “social distancing”, keep your pets leashed, and wave to others you might see along the way.

Since this whole situation is still very fluid, please visit Mass.gov/MassWildlife for updated information on events or to purchase a license. Be well!”

Just about all of the local sportsmen’s clubs have been affected in one way or another. Many clubs have had to postpone its Easter ham shoots, game dinners, gun and archery leagues, LTC classes, etc., until further notice.

The Pittsfield Sportsmen’s Club planned on holding a Venison/Italian Buffet next Saturday to benefit its Land Development, but due to the coronavirus threat, it had to be postponed to a later date. I hope to include information on that dinner if/when it is rescheduled in a future column.
(Incidentally, in last week’s column, I erroneously listed Fran Tromblay as the PSC’s current president. I was wrong, the current president is Stanley Bushey. My apologies.)
The Berkshire Chapter of Ducks Unlimited and the Lee Sportsmen’s Association’s 6th Annual Youth Sportsmen’s Gala which was scheduled for April 4 has been postponed. At this time, it is uncertain when it will be rescheduled due to CDC and state restrictions and the availability of the Country Club of Pittsfield. Since we should be following social distancing guidelines of staying at least 6 feet away from one another, they have cancelled their weekly Gala Committee meetings until further notice.
The Lee Sportsmen’s Association Board of Directors has decided to cancel all youth teams, programs, leagues, turkey shoots, orientations, trainings, and other scheduled events until at least March 27. The Board will reconvene on March 25 at its regular meeting to reassess the situation. All ranges are closed until at least March 27. The Berkshire County Pistol League Shoot-Off has been cancelled.
The Lenox Sportsmen’s Club has announced that all events and leagues are cancelled and will not resume until further notice. That includes the Spring Ham Shoots, the April LTC- UTAH Class, and all Archery and Gun Leagues. Some ranges such as the Lenox Sportsmen’s Club GEAA Rifle Range is open. The archery, rifle and pistol ranges will remain open for individual members to use. Anyone using the club should help others by cleaning any surfaces they encounter. Supplies will be made readily available. It has not been determined whether or not the Cub Scout Summer Camp is still on.
The Stockbridge Sportsmen’s Club has postponed its Archery Scholarship Fundraiser Shoot and breakfast. Also, its youth Archery Fun Shoot has been postponed. All archery and shooting leagues are suspended until after April 1. Individual use of the ranges will still be allowed. Its annual Game Dinner has been moved to October. As of now, the next firearm license course will be on Sunday, April 26th at 1:00 PM.
The Great Barrington Fish & Game Club has cancelled its Ham Shoots.
The Cheshire Rod & Gun Club has postponed its Ham Shoots that would have started today. Its Youth Archery class is also postponed until further notice.
Pete’s Gun Shop in Adams, which was to have its FID Classes at the Cheshire Rod & Gun Club on April 4 has cancelled it and will be moving all those who are signed up to its May 17 class. They will be contacting all of those who are signed up.
The Berkshire County League of Sportsmen’s Silvio O. Conte Awards Banquet which was scheduled for Saturday, April 25 has been cancelled. Also, all BCLS meetings will be cancelled until it can meet after this virus is over. If there is a need to go over things the delegates can use phone, text or email. It is hoped that the League can hold the Conte Dinner at a later date this year.
The Massachusetts Sportsmen’s Council Banquet which was scheduled for April 11 in Sutton, MA has been postponed. No future date has been set.

The MA Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) has announced the temporary closure of the following facilities in our area: Mount Greylock State Reservation Visitor Center, in Lanesboro, the Savoy Mountain State Forest Campground in Florida, the Western Gateway Heritage State Park Visitor Center in North Adams, and the Beartown State Forest Campground in Monterey. The closures will last through April 1 at which time DCR will reassess circumstances. Additionally, during the temporary closure all associated events at these locations are cancelled.

Importantly, all state parks and comfort stations across the Commonwealth remain open and available for the public to utilize. DCR reminds residents and visitors to avoid gathering in large groups, maintain social distancing, and practice healthy personal hygiene to stop the spread of the virus.

The Berkshire Natural Resources Council has cancelled all events through March 31. It may extend these cancellations as necessary; updates to future events can be found at bnrc.org/upcoming-hikes or on Facebook. Most of its staff will be working from home during this time; email is the best way to reach them.
The Council encourages us to take care of our minds and bodies. Spending time in the natural world can help alleviate stress and anxiety. Its trails are always free and open to the public for this reason. It hopes we can find time to get outside, take deep breaths and feel rejuvenated and to please maintain a healthy distance from anyone else we encounter on the trail.
To find details about their trails and more visit: bnrc.org/trails-and-maps/top-berkshire-trails/or check out the BNRC Berkshire Trails app.
MassAudubon announced that its buildings have been temporarily shut down but its 38,000 acres of protected land is there for you to explore. To prevent the spread of COVID-19, there will be no bathrooms available. For safety reasons, please don’t allow children to play in the Nature Play Areas.
Local waters stocked recently

In spite of all of the MassWildlife cancellations, the Western District staff was able to stock some of our local waters with rainbow trout. The following are waters stocked as of last Thursday: Deerfield River in Buckland, Charlemont and Florida; Konkapot River in Monterey and New Marlborough; Farmington River in Otis, Sheffield and Tolland; Green River in Alford, Egremont and Great Barrington; Mansfield Pond in Great Barrington, Richmond Pond, Onota Lake, Stockbridge Bowl, Westfield River in Cummington, Chesterfield, and Savoy, Littleville Lake in Huntington, Laurel Lake and Pontoosuc Lake..

Coronavirus disruptions are far reaching

Posted on by

 

As readers are well aware, the coronavirus has severely affected our day-to-day lives, including the outdoor sportsmen, hikers, and other nature lovers. Cancellations began coming in from all over and I will try to relay as many of them as I can. Let’s start with information received from Marion E. Larson, Chief, Information & Education, Massachusetts Division of Fisheries & Wildlife
“Due to the State of Emergency declaration by the Governor, MassWildlife is following guidance provided to state agencies to help reduce the spread of a disease that has serious health implications to many people. At this time (3/17/2020), MassWildlife offices and hatcheries are closed to the public until further notice. MassWildlife has also canceled workshops, clinics, courses, and events through April 15 including Hunter Education courses, Learn to Hunt Turkey Seminars, and the Becoming an Outdoorswoman Turkey Hunt Programs.

All Youth Turkey Hunt Seminars have been cancelled. This means that the only youths who may hunt on the Youth Turkey Hunt Day of April 25, 2020 are those past participants who have completed a Youth Turkey Hunt seminar and Basic Hunter Education. While we know this is disappointing news for young hunters and their mentors, they can still hunt together during the regular spring turkey season.

MassWildlife has been notifying participants and volunteers in all of these programs by email, phone, and letters. Cancelations are also noted on program calendars. Despite this, today we learned that some people taking the Cheshire hunter education course didn’t receive the cancellation emails. We’re working to resolve those email glitches and truly apologize for the inconvenience.

Trout Stocking: MassWildlife’s primary concern is for the health and safety of our staff. That being said, designated Emergency Personnel continue to operate our hatcheries. As circumstances allow, trout stocking will continue.

We would like to take this opportunity to encourage people to get outside and connect with the natural world during this time of upheaval and uncertainty. Studies have shown that being outdoors provides important benefits to our health and well-being. Visit a neighborhood park, a wildlife management area or state park or forest with your binoculars, fishing rod and fishing license, or backpack. Practice healthy “social distancing”, keep your pets leashed, and wave to others you might see along the way.

Since this whole situation is still very fluid, please visit Mass.gov/MassWildlife for updated information on events or to purchase a license. Be well!”

Just about all of the local sportsmen’s clubs have been affected in one way or another. Many clubs have had to postpone its Easter ham shoots, game dinners, gun and archery leagues, LTC classes, etc., until further notice.

The Pittsfield Sportsmen’s Club planned on holding a Venison/Italian Buffet next Saturday to benefit its Land Development, but due to the coronavirus threat, it had to be postponed to a later date. I hope to include information on that dinner if/when it is rescheduled in a future column.
(Incidentally, in last week’s column, I erroneously listed Fran Tromblay as the PSC’s current president. I was wrong, the current president is Stanley Bushey. My apologies.)
The Berkshire Chapter of Ducks Unlimited and the Lee Sportsmen’s Association’s 6th Annual Youth Sportsmen’s Gala which was scheduled for April 4 has been postponed. At this time, it is uncertain when it will be rescheduled due to CDC and state restrictions and the availability of the Country Club of Pittsfield. Since we should be following social distancing guidelines of staying at least 6 feet away from one another, they have cancelled their weekly Gala Committee meetings until further notice.
The Lee Sportsmen’s Association Board of Directors has decided to cancel all youth teams, programs, leagues, turkey shoots, orientations, trainings, and other scheduled events until at least March 27. The Board will reconvene on March 25 at its regular meeting to reassess the situation. All ranges are closed until at least March 27. The Berkshire County Pistol League Shoot-Off has been cancelled.
The Lenox Sportsmen’s Club has announced that all events and leagues are cancelled and will not resume until further notice. That includes the Spring Ham Shoots, the April LTC- UTAH Class, and all Archery and Gun Leagues. Some ranges such as the Lenox Sportsmen’s Club GEAA Rifle Range is open. The archery, rifle and pistol ranges will remain open for individual members to use. Anyone using the club should help others by cleaning any surfaces they encounter. Supplies will be made readily available. It has not been determined whether or not the Cub Scout Summer Camp is still on.
The Stockbridge Sportsmen’s Club has postponed its Archery Scholarship Fundraiser Shoot and breakfast. Also, its youth Archery Fun Shoot has been postponed. All archery and shooting leagues are suspended until after April 1. Individual use of the ranges will still be allowed. Its annual Game Dinner has been moved to October. As of now, the next firearm license course will be on Sunday, April 26th at 1:00 PM.
The Great Barrington Fish & Game Club has cancelled its Ham Shoots.
The Cheshire Rod & Gun Club has postponed its Ham Shoots that would have started today. Its Youth Archery class is also postponed until further notice.
Pete’s Gun Shop in Adams, which was to have its FID Classes at the Cheshire Rod & Gun Club on April 4 has cancelled it and will be moving all those who are signed up to its May 17 class. They will be contacting all of those who are signed up.
The Berkshire County League of Sportsmen’s Silvio O. Conte Awards Banquet which was scheduled for Saturday, April 25 has been cancelled. Also, all BCLS meetings will be cancelled until it can meet after this virus is over. If there is a need to go over things the delegates can use phone, text or email. It is hoped that the League can hold the Conte Dinner at a later date this year.
The Massachusetts Sportsmen’s Council Banquet which was scheduled for April 11 in Sutton, MA has been postponed. No future date has been set.

The MA Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) has announced the temporary closure of the following facilities in our area: Mount Greylock State Reservation Visitor Center, in Lanesboro, the Savoy Mountain State Forest Campground in Florida, the Western Gateway Heritage State Park Visitor Center in North Adams, and the Beartown State Forest Campground in Monterey. The closures will last through April 1 at which time DCR will reassess circumstances. Additionally, during the temporary closure all associated events at these locations are cancelled.

Importantly, all state parks and comfort stations across the Commonwealth remain open and available for the public to utilize. DCR reminds residents and visitors to avoid gathering in large groups, maintain social distancing, and practice healthy personal hygiene to stop the spread of the virus.

The Berkshire Natural Resources Council has cancelled all events through March 31. It may extend these cancellations as necessary; updates to future events can be found at bnrc.org/upcoming-hikes or on Facebook. Most of its staff will be working from home during this time; email is the best way to reach them.
The Council encourages us to take care of our minds and bodies. Spending time in the natural world can help alleviate stress and anxiety. Its trails are always free and open to the public for this reason. It hopes we can find time to get outside, take deep breaths and feel rejuvenated and to please maintain a healthy distance from anyone else we encounter on the trail.
To find details about their trails and more visit: bnrc.org/trails-and-maps/top-berkshire-trails/or check out the BNRC Berkshire Trails app.
MassAudubon announced that its buildings have been temporarily shut down but its 38,000 acres of protected land is there for you to explore. To prevent the spread of COVID-19, there will be no bathrooms available. For safety reasons, please don’t allow children to play in the Nature Play Areas.
Local waters stocked recently

In spite of all of the MassWildlife cancellations, the Western District staff was able to stock some of our local waters with rainbow trout. The following are waters stocked as of last Thursday: Deerfield River in Buckland, Charlemont and Florida; Konkapot River in Monterey and New Marlborough; Farmington River in Otis, Sheffield and Tolland; Green River in Alford, Egremont and Great Barrington; Mansfield Pond in Great Barrington, Richmond Pond, Onota Lake, Stockbridge Bowl, Westfield River in Cummington, Chesterfield, and Savoy, Littleville Lake in Huntington, Laurel Lake and Pontoosuc Lake..

 

Coronavirus disruptions are far reaching

Posted on by

 

As readers are well aware, the coronavirus has severely affected our day-to-day lives, including the outdoor sportsmen, hikers, and other nature lovers. Cancellations began coming in from all over and I will try to relay as many of them as I can. Let’s start with information received from Marion E. Larson, Chief, Information & Education, Massachusetts Division of Fisheries & Wildlife
“Due to the State of Emergency declaration by the Governor, MassWildlife is following guidance provided to state agencies to help reduce the spread of a disease that has serious health implications to many people. At this time (3/17/2020), MassWildlife offices and hatcheries are closed to the public until further notice. MassWildlife has also canceled workshops, clinics, courses, and events through April 15 including Hunter Education courses, Learn to Hunt Turkey Seminars, and the Becoming an Outdoorswoman Turkey Hunt Programs.

All Youth Turkey Hunt Seminars have been cancelled. This means that the only youths who may hunt on the Youth Turkey Hunt Day of April 25, 2020 are those past participants who have completed a Youth Turkey Hunt seminar and Basic Hunter Education. While we know this is disappointing news for young hunters and their mentors, they can still hunt together during the regular spring turkey season.

MassWildlife has been notifying participants and volunteers in all of these programs by email, phone, and letters. Cancelations are also noted on program calendars. Despite this, today we learned that some people taking the Cheshire hunter education course didn’t receive the cancellation emails. We’re working to resolve those email glitches and truly apologize for the inconvenience.

Trout Stocking: MassWildlife’s primary concern is for the health and safety of our staff. That being said, designated Emergency Personnel continue to operate our hatcheries. As circumstances allow, trout stocking will continue.

We would like to take this opportunity to encourage people to get outside and connect with the natural world during this time of upheaval and uncertainty. Studies have shown that being outdoors provides important benefits to our health and well-being. Visit a neighborhood park, a wildlife management area or state park or forest with your binoculars, fishing rod and fishing license, or backpack. Practice healthy “social distancing”, keep your pets leashed, and wave to others you might see along the way.

Since this whole situation is still very fluid, please visit Mass.gov/MassWildlife for updated information on events or to purchase a license. Be well!”

Just about all of the local sportsmen’s clubs have been affected in one way or another. Many clubs have had to postpone its Easter ham shoots, game dinners, gun and archery leagues, LTC classes, etc., until further notice.

The Pittsfield Sportsmen’s Club planned on holding a Venison/Italian Buffet next Saturday to benefit its Land Development, but due to the coronavirus threat, it had to be postponed to a later date. I hope to include information on that dinner if/when it is rescheduled in a future column.
(Incidentally, in last week’s column, I erroneously listed Fran Tromblay as the PSC’s current president. I was wrong, the current president is Stanley Bushey. My apologies.)
The Berkshire Chapter of Ducks Unlimited and the Lee Sportsmen’s Association’s 6th Annual Youth Sportsmen’s Gala which was scheduled for April 4 has been postponed. At this time, it is uncertain when it will be rescheduled due to CDC and state restrictions and the availability of the Country Club of Pittsfield. Since we should be following social distancing guidelines of staying at least 6 feet away from one another, they have cancelled their weekly Gala Committee meetings until further notice.
The Lee Sportsmen’s Association Board of Directors has decided to cancel all youth teams, programs, leagues, turkey shoots, orientations, trainings, and other scheduled events until at least March 27. The Board will reconvene on March 25 at its regular meeting to reassess the situation. All ranges are closed until at least March 27. The Berkshire County Pistol League Shoot-Off has been cancelled.
The Lenox Sportsmen’s Club has announced that all events and leagues are cancelled and will not resume until further notice. That includes the Spring Ham Shoots, the April LTC- UTAH Class, and all Archery and Gun Leagues. Some ranges such as the Lenox Sportsmen’s Club GEAA Rifle Range is open. The archery, rifle and pistol ranges will remain open for individual members to use. Anyone using the club should help others by cleaning any surfaces they encounter. Supplies will be made readily available. It has not been determined whether or not the Cub Scout Summer Camp is still on.
The Stockbridge Sportsmen’s Club has postponed its Archery Scholarship Fundraiser Shoot and breakfast. Also, its youth Archery Fun Shoot has been postponed. All archery and shooting leagues are suspended until after April 1. Individual use of the ranges will still be allowed. Its annual Game Dinner has been moved to October. As of now, the next firearm license course will be on Sunday, April 26th at 1:00 PM.
The Great Barrington Fish & Game Club has cancelled its Ham Shoots.
The Cheshire Rod & Gun Club has postponed its Ham Shoots that would have started today. Its Youth Archery class is also postponed until further notice.
Pete’s Gun Shop in Adams, which was to have its FID Classes at the Cheshire Rod & Gun Club on April 4 has cancelled it and will be moving all those who are signed up to its May 17 class. They will be contacting all of those who are signed up.
The Berkshire County League of Sportsmen’s Silvio O. Conte Awards Banquet which was scheduled for Saturday, April 25 has been cancelled. Also, all BCLS meetings will be cancelled until it can meet after this virus is over. If there is a need to go over things the delegates can use phone, text or email. It is hoped that the League can hold the Conte Dinner at a later date this year.
The Massachusetts Sportsmen’s Council Banquet which was scheduled for April 11 in Sutton, MA has been postponed. No future date has been set.

The MA Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) has announced the temporary closure of the following facilities in our area: Mount Greylock State Reservation Visitor Center, in Lanesboro, the Savoy Mountain State Forest Campground in Florida, the Western Gateway Heritage State Park Visitor Center in North Adams, and the Beartown State Forest Campground in Monterey. The closures will last through April 1 at which time DCR will reassess circumstances. Additionally, during the temporary closure all associated events at these locations are cancelled.

Importantly, all state parks and comfort stations across the Commonwealth remain open and available for the public to utilize. DCR reminds residents and visitors to avoid gathering in large groups, maintain social distancing, and practice healthy personal hygiene to stop the spread of the virus.

The Berkshire Natural Resources Council has cancelled all events through March 31. It may extend these cancellations as necessary; updates to future events can be found at bnrc.org/upcoming-hikes or on Facebook. Most of its staff will be working from home during this time; email is the best way to reach them.
The Council encourages us to take care of our minds and bodies. Spending time in the natural world can help alleviate stress and anxiety. Its trails are always free and open to the public for this reason. It hopes we can find time to get outside, take deep breaths and feel rejuvenated and to please maintain a healthy distance from anyone else we encounter on the trail.
To find details about their trails and more visit: bnrc.org/trails-and-maps/top-berkshire-trails/or check out the BNRC Berkshire Trails app.
MassAudubon announced that its buildings have been temporarily shut down but its 38,000 acres of protected land is there for you to explore. To prevent the spread of COVID-19, there will be no bathrooms available. For safety reasons, please don’t allow children to play in the Nature Play Areas.
Local waters stocked recently

In spite of all of the MassWildlife cancellations, the Western District staff was able to stock some of our local waters with rainbow trout. The following are waters stocked as of last Thursday: Deerfield River in Buckland, Charlemont and Florida; Konkapot River in Monterey and New Marlborough; Farmington River in Otis, Sheffield and Tolland; Green River in Alford, Egremont and Great Barrington; Mansfield Pond in Great Barrington, Richmond Pond, Onota Lake, Stockbridge Bowl, Westfield River in Cummington, Chesterfield, and Savoy, Littleville Lake in Huntington, Laurel Lake and Pontoosuc Lake..

 

Half a million trout being stocked this spring

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MassWildLife reports that approximately 500,000 brook, brown, rainbow, and tiger trout will be stocked this spring from its five hatcheries located in Sandwich, Palmer, Belchertown, Sunderland, and Montague. The Western District, which should receive about 20% of them, is scheduled to begin stocking anytime now and should continue stocking to around Memorial Day. 

2020 spring trout stocking stats:
• • Most of the trout will be over 12 inches
• • More than 45% of the trout will be over 14 inches
• • More than 48,000 brook trout will be over 12 inches
• • More than 48,000 brown trout will be over 12 inches
• • More than 200,000 rainbow trout will be over 14 inches
• • More than 600 brown trout and 500 brook trout will be over 18 inches
• • 1,000 brook trout will be over 15 inches
• • More than 2,500 tiger trout will be over 14 inches

Wondering which waters are stocked near you? Click onto https://www.mass.gov/service-details/trout-stocking-report. When ponds and streams are stocked, MassWildlife will mark its map with a black pushpin. Locations marked with a red diamond represent spots that will be stocked at some point this spring. Also, anglers can get daily stocking updates at Mass.gov/Trout, or by contacting local district offices for the latest stocking information. I hope to list the weekly stockings in this column, too.

Life Jackets
We may have an early spring this year and the lakes will soon be clear of ice which means that anglers and kayakers will be out soon. Just a reminder, in Massachusetts, life jackets must be worn by canoeists and kayakers from September 15 through May 15. Youth under 12 years old, personal watercraft users, waterskiers and stand-up paddleboard users must wear them all the time.

One would be wise to abide by this regulation and avoid being cited by the Environmental Police. As noted below, they are busy enough as it is.

Boat Safety Course1506974599te Boating Law Administrators.
Boat Massachusetts is a recognized safety course that meets the National Boating Education Standards and is approved by the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA). Its standards are intended to prescribe the minimum body of knowledge necessary to effect safe, legal, and enjoyable boating. The course runs 10-12 hours in length and the normal format is 5 to 6 two-hour classes, though this may vary. All classes are free of charge. Classes are for adults and youth 12 years of age and older. Family participation is encouraged and has proven to be very rewarding.

All graduates in the 12 through 15-year old age group will be issued a safety certificate allowing them to operate a motorboat without adult supervision, as required by state law. The same is true for 16 and 17-year old youth who wish to operate a personal watercraft
Now should be a good time to take a boat safety course. The Cheshire Rod & Gun Club had one scheduled for mid-March, but it has been cancelled by the Commonwealth due to the coronavirus state of emergency.
Click onto https://www.mass.gov/forms/mep-boating-safety-course to find out when the courses will be resumed.

Boat ID decals
The Office of Fishing and Boating Access is encouraging canoe, kayak, and rowboat owners to obtain vessel ID decals. These self-adhesive decals are to be placed on the inside of a vessel which when filled out by the owner will allow for ease of identification of lost or errand paddle craft.
These decals are available from the Environmental Police Boating Safety Bureau. You can reach the Environmental Police Boating Safety Bureau by calling 508 564-4961 or by emailing boatsafetycourse@mass.gov.

2020 Youth Turkey Hunt

If you have youths who wants to learn how to turkey hunt and participate in the Youth Turkey Hunting Day (April 25, 2020), you should get them enrolled in the Massachusetts Youth Turkey Hunt Program soon. New participants need to register and must complete the Youth Turkey seminar. As of last Wednesday, Lee Sportsmen’s Association, 565 Fairview St, Lee, MA is the only Berkshire participating club in the mandatory youth hunt seminar. It will be held on April 11 from 9 am to 2 pm. Be sure to check the MassWildlife web site periodically to see if any other local clubs will participate.
The program is designed to provide hunters aged 12–17 with an opportunity to:
• Participate in a field workshop that provides specialized training in turkey hunting and safety, including firearms instruction and practice.
• Hunt wild turkey under the supervision and guidance of a safe, experienced, adult hunter serving as a mentor on the special day set aside just for young adults.

Returning participants ages 12–14 must add a Youth Turkey Permit to their customer profile in MassFishHunt. Returning participants ages 15–17 must add the Youth Turkey Authorization 15–17 to their permit.

New for 2020 – Youth Day Hunting Hours begin ½ hour before sunrise and end at 5:00 PM.
Environmental Police were kept busy in 2019

Thanks to Fish & Wildlife Board Member Stephen Sears, who was able to get and share a copy of the 2019 EPA Statewide Call Report. It allows us to get a glimpse of what occupies our EPO’s. Space doesn’t allow listing all of the incident categories so I’ll mention a few of the more interesting ones: Animal nuisance calls -306 bear, 229 coyote and 303 deer; Freshwater Fishing Inspections – 1,233 with 241 violations, Hunter inspections – 961 with 382 violations, Hunter Harassments – 45, Hunting Accidents – 15, Deer Road Kills – 208, ATV Complaints – 935, ATV Accidents – 73, ATV Violations – 391, Non-powered Boat Accidents – 30, Motorboat Accidents – 110, Snowmobile Accidents – 11, Personal Water Craft (PWC) Accidents 16, PWC violations 210, Pheasant Hunter Inspections 199 with 16 violations.

In 2019, some 82 officers were able to handle 14,190 calls. Let’s keep that in mind when they are not able to respond to our calls as quickly as we wish.

New Outdoor Sporting Store
Travis Delratez of Lanesboro and Jammie Sears of Pittsfield are partners in a new outdoor sporting goods store in Cheshire, MA. Named Cheshire Sporting Goods, it is located at 50 Church Street in a building owned by the Reynolds family.
As you drive down Church Street, you can’t miss the place because in the two large display windows are mounted animals. The left window has a shoulder mount of an elk and a couple of turkeys and the right window has a full bear mount. With the overhead lighting, they are something to see.
Boy, does the inside of the store have atmosphere. The shop has old wooden floor boards and the walls and cabinets are adorned with various mounted game: deer, elk, bear, mountain ram, wild boar, wild turkey, coyote, king salmon, bass and probably more critters. It surely will become a place where sports folks congregate. The only thing missing is a pot belly stove. (There was one there in days gone by).
The hours of the store are 4:00 to 9:00 pm on week-days (closed on Mondays) and 9:00 am to 4:00 pm on Saturdays and Sundays. Travis’s wife Bonnie will help out in the store as will Mike Schnopp from Clarksburg. He was doing some work on a compound bow when I was there.
The partners decided to open the store because they believed that there was a need for such a store, what with Dick’s discontinuing the sale of certain guns. They plan to sell hunting and fishing equipment, including compound bows, crossbows, primitive firearms, and their accessories, fishing equipment, clothes and fishing licenses. They hope to become a deer checking station. When I was there, they were awaiting their Federal Firearms sale permit. Eventually, they plan to sell ice fishing equipment, too.
They had a soft opening on Saturday, March 7 and reportedly had a lot of traffic. I suspect one can get expert hunting and fishing advice there as Travis shot or caught most of the mounts. He is a former president of the Pittsfield Sportsmen’s Club (PSC), and what he doesn’t know, his father-in-law, Fran Tremblay, current president of the PSC, probably does.
Please note:
Berkshire County League of Sportsmen President and Basic Youth Hunting Education Instructor Wayne McLain reports that due to the coronavirus state of emergency in Massachusetts, the Commonwealth has canceled all hunter education classes until April 20. Other courses may be cancelled later.

Is climate change affecting our black bear habits?

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Karen and Mark Karlberg of Becket have been having problems with black bears lately. It started on Christmas day but worsened in early February when it really warmed up. In spite of taking their bird feeders in, one bear actually broke in through the fence which holds their llamas. He tore the fence back and got to where they had some suet and birdseed. The bear “freaked out” the llamas and their barnful of chickens and then tore back another piece of fencing to get out into the swamp. The Karlbergs repaired the fence but the bear kept coming back every day.
There is one really large one, about 350 lbs., and a smaller one with a white chest. The bears are smart breaking into the fencing and getting close to their chickens and they are becoming a worry. They are hungry and are becoming brave, coming back 3 days in a row. Anytime bears leave their dens, they are mighty hungry and they will go where there is food.
It seems that with this past warm winter, they didn’t want to stay in hibernation. Karen thinks it has to do with Global Warming, (Climate Change, if you prefer). The weather this winter has been very erratic, with one day reaching near record warm temperature and the next day the thermometer plunges down to what winter weather is supposed to be.
The Karlbergs were at a loss as to what to do about the bears. Local hunters have a solution, but Karen has known these bears since they were youngsters and doesn’t want them killed. So far, they haven’t killed her llamas but have come too close for comfort, trying to get into their barn. They have used an air horn which warded them off for a while but then they started to ignore it. They have used a bright 50-watt spotlight and everything else they could think of. Their neighbor in Otis also has a problem with bears and has even thrown firecrackers at them.
The Karlbergs contacted DFW Western District Supervisor Andrew Madden to see what he suggested. One suggestion was to install an electric fence. (Click onto https://www.mass.gov for information on electric fences). Another suggestion was to use a paint ball gun on them. Well, it’s tough to install an electric fence this time of year so they went the paintball route.
That’s when Karen called me on February 22. She wanted to know where she could buy one. I suggested several local sports shops but they had already checked them all and nowhere in the Berkshires could they find any for sale. When Karen called me, they were on their way to NY to see if they could buy one there. She was frantic and wanted to buy one asap as a bear was at their house that very morning
Karen called me again on February 27 to tell me that one of the bears came back that morning. I asked her if they were able to shoot at them with the paintball gun. She said that it didn’t work and now has to return it for another. Karen loves animals and doesn’t want anything to happen to them but they are being destructive and this is a new trend. She is ok with taking the bird feeders down. If she gets lazy and doesn’t bring them in, then she deserves it. But this is different, there is something going on, they are hungry earlier.
Madden said that they sometimes advise the use of paintball guns as they provide a sting to the bear without skin penetration. They have seen and heard of people using pellet guns or small caliber weapons, but they can penetrate the skin and cause injury and infection which compromises the bear and may increase conflict by weakening the animal. Paintball guns are generally available and are one of the tools that a homeowner can use for aversive conditioning.
The Karlberg’s dog sometimes barks and chases the younger bear away, but it comes back every day. “Wildlife has changed, not changing, but changed” she said.
They are now thinking about having a professional install an electric fence, but they fear that the bears will go right through and not even feel it. Karen has received some advice; attach pieces of tinfoil on the fence with peanut butter on them. If any bears stop and smell the peanut butter, their noses may touch the tinfoil or wire and get a surprising jolt.
That makes perfect sense to me. I grew up on a small farm and my father would keep our cows in the barn in the winter. In the spring, he would bring them outside into our field. They were really happy getting outdoors and got pretty frisky and would sometimes jump and bolt right through our electric fences. Ultimately, he learned a trick. He would lead the cows up to the fence and touch their noses on the fence so that they would get a harmless shock. They never got too close to our fences the rest of the year.
So did the paintball gun work on the bears? Well, they decided to go with a larger air horn instead to see if that works. As of last Thursday, the bears have not returned, so the verdict is out.
Incidentally, MassWildlife, recently issued the following advisory: “Black bears are active and searching for food: take precautions. If you have bird feeders or if you keep chickens, bee hives, or livestock act now to keep bears wild and out of neighborhoods.”
Bears will often ignore seasonally available natural foods including skunk cabbage in favor of an easy meal at a backyard bird feeder. To avoid these problems, MassWildlife suggests that property owners be proactive and remove bird feeders and other potential food sources including garbage or open compost.
If you enjoy watching birds in your yard, MassWildlife suggests adding a water feature, growing native plants, shrubs, and trees to attract birds. Individuals should also secure bee hives, chickens, and livestock. Properly maintained electric fencing is the only way to protect chickens or bee hives from bears. Taking these actions may prevent the unnatural feeding of bears and other kinds of neighborhood wildlife.
There are at least 4,500 black bears in Massachusetts and their range is expanding eastward. Take action by educating yourself and your neighbors about proactive measures to avoid conflicts with bears. For more information about black bears in Massachusetts, visit mass.gov/bears.

Zebra Mussels discovered in a NY trout hatchery
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) recently announced that invasive zebra mussels were discovered in Delta Lake, which supplies water to DEC’s Rome Fish Hatchery this past January. DEC immediately launched an investigation and through subsequent water testing at the hatchery confirmed the presence of zebra mussel veligers (larvae) in an outdoor raceway.
The Rome Hatchery is one of DEC’s largest hatcheries with annual production totaling nearly 160,000 pounds of brook, rainbow, and brown trout. DEC is currently developing short- and long-term strategies to limit the spread of this invasive species and ensure the hatchery returns to normal production. More information will become available as DEC continues to investigate and research the problem.
Out of an abundance of caution, DEC is adjusting its stocking regimen for 2020. Fish from the Rome hatchery will only be stocked in waters currently inhabited by zebra mussels. The DEC is currently determining the type and number of fish stocked into individual waterbodies this year; some waters may receive a reduction or increase in stocking, while other waters will not be stocked.
Alterations in stocking are also envisioned for 2021. DEC is investigating alternative options to maximize hatchery production so as many waters as possible can be stocked.
The Berkshires has many anglers who fish NY rivers such as the Ausable, Beaverkill, Esopus, Battenkill and other famed rivers over there. The adjusted stocking regimen may very well affect them. I tried contacting the DEC to see what, if any, effects there would be on one of my favorite rivers, the Ausable River near Lake Placid. So far, I have received no response.
Questions/comments: Berkwoodsandwaters@roadrunner.com. Phone: (413) 637-1818.

 

 

Is the Housatonic River clean-up worth it?

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Clean up the Housatonic River! That was the battle cry of the Housatonic River Watershed Association (HRWA) back in the 1980’s. I was on the Board at that time and I agreed. That was until GE presented a plan which basically channelized the river from Pittsfield to Woods Pond in Lenox Dale. That’s when I said, leave it alone. Don’t wreck it by trying to save it.
Over the years, a Consent Agreement was developed by GE, City of Pittsfield, State and Federal environmental agencies and others. Subsequently, different sections of the river were “cleaned up”, if one can call it that as well as Silver Lake. After that, it was time to clean the “Rest of the River”.
During this time, I think it is safe to say that the Berkshire County League of Sportsmen (BCLS) the umbrella organization representing approximately 3,000 sports folks felt that the river should be left alone. It was concerned that the flood plains, river banks, back waters, trees, etc., and their inhabitants such as fish, flora and fauna would be destroyed or severely impacted. The BCLS felt that we will never be able to eat the fish out of the river anyways, not while PCB’s are still leeching into Silver Lake, Unkamet Brook and ultimately into the Housatonic River. Many of the PCBs were buried, why dig them up and resuspend them in the water column or into the air. Trees will have to be cut and one of the most beautiful and environmentally sensitive areas west of the Connecticut River, full of fish, game and rare and possibly endangered species will be destroyed or altered for the remainder of our lifetimes, our children’s and grandchildren’s.
Several environmental organizations wanted a stringent clean-up which would remove all of the PCB’s in the river and along its banks and flood plains and there seemed to be an impasse. The BCLS softened its position somewhat by backing the most environmentally sensitive clean-up possible. It supported the MA DEP’s position of basically just cleaning up the “hot spots”, Woods Pond and areas behind the dams and shipping the PCB’s out of state to a licensed landfill. I believe it was the MA DEP’s position that no toxic landfills would be allowed in Massachusetts.
Then some big things happened in early 2017. The new administration in Washington started messing around with the EPA by changing its leadership and putting the clean-up on a fast tract. At about the same time, GE was talking about moving its headquarters to Boston. Oh, oh, trouble ahead. Next will come strangers to the towns carrying big checkbooks to try to sway the town officials to go along with their plan of putting a toxic dump in the Dale. Hey, $25,000,000 is a lot of money to a small town like Lenox or Lee.
Some time later there was a meeting at the Mass Audubon Pleasant Valley Sanctuary barn and we were introduced to the new EPA regional boss. I didn’t like what I was hearing and voiced concern that the EPA couldn’t be serious about creating a PCB toxic dump practically in Lenox, the home of Tanglewood, Canyon Ranch, Cranwell and other organizations which were investing $millions in the town. A town where tourism is so important. You should have seen the look that she gave me.
Well sorry, I just didn’t want Lenox Dale becoming the “Love Canal” of New England.
As you probably know, thanks to secret meetings of town officials, GE, EPA and some environmental organizations the dump will be placed a couple of hundred yards from the village. Only one environmental organization, Tim Gray’s Housatonic River Initiative, refused to sign the document. (Noticeably, the DFW, which owns most of the land along the Pittsfield/Lenox stretch of the river, (thanks to funds derived from hunters, fishermen and trappers), and the MA DEP were not represented).
The announcement of the pact was made at the Lenox Dale train station on February 10. US Senator Markey was there and commented on how nice it was that the community came together to form the pact (or words to that effect). I found those comments ironic when there were placards opposing the dump along the back and sides of the room. US Rep Neal was there, too, speaking positively about it.
State Rep Smitty Pignatelli directed our attention to the beautiful Woods Pond and nearby October Mountain saying that it was the perfect place for this meeting (or words to that effect). But he didn’t point to the southeast, 1,500 feet away, and say this is where the 20-acre disposal facility will be located, across the river from the village. In fact, I don’t believe any of the speakers even mentioned Lenox Dale in their speeches.
A few days later in the Berkshire Eagle of February 11 we learned how safe the upland disposal facility will be. It will be lined by thick plastic and we were assured that it wouldn’t affect the ground water because the bottom would be 10-15 feet above it. Heck, nothing to fear right? That plastic liner should last forever, right? Oh yes, GE must pay to connect nearby homes that use private wells to town water. What’s that tell you?
Don’t worry, they say, the sludge with PCB’s greater that 50 ppm will be shipped out of state (some 100,000 cubic yards of it). The rest of the sludge, about 900,000 cubic yards which will have lower concentration levels of PCBs, perhaps 25 ppm will go into the disposal facility. Well, some of us say if the levels are that low then leave them where they are. Why dig them up from the river/flood plains and risk their spreading into the air and resuspending them in the water.
In last week’s column, I requested comments from the sportsmen about the clean-up. I cannot print many of them. All I can say is that there are some angry sportsmen, paddlers and bird watchers out there who do not want to see such a beautiful, environmentally important area ruined, much less establish a toxic waste facility. There were some interesting comments. One made reference to 30 pieces of silver……you know where he was going with that. Another one, a dentist said, “They wouldn’t allow fluorides in the Lenox water supply, but they allow this”. The BCLS hasn’t taken a formal vote yet, but I would be willing to bet that most, if not all of the club delegates oppose the PCB landfill in the Dale.
I suspect I will get some nasty letters and e-mails as a result of this column and possibly people trying to change my mind. Please understand this, no matter how much sugar coating, there is nothing that can be said to me that would justify the environmental destruction and the consequences to the folks of the village of Lenox Dale. There is no way that I can rationalize a toxic landfill placed a couple hundred yards from Lenox Dale, or any town for that matter, as being anything but a bad deal. I suspect there are a few people who agree with me.
Harry A. Bateman Memorial Jimmy Fund Ice Fishing Derby results

The winners of the 34th annual Harry Bateman Derby which was held on February 9 are as follows:

Children age 12 years old and younger
1st. Place: Khloe Koldys – Pike – 12lbs. 6oz.
2nd. Place: Levi Koldys – Pike- 12lbs.
3rd. Place: Tessa Matarazzo – Largemouth Bass – 2lbs.

Young Adults age 13-17 years old
1st. Place: Owen Paquette – Pike- 7lbs. 8oz.
2nd. Place: Asher Hotson – Pike – 6lbs. 14oz.
3rd. Place: Owen Leach – Yellow Perch 4oz.

Adults 18 years old and over.
1st. Place: Fran Poplaski – Catfish – 9lbs. 5oz.
2nd. Place: Eric Lee -Pike- 7lbs.
3rd. Place: James Greer – Catfish- 4lbs. 10oz.

Hunter Education Course

The Cheshire Rod & Gun Club will be conducting a 6 session Hunter Education Course at its clubhouse on 310 Curran Road, Cheshire. The sessions will run Mondays and Fridays for three weeks from 6:00 to 9:00 pm on February 24, 28, and March 2, 6, 9 and 13. Instructor Wayne McLain says they still have some openings. To enroll, call (508) 389-7830 or show up.

Is the Housatonic River clean-up worth it?

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Clean up the Housatonic River! That was the battle cry of the Housatonic River Watershed Association (HRWA) back in the 1980’s. I was on the Board at that time and I agreed. That was until GE presented a plan which basically channelized the river from Pittsfield to Woods Pond in Lenox Dale. That’s when I said, leave it alone. Don’t wreck it by trying to save it.
Over the years, a Consent Agreement was developed by GE, City of Pittsfield, State and Federal environmental agencies and others. Subsequently, different sections of the river were “cleaned up”, if one can call it that as well as Silver Lake. After that, it was time to clean the “Rest of the River”.
During this time, I think it is safe to say that the Berkshire County League of Sportsmen (BCLS) the umbrella organization representing approximately 3,000 sports folks felt that the river should be left alone. It was concerned that the flood plains, river banks, back waters, trees, etc., and their inhabitants such as fish, flora and fauna would be destroyed or severely impacted. The BCLS felt that we will never be able to eat the fish out of the river anyways, not while PCB’s are still leeching into Silver Lake, Unkamet Brook and ultimately into the Housatonic River. Many of the PCBs were buried, why dig them up and resuspend them in the water column or into the air. Trees will have to be cut and one of the most beautiful and environmentally sensitive areas west of the Connecticut River, full of fish, game and rare and possibly endangered species will be destroyed or altered for the remainder of our lifetimes, our children’s and grandchildren’s.
Several environmental organizations wanted a stringent clean-up which would remove all of the PCB’s in the river and along its banks and flood plains and there seemed to be an impasse. The BCLS softened its position somewhat by backing the most environmentally sensitive clean-up possible. It supported the MA DEP’s position of basically just cleaning up the “hot spots”, Woods Pond and areas behind the dams and shipping the PCB’s out of state to a licensed landfill. I believe it was the MA DEP’s position that no toxic landfills would be allowed in Massachusetts.
Then some big things happened in early 2017. The new administration in Washington started messing around with the EPA by changing its leadership and putting the clean-up on a fast tract. At about the same time, GE was talking about moving its headquarters to Boston. Oh, oh, trouble ahead. Next will come strangers to the towns carrying big checkbooks to try to sway the town officials to go along with their plan of putting a toxic dump in the Dale. Hey, $25,000,000 is a lot of money to a small town like Lenox or Lee.
Some time later there was a meeting at the Mass Audubon Pleasant Valley Sanctuary barn and we were introduced to the new EPA regional boss. I didn’t like what I was hearing and voiced concern that the EPA couldn’t be serious about creating a PCB toxic dump practically in Lenox, the home of Tanglewood, Canyon Ranch, Cranwell and other organizations which were investing $millions in the town. A town where tourism is so important. You should have seen the look that she gave me.
Well sorry, I just didn’t want Lenox Dale becoming the “Love Canal” of New England.
As you probably know, thanks to secret meetings of town officials, GE, EPA and some environmental organizations the dump will be placed a couple of hundred yards from the village. Only one environmental organization, Tim Gray’s Housatonic River Initiative, refused to sign the document. (Noticeably, the DFW, which owns most of the land along the Pittsfield/Lenox stretch of the river, (thanks to funds derived from hunters, fishermen and trappers), and the MA DEP were not represented).
The announcement of the pact was made at the Lenox Dale train station on February 10. US Senator Markey was there and commented on how nice it was that the community came together to form the pact (or words to that effect). I found those comments ironic when there were placards opposing the dump along the back and sides of the room. US Rep Neal was there, too, speaking positively about it.
State Rep Smitty Pignatelli directed our attention to the beautiful Woods Pond and nearby October Mountain saying that it was the perfect place for this meeting (or words to that effect). But he didn’t point to the southeast, 1,500 feet away, and say this is where the 20-acre disposal facility will be located, across the river from the village. In fact, I don’t believe any of the speakers even mentioned Lenox Dale in their speeches.
A few days later in the Berkshire Eagle of February 11 we learned how safe the upland disposal facility will be. It will be lined by thick plastic and we were assured that it wouldn’t affect the ground water because the bottom would be 10-15 feet above it. Heck, nothing to fear right? That plastic liner should last forever, right? Oh yes, GE must pay to connect nearby homes that use private wells to town water. What’s that tell you?
Don’t worry, they say, the sludge with PCB’s greater that 50 ppm will be shipped out of state (some 100,000 cubic yards of it). The rest of the sludge, about 900,000 cubic yards which will have lower concentration levels of PCBs, perhaps 25 ppm will go into the disposal facility. Well, some of us say if the levels are that low then leave them where they are. Why dig them up from the river/flood plains and risk their spreading into the air and resuspending them in the water.
In last week’s column, I requested comments from the sportsmen about the clean-up. I cannot print many of them. All I can say is that there are some angry sportsmen, paddlers and bird watchers out there who do not want to see such a beautiful, environmentally important area ruined, much less establish a toxic waste facility. There were some interesting comments. One made reference to 30 pieces of silver……you know where he was going with that. Another one, a dentist said, “They wouldn’t allow fluorides in the Lenox water supply, but they allow this”. The BCLS hasn’t taken a formal vote yet, but I would be willing to bet that most, if not all of the club delegates oppose the PCB landfill in the Dale.
I suspect I will get some nasty letters and e-mails as a result of this column and possibly people trying to change my mind. Please understand this, no matter how much sugar coating, there is nothing that can be said to me that would justify the environmental destruction and the consequences to the folks of the village of Lenox Dale. There is no way that I can rationalize a toxic landfill placed a couple hundred yards from Lenox Dale, or any town for that matter, as being anything but a bad deal. I suspect there are a few people who agree with me.
Harry A. Bateman Memorial Jimmy Fund Ice Fishing Derby results

The winners of the 34th annual Harry Bateman Derby which was held on February 9 are as follows:

Children age 12 years old and younger
1st. Place: Khloe Koldys – Pike – 12lbs. 6oz.
2nd. Place: Levi Koldys – Pike- 12lbs.
3rd. Place: Tessa Matarazzo – Largemouth Bass – 2lbs.

Young Adults age 13-17 years old
1st. Place: Owen Paquette – Pike- 7lbs. 8oz.
2nd. Place: Asher Hotson – Pike – 6lbs. 14oz.
3rd. Place: Owen Leach – Yellow Perch 4oz.

Adults 18 years old and over.
1st. Place: Fran Poplaski – Catfish – 9lbs. 5oz.
2nd. Place: Eric Lee -Pike- 7lbs.
3rd. Place: James Greer – Catfish- 4lbs. 10oz.

Hunter Education Course

The Cheshire Rod & Gun Club will be conducting a 6 session Hunter Education Course at its clubhouse on 310 Curran Road, Cheshire. The sessions will run Mondays and Fridays for three weeks from 6:00 to 9:00 pm on February 24, 28, and March 2, 6, 9 and 13. Instructor Wayne McLain says they still have some openings. To enroll, call (508) 389-7830 or show up.

Berkshire waters yield 20 gold pins and an Angler of the Year in 2019

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Each year, MassWildlife recognizes anglers who catch exceptional freshwater fish in waters open to the public. If you submit the largest or longest fish in an eligible species category, you will get a gold pin and a plaque, and you’ll also be honored in a MassWildlife awards event.
Log onto https://www.mass.gov/service-details/gold-pin-winners to see all of the 2019 winners in the Adult Catch & Keep, Youth Catch & Keep and Catch & Release categories. You will notice that there were 20 gold pins awarded to local or out-of-area anglers who caught fish out of local waters and a gold pin awarded to a local angler who caught a big fish in waters outside of the Berkshires.

In an upcoming ceremony to be held at the MassWildlife Field Headquarters in Westborough, MA, the lucky anglers will receive gold pins and plaques commemorating their great feats.

Local gold pin winners were as follows:

Adult catch & keep category:
Chain Pickerel, 6 lbs 4 oz caught out of Stockbridge Bowl by Robert Kotleski of West Stockbridge.
Northern Pike, 26 lbs 10 oz caught out of Onota Lake by Eric Moser of Pittsfield
Yellow Perch, 1 lb 15 oz caught out of Onota Lake by Jonathan Beauchesne of North Grafton, MA.

Youth catch and keep category
Brown Trout, 7 lbs 5 oz caught out of Onota Lake; Bullhead, 2 lbs 0 oz caught out of Pontoosuc Lake; Carp, 16 lbs 9 oz caught out of the Housatonic River; Northern Pike, 14 lbs 5 oz caught out of Cheshire Lake; Sunfish, 1 lb 5 oz caught out of Ashmere Lake; White Perch, 1 lb 13 oz caught out of Pontoosuc Lake; and Yellow Perch, 1 lb 9 oz out of Cheshire Lake.
All of the above fish were caught by Alice Christman of Pittsfield.

Catch & Release category
Brook Trout, 19 inches caught out of Laurel Lake by yours truly. (How about that? I tied Lee Pearson of Plymouth who caught and released an identical sized brookie from Long Pond in Plymouth)

2019 Angler of the Year award winners

The Catch & Keep Angler of the Year Award is given to the person who weighs in the largest number of species that meet the minimum weight requirements for the previous calendar year. The award promotes awareness of the Commonwealth’s underutilized fish species and recognizes an angler’s ability to catch a wide variety of trophy species.

The Catch & Release Angler of the Year Award is awarded to the person who submits the largest number of species that meet the minimum length requirements for the previous calendar year.

With the exception of Alice, I don’t know how many bronze pins that the other two anglers were awarded during the year or in which categories, but records show that they earned gold pins in the following categories:

Adult Catch & Keep Category: Jonathan Beauchesne of North Grafton, MA earned 3 gold pins: A 37 lbs 4 oz Carp out of Quinsigamond Lake in Shrewsbury, a 5 lbs 1 oz Shad out of the Chicopee River in Chicopee and a 1 lb 15 oz Yellow Perch out of Onota Lake in Pittsfield.

Youth Catch & Keep Category: Can there be any doubt? Why of course it is Alice Christman of Pittsfield, MA. In addition to the 7 gold pin fish listed previously, she also caught a gold pin Channel Catfish which weighed 8 lbs 14 oz out of the Connecticut River in Springfield. But wait! There’s more! Alice also was awarded bronze pins for: largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, crappie, brook trout, brown trout, rainbow trout, tiger trout and pickerel.

She ended up getting a bronze or gold pin for 16 out of the 22 species of fish included in the program. Way to go Alice!

There is much more to Alice’s story which I hope to write about in an upcoming column. You may find it interesting, especially if you have an autistic child in your family.

Catch & Release Angler Category: Matthew Menard of Brookfield, MA earned 4 gold pins in the Adult Catch & Release category: A 30.75 inch Channel Catfish out of the Connecticut River in Agawam, an 18.25 inch Crappie out of Lashaway Lake in North Brookfield, a 30.00 inch Lake Trout out of Quabbin Reservoir and a 22.75 inch Smallmouth Bass also out of Quabbin Reservoir.

New State record fish caught in 2019 were as follows in the Catch & Release Category:

Bowfin – 31 inches caught out of the Taunton River in Taunton by Michael Nee of Framingham, MA
Crappie – 18.25 inches caught out of Lashaway Lake in North Brookfield, MA by Matthew Menard of Brookfield.
Rainbow Trout – 25.50 inches caught out of Jamaica Pond in Boston by Frankie Caloiero of Winchester, MA
Smallmouth Bass – 22.75 inches out of Quabbin Reservoir by Matthew Menard of Brookfield, MA

There were no state record fish caught in the Adult or Youth Catch and Keep categories. Probably the reason for so many state records in the Catch and Release category is that this category is still relatively new, having started in 2015 and the records will frequently change for a while.

Page 13 of the MA Fishing & Hunting regulations explains the Freshwater Sportfishing Awards Program and provides a chart which lists the minimum weights and lengths to qualify for a pin. You might want to take it along whenever you go fishing. If a fish doesn’t measure up, then you can release it to be caught another day…….unless, of course, you want to release it into a frying pan.

Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation Banquet
The Bay State Chapter of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation is having a banquet on Saturday, February 22 at the Stockbridge Sportsmen’s Club, 24 West Stockbridge Road in Stockbridge. It is billed as the do-not-miss social event of the year with a chance to win top notch firearms, premium hunts and exclusive gear. Even if you don’t hunt elk, it is a social evening of fun, great food and camaraderie all for the benefit of elk country. Peter DelGrande’s famous Herb-Crusted Boneless Prime Rib and Chicken Marsala Buffet is reason enough to attend.

Prizes include firearms and bows, premium hunts, trips and adventures, limited edition art, handcrafted pottery and home furnishings, custom jewelry, and much more. Tickets are limited, and cost: Single Attendee – Includes 1 Meal & 1 Supporting Membership – $80.00, Couple Attendee – Includes 2 Meals & 1 Supporting Membership – $125.00. Doors open at 5:00pm. Call Gary D. Johnston at (413) 441-0361 for more information.

The 37th Annual Springfield Sportsmen’s Show
Arguably the largest pure hunting and fishing show in the Northeast, it is filled with hundreds of booths, seminars and action areas. The two-building show is filled with an outdoorsman’s dream of fishing and hunting gear, outfitters, charter boats and adventure destinations, along with great deals on fishing boats, ATV’s and UTV’s. There will be interesting attractions and displays such as The Northeast Big Buck Club, Trout Pond, Water-Dog Retrieving Pool Demos, Two Seminar Rooms and more.
Each year, the show draws exhibitors from all over the Northeast who are eager to present their products and services to outdoor sporting enthusiasts throughout the greater New England area. Returning and all new fishing tackle vendors will exhibit and sell fishing reels and rods, hard and soft plastic baits, fishing kayaks with accessories and boats of all types.
The show takes place at the Eastern States Exposition (Big E) 1305 Memorial Ave., West Springfield, MA) on February 21 through 23. The show hours are Friday from noon to 8 PM, Saturday 9 AM to 7 PM and Sunday 10 AM to 5 PM. Admission: Adults – $15, kids 6 to 12 – $5 and under 6 free.
Housatonic River Clean-up

There was some big news last week. I’ll put off my comments until next week as I want to hear what the local hunters, fishers and trappers think about it. Drop me a line at the below address if you have a chance. Thank you.

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Preliminary deer harvest report shows a near state record year in 2019, but not in the Western District

The preliminary statewide deer harvest for 2019 is 13,922 – the second highest harvest on record, 628 fewer than the 2018 record. However; Wildlife Management Zones (WMZ) 1 through 4, (which includes the Berkshires) recorded a harvest drop of 412 deer. That amounts to a 16% drop from 2018 to 2019.
MassWildlife believes the deep snow that covered much of the state during the shotgun season appears to have caused a drop in hunter effort and deer harvest during that time (especially on the opening day). However, it appears deer taken during the archery season and primitive season made up for that short-term drop. Well, the archery and primitive seasons did not make up the difference here in the Berkshires.
The preliminary statewide harvest figures by season are as follows:
• Youth Deer Hunt Day (Sept. 28): 89 deer
• Paraplegic Deer Hunt (Oct. 31– Nov. 2): 5 deer
• Archery Season (Zones 1-9: Oct. 21–Nov. 30 and Zones 10-14: Oct 7-Nov. 30): 6,149 deer
• Shotgun Season (Dec. 2–Dec. 14): 4,984 deer
• Primitive Firearms Season (Dec. 16–Dec. 31): 2,694 deer
Total statewide harvest beginning in 2014 and ending with 2019 were as follows: 11,165, 10,142, 12,233, 13,255, 14,513 and this year’s 13,922. The Western District WMZ 1 through WMZ 4 had the following harvests beginning in 2014: 1,737, 1,887, 2,197, 2,318, 2,618 and this year’s 2,206.
MassWildlife feels that while total harvest by zone can be informative, it doesn’t provide the complete picture. Thus, it is important to assess harvest data and monitor trends by Wildlife Management Zone. Total harvest is influenced by deer density and the number of antlerless deer permits that MassWildlife allocates in each zone, as well as annual changes in hunter effort, harvest-rates, success-rates, weather, etc.
The MassWildlife Deer Project Leader will spend the next few months thoroughly analyzing the deer harvest and biological data as well as assessing deer population trends in each zone. The results and recommendations for the 2020 season will take place at the annual deer management review presented at a Fisheries and Wildlife Board meeting in late spring. A complete harvest summary will be posted on the MassWildlife website shortly after the deer review, so check their web site in early summer.
The recap of the 2019 deer harvest is as follows:

Preliminary deer harvest report shows a near state record year in 2019, but not in the Western District

The preliminary statewide deer harvest for 2019 is 13,922 – the second highest harvest on record, 628 fewer than the 2018 record. However; Wildlife Management Zones (WMZ) 1 through 4, (which includes the Berkshires) recorded a harvest drop of 412 deer. That amounts to a 16% drop from 2018 to 2019.
MassWildlife believes the deep snow that covered much of the state during the shotgun season appears to have caused a drop in hunter effort and deer harvest during that time (especially on the opening day). However, it appears deer taken during the archery season and primitive season made up for that short-term drop. Well, the archery and primitive seasons did not make up the difference here in the Berkshires.
The preliminary statewide harvest figures by season are as follows:
• Youth Deer Hunt Day (Sept. 28): 89 deer
• Paraplegic Deer Hunt (Oct. 31– Nov. 2): 5 deer
• Archery Season (Zones 1-9: Oct. 21–Nov. 30 and Zones 10-14: Oct 7-Nov. 30): 6,149 deer
• Shotgun Season (Dec. 2–Dec. 14): 4,984 deer
• Primitive Firearms Season (Dec. 16–Dec. 31): 2,694 deer
Total statewide harvest beginning in 2014 and ending with 2019 were as follows: 11,165, 10,142, 12,233, 13,255, 14,513 and this year’s 13,922. The Western District WMZ 1 through WMZ 4 had the following harvests beginning in 2014: 1,737, 1,887, 2,197, 2,318, 2,618 and this year’s 2,206.
MassWildlife feels that while total harvest by zone can be informative, it doesn’t provide the complete picture. Thus, it is important to assess harvest data and monitor trends by Wildlife Management Zone. Total harvest is influenced by deer density and the number of antlerless deer permits that MassWildlife allocates in each zone, as well as annual changes in hunter effort, harvest-rates, success-rates, weather, etc.
The MassWildlife Deer Project Leader will spend the next few months thoroughly analyzing the deer harvest and biological data as well as assessing deer population trends in each zone. The results and recommendations for the 2020 season will take place at the annual deer management review presented at a Fisheries and Wildlife Board meeting in late spring. A complete harvest summary will be posted on the MassWildlife website shortly after the deer review, so check their web site in early summer.

Tavares lands big brown trout while jigging for smelt
On Tuesday, January 21, Ben Tavares of West Lebanon, NY was ice fishing by himself on Onota Lake in Pittsfield. He was jigging for smelt using a HALI Jig (a little spoon with a micro sized hook) and 4 lbs. test line. He had picked up two smelt and was getting ready to leave.
When he went back into his shanty and took one last look at his electronic fish marker, he detected fish and started jigging again.
Pretty soon he had such a hard hit that the tip of the little jigging rod bent right down to the water in the hole. “This is not a smelt”, he thought to himself. Although he fought it for 10-15 minutes, it felt like a half hour. He finally got it to the hole but the fish spooked again and made another “crazy” run.
While working it up to the hole again, he worried because the line tangled around the fish’s tail. Luckily it came up to the hole head first and Ben grabbed it by the gills. He called his buddy Brandon Tynan of New Lebanon and he arrived to measure and photo it.
He and Brandon brought it to the Onota Boat Livery to officially weigh and photo it. It weighed 7 lbs. 10 oz, was 28 inches long and had a girth of 15 inches. A picture of it is now hanging at the Onota Boat Livery. Ben is sending the paperwork to register it with MassWildlife He will surely receive a bronze pin from MassWildlife, for to be awarded a “catch and keep” pin, the fish must be at least 4 lbs.
Ben intends to have the fish mounted by Bouker’s Taxidermy of White Creek, NY.
On a personal note, I have been pondering why such a large trout would hit such a tiny fishing lure. The only thing that makes sense to me is that perhaps the smelt was nibbling on Ben’s lure and the big trout came along and took the smelt, and accidentally hooking himself on the micro hook. Wow! What are the chances of landing that large fish on such a tiny hook.
Mighty fine job Ben!

It is only a matter of time!”

“There is no question about it. Cougars are not only being seen in eastern North America, some are attempting to recolonize their former habitats. Where once it was flatly dismissed as an impossibility in the so-called “developed” east, scientists have now documented cougar dispersals and even occupancy in a growing list of eastern states and provinces”. That’s according to Sue Morse, considered by many as one of the most capable and experienced naturalists in the United States.

You are encouraged to join the Berkshire Environmental Action Team (BEAT) on February 15 from 6:30 to 8:00 pm at the Boland Theater, Berkshire Community College, 1350 West St. Pittsfield. There you will see a magnificently illustrated introduction to cougar biology and ecology in the broad diversity of habitats where Sue has studied them, from Alberta to the Arizona/Mexico border. Get the low-down regarding the latest confirmations of cougars in the east, including the recently documented suitability of a substantial amount of wild habitats from Manitoba to Louisiana and Maine to Georgia.
Sue, the founder and science director of Keeping Track, is highly regarded as an expert in natural history and one of North America’s top wildlife trackers. Since 1977, she has been monitoring wildlife, with an emphasis on documenting the presence and habitat requirements of bobcat, black bear, Canada lynx and cougar.

When not in the field conducting research, leading training programs or photographing wildlife, Sue can often be found presenting her findings and award-winning images to a wide range of audiences, including the general public, conservation leaders and students of all ages. Over the years, the University of Vermont graduate has served as mentor to numerous young people and inspired many to pursue careers in natural resources.
A $15 Freewill donation is suggested, students get in free. For more details, call (413) 230-7321 or email: team@thebeatnews.org

Ice Fishing Derbies
The Onota Fishing Club plans to have an ice fishing derby on Onota Lake on Sunday, February 16 beginning at 6:00 am with all fish being weighed in by 1:00 pm. Registration will be at the Controy Pavilion. Admission is $15 for adults and children under 12 who are accompanied by an adult free. Juniors under the age of fishing licenses $5. There will be raffles, prizes for juniors and senior divisions. Hamburgers and hotdogs along with hot chocolate and other beverages will be available at the pavilion.
The Cheshire Rod & Gun Club and Adams Outdoor for Youth plan to have an ice fishing derby on the 1st and 2nd Hoosac Lakes also on February 16 from sunrise until 4:00 pm. Weigh-in at Farnams Causeway, Channel 7. Heaviest ticket holdersfish wins an 8” K-Drill combo including drill and battery ($500 value). Youth prizes for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place. Ptizes and refreshments – 5:00 pm at the CR&G Club House. Kids 14 and under free with adult ticket. $10.00 donation. Only cancellation will be lack of ice. If derby is cancelled an augur will be raffled of to ticket holders.