Category Archives: Hiking

Hunters Share the Harvest Program” is a success.  Expansion planned for next year.  

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In my December 10, 2022 column, I did an article on MassWildlife’s Hunters Share the Harvest Program, a new program which provides an opportunity for hunters to donate and share wild game meat like venison with Massachusetts residents in need.

Free range, organic venison is a lean, healthy protein with a low carbon footprint that already feeds thousands of licensed hunters and their families across Massachusetts each year and now successful hunters can help combat hunger and food insecurity in their communities by donating venison.

In last year’s deer hunting seasons, there was only one approved meat processor that accepted whole-deer donations.  The packaged venison was to be distributed to those in need through the Massachusetts Military Support Foundation’s Food 4 Vets program.

Meat processors, food pantries, hunger relief agencies, or other organizations who wanted to participate in MassWildlife’s Hunters Share the Harvest program in the future could contact Martin Feehan, MassWildlife’s Deer and Moose Project Leader, at martin.feehan@mass.gov.

Well, at last week’s Berkshire County League of Sportsmen’s (BCLS) meeting, DFW Western District Supervisor Andrew Madden reported that MassWildlife had a very successful launch of the Share the Harvest Program. “With support from the Massachusetts Outdoor Heritage Foundation and through the generosity of hunters, more than 700lbs of venison were distributed.” said Madden.

MassWildlife will be expanding the program in 2023 to reach wider distribution and provide meals for more people throughout the state.

BioMap is available.

BioMap, a newly-updated online tool that identifies critical land and waterways throughout the Commonwealth in need of conservation is now available. MassWildlife and The Nature Conservancy (TNC) worked to develop the tool to help state and local governments, land trusts, non-government organizations, and other conservation partners strategically plan projects to conserve wildlife and their habitats.

The latest version of BioMap combines more than 40 years of rigorously documented rare species and natural community records from MassWildlife with cutting-edge climate resilience data from TNC and spatial data identifying intact fish and wildlife communities, habitats, and ecosystems that are the focus of the Massachusetts State Wildlife Action Plan.

You are invited to join Assistant Director of MassWildlife’s Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program Eve Schluter and TNC Ecologist Andy Finton for a demonstration of the new BioMap webinar on January 18 at 7:00 p.m. on Zoom. Click onto https://www.mass.gov/news/new-release-of-biomap to register for the webinar.

Email natural.heritage@mass.gov to request BioMap technical support or to request notification of future trainings.

 “Tracking Wildlife: Stories from the More-Than-Human World”

Skilled wildlife tracker and educator Dan Gardoqui is visiting the Berkshires to present a talk: “Tracking Wildlife: Stories from the More-Than-Human World” at Berkshire Community College’s Robert Boland Theater in Pittsfield on Friday, January 20 at 6:00 PM. This event is sponsored by Berkshire Environmental Action Team (BEAT), Greenagers, Berkshire Natural Resources Council (BNRC), Housatonic Heritage, Richmond Pond Association, and Berkshire Community College. It is free and open to the public, with a $10 suggested donation.

Dan Gardoqui will give a presentation on tracking wildlife. He’ll lead attendees to make deeper connections with the natural world and the wildlife that surrounds us by sharing thrilling stories and photos from his tracking experiences and discussing ways to actively participate in the more-than-human world by applying wildlife tracking skills. A Q & A session will follow the talk.

The following day, Saturday, January 21, Dan will lead two back-to-back trackings (8:30 am to 11:30 am and 12:30pm to 3:30pm at the Eugene D Moran Wildlife Management Area on the border of Cheshire and Windsor, MA. Each workshop costs $50 and has a limited space of 10 participants Email team@thebeatnews.org with any questions.

For over 30 years, Dan Gardoqui has been a student, teacher, observer, and active participant in the more-than-human world. A Certified Wildlife Tracker since 2006, he has trained hundreds in the science and art of tracking. Dan is also a bird language expert and bird mimic – known for his YouTube series “Learn a Bird.” Some of his contributions include the books “Mammal Tracks & Sign: A Guide to North American Species” (Elbroch & MacFarland) and “What the Robin Knows: How Birds Reveal Nature’s Secrets” (Young). Dan applies wildlife tracking skills in citizen science projects (e.g., Canada Lynx, Flying Squirrels, Moose, Eastern Wolf) as a Registered Maine Guide.

Fly fishing show in Marlboro

 The 2023 Fly Fishing Show will take place January 20-22 at the Royal Plaza Trade Center,181 Boston Post Road Marlborough, MA. Hours are 10 am to 6 pm on Friday, 9 am to 5:30 pm on Saturday and 9 am to 4:30 pm on Sunday. The show promises more fly-casting, tying, manufacturer and retail store displays of the newest rods, reels, lines, boots, waders, clothing and flies during the three-day run.

The show will have many demonstrations at its Destination Theater presentations each hour including Labrador’s Monster Brookies, Fly Fishing Martha’s Vineyard, Montana, Iceland, the Adirondacks and many others.  There will be more than $30,000 in door prizes.

Admission is $15 for one day, $25 for two days and $35 for three days. Children under age 5 are free, children 6-12 are $5 and active military with ID’s are $10.

Fly Fishers International hosts the Fly-Fishing Show Learning Center with fly tying, casting instruction and other fly-fishing information and is free to show attendees.

The New England premiere of the 2023 International Fly-Fishing Film Festival is Friday at 6:30 pm. Tickets are $10 in advance or $15 at the door.

For a complete listing of fly-fishing films, classes, seminars, door prizes, demonstrations, etc., visit www. flyfishingshow.com or phone (814) 443-3638.

Beginner Snowshoe/Winter Hike

 On Saturday, January 21 from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm BEAT and the Great Barrington Land Conservancy are having a 1-mile beginner winter hike at BNRC’s Housatonic Flats reserve on Stockbridge Road, Great Barrington. If weather permits, they’ll snowshoe, if there’s no snow, they’ll go for a winter hike. They will review the basics of winter hiking like what traction to wear on your feet, how to layer properly, and what to look for.

It will be an easy hike of 0.9 miles.  Bring water, wear sturdy footwear and wear layers. BNRC has a few pairs of micro-spikes and snowshoes to loan.  Animals not allowed. For questions contact Charlotte at chood@bnrc.org

Fishing community mourns the loss of Fred Moran

Frederick Dennis Moran of Adams passed beyond the riverbend on January 8 at the age of 80. He undoubtedly will be remembered by former students from the Lenox, Cheshire and Dalton schools.  He completed his last years as a classroom teacher at the Craneville Elementary School in Dalton.

Perhaps more people will remember Fred as an avid fly fisherman who ran Points North Outfitters in Adams.  For two decades Fred and his wife Marilyn taught hundreds how to fly fish and they guided hundreds more on the Deerfield River.  Fred was known for collecting antique (bamboo) fishing rods and reels and the building and restoration of fly-fishing rods. He later worked at the Orvis fly rod factory in Manchester, VT. He was a close friend of the legendary local bamboo rod builder, Francis “Digger” Degere and became his apprentice.

Fred was an esteemed member of the Taconic Chapter of Trout Unlimited where he and Digger put on rod building demonstrations.  Fred and Marilyn were recipients of TU’s Crooked Staff Award, the highest honor that the chapter bestows.  He was also a director of the Hoosic River Watershed Association.

Fred was a good friend.  The last time I saw him was when we did some flyfishing one day at the Alford Brook Club in August of 2020.  It was such a wonderful day that I did an article about it in this column. (Google Gene Chague-Fred Moran to read the Berkshire Eagle article). Boy, could he cast a fly!

Fred’s son Kevin (Berkshire Eagle Executive Editor) emailed me about his dad’s death and included these words, “I figured maybe some of his fishing buddies would imagine him casting a fly out there on heaven’s river, which is one way he’d like to be remembered, I’m sure. I suspect that Digger Degere is waiting for him there, and probably has the flies already picked out and ready to give to dad.”

Our condolences go out to Marilyn, Kevin and his entire family.  He will never be forgotten.

Hunters Share the Harvest Program” is a success.  Expansion planned for next year.  

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In my December 10, 2022 column, I did an article on MassWildlife’s Hunters Share the Harvest Program, a new program which provides an opportunity for hunters to donate and share wild game meat like venison with Massachusetts residents in need.

Free range, organic venison is a lean, healthy protein with a low carbon footprint that already feeds thousands of licensed hunters and their families across Massachusetts each year and now successful hunters can help combat hunger and food insecurity in their communities by donating venison.

In last year’s deer hunting seasons, there was only one approved meat processor that accepted whole-deer donations.  The packaged venison was to be distributed to those in need through the Massachusetts Military Support Foundation’s Food 4 Vets program.

Meat processors, food pantries, hunger relief agencies, or other organizations who wanted to participate in MassWildlife’s Hunters Share the Harvest program in the future could contact Martin Feehan, MassWildlife’s Deer and Moose Project Leader, at martin.feehan@mass.gov.

Well, at last week’s Berkshire County League of Sportsmen’s (BCLS) meeting, DFW Western District Supervisor Andrew Madden reported that MassWildlife had a very successful launch of the Share the Harvest Program. “With support from the Massachusetts Outdoor Heritage Foundation and through the generosity of hunters, more than 700lbs of venison were distributed.” said Madden.

MassWildlife will be expanding the program in 2023 to reach wider distribution and provide meals for more people throughout the state.

BioMap is available.

BioMap, a newly-updated online tool that identifies critical land and waterways throughout the Commonwealth in need of conservation is now available. MassWildlife and The Nature Conservancy (TNC) worked to develop the tool to help state and local governments, land trusts, non-government organizations, and other conservation partners strategically plan projects to conserve wildlife and their habitats.

The latest version of BioMap combines more than 40 years of rigorously documented rare species and natural community records from MassWildlife with cutting-edge climate resilience data from TNC and spatial data identifying intact fish and wildlife communities, habitats, and ecosystems that are the focus of the Massachusetts State Wildlife Action Plan.

You are invited to join Assistant Director of MassWildlife’s Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program Eve Schluter and TNC Ecologist Andy Finton for a demonstration of the new BioMap webinar on January 18 at 7:00 p.m. on Zoom. Click onto https://www.mass.gov/news/new-release-of-biomap to register for the webinar.

Email natural.heritage@mass.gov to request BioMap technical support or to request notification of future trainings.

 “Tracking Wildlife: Stories from the More-Than-Human World”

Skilled wildlife tracker and educator Dan Gardoqui is visiting the Berkshires to present a talk: “Tracking Wildlife: Stories from the More-Than-Human World” at Berkshire Community College’s Robert Boland Theater in Pittsfield on Friday, January 20 at 6:00 PM. This event is sponsored by Berkshire Environmental Action Team (BEAT), Greenagers, Berkshire Natural Resources Council (BNRC), Housatonic Heritage, Richmond Pond Association, and Berkshire Community College. It is free and open to the public, with a $10 suggested donation.

Dan Gardoqui will give a presentation on tracking wildlife. He’ll lead attendees to make deeper connections with the natural world and the wildlife that surrounds us by sharing thrilling stories and photos from his tracking experiences and discussing ways to actively participate in the more-than-human world by applying wildlife tracking skills. A Q & A session will follow the talk.

The following day, Saturday, January 21, Dan will lead two back-to-back trackings (8:30 am to 11:30 am and 12:30pm to 3:30pm at the Eugene D Moran Wildlife Management Area on the border of Cheshire and Windsor, MA. Each workshop costs $50 and has a limited space of 10 participants Email team@thebeatnews.org with any questions.

For over 30 years, Dan Gardoqui has been a student, teacher, observer, and active participant in the more-than-human world. A Certified Wildlife Tracker since 2006, he has trained hundreds in the science and art of tracking. Dan is also a bird language expert and bird mimic – known for his YouTube series “Learn a Bird.” Some of his contributions include the books “Mammal Tracks & Sign: A Guide to North American Species” (Elbroch & MacFarland) and “What the Robin Knows: How Birds Reveal Nature’s Secrets” (Young). Dan applies wildlife tracking skills in citizen science projects (e.g., Canada Lynx, Flying Squirrels, Moose, Eastern Wolf) as a Registered Maine Guide.

Fly fishing show in Marlboro

 The 2023 Fly Fishing Show will take place January 20-22 at the Royal Plaza Trade Center,181 Boston Post Road Marlborough, MA. Hours are 10 am to 6 pm on Friday, 9 am to 5:30 pm on Saturday and 9 am to 4:30 pm on Sunday. The show promises more fly-casting, tying, manufacturer and retail store displays of the newest rods, reels, lines, boots, waders, clothing and flies during the three-day run.

The show will have many demonstrations at its Destination Theater presentations each hour including Labrador’s Monster Brookies, Fly Fishing Martha’s Vineyard, Montana, Iceland, the Adirondacks and many others.  There will be more than $30,000 in door prizes.

Admission is $15 for one day, $25 for two days and $35 for three days. Children under age 5 are free, children 6-12 are $5 and active military with ID’s are $10.

Fly Fishers International hosts the Fly-Fishing Show Learning Center with fly tying, casting instruction and other fly-fishing information and is free to show attendees.

The New England premiere of the 2023 International Fly-Fishing Film Festival is Friday at 6:30 pm. Tickets are $10 in advance or $15 at the door.

For a complete listing of fly-fishing films, classes, seminars, door prizes, demonstrations, etc., visit www. flyfishingshow.com or phone (814) 443-3638.

 Beginner Snowshoe/Winter Hike

 On Saturday, January 21 from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm BEAT and the Great Barrington Land Conservancy are having a 1-mile beginner winter hike at BNRC’s Housatonic Flats reserve on Stockbridge Road, Great Barrington. If weather permits, they’ll snowshoe, if there’s no snow, they’ll go for a winter hike. They will review the basics of winter hiking like what traction to wear on your feet, how to layer properly, and what to look for.

It will be an easy hike of 0.9 miles.  Bring water, wear sturdy footwear and wear layers. BNRC has a few pairs of micro-spikes and snowshoes to loan.  Animals not allowed. For questions contact Charlotte at chood@bnrc.org

Fishing community mourns the loss of Fred Moran

Frederick Dennis Moran of Adams passed beyond the riverbend on January 8 at the age of 80. He undoubtedly will be remembered by former students from the Lenox, Cheshire and Dalton schools.  He completed his last years as a classroom teacher at the Craneville Elementary School in Dalton.

Perhaps more people will remember Fred as an avid fly fisherman who ran Points North Outfitters in Adams.  For two decades Fred and his wife Marilyn taught hundreds how to fly fish and they guided hundreds more on the Deerfield River.  Fred was known for collecting antique (bamboo) fishing rods and reels and the building and restoration of fly-fishing rods. He later worked at the Orvis fly rod factory in Manchester, VT. He was a close friend of the legendary local bamboo rod builder, Francis “Digger” Degere and became his apprentice.

Fred was an esteemed member of the Taconic Chapter of Trout Unlimited where he and Digger put on rod building demonstrations.  Fred and Marilyn were recipients of TU’s Crooked Staff Award, the highest honor that the chapter bestows.  He was also a director of the Hoosic River Watershed Association.

Fred was a good friend.  The last time I saw him was when we did some flyfishing one day at the Alford Brook Club in August of 2020.  It was such a wonderful day that I did an article about it in this column. (Google Gene Chague-Fred Moran to read the Berkshire Eagle article). Boy, could he cast a fly!

Fred’s son Kevin (Berkshire Eagle Executive Editor) emailed me about his dad’s death and included these words, “I figured maybe some of his fishing buddies would imagine him casting a fly out there on heaven’s river, which is one way he’d like to be remembered, I’m sure. I suspect that Digger Degere is waiting for him there, and probably has the flies already picked out and ready to give to dad.”

Our condolences go out to Marilyn, Kevin and his entire family.  He will never be forgotten.

Massachusetts Office of Outdoor Recreation

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The Baker-Polito Administration recently established the new Massachusetts Office of Outdoor Recreation, furthering its commitment to outdoor recreation. It is within the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretariat and will work alongside state agencies, including the Department of Fish and Game, the Department of Conservation and Recreation, the Massachusetts Marketing Partnership and the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism, to enhance outdoor recreational opportunities throughout the Commonwealth and support the associated economic, environmental, and quality of life benefits they bring.

“Outdoor recreation is a consistent economic driver for communities throughout the Commonwealth, creating jobs and supporting small businesses,” said Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito. “Our world-class parks, beaches, and trails attract visitors from all across the world, and the creation of this office will promote collaboration between local communities, outdoor businesses, and the Commonwealth on expanding these opportunities even further.”

Following the establishment of the new Massachusetts Office of Outdoor Recreation, the Commonwealth now joins 17 other states around the country that have created similar offices. Additionally, the office will focus on the following efforts:

  • Coordinating outdoor recreation policy;
  • Identifying funding opportunities for programs and infrastructure;
  • Enhancing public access and recreation infrastructure;
  • Supporting the outdoor recreation economy;
  • Advancing equity and access to outdoor recreation opportunities; and,

According to a 2021 report from the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, the outdoor recreation economy accounted for $9.5 billion in value added to the Massachusetts economy, or 1.5% of the Gross Domestic Product, and 93,422 jobs, which is 2.6% of employment in the Commonwealth. Furthermore, Massachusetts’ outdoor recreation economy grew 24% from 2020 to 2021, a strong indicator of how much residents and visitors alike value the Commonwealth’s outdoor recreational resources. Top sectors by economic value include boating and fishing; hunting, shooting, and trapping; RVing; climbing, hiking, and tent camping; snow activities, such as skiing and snowshoeing; and motorcycling, ATVing, and bicycling.

“Massachusetts consistently ranks as a top quality-of-life state in the nation. The Massachusetts Office of Outdoor Recreation will help raise that standard for residents and visitors alike. From seashore to mountain tops, there are a diversity of landscapes, environments, people, and organizations to explore. Tying these together and telling the right story will be a significant benefit to our wonderful state,” said Jon Schaefer, CEO of Berkshire East Mountain Resort, Zoar Outdoor, and Catamount Mountain Resort. “

Congratulations BNRC!

National Geographic recently released an article titled, ‘This Trail May Be the Best Way to See New England’s Fall Colors”. The specific Berkshires trail mentioned is the High Road, the first section of which was opened by Berkshire Natural Resources and its partners in 2021.

“Now,” wrote National Geographic, “a new regional pathway across the spine of the Berkshires is turning the local tradition of long walks into an American spin on the European “walking holiday” popular with pilgrims journeying on Spain’s Camino de Santiago or Scotland’s West Highland Way.

The eight-mile path along Yokun Ridge, connecting trails from Pittsfield to Lenox, provides hikers with an opportunity to explore a scenic and ecologically diverse woodland. This route links the properties of five landowners who together conserve and steward over 5,000 acres along this ridgeline. BNRC worked with these landowner partners to transform what was a tangled network of social trails into a clear and consistent hiking route for the public. Featuring three scenic vistas, expansive woodlands, stone and water features, the Yokun Ridge Trail offers a special way to travel.

 

Work is underway to expand The High Road trail network. As it evolves, it will offer many varieties of terrain, starting points, and route options along trail corridors through woodlands and into towns and villages.

NY DEC announces conservation of 1,300 acres in Taconic Mountains

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Basil Seggos recently announced the protection of 1,300 acres of forest and grasslands in the Taconic Mountains in the town of Berlin. The recent acquisition will connect the Taconic Ridge and Berlin State Forests, preserve critical open space, and expand recreational opportunities to support the local economy.

“DEC and our partners are continuing to collaborate with stakeholders to permanently protect the Taconic Ridge and the valuable ecological and recreational opportunities it provides,” Commissioner Seggos said. “This newest 1,300 acres will help connect and enhance DEC’s existing state forest network and builds upon our ongoing progress in conserving this Capital Region natural treasure.”

The acquisition will be added to the Taconic Ridge State Forest and provides a critical connection between the Taconic Ridge and Berlin state forests, linking together more than 12,000 acres of state forests. New York State purchased the parcel for $890,000 through the State’s Environmental Protection Fund (EPF). The purchase protects forested steep slopes leading to the top of the Taconic Ridge. It includes a tributary of the Little Hoosic River, one of New York State’s wild trout streams, and 80 acres of critical grassland habitat. As part of DEC’s state forests, this parcel will be managed for multiple uses, including sustainable timber production, watershed protection, wildlife habitat, and recreation.

Located in Rensselaer County along the Massachusetts and Vermont border, the Taconic Ridge and Berlin state forests are primary gateways in the Taconic Mountains that conserve important natural resources and provide diverse outdoor recreational opportunities. It is adjacent to MassWildlife’s conservation lands such as the Misery Mountain Wildlife Management Area making for a really large block of protected land.  Their rolling hills, forests, scenic vistas and over 34 miles of trails, including the Taconic Crest Trail, are ideal for hiking. The purchase builds on other recent acquisitions including more than 5,700 acres announced in 2020 in partnership with The Conservation Fund.

Sharpshooters to kill “habituated coyotes.”

Nahant, a community on Massachusetts’s North Shore voted recently to sign an agreement with the U.S. Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services to help address a growing issue. Town residents have been reporting that they are being stalked or surrounded by coyotes while walking their pets.  Three times in the past year, a coyote has taken a pet off its leash while under the control of its owner, town officials said.  The citizens of Nahant have every right to demand that something be done with the coyotes.

Nahant has become the first town in the commonwealth to approve hiring federal sharpshooters to kill “habituated” coyotes.

“MassWildlife has authorized our community to dispatch the problem coyotes but our legal options of ways to do that are limited, ineffective, and not practical.” said Nahant Board Chairman.  Sometime in the next several weeks, the sharpshooters will come in, stake-out a place where coyotes congregate, like the town composting site, and pick them off in the middle of the night with rifles.

The announcement has left many Massachusetts hunters scratching their heads.

It was only a couple of years ago that MassWildlife banned coyote derbies and outlawed the “wanton waste” of them. To quote the regulation: “It is unlawful for hunters to intentionally or knowingly leave a wounded or dead animal without making a reasonable effort to retrieve and use it.  Each animal must be retrieved until processed or used for food, pelt, feathers or taxidermy.”

Correct me if I am wrong, but leaving a dead coyote in the woods for eagles, vultures, bears and other critters to feed upon seems to be a better way of disposing them than wherever the Nahant coyote carcasses will end up.

Many Massachusetts hunters favor year-round coyote hunting as a way of reducing the numbers of fawns and mature deer that fall prey to them.  However; MassWildlife’s position basically was that the hunting of coyotes will not in the long run affect their population as they have the reproductive capacity to compensate for the losses.

If that is true, then the Town of Nahant is wasting its money on these sharpshooters. The town estimates the program will cost $5,000 to $10,000 to alleviate the problem.  Allowing hunters to take care of the problem probably wouldn’t cost the town a penny.

Primitive Firearms Deer Hunting season opens Monday

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The shotgun deer hunting and late bear hunting seasons end this weekend, but the primitive firearm deer hunting season opens on Monday, December 12. If you hunt during that hunting season with a primitive firearm, you must comply with the following information, as listed in the MA Hunting, Fishing and Trapping Regulations:

You must use shoulder-fired muzzleloaders .44 caliber to .775 caliber; barrel length 18 inches or more with only one barrel operational. Inline ignition systems are permitted providing the firearm loads from the muzzle. Single projectile only (no buckshot). Sabot rounds, 209 primers, break/hinge-action muzzleloaders, and scopes are permitted. Powder limited to black powder or black powder substitutes.

A muzzleloader is considered unloaded when the cap or pan powder is removed.

All primitive firearms deer hunters must comply with the 500 square inch blaze orange requirement. A primitive firearm stamp is required.

You may also archery hunt during the primitive firearm season.  There are certain regulations which govern archery hunting, so be sure to review them on page 18 of the above-mentioned regulations. A primitive firearm stamp is required.

It is permissible to report your deer harvest online rather than an official check-in station.  Remember, it must be reported within 48 hours of harvest.

Here’s hoping the hunters have a safe, enjoyable primitive firearms hunting season and remember, keep your powder dry.

Also, for you hardy waterfowlers, late Canada goose hunting season starts on December 14 and runs until February 15, 2023. The duck hunting season in the Berkshires resumes on December 19 and runs until January 7, 2023.

Be sure to check the 2022-2023 Migratory Game Bird Regulations.

Hunters be careful out there

By now, most people have heard about the deer hunter who had gone missing and was found dead in the woods early Friday, December 2. The body of the man, who has not been identified, was found about 10 a.m., according to state police.

Chesterfield Police Chief Michael Malouin reported that the 64-year-old hunter was found deceased in an area of woods in the town of Goshen. The search began Wednesday evening when he called a friend to tell him he was lost in the woods and that he would stay put.

The search over the heavily wooded area included multiple agencies including search dogs, Chesterfield Fire Department, the Department of Fire Services, Special Operations, Massachusetts State Police, multiple sheriff departments, a drone and The Berkshire Mountain Search and Rescue Team.

Laurie Loisel, Director of Communications at the Northwestern District Attorney’s Office, said the hunter was not from western Massachusetts, but had been staying in a rented hunting cabin in Chesterfield.

Loisel said there were no apparent injuries and no foul play is suspected, and that the office of the Chief Medical Examiner will determine a cause of death. “It appears as though he was out hunting and may have lost his way,” Loisel said.

The Special Emergency Response Team for State Police located the body and an investigation into his death is ongoing.  Apparently, a ping from his cellphone was used to identify his general location.

At the time of this writing, the Medical Examiner was determining the cause of death.

Also, recently a Camillus, NY man died when he fell from a tree stand while hunting with his father in Cayuga County, authorities said.  Michael S. Rinaldo, 33, died of head injuries when he fell about 18 feet, hitting his head on the way down while hunting, according to Jomo Miller, a spokesperson for the NY State Department of Environmental Conservation.

It was reported that Rinaldo was not wearing a full-body harness, a recommended safety measure when using elevated stands, according to the DEC.

Tree-stand hunters take note:  Research shows that falls from elevated stands are caused by: Incorrect placement and use of equipment,  mistakes while climbing into or out of the stand, equipment being damaged by exposure to the elements, the hunter’s lack of knowledge about the equipment or excessive wear or stress on the equipment.

Preliminary Shotgun deer hunting results

The harvest totals for the first week of shotgun deer hunting locally were not fully compiled as of Wednesday, December 27 because some deer check stations had not yet submitted their harvest figures.  However; we were able to obtain figures from those checked in at the DFW Regional Headquarters in Dalton the first week.

Some 128 deer were weighed and checked in, and some were quite large.  For example, an 8-point, 208 lbs. buck was taken in Stockbridge (Lorette); a 7-point, 180 lbs. buck was taken in Middlefield (McCarthy); a 12-point, 178 lbs. buck was taken in Lanesboro (Patriguin); an 8-point, 175 lbs. buck was taken in Sandisfield (Drumm); a 7-point, 174 lbs. buck was taken in Peru (Kirchner) and an 8-point, 170 lbs. buck was taken in Washington (Dermody).

Complete figures were not available from Southern Berkshire County, but we do know of a 10-point 205 lbs. buck that was taken in New Marlboro.

Those were field dressed certified weights. To determine the estimated live weight, multiply field dressed weight by 1.26.  For example, that above referenced 208 lbs. buck probably weighed around 262 lbs. on the hoof.

A total of 67 deer were checked in the first week at Ernie’s Auto Sales in North Adams

Becoming an Outdoors-Woman mentored deer hunt 

MassWildlife’s Becoming an Outdoors-Woman (BOW) Program offers shooting skills workshops, hunting seminars, and other outdoor skills classes and activities designed for adult women. This fall, MassWildlife offered a deer hunting seminar and a mentored hunt for women who are new to deer hunting. During the seminars, students learned about the lives and habits of white-tailed deer, deer hunting regulations, equipment, and safety, and practiced new skills like shooting, scouting, and recovery. Fifteen women participated in the mentored deer hunt at the Fort Devens Military Area in Lancaster on opening day of shotgun deer season (November 28, 2022), and two women harvested deer.

Picture provided by MassWildlife

“I had an amazing time with the BOW program!” said Marilyn Patterson, BOW Program participant. “If there are any females out there that are interested in learning to hunt, I highly recommend it! Thank you to Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife!”

MassWildlife is grateful for the many volunteers and mentors who make the BOW Program possible. To learn more about it and sign up to be notified of future workshops, click ontohttps://www.mass.gov/service-details/becoming-an-outdoors-woman-bow.

MassWildlife’s Hunters Share the Harvest Program

MassWildlife’s Hunters Share the Harvest Program provides an opportunity for hunters to donate and share wild game meat like venison with Massachusetts residents in need. Regulated hunting is a safe activity that brings communities together through the sharing of food, skills, and time spent outdoors with nature. A recent study by The Greater Boston Food Bank shows that nearly one-third of adults in Massachusetts are facing food insecurity, a number that has grown during the pandemic.

MassWildlife says that free range, organic venison is a lean, healthy protein with a low carbon footprint that already feeds thousands of licensed hunters and their families across Massachusetts each year. Licensed hunters play an important role in wildlife management in Massachusetts, and now successful hunters can help combat hunger and food insecurity in their communities by donating venison.

This year, there is only one approved meat processor (Haskins Custom Butchering in Hanover) accepting whole-deer donations, and packaged venison will be distributed to those in need through the Massachusetts Military Support Foundation’s Food 4 Vets program. With the support of donors, processing and packaging costs will be covered for deer accepted into the program.

MassWildlife plans to expand donation and distribution locations in the coming years. Meat processors, food pantries, hunger relief agencies, or other organizations who want to participate in MassWildlife’s Hunters Share the Harvest program in the future should contact Martin Feehan, MassWildlife’s Deer and Moose Project Leader, at martin.feehan@mass.gov.

 

Anyone can help financially support MassWildlife’s Hunters Share the Harvest program with a monetary donation to the Massachusetts Outdoor Heritage Foundation. Your donation will help cover the processing and packaging costs for donated meat. A donation of $25 will provide about 50 servings of meat for families in need.

Great turnout at the Wild Acres youth fishing derby

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They had decent weather for a change at the Wild Acres Fishing Derby which was held last Saturday, and over 100 anglers took advantage of it. This was the 6th year that the City of Pittsfield Conservation Commission and Lyon Aviation sponsored the event.

Representing the City of Pittsfield were Becky Manship, Recreation Activities Coordinator and Rob Vanderkar, Pittsfield Conservation Agent. Assisting the anglers, cooking the food, etc were the Onota Fishing Club President Fred Ostrander and his team of OLC volunteers. Dave’s Sporting Store provided the worms and some equipment, Lyon Aviation donated funds for the event and The Berkshire National Fish Hatchery provided the good-sized brook trout. The City of Pittsfield provided the food which was expertly cooked up by Al Lucier, proprietor of Ozzie’s Steak & Eggs of Hinsdale.

There was a slew of trophies awarded based upon the fish sizes and the age group category of the kids. The results are as follows:
8 and Under Category: 1st Place – Lola Rodriguez (14” – 1 lbs 4 oz, largest fish of the day), 2nd Place – Trenton Scales (13.5” – 1.1 lbs), 3rd Place – Wyatt Underhill (13.5” – 1 lb). The following kids in that age category also received trophies: Easton Tatro, Bryer Farrell, Kaylee Prew, Aiden Brewts, Tarey McDurby, Jace Coco, Griffen Sobolewski, Ryker Farrell, Cora Dicroche, Carmelo Coco, Kaiden Kalinowski, Elise Sobolewski and Declan Gallant.
9 to 11 Category: 1st Place – Austin Sayers (12.75” – 10 oz), 2nd Place – Rebecca Stimpson (12.75” – .8oz), 3rd Place Bella Munson (12.5” – 1 lb). Other trophy recipients: Selena Rodriguez, Noah Wesley and Tyrus Ospellino.
12 to 14 Category: 1st Place – Jimmy Spaniol (14” – 1 lb 1 oz), 2nd Place – Tyler Gaudette (12.5” – .7oz) and 3rd Place – Brett Healey (11.5” – .5 oz).
The kids had a great time. Look at that little girl proudly showing off her fish. A nice sized brook trout in one hand and a lollypop in the other. It doesn’t get any better than that!

Our hats off to Lyon Aviation, the City of Pittsfield and the Onota Fishing Club for providing the kids with a such wonderful day.

Trout stocking

The following local waters were scheduled to be stocked with trout last week:
Rivers and brooks: Beartown Brook in Lee, Chickley River in Charlemont and Hawley, Clesson Brook in Ashfield and Buckland, Cold River in Florida and Charlemont, Deerfield River in Buckland, Charlemont and Florida, Green River (south) in Alford, Egremont and Great Barrington; Hoosic River (north branch) in Clarksburg and North Adams, Hoosic River (south branch) in Adams and Cheshire, Hop Brook in Lee and Tyringham, Housatonic River(SW branch) in Pittsfield, Hudson Brook in Clarksburg and North Adams, Sackett Brook in Dalton and Pittsfield, Walker Brook in Becket and Chester, West Brook in Great Barrington and Lee, Westfield Brook in Windsor and Cummington, Westfield River (East Branch) in Cummington, Chesterfield and Huntington; Williams River in West Stockbridge and Great Barrington and Yokun Brook in Lenox.

Ponds: Big Pond in Otis and Richmond Pond.

Deerfield River trout study
In 2018, MassWildlife and Trout Unlimited launched a project to study Brown Trout in the upper Deerfield River (Fife Brook Dam downstream to Charlemont). If you fish in this section of the river, you can contribute to the study by completing an online form (https://ee.kobotoolbox.org/x/#w9WpYad0) during or after each fishing trip you take. Since 2018, and for the duration of the study, the adipose fins of all hatchery Brown Trout stocked in the upper Deerfield River will be removed. During this spring, a number of Brown Trout already in the upper Deerfield River will be captured and marked with individually-numbered external tags.
You are asked to fill out the form every time you fish in this section of the Deerfield River. Data collected from completed forms will show the ratio of wild to stocked Brown Trout being caught, the number of tagged fish being caught, the general locations that Brown Trout are being caught, and the effort expended by anglers in this section of the river.
The adipose fin is a small fatty fin on the dorsal surface (back) of the trout between the tail and the dorsal fin. Research has shown that the removal of this fin is the least intrusive, detrimental, or painful compared to all other fins on the body. Fin clipping is performed by trained biologists, who then stock the fish in their usual locations in the upper Deerfield. Eventually, all hatchery fish in this section will be marked with a fin clip. Anglers should note that for the next few years, there may be holdover hatchery browns in the system that have not been marked.
This project took shape through a collaborative process involving MassWildlife and Trout Unlimited (in particular, the Deerfield River and Greater Boston Chapters and the Massachusetts-Rhode Island Council), and 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 data on important population metrics including abundance, mortality, and growth rates of individual fish. MassWildlife will use this information to more effectively manage the upper Deerfield River Brown Trout fishery.

Free fishing days

Did you know that you can fish in Massachusetts and neighboring states free without having to purchase a fishing license? In Massachusetts and New Hampshire, the free fishing day is Saturday, June 1. In Vermont, it is Saturday June 8. In New York, you can fish free on the weekend of June 29 -30. The free fishing weekend in Maine is June 1 – 2. In Connecticut, there are two days, July 6 and August 31. Sorry, Rhode Island’s free days already went by. They were May 4 and 5.

Residents and nonresidents may fish without a license. All legal fishing methods and limits apply.

Wild & Scenic Westfield River Free Workshops

Next weekend, there will be two free workshops conducted by the Wild and Scenic Westfield River group. On Saturday, May 25 from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm there will be a workshop entitled “Insect Tracking” with naturalist Charley Eiseman. You are invited to join them in Chesterfield as they track and admire the tiny critters that live in the forest. What is a Leaf miner and what is making their exquisite eggs?

Then on the next day, Sunday, May 26 from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm there will be a workshop on Center Pond in Becket entitled “Lets Pull Together” Center Pond Weed Project & Action Sports Free Hand and Foot pulling training for land owners and community members. At this workshop you will learn to identify and remove invasive plants, and be part of the solution.

For questions and to register, contact Meredyth Babcock, Phone 413 623-2070 or email volunteer@wildscenicwestfieldriver.org.

Old Mill Trail Interpretive Hike

On Wednesday May 22, from 3:30 pm to 6:30 pm, the Housatonic Valley Association (HVA) and Berkshire Natural Resources Council (BNRC) will be conducting a hike along the Old Mill Trail (3 miles) located in Hinsdale and Dalton. You are encouraged to explore the mill history of the area through augmented reality and learn about the natural history of the area.

It is free and open to the public. Meet at the trailhead on Old Dalton Road, Hinsdale. For more information, contact HVA 413-298-7024.

 

New Turkey Regulation Changes are being proposed

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At the request of the Fisheries and Wildlife Board, and in response to a request submitted by the National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF), MassWildlife initiated a review of wild turkey hunting regulations with the goal to evaluate potential changes to enhance turkey hunting opportunities. The Fisheries and Wildlife Board is considering the following regulatory changes:
1. Youth Day – Expand hunting hours to ½ hr before sunrise until 5 P.M on the single day designated for the Youth Turkey Hunt.
2. Allow all permits issued to youths aged 12-14 to be utilized across the entire spring AND fall season.
3. Spring Season – Increase the daily bag limit to 2 per day.
4. Fall Season – Expand fall season (ARCHERY ONLY) to overlap the exclusive archery deer season.
5. Allow 2 spring tags and 1 fall tag (3 turkeys total per year) for all permit holders.

In making the case for the above proposed changes, David Scarpitti, MassWildlife Turkey Project Leader, presented the following background information to the Board:
The goal is to maintain hunter satisfaction in a way that will not compromise other hunters (pheasant, deer, rabbit, etc.). In order to find the right balance, an elaborate review was conducted with a good cross section of people and agencies
They looked at the harvest data from the 1980’s until present and learned that turkeys now exist in over 350 municipalities and towns in MA. After sharp harvest rises in the early years, the population and harvest stabilized over the last 10 years to around 35,000 turkeys and annual harvests of about 3,000 birds.
They analyzed the ratio of adults in the spring season to the juvenile ratio and determined that hunters are choosing to select adults. There is a good brood production year after year and they are getting lots of recruitment of mature birds. The ratio is 3 to 3 ½ adults to juvenile. MassWildlife is confident they have a high robust population and high satisfaction of hunters across the state. Allowing 3 turkeys total per year should pose no problems.
They have never had a lot of harvested birds in the fall. The harvest sex ratio is 50/50. With 350 towns in MA, and hunters harvesting 100 hens a year, and that is less than 1 female for every 3 towns. “That tells us we have a lot of potential in the fall season and can harvest considerably more females. There is little threat from over harvesting”, Scarpitti said.
One component of fall turkey hunting season that is increasing is the archery component. Last fall archers took 40% of last year’s total fall harvest. Studies show that half of the fall turkey hunters are doing so in conjunction of archery hunting season for deer.
Scarpitti cited figures showing that 20 to 25% of successful spring turkey hunters do not have an opportunity to hunt in the fall. By expanding the archery turkey hunting season in the fall, it will allow archery deer hunters to hunt turkeys. He recommended expanding the current 2-week season to overlap the archery deer hunting season.

MassWildlife is looking for feedback on these proposed changes. Berkshire hunters are welcome to contact the Western District Office (413) 684-1646 or David Scarpitti, Turkey Project Leader (508) 389-6300 David.Scarpitti@mass.gov .
At its November 1, 2018, Berkshire County League of Sportsmen Meeting, DFW Western District Supervisor Andrew Madden discussed the proposed changes. After discussions, the League delegates voted and unanimously approved going on record as supporting the proposed turkey regulation changes.

Update on Youth Deer Hunt Harvest Report
The 2018 Youth Deer Hunt Day was held on September 29. This unique opportunity allowed young hunters to hunt deer with their own permit during a special one-day season that preceded the Commonwealth’s regular annual deer hunting seasons. This year MassWildlife issued 1,115 youth permits and 125 harvested deer were reported online. Deer reported at physical check stations will be tallied and added to the total at the conclusion of the regular deer hunting seasons.
Disturbing Environmental Police statistics

During the latest MA Fisheries & Wildlife Board Meeting which was held on October 25 in Lenox, the Massachusetts Environmental Police representative, Major Loos, reported that there were 59 ORV/ATV accidents in 2018 with 9 fatalities. There were also 104 boat accidents with 12 fatalities.

How tragic! Please, please exercise caution when out on these vehicles/water craft.

Do you know about the 37-mile Taconic Crest Trail?
If you’ve ever hiked through the Pittsfield State Forest, over Berlin Mountain, to the Snow Hole in Petersburg or along some of the Shaker Trails above Lebanon Mountain, you’ve seen the bright blue triangles that mark the Taconic Crest Trail.
If you love this kind of access to recreational opportunities along the Taconic Range, the Taconic Hiking Club (THC) wants to extend an invitation to you to join them.
The THC has been in existence since 1932 and has a strong legacy of trail advocacy at the state and local level. It maintains thirty-seven miles of the Taconic Crest Trail and five of its access trails. It also protects and secures parking and trail access and offers seasonal outings for hikers, bikers, and paddlers. It runs a well-attended and supported biennial End-to-End hike over 29 miles of the trail from Berry Pond to Vermont.

Over the years the Club has provided social opportunities for people who love the outdoors and has published two series of professional-level maps of the trail. Members have volunteered hundreds of hours of trail clearing, blazing, and marking and have turned out in force to keep the trail motor-free and free of irresponsible logging.

The trail winds along the Taconic Ridge in and out of New York and Massachusetts. When either DEC (Dept. of Environmental Conservation in NY) or DCR (Dept. of Conservation and Recreation in MA) have issues in that region they include THC in the discussion. The Club is an important agent for protection of this large forested area.

Both New York State and Massachusetts cite the Taconics as areas of special interest in their Open Space Plans, and there is a new consortium of land trust groups from the surrounding 4-state area that is focused on the Taconic Range. The Taconic Range provides recreation in one of the last remaining intact forested areas and serves as an important wildlife corridor.

The Club is seeking new members. By joining you help solidify the membership base and give recognition to the Club’s mission and purpose. Dues are minimal at $10.00. No activity is required, but you might want to order that map and check out the trail on some beautiful fall day.

Many thanks to Karen Ross of New Lebanon, NY for the info. She has forwarded it to us because she believes that many people in the Berkshires have never heard of the Taconic Crest Trail or the Taconic Hiking Club. For more information on the Taconic Hiking Club, click onto http://taconichikingclub.org.

Incidentally, Karen began volunteering her time with the Berkshire Natural Resources Council in 2001, “doing monitoring, blazing, boundary marking, trail clearing, map making, writing, editing, documentation—whatever was needed”.

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.

A most memorable fishing trip – Part 1

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Readers may recall from last fall’s Canadian fishing articles of local fishermen, there were still two more anglers flyfishing up in Canada. Rex Channell and his wife Trish Watson. Rex is a local flyfishing guide who operates under the name of Allure Outfitters. I had promised to write about the trip when they returned. I had no idea at the time that they wouldn’t return until mid-October, after a 5 1/2 month trip. So, let’s take a break from this fall’s hunting articles and think fish for a while.

Rex and Trish packed up their 25-foot 2015 Coachman Freelander and began a fishing journey the likes of which most of us can only dream.

On May 9, 2017 they set out for West Falmouth to flyfish the Cape Cod Canal for schoolies (small striped bass). After 3 days, they headed for New Hampshire and Maine to visit friends, do some hiking, check out the beaches and lighthouses, etc. They stayed at the Desert Dunes of Maine Campground in Freeport, ME. (Yes, there are desert dunes up there), and they fished the Saco River near Fryeburg. While there was surface activity, they did not land anything.

They fished several stretches of the Crooked River in Bethel, ME while visiting friends but the river was high and non-productive. They went on to visit and fish with Brenda Sears (former Coordinator/Leader of Casting for Recovery in Massachusetts and licensed Maine guide) and her son Justin in Rangeley, ME, angling in such famed rivers as the Magallaway and Rangeley happily netting many nice brook trout and landlocked salmon in the latter on size 10 – 12 mayfly and stimulator patterns as well as larger streamers for the next 6 days.

Moving on to Greenville, ME in the Moosehead Lake region they fished the Roach River (no luck) and the Kennebec River with Rex catching a nice 3 lb brookie on a size 2 cone-head streamer. They spent several days camping and fishing on Perch Pond in the Deboullie Wilderness Area – only accessible by 25 miles of dirt roads deep in the North Maine Woods. While the fishing was not spectacular – some small brook trout – the wilderness itself was! The final Maine waters they fished were the Fish River and the Wallagrass Stream near Fort Kent again landing brookies and landlocked salmon on streamers. They said in general the rivers in Maine were difficult to fish this time of year (May) as the waters were high with late spring run-off but they were still able to land enough fish to make them happy and eager for more.

They drove from Ft. Kent and arrived at the Sugarloaf Provincial Parc in Atholville, New Brunswick on June 8. There they fished the St Lawrence River at Tide Head catching small salmon, climbed Sugarloaf Mountain and rode mountain bikes throughout the park. They traveled the Gaspé Peninsula in Quebec Province and looked into fishing the Cascapedia River for Atlantic Salmon, but while the season was open, the salmon had not started up the rivers yet. They were told that the returning Atlantic Salmon count was down by two thirds in recent years in Quebec and New Brunswick. So, instead, they visited the Cascapedia River Museum and went on a hike in the Chic-Chocs (a mountain range in the central region of the Gaspé Peninsula).

While in Quebec Province, they fished the Pesciculture – Peche de la troute – a trout farm in St Felicite. For the next several days (June 14 through June 19) they camped, visited lighthouses, and museums and ferried across the St Lawrence River on their way to Labrador. On June 21 they arrived in Labrador City, Labrador. (population around 10,000). The people there were so incredibly friendly and helpful that they decided to stay 3 three days where they fished for brookies in Tanya Lake and Dumbell Lake both within the town boundaries.

There is only one road of 530 km (317 miles) between Labrador City and Happy Valley-Goose Bay and one population center – Churchill Falls. It is so remote that they signed out a satellite phone in Lab City to carry in case of emergency turning it in (without incident) when arriving in Happy Valley.

When they found a boat ramp/camp on the Ossokmanuan (Ossok) Reservoir along the way to Church Falls, they stopped to camp and fish resulting in catching the pictured large landlock salmon (called Ouaniniche) using 4x, sized 12 mayfly imitations (parachute gray flies). They hiked to Churchill Falls in Labrador (The falls are 245 feet high, located on the Churchill River) and toured the hydro-power plant of the same name, the third largest in the world and 1000+ feet underground. They took another opportunity to camp and fish at a pull-off on the Cache River where they caught more brook trout on dries before arriving at Happy Valley-Goose Bay.

Happy Valley-Goose Bay, Labrador was one of their primary destination points as they had scheduled a fly-in float plane fishing trip to Igloo Lake Lodge for the first week of July. (If that place sounds familiar, that is where local Attorney Michael Shepard and fellow anglers fished last summer. Remember that big brook trout that Mike was holding in a picture featured in this column on October 8, 2017?) Rex and Trish spent a week there catching huge brook trout and northern pike. Fifteen minutes into the trip, they were into 8 ½ lb brookies. Rex caught the pictured one just shy of 10 lbs later in the week. In the lake, they were using large sculpin patterns while trolling, while in the rivers they were catching the brookies on stimulators and smallish gray ghost flies.

They drove across Quebec taking a more northerly route along the Saguenay Fjord and avoiding the large eastern Canadian cities. They fished Lac Bujold, Lac du Milieu and the Chigoubiche River in Quebec along the way to Ontario. Only Lac Bujold offered up any fish – brook trout.

On July 16, they arrived at the Lost Lake Wilderness Campground in Gowganda, Ontario which provides fishing for large northern pike, walleye, smallmouth bass and brookies on 8 lakes including Lost Lake, Hill’s Lake and Aurora Lake. They stayed there 3 days and caught plenty of fish on both dry and wet flies. One of the larger pike was caught using home-made cork popper on a 3 wt rod. Although they rarely take the fish, they had a wonderful shore lunch of walleye and pike that they caught the day before.

While in Gowganda, they visited Hill’s Lake Fish Hatchery. Budd Lake near Wawa, Ontario was the last opportunity they took to fish heading into the vast plains. They camped at Kakabeka Falls Provincial Park outside of Thunder Bay, Ontario, taking in the impressive waterfalls and before entering Winnipeg, they stayed at the Falcon Lake Provincial Park.

Westward they traveled and on July 22, they reached Morris, Manitoba where they attended the Manitoba Stampede and Rodeo. In Saskatchewan they camped at the Moose Jaw River Park on July 23 where they rode bikes instead of fishing as the water was low, slow and murky.

While they had planned on going to Banff and Jasper National Parks in Alberta, the wildfire threat in that region made them change their route. On July 24 they arrived in Crowsnest, Alberta and stayed at the Lundbreck Falls Provincial Park camping right on the river. There they fished the Crowsnest River for rainbows having great luck especially in the evenings where mayfly hatches were happening. (If that
name sounds familiar, that is where Paul Knauth, Allen Gray and I had tremendous rainbow trout fishing this past August, and was highlighted in this column on October 1).

On July 27, they arrived in Fernie, British Columbia and stayed at Snowy Peaks RV Park and for 5 days there. Again, fishing mostly in the evening, they caught a lot of healthy (2+ lb) west-slope cutthroat trout on the Elk River. This was all dry fly fishing with the go-to fly being a size 14 yellow sally. Fishing in this area of BC was more expensive since there is a fee of $20 per rod per day added to the cost of a fishing license for most of the big rivers, including the Elk, but the results were well worth it.

Their last stop in Canada was the Goat River outside of Kitchner, BC. They wilderness camped on the river 3 miles up a multi-use dirt road (logging and recreation) and fished the Goat River, catching 12” cutthroat and rainbow trout on yellow sallies and small stimulators.

On August 2, they crossed the US/Canadian border at Porthill, ID stopped in Spokane, Washington. Did they head for home? Heck no, the fishing trip was only half over. We’ll pick up the rest of the journey, hopefully in next week’s column.

Annual Berkshire Knapsacker New Year’s Day Hike and Gathering
The event will take place at the First Congregational Church Hall, 25 Park Place, Lee, MA. Two hikes are scheduled (or snowshoe as conditions warrant). The longer hike will be on the Appalachian Trail starting at the Route 20 parking area, led by Harold Moon. They will hike to the Goose Pond cabin and back, about four miles. They will leave the Church at 10:00 AM and return around 12:30 PM.
The shorter hike will be around Basin Pond in Lee, starting at the Becket Rd. parking lot, hiking through hemlock groves and over a stream to the site of the 1960 dam ruins and back, about 3 miles. They will leave the Church Hall at 10:15 AM and return around 12:30 PM.
A pot-luck lunch begins around 1:00 PM, (bring your own place setting, serving utensils, and an appetizer, dessert, salad, or entree to share) followed by a short business meeting.
At 2:00 PM, Dr. Richard Greene, an experienced and accomplished wildlife tracker, will present a program entitled “An Up-Close Look at Wildlife” He will discuss the value of wildlife cameras in conservation and science and will share his photos and videos capturing our local wildlife in their natural habitats. Dr. Greene’s presentation is free and open to the public.

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Jester steps down as BCLS President

 

At the February meeting of the Berkshire County League of Sportsmen, Mark Jester, its long time president, announced that he had stepped down effective January 29.  The reason given was that he had been promoted within the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) and his title will be District Manager for the Mountain District, which will encompass Greylock, Savoy, Clarksburg and Mohawk State Forests.  He will be the outreach person for DCR for the Northern Berkshires.  Part of the condition of his employment required him to step down from a number of boards, including the BCLS.  He thanked the dedicated delegates for helping him over the past 20 years saying that it had been a great pleasure to work with and for them. He received a standing, hearty round of applause from the delegates.  League VP Mike Kruszyna, of Cheshire, will be handling the day-to-day happenings and requirements of the League until a new president is elected.  Jester offered to help Kruszyna in any way as well as future presidents and board members. So is Jester’s departure a big deal?  You bet it is.  The BCLS is the umbrella organization for a dozen or so local sportsmen’s clubs which are made up by nearly 4,000 members.  Jester, of Pittsfield, had been League president for the last 20 years, which could arguably be called its “golden era”.  Although the smallest county sportsmen’s league in the Commonwealth, it is common knowledge that under Jester’s leadership, it became the most powerful one.  That is the feeling shared by the Massachusetts Sportsmen’s Council, MassWildlife officials, Gun Owners Action League (GOAL), sister organizations and politicians.  He was the League’s outspoken champion of environmental, conservation and sportsmen’s related issues.  He has received numerous local and statewide awards for his dedicated work on behalf of the sportsmen. So is Jester’s departure a loss for the League and a gain for DCR?  Yes!  But there is a silver lining.  We have a most knowledgeable and qualified District Manager in charge of those state forests, something in which sportsmen, hikers, and other State forest users can take comfort.  We wish him all the best in his new venture. ***** The Lee Sportsmen’s Association will be conducting a basic pistol course at the LSA clubhouse on Monday, February 29 and Monday, March 7.  The cost is $100.00.  Contact Larry Karlquist at 442-7807 to sign up. *****

 

The Lenox Sportsmen’s Club President’s Day rabbit hunt was cancelled due to the weather.  It was too rough on the dogs, hunters and the bunnies.*****

 

First-time hunters who wish to purchase a Massachusetts hunting or sporting license must complete a Basic Hunter Education Course.   Such a course is scheduled at the Lee Sportsmen’s Association on March 15 and April 2.    Classes on March 15 run from 6 to 9:30PM and on April 2 from 8AM to 3PM.  Both class sessions plus Independent Study is required to successfully complete the course.  To enroll, call (508) 389-7830. *****

 

In October, 2014 Joseph Toole, owner of the Hampton Inn in Lenox, placed a conservation restriction (C/R) on 111 acres of land behind the Hampton Inn, 445 Pittsfield Lenox Road in Lenox.  It was named the LFX Brian Toole Wildlife Preserve in memorial to his brother Brian who devoted his entire career to wildlife conservation.  The Lenox Land Trust (LLT) was designated the holder of the C/R which borders other protected land.  Have you ever wondered what that conserved land looks like?  Well, on February 24 and February 27 from 10 AM to noon, the LLT is sponsoring free snowshoe hikes weather and ice thickness permitting.  LLT Board members Ken Kelly and Kate McNaulty-Vaughan will lead those hikes.    If you wish to attend, you are urged to call (413)329-9678 the evening before or morning of the event if conditions are questionable.  Park and meet behind the Hampton Inn. *****

Are you an aspiring taxidermist hungry for expert guidance and training?  Well, award winning taxidermist Wayne Rodd from Southampton, MA  passed on some information about a taxidermy seminar coming up on Saturday, March 19 at the Double Tree Bradley International Airport Hotel at 16 Ella Grasso Turnpike in Windsor Locks, CT.  Conducted by the New England Association of Taxidermists (NEAT) it is open to anyone interested in taxidermy who wants to improve on their knowledge and skill level from novice, to the true craftsman and woman of the industry.  New members are always welcome.  The NEAT can be found on its website or facebook page.

 

Matt Marulli, receiver of many awards will conduct the hands on seminar.  Whether you are beginner or a seasoned taxidermist looking to take it to the next level this workshop could be for you. Bring any mammal you want to work on (coyote or smaller, no squirrels) and they will work on it together.  From eye sets, installing noses to form alterations they can cover whatever you want.

 

The cost is $150 per person, limited to 15 people and lunch will be provided.    The class will run from 8AM to 5PM.    Anyone wishing to attend can contact Matt at 203-734-3263. Cutoff date is March 5.  A 50% deposit will be required to hold your spot.  As the event gets closer they can discuss your piece and what to bring. Some materials may be provided.  Incidentally, the NEAT show will be held at the same hotel in June.  Arrangements to attend or compete in June can also be made through Marulli.

 

There is something special about mounted trophies.  Not just for bragging rights but they serve as reminders of special moments in one’s life. We have some excellent taxidermists in our area, but they aren’t getting any younger.  This may be a great opportunity for new folks to take up this much needed trade.

Westfield River’s Keystone Arches – Gems in our back yard

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Say, did you happen to read DFW Western District Manager Andrew Madden’s fine article in the most recent issue of the Massachusetts Wildlife magazine dealing with the Westfield River Keystone Arches?   The pictures were magnificent and so was the article.  Those granite arches truly are gems in Western Mass. They were built in the 1840’s when the Western Railroad was extended out through the Berkshires.

Due to the serpentine course, the arches cross the river 10 times and are wholly dry laid, not a drop of mortar was used in them.  Some of them are no longer used because new bridges were built when they relocated part of the line.

For the longest time, they could only be reached by trespassing and walking along the railroad tracks which follow the West Branch of the Westfield River between Bancroft (part of Middlefield) and Chester, MA.   But recently a 2.5 mile hiking trail was constructed to two bridges abandoned in 1912 which are wholly on the property of the MA DFW (Walnut Hill Wildlife Management Area).

There is much more information on the arches in Madden’s article and also on a web site http://keystonearches.com.

Coincidentally, a close friend (Fred Rugo, from Rhode Island) and I were there the same week that the article came out.  He had heard about the arches and asked me to take him there to view them and perhaps fish while we were there.   Because we were in a hot weather spell (80 degrees by 11:00 AM), I couldn’t assure him that the fishing would be all that great.  Instead, we fished the Housatonic River in Lee that morning and later on went to visit the arches.

At the time I was unaware of the above referenced hiking trail and we entered off of Middlefield Road in Chester near the twin arches area.  While there we saw two teen aged boys fishing the holes near the trestles.    It was good to see that kids enjoying the outdoors during their summer school vacations and were not stuck in front of a computer screens.  We asked one kid if he caught any trout and he did.  He went upstream to retrieve the fish that he had stashed in a cold water hole to preserve them.   We couldn’t believe the size of one of those rainbow trout, it had to be 17 inches long and the second one was well over a foot long, also.  He was so proud of those fish, and rightly so.

Guess I had better start fishing that stretch again next year, although it is not the easiest place to get at, especially as you go upstream a ways from Chester toward Middlefield.  As I recall, in some places you have to be part mountain goat in order to get to the river some 65 or 70 feet below the arches.  *****

We all have been seeing what is happening in California what with the drought they are currently experiencing.  Things are getting so bad that the rivers and reservoirs there are being de-watered.   In the eastern part of Massachusetts they are also having some problems with water shortages.  This issue was addressed in the latest newsletter from MassWildlife in an article entitled:  Sustainable stream flow, balancing the needs of fish and people.

The article states that because both fish and people need water, the DFW is playing an important role to ensure that stream flow needs of fish are considered in the water withdrawal permitting process.  DFW has been participating in Sustainable Water Management Initiative (SWMI) stakeholder meetings providing input on revisions to the Department of Environmental Protection’s (DEP) Water Management Act.  Working with DEP, state agencies, water suppliers, environmental advocates, industry representatives, and concerned citizens have crafted a framework designed to ensure a balance between both human and environmental needs for stream flow. The framework describes the methodology for defining Safe Yield in each of the state’s 27 watersheds and how stream flow criteria will be applied by DEP when issuing Water Management Act permits.

From the largest bass to the smallest minnow, fish and fish habitats benefit from protected stream flow. This in turn benefits anglers who pay for fish and wildlife conservation through fishing license and equipment purchases. SWMI’s proposed Water Management Act revisions are designed to prevent past extreme conditions such as occurred in the Ipswich River: dry river beds and dead fish. The current Water Management Act revisions recognize how critical stream flow alterations can negatively affect fish communities.  At the same time, the proposed revisions continue to ensure water availability for the needs of people.*****

 

The American Museum of Fly Fishing in Manchester, VT (next to the Orvis store) has announced a program entitled, Angling & Art: The Confluence of Passions. Art and the sport of fly fishing have been intimately connected throughout history and remain so today; from angler Winslow Homer to naturalist James Prosek, artists have captured the magic and chronicled the heritage of fly fishing for centuries.

This year, Angling & Art takesplace through the month of July and will be held in its nationally recognized Gardner L. Grant library located at 4070 Main Street in Manchester.  We are also invited to an informal artist workshop with artists George Van Hook and Dave Morse on Saturday, July 26 from 1-3 p.m.  For more information, click onto its web page http://www.amff.com/events-activities. *****

Concerned about ticks and the possibility of getting infected by them?  I received a couple of e-mails from readers giving information on an informational website (http://www.cdc.gov/ticks/geographic_distribution.html).  It lists 7 types of ticks here in the US along with pictures, geographic locations, diseases transmitted by them and the symptoms, how to avoid them, how to remove them and more.  Check it out.