Category Archives: Fishing

Its ice fishing time

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Now that the weather has finally turned cold, the ice on our lakes should now be safe to go ice fishing. Most ice fishermen that I know have been chomping at the bits waiting for this time. They already dug out their heavy clothes and ice fishing equipment. Their power augers are tuned up and ready to start drilling holes. Some folks probably rummaged through their freezers for deer burgers. All they have to do is purchase some hamburger rolls and live bait, grab a kid or two and head out onto the lake. Of course they already purchased their 2019 fishing or sporting licenses……..right?

I’m guessing that the ice thickness is somewhere between 6 and 12 inches thick, depending where you go. The higher up in elevation, the more ice on the lakes.

Actually, MassWildlife doesn’t want us to guess the ice thickness. They caution us to always consider ice to be potentially dangerous. One can’t judge ice conditions by appearance or thickness alone; many other factors like water depth, size of waterbody, water chemistry, currents, snow cover, age of ice, and local weather conditions impact ice strength.

New ice is stronger than old ice. Four inches of clear, newly formed ice may support one person on foot, while a foot or more of old, partially thawed ice may not. Ice doesn’t freeze uniformly. They caution you to continue checking ice conditions frequently while venturing out onto the ice.
Stay away from ice formed over flowing water. Avoid traveling onto ice-bound rivers and streams, as the currents make ice thickness unpredictable. Many lakes and ponds may contain spring holes and other areas of currents such as stream inlets that can create deceptively dangerous thin spots.
MassWildlife cautions that before heading out onto the ice, tell someone your plans, including where you are going and when you expect to return. Carry a cell phone in case of emergency and always carry ice picks and rope with you on the ice.
They suggest that you wear a life jacket because it will keep you at the surface and can provide insulation against the effects of cold water. (I suspect that for most of us wearing a life jacket is not practical. We are bundled up so much that we can’t fit the life jacket under or over our bulky clothes. Lately, ice fishing clothes manufactures are making parkas with flotations built inside them. That may be the way to go when you purchase your next parka).
The guidelines below are for clear, blue ice on lakes and ponds. White ice or snow ice is only about half as strong as new clear ice and can be very treacherous. Use an ice chisel, auger, or cordless drill to make a hole in the ice and determine its thickness and condition.
The general rule is that if there is 2 inches or less, stay off the ice. Four inches should support an individual on foot, 5 inches for snowmobiles or ATV’s and a foot or more for a small pick-up truck.
If you fall through the ice try not to panic. Call for help if there are people nearby. Don’t remove winter clothing as air trapped in your clothes can provide warmth and help you float. Turn in the direction from where you came because ice previously walked on should be the safest. Place your hands and arms on an unbroken surface and kick your legs. If you have ice picks or a pair of nails, use them to pull yourself up onto the ice while kicking. Lie flat and roll away. Once your torso is on firm ice, roll toward thicker ice to distribute your weight.
Find shelter and get warm: Change out of wet clothing and find warm, dry coverings. If you are in a remote area, get to or start a campfire. Otherwise, get to a car or house. Seek medical advice from your physician on medical attention.
If someone else falls in: Remember the phrase “Preach-Reach-Throw-Go.” Preach: Call 911 if you can. Shout to the victim to reassure them help is on the way. Reach: If you can safely reach them from shore, extend an object like a rope, jumper cables, tree branch, or ladder to them. Throw: Toss one end of a rope or something that will float to the victim. Go: If the situation is too dangerous for you to perform a rescue, call 911 or go to find help. Untrained rescuers can become victims themselves.
If your pet falls in, don’t attempt to rescue it. but rather go for help. You could become a victim yourself when trying to assist your pet. Always keep pets leashed while walking on or near ice.
For years the group that I ice fish with had a tongue-in-cheek rule that the oldest guy should go out on the ice first. What the heck, we would laugh, he had lived the longest life. Now that I am the oldest in the group, it doesn’t seem so humorous anymore. Lately, for one reason or another, I just haven’t been able to show up at the lake as early as the others. Darn! There’s usually someone out on the ice by the time I get there.
Firearm Course
The Lee Sportsmen’s Association (LSA) will be having a Multi-License Firearm Course next Saturday from 9:00am until 4:00pm for a proprietary LTC course that qualifies for licenses in Massachusetts, Connecticut, Florida, Utah, Arizona, etc. This comprehensive one-day course includes information for federal and state firearm laws, operation and safe handling of firearms, shooting fundamentals, care and cleaning, concealed carry methods, a live fire session on the pistol range, and much more.
Course fee is $180 for the entire course or take just the MA/CT segment for $150, with live fire. State license application fees and processing are not included. Participants will receive a course certificate, application forms, an informative student resource CD, and supporting documents. All firearms, ammunition, and eye and ear protection will be provided, including lunch as well.
To register, visit https://nrapistolinstructor.com/contact, and provide your full name including middle initial, date of birth, course date, course selection (Multi-License Firearm Course at Lee Sportsmen’s Association), address, telephone, and email contact information. Payment is due in cash at the course. Contact Robert McDermott at (413) 232-7700 or email robmcdermott@verizon.net.

Pheasant Fundraiser Dinner
The LSA will be having its Annual Turkey Shoot and Pheasant Fundraising Dinner next Sunday beginning at 1:00pm. Turkey shoots will be conducted from 1:00pm to 4:00pm. Prizes include: NY Strip steaks, turkeys, pork loins, and spiral hams. Dinner is served at 5:00pm. The cost is $15 per Adult and Children 12 and under are $7. For any questions or if you are interested in helping, contact John Polastri at (413) 822-8278.
Bunny Hunt
The Berkshire Beagle Club will be having its rabbit hunt next Saturday. It is advertised as a fun time with good food and raffle prizes, as well as prizes for largest hare and cottontail rabbit. Participants must the bring their game to the Beagle Clubhouse for the 5:00pm check-in. Hunting takes place on your own, away from clubhouse and grounds. The entrance fee is $20 which includes raffles and dinner. For more information, contact Hunt Chairman John Demary, at (413) 441-2253.
Incidentally, the club held its election of officers for 2019. Al Costa of Westfield, MA was elected President, Dick Kalisz of Adams as Vice President, Tim Cahoon of Pittsfield as Treasurer and Pat Barry of Pittsfield as Secretary.

2018 black bear harvest was down 25% from previous year

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At the January Meeting of the Berkshire County League of Sportsmen, DFW Western District Supervisor Andrew Madden presented the statewide 2018 preliminary black bear harvest report. He reported that during the three hunting seasons in 2018, a total of 201 bears were harvested. This represents a drop from the 270 bears taken in 2017 and the record 283 bears taken in 2016. A breakdown by season is as follows: First season (Sept. 4 – Sept. 22): 150 bears harvested, Second season (Nov. 5 – Nov. 24): 26, and the Shotgun season (Nov. 26 – Dec. 8): 25.  
He reported that the September and November seasons were virtually identical in 2017 (151 and 26). The big decrease in harvest in 2018 was during the Shotgun season. He speculated that bears were active very late in 2017, resulting in a high Shotgun season harvest, 91 bears taken. The lack of hard mast in 2018 saw bears enter their dens early which resulted in a corresponding reduction in the Shotgun season harvest, with only 25 bears taken.
Although these were preliminary figures, Madden does not expect the total to change significantly. There are a lot of bears out there and he expects that the 2019 harvest will climb back to the 270 range.
Sportsmen’s Clubs archery/shooting leagues gearing up for the new year
The Lee Sportsmen’s Association (LSA) in-house Winter Pistol League will commence Tuesday, January 15 at 6:30pm and continue every Tuesday for 10 weeks. It will feature both rim fire and center fire pistol matches, and rim fire rifle competitions. There will be 4 events in all. The cost will be $40.00 for one event and $5.00 for each event after that.
They will start at 6:30pm shooting the rim fire rifle match. Each shooter will shoot 30 rounds at a 50 ft. small bore rifle target. Shooters may lean against the front of the port and rest their elbows on the top of the port. Rifles may be equipped with scopes.
At 7:00pm, they will shoot an NRA gallery rim fire bullseye pistol match. Each shooter will shoot 10 rounds at a standard 50 ft. slow fire target, 10 rounds at a standard 50 ft. timed fire target, and 10 rounds at a standard rapid-fire target. The NRA gallery match is shot one-handed; however, they do allow a two-handed class for their league for those who would rather shoot two-handed.
There will be a combat match when the NRA gallery match is finished. Shooters will fire 25 rounds into a silhouette target at three different positions. The ammunition used will be any 9mm or larger.
For more information, please contact Larry Curtin at (413) 822-3764 or clcurtin9@hotmail.com.

The LSA will be having a Youth Archery League on Saturday mornings beginning January 12 through March 16. It is advertised as a safe, fun, and educational experience, where children ages 6 to 17 can learn and practice archery skills. The club provides everything the student needs, but if you would like to bring your own, that is OK, too.

The cost is $20 per participant and includes: indoor archery range use, bows, arrows, targets, weekly snacks, and t-shirts for new students. Session 1 for Ages 6-12 are from 9:00am to 10:30am and Session 2 for Ages 13-17 are from 10:30am to 12:00pm. Call or text Coach Doug Frank at (413) 822-0720 for more information, or if you wish to discuss placing a student in a different session for any reason.

The LSA is also having a Thursday Night Archery League. It runs from January 17 through March 7 and begins at 6:00pm. You will be shooting at foam 2D targets. There is a $20 fee. Contact Todd Bush at (413) 441-2094 for more information.

The Lenox Sportsmen’s Club (LSC) will be having its Bullseye League starting tomorrow night at 7:00pm and running 11 weeks until March 19. The shoots include .22 Caliber at 50 feet and Centerfire at 75 feet. The same Bullseye League also runs on Thursdays at 12:00 noon. That one started last Thursday.
The LSC Rifle League started this morning at 10:00 am with .22 Caliber rifle at 50 ft. & 75 ft
For more information contact Ray Scheufler- 413-443-3059 or E-mail rps94@msn.com.

The LSC Adult and Youth Archery Leagues start the first and second weeks in January. Its Youth Archery League started on January 12 from 9:00 to 10:30 am for youths 8 to 12 years old and from 10:30am to 12:00pm for 13 to 16-year olders. They are free and some equipment is available for beginners. Contact Mark Jester (413)499-8482. They also have a Club 3D Archery League on Mondays (contact Brian Vincent at (413)443-2098 for details) and a 2D Archery League on Wednesday – Friday and Saturdays (contact Jim Ferguson (413)499-0212.)
The LSC will be having a .22LR Rifle League this year. For those interested in participating, the league will run on Sundays starting at 10:00am. For more information contact Charles Kronick at 413-448-6065 or email chak219@yahoo.com.
The Stockbridge Sportsmen’s Club began its Youth Archery League yesterday. Although sign-up was yesterday you might still be able to enter it. The league will run for 10 Saturdays, starting on January 12. The club provides all equipment or you may bring your own. Non-members are welcome. You can download and mail a registration form along with a $40 fee. Anyone of interest and is able to assist should contact Mike Buffoni.

Coyote Derby
Dave’s Sporting Goods in Pittsfield is having its Coyote Derby again this year. It will run until the end of coyote hunting season which is March 8, 2019. Entrance fee is $10 and prizes will be awarded to the person who bags the most coyotes, the largest coyote and there will also be a random draw.
Marlborough FlyFishing Show

The 2019 Fly Fishing Show will take place from January 18 through 20 at the Royal Plaza Trade Center,181 Boston Post Road, West Marlborough, MA. The show’s newest edition features a tribute ceremony to the late fly-fishing icon Lefty Kreh on Saturday, plus more than 10 demonstrations or audio/visual presentations each hour together with wall-to-wall displays of the newest fly rods, reels, lines, boots, waders, clothing and flies during the three-day mid-winter run.
In addition to tackle, lodges and exotic destinations, show visitors can view continuous fly-tying demonstrations, how-to-do-it seminars and presentations ranging from the Rangeley Lakes in Western Maine to Surf Fishing for Striped Bass.
Seminars include Euro-nymphing, Tightline and Other Nymph Fishing Secret Weapons by Jason Randall to Catching Difficult Trout by Ed Engle. Casting demonstrations are scheduled by Gary Borger, George Daniel, Jeff Currier and Sheila Hassan among others.
Featured fly tiers include Borger, Alan Caolo, Tim Flagler, Joe Cordiero, Bob Clouser and Engle.
The northeastern premiere of the 2019 Fly Fishing Film Festival is Friday at 6:30. Tickets are $10 in advance or $15 at the door.
Scouts in uniform can earn credits toward a fly-fishing merit badge.
The FlyFishing Show® admission is $15 for one day, $25 for two days and $35 for three days. Children under age 5 are free as are Boy and Girl Scouts under 16 in uniform. Children under 12 are $5. Active military with an ID are $10.
For a complete list of fly-fishing films, classes, seminars, door prizes, demonstrations and the Scout Merit Badge program, visit flyfishingshow.com/marlborough-ma/ or phone (814) 443-3638.

New regulations go into effect for Wildlife Management Areas

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The Division of Fisheries and Wildlife (MassWildlife) has a long tradition of welcoming dogs on its Wildlife Management Areas (WMA). Dogs are still welcome, but dog handlers must comply with new leash and waste disposal regulations. The new regulations, which take effect on all WMAs on January 11, 2019, require the following:
Dogs and other domestic animals must be on a physical leash/tether while on WMAs. Leashing dogs decreases conflicts with people and other dogs, resulting in a safer and more positive experience for everyone.
Dogs may be off-leash only when hunting or hunt-training with licensed hunters under existing regulations, or if they are participating in retriever or bird dog trial events that have been permitted by MassWildlife.
Dog feces in the WMA must be picked up by dog handlers and disposed of offsite. Licensed hunters engaged in hunting or hunt training, and those participating in sanctioned field trials are exempt from this requirement.
Dog feces in WMA parking areas and within 100 feet of the parking area must be picked up by ALL dog handlers and disposed of off the WMA.
MassWildlife protects and manages its WMAs to sustain wildlife abundance and to provide wildlife-related recreation such as hunting, fishing, and wildlife-watching. At the same time MassWildlife strives to provide a safe and enjoyable outdoor experience for all visitors.
Over the years, MassWildlife had received numerous complaints from WMA users about negative and unsafe encounters with unleashed dogs and issues with dog waste. The most common complaints included: dog attacks and bites on other dogs (both off- and on-leash) and people, and piles of accumulating dog waste: a nuisance and health concern for pets, people, and wildlife.
Other incidents and complaints from WMA users involved: user conflicts between loose dogs with hunters, birders, field trial dog participants, naturalists and hikers; observations of dogs harassing or chasing wildlife; dogs chasing or killing livestock on abutting property; chasing/harassing neighboring property owners and families; dogs spooking horses, resulting in injuries to riders or horses; dogs trampling through posted endangered species restoration projects or newly planted agricultural crops.
The new regulations were drafted after a staff review and presentation to the Fisheries and Wildlife Board. A public hearing was held in February 2018. After considering written and oral comments submitted during the public hearing process, amendments were made and the final regulation package was approved by the Fisheries and Wildlife Board March 14, 2018. The regulations will go into effect on January 11, 2019.
Though many municipalities have leash or animal control bylaws, they do not have legal standing on state lands; the new WMA regulations address this disparity. Enforcement of these regulations, as with all Wildlife Management Area Regulations, is carried out by the Massachusetts Environmental Police. State and municipal police departments also have authority to enforce Wildlife Management Area regulations.

Monitoring the Commonwealth’s lake trout
This fall, MassWildlife has been sampling the Quabbin and Wachusett Reservoirs in an ongoing effort to monitor lake trout populations. Each year, with the help of DCR, MassWildlife collects lake trout from the Quabbin Reservoir to examine population characteristics. For the past few years, MassWildlife has also been sampling for lake trout at the Wachusett Reservoir.
To capture lake trout, field crews set nets on spawning areas starting at sunset and check them about every 20 minutes. Captured fish are removed from the nets and placed in a livewell. Next, biologists record length, weight, and sex and implant a small Passive Integrated Tag (PIT) in the fish. Prior to release, the adipose fin is clipped to provide an external mark indicating that the fish has been captured before. Data collected provide biologists with an understanding of the current condition of lake trout populations. If fish are recaptured from previous tagging efforts, biologists can calculate individual growth rates.
Lake trout are long lived and slow growing and it is not uncommon for a tagged fish to be recaptured 10 years later. In fact, the longest recapture interval recorded was 24 years! When other species like landlocked salmon, smallmouth bass, rock bass, and white perch are captured, biologists record information including length, weight, and sex but do not implant PIT tags.
Lake trout typically spawn in late October and November when the surface water temperatures are around or below 50°F. The spawning grounds are typically shallow, rocky waters on windy shores of the Reservoirs; spawning occurs mostly after dusk. Night sampling on big waters can be cold and icy in November, but the information it provides biologists is well worth the effort. Sampling efforts like this are just one way that MassWildlife monitors the health of the fish resources of the Commonwealth.
In 2018, sampling crews at Quabbin Reservoir captured and released 163 lake trout despite the frigid temperatures and rain experienced throughout November. Of note was a 26-pound male lake trout that was first captured and tagged in 2014 and recaptured this year. On Wachusett Reservoir, crews captured and released 65 lake trout including two 18-pound fish. An article with details about the lake trout sampling effort will be appearing in the next issue of Massachusetts Wildlife magazine, which will be in mailboxes in January. In addition, a scientific article has been composed and is currently in the peer–review process with publication expected in 2019.
Reminder to gamebird and archery deer hunters

If you completed a MassWildlife log while hunting game birds or during archery deer season, it’s time to send them in. If you complete and submit either an archery deer hunting log or a game bird hunting log before December 14, 2018 you will be entered into a drawing. Prizes include 1 stainless steel tabletop gas grill, donated by Cabela’s, 10 blaze orange MassWildlife caps, and 10 one-year subscriptions to Massachusetts Wildlife magazine. Winners will be randomly selected and notified in late December. If you complete both types of logs, your name will be entered twice. You can email scanned logs to mass.wildlife@state.ma.us or mail completed forms to MassWildlife, Attn: Game bird hunting log / Archery deer hunting log, 1 Rabbit Hill Road, Westborough, MA 01581.
Information for the above three articles was obtained from MassWildlife’s November newsletter.

TU Holiday Party
The Taconic Chapter of Trout Unlimited is having its annual Holiday Party on Thursday, December 13 at the Crissey Farm @ Barrington Brewery, 420 Stockbridge Rd, Great Barrington. The party will be opened to the general public again this year. It will be a buffet dinner which costs $30 pp. Social Hour with hors d’oeuvres begins at 6:00 PM. The event features a door prize and donation bucket raffle. For more information Contact Henry Sweren at (413) 447-9429 or e-mail hsweren8@aol.com. Reservations must be made no later than tomorrow, December 10.
Incidentally, at its last meeting, the Taconic Chapter elected the following officers for the 2019 season: Henry Sweren of Lanesborough – President, John Burns of Cummington – VP, Fran Marzotto, of Pittsfield – Secretary and Bill Travis, of Pittsfield – Treasurer.
Primitive Firearms Deer Hunting Season opens tomorrow

Muzzleloader deer hunting

Shotgun deer hunting ended yesterday. If you haven’t gotten your deer yet, you still have an opportunity to get one during the Primitive Firearms deer hunting season. It opens tomorrow and runs through December 31. A Primitive Firearms stamp is required and there are special regulations governing this season. Archers can hunt during this season but must purchase the Primitive Firearms stamp. Here’s hoping you have a very enjoyable hunt trudging through our winter wonderland. Be careful and keep your powder dry.

Chronic Wasting Disease – A scary subject, Part 2

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In last week’s column, I paraphrased MA DFW Moose & Deer Project Leader David Stainbrook’s presentation to the Berkshire County League of Sportsmen about Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD). Scientists are stymied as to how to control the disease. Thankfully, so far, humans have not been affected and only cervids are.
In studying the disease, scientists injected the brain tissue of a CWD infected deer into brain of a mouse and it got infected. When they fed a mouse the infected meat, it didn’t become infected. Monkeys that were injected with the infectious material directly into their brain all became infected. Interestingly, 3 out of 4 monkeys that were fed the infected meat did become infected.
So, can the prions mutate? Maybe, eventually. Scientists are now becoming concerned about the safety of our livestock.
Can we derive any comfort from the fact that they haven’t found many new cases of CWD in other states? Not really, because of the reduced Federal funding, some states couldn’t afford to do the tests and they had to drop down to a low level of testing. They simply can’t test as many deer as they want to.
Stainbrook says that MA DFW wants to test any deer that is exhibiting disease-like symptoms, such as an emaciated deer that is circling or acting unusual.
We have a regulation in place. If you get a deer, moose, elk caribou while deer hunting in a state that has CWD, you cannot bring that carcass back to MA without deboning the meat and cleaning the skull cap. That means you have to quarter it and take out the bones. If you get a nice buck, you have to think about that. You may have to drop it off at a taxidermist there to be caped and cleaned, go back home, and then pick it up in a few days later. When Stainbrook hunted in South Dakota, he had to drop off his deer head at a taxidermist, have them cape it out, and then ship the antlers and cape to him. He also had to debone the meat prior to bringing it back.
“In Massachusetts, we have a regulation that no live deer may come into the state”, said Stainbrook. Every year he gets about 10 calls from people wanting to bring live Santa Clause reindeer from out-of-state. You can’t bring them into Massachusetts. If you do, there is a risk of CWD, because reindeer are captive deer from other states.
In Massachusetts we have regulatory authority over captive deer facilities. In a lot of states, their state wildlife agencies do not have the authority but rather their Departments of Agriculture who tend to be very much against prohibitive regulation because they are all for helping the farmers thrive in business.
White-tailed deer are not on the list of allowable captive deer in MA. There is potentially an escaped red deer in the Williamstown area, possibly from VT or NY. If that deer is infected it is now out around infecting other deer. That’s the kind of thing Stainbrook worries about. If you have regulatory authority over captive farms you could require really high fences, double fences and require tags on your deer.

A lot of deer can travel 1 or 2 miles and could cross state border lines; and you may be hunting them.
Deer disperse out, and in studies they have found 75% of yearling males will disperse from 2 miles on up from where they were born. Stainbrook cited that one yearling disperser in PA which had a GPS collar on it went over 90 miles. This could be a major contributor to how CWD can spread across the landscape. There are ongoing studies to try to determine the average distance that deer will disperse. If the average males travel 4 or 5 miles, one can estimate after 10 years how far has CWD been spread. It is a consideration that scientists have to take into consideration as to what to do to control the spread. CWD could be silently creeping throughout the state.
In states that have detected CWD, the action has been to reduce deer density in a designated area around the detection and test harvested deer for CWD to establish and understanding of prevalence. The lower the density, the less likely it will spread. Unfortunately, by the time it is detected, it has probably been in that state for 10 to 20 years and they didn’t know it. The best thing that we can do is everything possible to prevent it from coming into our state. If it comes into our state, it is going to change everything.
To prevent risk, they could restrict the use of deer urine. A typical bottle could have a mixture of urine and feces from hundreds of deer from all over the country. They can’t take a bottle of deer urine and stick it into a lab tube and if it turns red, it tested positive. There is no test to look for those prions in that urine. The way to do it is very expensive and time consuming and not feasible for them to scan all of those bottles. So, a lot of states have banned them.
There are other options – synthetic urine lures. They tested pine tree air fresheners that you use in your car and they actually found that they are quite effective. Not sure why, some deer just come to investigate it and others “high tail” it when they get a whiff. But, it is something scientists are looking into. “It depends on the state agencies and their ability to take action”, Stainbrook said, “We can’t ban the sale of it, but we could prohibit the use or possession of it while hunting.
Instead of only banning harvested deer from states with CWD, some states are considering not allowing a deer carcass from any state (like Maine). The reason for that is that many of the states that are reporting being CWD free don’t have the resources to test enough deer to be confident that they don’t have it. If a state is not testing its deer, how can we say it doesn’t have CWD. Maybe there should be disposal regulations. If you bring a deer into the state you have to dispose of it a certain way. Some states are looking at carcass disposal regulations.
So, after hearing or reading Stainbrook’s comments, do you think the state would/should relax the CWD regulations? I don’t think so, do you?
Taconic Trout Unlimited presentation
On October 25 at 7:00 pm, the Taconic Chapter of Trout Unlimited will have as its guest speaker Steve Culton. His presentation is entitled “The Little Things” that you can do to catch and land more fish. The presentation will take place at the Cork n Hearth Restaurant, Laurel Street (Rte. 20) in Lee, MA.

There will be a social hour at 5:00 pm followed by a business meeting. There is also the opportunity to stay for dinner as well.

Let’s go hunting!

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The Duck and Regular Canada Goose hunting seasons open tomorrow in the Berkshires. The daily bag limit for ducks is 6 with a possession limit of 18. For geese, the daily bag limit is 3 and possession limit is 9. (Remember, the 15 daily bag limit for geese only applies to the early goose hunting season which ended on September 21).

There is a myriad of regulations which apply to duck hunting. For example, note the daily bag limits: The daily bag may contain no more than 6 ducks, and no more than 4 of any species, not additionally restricted; only 2 black ducks, 4 mallards of which only 2 may be females, 3 wood ducks, etc. Waterfowl hunters need a HIP number, State and Federal stamps, must use non-toxic shot, etc., etc. Hunters really need to refer to the 2018-2019 Migratory Game Bird regulations.

The upland game (ring-necked pheasants, ruffed grouse and quail), cottontail rabbit and snowshoe hare hunting seasons open next Saturday, October 13.

About 40,000 ring-necked pheasants will be stocked in the Commonwealth this fall and we can assume that about 8,000 of them will be stocked in the Western District. To get a complete listing of the stocking locations, click onto the MassWildlife web site and then onto “Pheasant Stocked Areas”. Not only are the stocking locations listed but also the frequency of stocking.”
Also, a couple hundred additional pheasants, which were raised by the Lee Sportsmen’s Association during the year, will be stocked onto certain public lands.
Really, upland game and rabbit hunting is all about the dogs. How they point, retrieve or hold the scent is a source of pride to the hunter. Now’s our chance to see if all of the training, veterinarian expenses, license fees, dog food expenses, etc. of our bird dogs and beagles will pay off. Hopefully, we have been able to get them into top physical shape, just like us.

If they don’t perform to our expectations, that’s ok. They will still be our lovable best friends who simply adore us.

Hunters should refer to the Massachusetts Guide to Hunting, Fishing and Trapping laws to determine season dates, daily bags, season limits, etc. I would like to reiterate one regulation: No person shall hunt during the pheasant or quail season on Wildlife Management Areas (WMA) where pheasant or quail are stocked without wearing a blaze orange cap or hat except while night hunting for raccoons or opossums or while hunting waterfowl from within a blind.”
My recommendation is to wear blaze orange anywhere that you are hunting pheasants, grouse, woodcock or bunnies, not just on a WMA. Also, if hunting waterfowl from a blind, I would recommend wearing a blaze orange hat while going to or leaving the blinds.
I also recommend that non-hunters (hikers, bird watchers, mountain bikers, mushroom seekers, etc.) wear a blaze orange hat while on WMA lands and any forests or lands where hunting is permitted. Don’t forget that cottontail rabbit and snowshoe hare hunters are out there, too, and many of them hunt in our state forests.
Incidentally, the coyote hunting season also opens on October 13.
Here’s hoping you have a safe and enjoyable hunting season, and be mindful of the deer ticks.
Help MassWildlife by recording your wildlife observations while hunting

Massachusetts hunters spend a significant amount of time in the woods observing wildlife of all kinds. These observations can provide wildlife biologists with a tremendous amount of information to better understand wildlife distribution and abundance across the Commonwealth. If you are an archery deer hunter or a game bird hunter, MassWildlife asks that you consider keeping a hunting log on all the days you hunt this season.
If you complete and submit either an archery deer hunting log or a game bird hunting log before December 14, you will be entered into a drawing. Prizes include 1 stainless steel tabletop gas grill, donated by Cabela’s, 10 blaze orange MassWildlife caps, and 10 one-year subscriptions to Massachusetts Wildlife magazine. Winners will be randomly selected and notified in late December. If you complete both types of logs, your name will be entered twice.
Archery Deer Hunting Season Log: If you are an archery deer hunter in Massachusetts, keep a daily log of your hunting activities and observations of wildlife during the archery deer season.. Because archery hunters are usually very stealthy and camouflaged, you are uniquely suited to record valuable observations of wildlife including deer, wild turkey, black bear, coyote, and other species not commonly observed.
Game Bird Hunting Season Log: If you are a game bird hunter in Massachusetts, keep a daily log of your hunting activities and observations of game birds while hunting bobwhite quail, pheasant, woodcock, or grouse. These observations will provide MassWildlife biologists with information on game bird populations across the state and allow them to evaluate hunter efforts of various upland game bird species. MassWildlife seeks to maintain healthy game bird populations while ensuring quality hunting experiences for both wild and stocked birds across the Commonwealth.
Log Results From 2017
Archery deer hunters submitted 171 hunting logs resulting in over 9,000 hours of hunting time logged. Logs were received from hunters in every Wildlife Management Zone (WMZ); however, zones 9, 10 and 11 accounted for the most logged hours. Turkey, deer, and coyote were the most common species observed statewide. Bucks and does were observed in every WMZ, while turkeys were observed in zones 1-11; black bears were observed in 7 of the 15 zones.
Hunting logs were received from 42 gamebird hunters in 2017 resulting in 975 hours of recorded game bird hunting. Submitted hunting logs were received from WMZs 2-12 and Nantucket (WMZ 14).
Fall trout stocking has begun
Mass DFW has already stocked several of our local waters. To find out when and where the stockings occurred and the kinds of trout stocked, click onto the MassWildlife web site (www.mass.gov/service-details/trout-stocking-report).
There was some conjecture as to whether the East Branch of the Westfield River will be stocked this fall. According to Andrew Madden, DFW Western District Supervisor, barring any unforeseen event such as flooding or accessibility issues, fall stocking of the East Branch is planned.
Happy 50th Birthday to the American Museum of Fly Fishing

The AMFF, which is dedicated to preserving the rich heritage of fly fishing was established in 1968 in Manchester, Vermont, by a group of passionate and enthusiastic anglers who believed that the history of angling was an important part of American culture and tradition. The Museum was created to serve as an institution to research, preserve, and interpret the treasures of angling history.

Today, the Museum serves as a repository for and conservator to the world’s largest collection of angling and angling-related items, numbering in the thousands. Its collections and exhibits thoroughly document the evolution of fly fishing as a sport, art form, craft, and industry in the United States and abroad, dating as far back as the sixteenth century. Rods, reels, flies, tackle, art, photographs, manuscripts, and books (including its 7,000 volume Gardner L. Grant Library) form the Museum’s permanent collection.

The museum, which is located next to Orvis in Manchester, VT is one of my favorite places to visit. I always look forward to receiving their quarterly journal, entitled The American Fly Fisher which is provided to its members. Check them out on www.amff.org.

Local waters welcome 12,000 trout; 2 local lakes add new boat ramps

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Local waters welcome 12,000 trout; 2 local lakes add new boat rampsl

And our Western District waters will receive about 12,000 of them. That’s according to the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife. (MassWildlife). The rainbows will be 12 inches or longer. This brown trout that will be stocked state-wide will also be about 12 inches long. The stockings should begin this week and be completed by the second week of October depending on water temperatures. The following area waters are scheduled to be stocked this year: Ashfield Pond, Deerfield River, Goose Pond, Lake Buel, Laurel Lake, North Pond, Onota Lake, Otis Reservoir, Pontoosuc Lake, Richmond Pond, Stockbridge Bowl, Windsor Lake and Windsor Pond.

At the time of this writing, it was unclear as to whether the East Branch of the Westfield River would be stocked this fall. It was not stocked last fall because of warm water conditions and low flow. Anglers should be able find out by viewing the daily stocking reports on Mass.gov/Trout. Although Stockbridge Bowl is scheduled to be stocked, because of the toxic algae problem, anglers should probably check the web page anyway.

Incidentally, anglers can search for a specific waterbody or town by using the sortable list, or explore new fishing spots with the map feature.

Tight lines!

Lake boat ramp projects
Recently Department of Fish & Game (DFG) Commissioner Ronald Amidon, Office of Fishing & Boating (OFB) Director John Sheppard, and Assistant Director Douglas Cameron visited the Berkshires to celebrate the completion of two lake access projects: one on Lake Mansfield in Great Barrington and the other on Goose Pond in Lee/Tyringham.
The 40-acre Lake Mansfield is a half mile northwest of the center of Great Barrington. Its maximum depth is 16 feet with an average depth of approximately seven feet. Thanks to a previous donation from Carl Beling there is a boat access on the southeast side of the pond
Last Tuesday, there was a ribbon cutting celebrating the installation of a car top access ramp and adjacent parking area. The newly paved parking area holds about a half dozen cars. Because the lake is so small (40 acres), no motorized boats except electric motors are allowed.
The parking lot and ramp used to be a gravely and when it rained, the gravel and nearby road pollution got washed into the lake. But no longer thanks to the DFG and OFB technician Terry Smith.
During the winter months, Smith did all of the design and permitting work and during this summer he went to work helping to construct it. With help from The Great Barrington DPW, work was done on the nearby road to properly pitch it and the parking area runoff into retention basins and not directly into the lake, thus helping to resolve a non-point source of pollution there. He also was involved in paving the parking lot. By doing much of the work himself and/or in-house, it is estimated that he saved the OBF about 50% of the cost had it gone out to bid and outsourced.
Attending the ribbon cutting were of Great Barrington officials, DPW Chief Sean VanDeusen, AJ Enchill from State Senator Hind’s office, Town Conservation Agent Shep Evens, a representative of the Berkshire County League of Sportsmen, Christine Ward of the Lake Mansfield Improvement Task Force and others.
All expressed gratitude for the support given by the Town, DFG, Senator Hinds and Representative Smitty Pignatelli. Christine Ward discussed additional long- term management plans for the lake.
Later that morning, DFG and OFB officials, viewed the newly designed and paved boat ramp access to Goose Pond ramp on Cooper Creek Road. Goose Pond is a popular 263-acre pond located off of Goose Pond Road on the Lee and Tyringham town lines. Upper Goose Pond is connected to Goose Pond via a small but navigable channel and is 61 acres in size. Goose Pond has an average depth of 23 feet with a maximum of 48 feet while Upper Goose Pond averages 15 feet in depth with a maximum of 33 feet.
In the 1960s, the Commonwealth secured an easement to ensure public access. Up until this year, the graveled road had been in poor condition with holes and erosion problems. Once again, Terry Smith came to the rescue designing plans for correcting the erosion issues. He rolled up his sleeves and built a runoff retention system The town’s DPW re-graded the roadway to the ramp and with DFG funds, paved the road and delineated parking areas along the side of it. Thanks to Smith’s efforts, the renovation of the boat ramp access costs approximately half of what it would have cost had the project gone out to bid. (I think he deserves a raise).
In attendance were Commissioner Amidon, Director Shepard, Assistant Director Cameron, Smith, Enchill, town officials, lake residents and others. “Tyringham officials recognize the importance of this access and have entered into an agreement with DFG to provide ongoing management of the public access areas. It is a fantastic recreational asset for the public. It is good for people who live here and good for the tourism business as well,” said Tyringham Board of Selectman Chairman James Consolati.

“Ecotourism, or the outdoor recreation economy, has grown to be a significant focus in Berkshire County”, said Commissioner Amidon, “and fixing up boat ramps is just one way to serve both residents and visitors alike”. The DFG has done a lot of that in recent years having done boat ramp work on ponds in Otis and Richmond Pond last year, and Lake Mansfield and Goose Pond this year.
Update on the Ashuwillticook moose
Recently MA DFW responded to a report of a young bull moose weighing approximately 700 pounds on the Ashuwillticook Rail Trail in Adams. Due to the location of the moose, their biologists worked with the Massachusetts Environmental Police to successfully immobilize the animal and transport it to an undisclosed rural location, where it was closely monitored until it fully recovered from the effects of the immobilization agent. The DFW thanked the EPOs, DCR, Adams ACO, and Adams Fire and Highway Departments for their assistance.

 

Want a night out?
The Berkshire County Chapter of Ducks Unlimited is presenting “A Sportsman’s Night Out” on Friday evening, October 5 at the Stockbridge Sportsman’s Club from 6:00 to 9:00 PM.
You are invited to come out for a night of fun with family and friends. This is not like their Spring event, no formal meal, no live auction, just plenty of fun for everyone. Hot dogs, burgers, sausage, beverages, general raffle, silent auction, and gun raffles
You are advised to wear a flannel shirt to be entered in for the door prize.
No tickets will be sold at the door. You can obtain your tickets online at www.ducks.org or through a Ducks Unlimited member. Tickets must be purchased by Saturday, September 29. Tickets are $30 each or $250 for a sponsorship. They are limited to the first 150 people and they suspect that tickets will go fast.
Chapter co-chairmen are: JP Murphy and Joe DelSoldato (berkshireducks@gmail.com), Chapter members: Andy Atutis, Rich Lincourt, Ken Recore, The Regional Director is Ray Ilg (rilg@ducks.org).

Deerfield River Trout Unlimited Chapter Named Tops in the Nation

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The Deerfield River Watershed’s Trout Unlimited (DRWTU) Chapter has been named the top chapter in the United States by its national organization. The “Golden Trout Award” is the highest honor a local chapter can receive from TU, a national, non-profit conservation agency headquartered in Arlington, VA. DRWTU Chapter 349 was selected from among 420 chapters, with 300,000 members nationwide. This award recognizes the local chapter which, over the last year, took innovative and thoughtful approaches to build and expand community and advance TU’s overall conservation mission.
They will receive the “Golden Trout Award” at the TU Annual meeting in Redding, CA on September 21.
“TU’s philosophy is simple and powerful: Take care of the fish and the fishing will take care of itself,” said Chris Wood, President and CEO of TU. “We are a community that cares deeply about our local rivers and we’re willing to roll up our sleeves to ensure those rivers are in better shape for our children and grandchildren. The Deerfield River chapter exemplifies these ideals and is a shining example.”

“The dedication of our board and membership has really driven our little chapter to do things that we never imagined when we first got started back in 2010,” said Kevin Parsons, chapter president for DRWTU and a founding member. “It’s really our people, and all the other groups and agencies we’ve partnered with that really brought this recognition. The Deerfield River is an incredible natural resource and enhancing its fishery and protecting its ecology is a sound investment for its future.”

DRWTU is among the smallest TU chapters in the United States, (having about 140 members) and its boundaries encompass the most rural region in Massachusetts. The 70-mile long Deerfield River, with its headwaters in Vermont and with 10 hydro-electric dams, is considered a premier cold-water trout fishery in Massachusetts.

DRWTU has been actively participating in FERC’s relicensing of the Brookfield Power hydro-electric facilities located in Monroe and Rowe, MA. As part of that ongoing process, DRWTU conducted a first of its kind trout spawning study, in Massachusetts. Prior to this study it was widely believed any significant trout spawning was occurring in the Deerfield’s tributaries, not the main stem. Last year’s spawning study not only proved that significant trout spawning was happening in the main stem, but that current hydro-electric operations were adversely impacting that effort. In addition, Massachusetts Fish & Wildlife (MA DFW) has since begun significant study work on the Deerfield to further assess wild trout. (Their efforts were extensively covered in this Berkshire Eagle column on August 12, 2018 entitled “ Dogged perseverance pays off” and follow-up comments in the August 19 column).
A second, more expansive trout spawning study will commence this fall. DRWTU has joined forces with MA DFW, U.S. Fish & Wildlife, and the USGS Silvio O. Conte Anadromous Fish Research Center to further assess impacts of Brookfield’s operations. DRWTU and its partners believe better flows from Brookfield Power’s daily operations will result in greater spawning success, higher numbers of wild fish and an overall improvement of the river’s ecology.
DRWTU believes a robust wild trout fishery in the Deerfield will expand economic opportunity and tourism, as even more anglers from outside the region will be attracted by the lure of catching wild fish.
DRWTU was re-established in 2010. A year later Tropical Storm Irene devastated the entire watershed, which kept the chapter busy with several projects. They are a busy little chapter as the members are stewards of the Deerfield River and its tributaries.
For example, they partnered with the Franklin Land Trust (FLT), MA-RI TU Council and all 12 TU Chapters in Massachusetts/Rhode Island to raise an additional $45,000 to purchase and preserve 100 acres, known as the “Crowningshield Property” in Heath, MA to help protect the important West Branch of the North River. This property is now protected in perpetuity.
Stockbridge Bowl is off-limits to all recreational water activities

Recently, the state Department of Public Health found a rust-colored algae on portions of Stockbridge Bowl containing potentially toxic cyanobacteria. The Tri-Town Health and the Stockbridge Board of Health advised people and their pets “to avoid activities that involve contact with the contaminated water.” That includes boating and swimming, but what about fishing?

Probably the best advice is to follow the Health Department guidelines and avoid fishing at the Bowl until the advisory is lifted. Aquatic biologists believe there is a lot of variability in algal blooms and one has to know the specific details of Stockbridge Bowl, but generally once the bloom has stopped and the health advisories lifted, recreational angling will be essentially the same as pre-bloom conditions.
If you have a fish which may have been exposed to the algae and you plan to eat it, be sure to scrub the slime off of it before cleaning or fileting it. You don’t want to get the toxin on the filet knife and taint the meat. (Personally, I wouldn’t even think about eating it.)
Will the toxin harm the fish? As for the impact to fish, aquatic biologists feel that typically the blooms are temporary and don’t have much of a direct impact. Some secondary impacts to dissolved oxygen and food webs can occur. If the fish has been swimming around in this stuff for a long period of time, that is a different matter.
Big family fun at the Big MOE
Experience the Massachusetts Outdoor Expo (The Big MOE) at the Hamilton Rod and Gun Club grounds in Sturbridge, MA on Sunday, September 23, 2018 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., rain or shine. In its 21st year, this FREE, family-friendly event celebrates outdoor skills, nature, art, and wildlife. With over 45 activity stations, there’s something for everyone at The Big MOE. Stations include: shotgun, airgun, and rifle shooting, fishing and fly tying, kayaking, archery tomahawk throwing birds of prey, petting zoo, birdhouse building, mountain biking and other crafts.
For a complete listing of activity stations, visit www.FawnsExpo.com.
Convenient, off-site parking is located at the Sturbridge Business Park at 660 Main Street (Rte. 20) and FREE shuttle bus transportation will run nonstop from the Business Park to the Big MOE throughout the day. On-site parking is reserved for volunteer staff and those requiring handicapped access (plate required). No pets or alcohol are permitted. Food and drinks are available for purchase.

Presentation on Trail Cameras

Local outdoor photographer and wildlife tracker Dr. Richard Greene will be the guest speaker at the Lenox Historical Society’s Annual Meeting and Pot Luck Dinner which will be held tomorrow evening at the Lenox Community Center, 65 Walker St., Lenox. In his presentation, he will discuss his use of trail cameras and the activities of the abundant wildlife that he has captured on film.

Dr. Greene’s presentation, which is free and open to the public, will begin at 7:15 pm following the Society’s 6:00 pm dinner and annual elections. If you wish to attend the pot luck dinner, contact Jan (413) 637-1818 or Vickie (413) 441-7902 with your choice of bringing an appetizer, main dish or dessert to share.

Canada Goose and Bear Hunting seasons open Tuesday

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The Early Canada Goose season which opens this Tuesday runs until September 21.
This year the September statewide goose bag limit was increased to 15 birds and the possession total was increased to 45. Due to federal requirements for migratory game bird season selections, the Board voted the increase. These totals do not apply during the regular goose hunting seasons which open on October 10 and December 3. There were some other waterfowl hunting changes which will be noted in a future column.
The increase in the daily bag limit from 7 per day last year to this year’s 15 appears quite drastic. Perhaps it was caused by the rapid increase in resident geese which may have placed them in the nuisance category. Goose poop has become a real problem at our beaches, playgrounds, golf courses, etc.
Funny how things change. I am of the age when the only Canada geese one ever saw around here were those large flocks high up in the sky winging their way north in the spring to their summer breeding grounds and then back south in the fall to spend their winter months there. They were massive flocks honking away, sometimes in the middle of the night. There appears to be fewer of them these days.
Although the new total is 15 per day, it is hoped that hunters consume the meat and not just shoot them for the heck of it. Although wild goose meat can be tough, there are decent recipes on how to properly prepare it. Goose hunter Phil Hiser, of Lee, has goose jerky prepared by a meat processor. I have tried it and it is very tasty.
Hunters are advised to check the waterfowl regulations regarding the HIP number, State and Federal waterfowl stamps, non-toxic shot, etc.
This Tuesday also marks the opening of the first black bear hunting season and it runs until September 22. During this season it is legal to hunt with a rifle, handgun, muzzleloader or bow, but not a shotgun. Be sure to check the regulations to see what gun calibers and/or bow draw weights are allowed. There are no hunter orange requirements during the First Season. Hunters must have a hunting or sporting license and a bear permit.
No hunting in any form is allowed on Sundays in Massachusetts.

Young Adult hunting programs

In an effort to get our youth into the outdoors and interested in hunting, MassWildlife has established three special youth hunts. They are the Youth Waterfowl Hunt, Young Adult Pheasant Hunt and the Youth Deer Hunt.

During the Youth Waterfowl Hunt season dates, (September 22 and October 6) only waterfowl hunters ages 12–17 may hunt ducks, coots, mergansers and geese. All youth hunters must be accompanied by a licensed adult hunter with a valid MA waterfowl stamp. Only one firearm is permitted. The adult hunter may not hunt but may carry a firearm only when unloaded and cased. No license or waterfowl stamps are required for Youth Waterfowl season hunters aged 12–14.
A license and MA waterfowl stamp are required for 15-year old hunters. A license, MA waterfowl stamp, and Federal waterfowl stamp is required for Youth Waterfowl season hunters aged 16–17. All other migratory game bird regulations and bag limits apply.
For more information, click onto the MassWildlife web page and go to “Youth Waterfowl Hunt”.
The Massachusetts Young Adult Pheasant Hunt day 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.

The Young Adult Pheasant Hunt Program builds the confidence of young hunters in a safe, friendly environment. You must sign up with any participating club and each club will have a pheasant seminar and a hunt. You don’t need to be a member to participate.
The pheasant seminar course includes hands-on instruction in shotgun shooting fundamentals and firearm safety, how to have a safe and fun hunt, and information on upland hunting basics. During the pheasant hunt, participants get to experience a real pheasant hunt under the supervision of an experienced hunter on one of the six Saturdays prior to the regular pheasant season. Contact the club you are planning on hunting with to see which day they picked for the hunt.
The requirements to participate in the program are as follows: Be between the ages of 12-17, have completed a Basic Hunter Education Course before the day of the hunt. Participants at least 15 years old who wish to use a shotgun must have a Firearms Identification Card (FID).
In order to participate, you must: Make sure you meet all the requirements above, find a club near you to participate with for the seminar and hunt, send in the Participant Application form and complete a MassWildlife Youth Pheasant Seminar.
The local 2018 participating clubs are: Worthington Rod and Gun Club,Contact: Walter Fritz Jr., (413) 238-5841 mail: ridgerdizzaboo@verizon.net; Lee Sportsmen’s Club, Contact: John Polastri, (413) 822-8278 and East Mountain Sportsmen’s Club (Williamstown), Contact: Tom Brule Email: tom.brule@gmail.com.
If you have questions about the program, contact the Youth Hunt Coordinator Astrid Huseby at (508) 389-6305.
The Youth Deer Hunt Day allows youngsters to hunt deer with their own permit. The hunt occurs on a special one-day season before the state’s annual deer hunting seasons (September 29). Shotgun deer season regulations apply during the hunt.
The License and permit requirements are as follows: Children between 12–14 years old must be with a licensed adult and a Youth Deer Permit is required, which can be obtained through MassFishHunt. Youths between 15–17 years old must get a Minor Hunting License and a Youth Deer Permit. You can get your hunting license and Youth Deer Permit at a vendor or online at MassFishHunt beginning August 1.
Young hunters may use shotgun, muzzleloader, or bow and arrow. MassWildlife allows only one hunting tool when an adult accompanies a minor. Accompanying adults may not use any hunting implements. The bag limit is one deer of either sex. The Youth Deer Permit allows either: one antlered deer statewide or one antlerless deer in the Wildlife Management Zone specified on the permit.
All youth hunters and accompanying adults must wear at least 500 square inches of blaze orange on their chest, back, and head. Young hunters must fill out the tag from the Youth Deer Permit and attach it to the deer before moving it. You must report deer harvest within 48 hours.
A youth after my own heart
“While other 16-year old youth may be sleeping late…. not this one”, wrote Pam Ellis of Pittsfield. Her ambitious 16-year old son Billy Ellis rose at 4:45 am to walk the shores and fish on the banks of beautiful Cheshire lake recently. Mind you, she thought he was sleeping, but look what he caught.
She thought this beautiful fish and ambitious boy were a worthy story as we live in a world where most kids are spending their time on video games and cell phones. She is right.
Nice to see. I didn’t think youths did that any more.

 

Atlantic salmon, but not Nessie spotted in Scotland

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Last week, I mentioned in this column that my wife Jan and I just returned from a 14-day cruise around the British Isles. I mentioned that we were going to visit Loch Ness in the Highlands of Scotland and maybe spot Nessie, the alleged resident loch monster.

I guess I could understand that a monster could survive in Loch Ness for it is 24 miles long, a half mile wide and 980 feet deep. At places it is deeper than the North Sea.
Well, to make a long story short, we did not see Nessie.

We did have a nice boat ride on the Loch and saw on its shore the ruins of one of Scotland’s largest castles, the Urquhart. It saw great conflict during its 500 years as a medieval fortress with control of the castle passed back and forth between the Scots and English during the Wars of Independence. The power struggles continued, as the Lords of the Isles regularly raided it up until the 1500s. The last of the government troops garrisoned there during the Jacobite Risings blew up the castle when they left. Urquhart’s iconic ruins remain, offering glimpses into medieval times and the lives of its noble residents.

During our bus ride from Inverness, Scotland to the Loch Ness, I happened to look out the window as we crossed over the Ness river and saw a 4 or 5 lb salmon grilse jump some 3 feet out of the water. It’s nice to know that there are still some Atlantic Salmon making their spawning runs up those rivers .
The River Ness is a summer and autumn fishery flowing for some six miles from Loch Ness to the Beauly Firth. It flows through the city of Inverness where King Duncan, notably of Shakespeare’s Macbeth, had his castle. It was there that I saw the bloke pictured herein fly-fishing using a Spey rod. I couldn’t help but stop and take his picture and watch him fishing right in the heart of the city, within sight of Inverness Castle and St. Andrew’s Episcopal Cathedral.
Never heard of Spey casting? Well it originated in the heart of Scotland in the mid-1800s. The name comes from the River Spey, which is where the cast originated. Therefore, the Spey cast was developed so one could successfully cast on a large river such as the Spey. These rods are usually 12 to 15 feet in length, and can toss a line up to 80 feet. That’s about how far the angler seemed to be casting. I don’t know if he caught any fish, but he sure could cast a fly.

While there are many variations of the Spey cast, the basic technique is broken down into a few simple actions. With the fly line floating directly downstream, the angler first lifts the line off the water with the tip of the rod, sweeps the line backwards just above the water, and allows just the fly and leader to “anchor” the cast by touching the water one to two rod lengths away and forming a D-loop. While swinging the “D-loop,” the cast is completed by firing the line forward with a sharp two-handed “push-pull” motion on the handle of the rod while making an abrupt stop with the rod tip at the end of the cast. The cast is most easily compared to a roll cast in one-handed fly fishing, although by using the fly as an anchor, a Spey cast allows a greater loading of the rod and thus achieves greater distance than a one-handed cast. (Hope I didn’t lose you there.)

Richard ‘Dick” Bordeau, of Pittsfield, knows how to Spey cast, and he is pretty good at it, too. He sometimes uses that method while fishing for steelhead in the Salmon River in Pulaski, NY. He offered to teach me how to fish with a Spey rod one time, but it looked too complicated for me. I can get tangled up pretty well using my regular 9-foot flyrod, much less one that is 15 feet long.

Our tour guide told us that in order to fish for salmon in Scotland, you have to buy a permit. The price for that permit depends on where one fishes and the time of year. A permit to fish a beat at the prime salmon spawning season could cost $200 or more. At the same location at a different time of year the cost could be as low as $25.

The guide also said that Atlantic Salmon have been in a decline there recently and now, in order to increase the stock, anglers must practice catch and release on the Ness River. (Incidentally, between 80,000 to 100,000 salmon are caught annually by anglers in Scotland’s rivers. Many of these were returned to the water but around 25 per cent were still being killed).

Basic Hunter Education Course

All first-time hunters who wish to purchase a Massachusetts hunting or sporting license must successfully complete a Basic Hunter Education course. The Basic Hunter Education course is designed for novice hunters and is standardized across North America. All government-issued Basic Hunter Education certificates, from any jurisdiction, are accepted to meet this requirement.

Upon successful completion of this course, graduates will be mailed a Certificate of Completion recognized in all U.S. states, Canada, and Mexico. All courses are free of charge and open to the public.

Such a course is being offered at the Pittsfield High School, 300 East Street, Pittsfield, MA. The course includes 6 evening courses: September 4, 6, 11, 13, 18 and 20. They all run from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm. To enroll call (508) 389-7830.

Thanks for everything Charlie Liston

Charles J. Liston of Lenox Dale passed away this past August 17 at the age of 95.

Readers may recall an April 15, 2018 article that I did on him entitled Charles Liston honored. The article mentioned his receipt of a special plaque from the Lenox Land Trust recognizing his role in forming the Land Trust and his longstanding commitment and leadership of the conservation movement and its early initiatives in Lenox and Berkshire County.” He was recognized for having been tireless in his role as a surveyor for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, in assisting in conservation work for the Commonwealth, for Lenox, and for many regional environmental groups. And for that generosity of spirit, generations to come will enjoy these preserved lands and wildlife.

He was recognized for exploring and recording the boundaries and features of thousands of acres of land. And his expertise and love of natural landscapes resulted in the permanent protection of many of those acres in their natural state. Anyone who has hunted, hiked or bird watched the Post Farm, the George Darey Wildlife Management Area, Hallowell Meadow, the Edith Wharton Park or Parson’s Marsh in Lenox owes Charlie a great deal of gratitude.

We also owe him our heartfelt gratitude for serving in the US Marines during WWII in the South Pacific, notably in the Saipan, Tinian and Okinawa campaigns.
Charlie and his many accomplishments will long be remembered.

Whip-poor-wills recovery and prescribed burning. Is there a connection?

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During the Berkshire County League of Sportsmen meeting in May, 2018, Fish &Wildlife Board Member from the Western District Steve Sears reported that the Board had received a great presentation on whip-poor-will birds. They appear to be showing a very slight recovery in Massachusetts.
Whip-poor-wills, wow! I haven’t heard that bird since I was a youngster, probably in the 1940’s, when my father pointed out the call at dusk. According to MassWildlife, they pretty much disappeared from the Berkshires in the early 1970’s. Currently, there are only a few populations in Ma, mainly in the eastern part.
Until now, I had always assumed that the widespread use of DDT pretty much did them in, similar to what happened to the bald eagle, peregrine falcon and other birds. (DDT caused the birds to lay eggs with soft shells). DFW WD Supervisor Andrew Madden felt that there was more to it than DDT. If that was the main reason for their demise, then why aren’t they recovering quicker now that DDT is banned, like the raptors? He felt that it probably had more to do with their loss of habitat. He and Steve felt that possibly the prescribed burning that the Division is doing had something to do with their slow but gradual recovery.
They may be right. According to MassWildlife’s Natural Heritage Endangered Species Program biologists, whip-poor-wills seek dry, open woodlands with little understory adjacent to meadows and shrublands. The open woodlands are used for nesting and the adjacent meadows and shrublands are used for foraging. That probably explains why they were around my neighborhood back then as there were several 100+ acre farms. The cows probably kept the understory in the nearby woods down. Cows weren’t necessarily fenced out of those woods so that they could get into the shade on hot days.

According to MassWildlife, prescribed fire is an essential tool for managing wildlife habitats and natural communities throughout MA. Despite early spring rain and snow this year, they had a record season, burning over 415 acres!

For many decades total fire exclusion from all natural lands was general policy throughout Massachusetts and the entire United States. But, fire exclusion has resulted in the decline of numerous species and degradation of entire ecosystems.
Historically, fire played a fundamental role in shaping certain portions of the Massachusetts landscape. In particular, glacial deposits of excessively well drained sand and gravel soils tend to be associated with relatively short fire intervals. These soil types occur primarily in coastal areas and in association with major river valleys. Lightning-caused fires and/or fires set by Native people in these areas historically maintained highly productive wildlife habitats including heath lands, pitch pine/scrub oak barrens, and open canopy oak-pine woodlands.
Decades of fire exclusion following European settlement resulted in the decline of numerous species and degradation of entire fire-associated ecosystems. In Massachusetts, some vegetation and habitats have evolved with fire and are best maintained with periodic burning, including some areas that are home to state and federally listed rare, endangered, or threatened species. Prescribed fire is used to restore and maintain these habitats.
The primary concerns for all prescribed burns involve human safety and protection of built infrastructure. Planning is critical for every burn. Fire behavior and weather are monitored throughout the burn, and if the prescription parameters are exceeded the fire is “shut down”. Permits are required from the town fire chief and the air quality staff at DEP’s regional offices. The local fire chief can of course stop the fire at any time. There is a public meeting in most areas before prescribed burning is introduced. Abutting landowners are notified of fire dates, reasons, and expectations
Approximately 30% of the MESA-listed (endangered) plant and animal species in Massachusetts benefit from the conditions created and maintained by fire. Natural Communities that benefit from prescribed burning include Sandplain Grassland, Sandplain Heathland, Scrub Oak Shrubland, Pitch pine-scrub oak, Ridgetop pitch pine-scrub oak, Calcareous fen, and Oak woodland.

In follow-up to last week’s Deerfield River article
MassWildlife has launched a project to study brown trout in the upper Deerfield River. This spring, all 1,000 hatchery-raised brown trout stocked in the upper Deerfield were marked by clipping their adipose fins. The adipose fin is a small fatty fin on the dorsal surface (back) of the trout. Research has shown that the removal of this fin is the least intrusive, detrimental, or painful compared to all other fins on the body, and this work is performed by trained biologists with a specific research need.
These marked fish were stocked in their usual locations from Buckland to the Fife Brook Dam. This is the first phase of the project that will eventually mark all hatchery-raised fish in that section of the river. Marking of hatchery fish, together with other elements of the Deerfield River Brown Trout Study, will continue for several years. Anglers should note that for the next few years, there may be holdover hatchery-raised browns in the system that have not been marked.
This project to learn more about both the hatchery-raised and wild brown trout populations took shape through a collaborative process involving MassWildlife and Trout Unlimited. It included input and assistance from a number of other interested parties and individuals from UMass Amherst, US Geological Survey, local Deerfield River fishing guides, and local watershed groups. The study will yield important population metrics including abundance, mortality, and growth rates of individual fish. MassWildlife will use this information to better manage the upper Deerfield River brown trout fishery.
So long Bill Byrne, thanks for the pictures
For over four decades, the spectacular photographs taken by MassWildlife Senior Photographer Bill Byrne have brought sportsmen and women and other conservationists up close and personal with countless wildlife species from across the Commonwealth. Bill’s stunning images ranging from breaching humpback whales, foraging black bears, and secretive piping plovers to urban peregrine falcons, majestic Quabbin moose, and elusive timber rattlesnakes.
Sadly, Bill’s life ended suddenly and unexpectedly in May while spending his last moments doing what he loved: being outdoors, honing his skills as a photographer, and talking photography and wildlife with colleagues and friends.
He is best known for his striking images of bald eagles, moose, black bears, shorebirds, waterfowl, deer, wild turkeys, and many other species, thousands of which have appeared on the cover of Massachusetts Wildlife magazine and other agency publications
He will be missed.
Back home
With luck my wife Jan and I returned home yesterday after a couple of weeks cruising around the British Isles (Ireland, Scotland, and England) and Normandy. There is some good fishing for brown trout and Atlantic Salmon over there but we were on a cruise with a tight schedule and there was no time for fishing. Plus, the possibility of getting a permit to fish there was probably rare and expensive.
One day, we sailed on Loch Ness. I seriously thought about trolling a flatfish off the stern of the cruise ship and catching the fabled monster, Nessie, thus putting to rest once and for all the speculation as to whether or not it exists. But I didn’t have a large enough net, and they probably wouldn’t let me keep it to mount anyway.