Recently, fishing buddy Paul Knauth of Hinsdale and I took a 3-day fall flyfishing trip to the Ausable River in Wilmington, NY (near Lake Placid).  We planned to fish the traditional fall trout flies such as the Isonychia (slate gray drake), Serratella ignita (blue winged olive), etc. We rented a two-person cabin at the Wilderness Inn in Wilmington.

We both brought our old Orvis Battenkill bamboo rods.  Mine was built in 1967.  Interestingly, a fellow had parked his old Ford Mustang along the road near where we were fishing one evening.  It also was built in 1967.  He was as proud and careful with his car as I was with my rod. I only planned to fish with that rod for a couple of hours and then switch back to a modern Orvis graphite because I was afraid of damaging that 53-year old rod. I did have a scare when I took a spill while walking the banks.  It was a soft landing on land, not in the river, and neither I nor the rod sustained any damages.  Right after that I cased the rod and put it away for the rest of the trip. 

Paul’s rod was made in 1974.  Although he brought it with him on the trip, he opted not to fish these waters with it. Instead, he fished the Farmington River in CT after we returned and caught a nice trout on it there.  There is something special in fishing with handmade split bamboo rods.  They are like finely tuned machines and usually come with histories of who made them, when they were made and sometimes the previous owners of them. They are direct links to the fly fishermen of yesteryear.

I’ll tell you right off the bat the fishing was lousy.  Excuses?  Pick the one: 

#1 -The river was quite low as they had a drought of their own there.  It was the first time in my 40+ years fishing there that one could literally wade across the river at any location (except the Flume, and High Falls Gorge….., you don’t want to go near them).

#2 – There were hardly any aquatic insects to be found.  Over that 3-day period, we could count on one hand the number of insects we saw flying around.  The rocks along the river, which are usually covered with the shucks of the insects that crawled onto them to hatch out were bare. Obviously, without insects hatching, no fish were rising.

#3 – Both of the local fly shops were closed due to Covid-19, so we couldn’t seek their advice as to which flies we should use.

#4 – Silt.  We were surprised at how much silt had settled into the traditionally productive stretches where we have had good luck in the past, especially along River Road in North Elba. (Silt has a negative effect in the areas were most aquatic insects hatch out).  We asked a local long-time resident who lived near the river if there was some kind of development upstream which caused the silt and she said that it all began when Hurricane Irene devastated the area nine years ago.  It tore up the banks and exposed the sand beneath them. Now, each time it storms, there is more exposed silt washed into the river. 

#5 – Pesticides spraying.  She also told us that they were spraying this year near the river to control the blackflies and mosquitoes. Could the pesticides also be killing the aquatic insects?

#6 – Equipment failure.  Paul’s brand-new Hardy graphite fly rod broke in his hands while he was assembling it so he couldn’t fish with his best rod.  One felt sole on my waders became unglued and fell off, restricting where I could fish.  The Ausable River is very slippery and dangerous unless your boots have felt bottoms. 

#7-We are lousy fishermen who should go back to fishing school….nah.

#8 – The sky. Apparently, the smoke from the fires out west reached our area in the upper atmosphere.  The sky had a milky color most of the time and the sunrises and sunsets were of an eerie orange-red color. (I bet no one ever used that excuse before).

Never-the-less we had an enjoyable trip.  You know the old saying, “A bad day of fishing is better than a good day at work”. Paul prepared our delicious meals at home and froze them, so there was no need to eat out.  We couldn’t spend money if we wanted to as the fly shops were closed due to the virus.  Once again, we were cheap dates.  The whole 3-day trip cost around $200 per person which included our cabin, meals, and gas. 

Most of the time, it felt like we were fishing over fishless waters, although we did manage to find a couple of fish here and there.

On the last day, we fished a beautiful pool which stretched 70 or 80 feet and was probably over 5 feet deep in some spots.  Around noon a large trout started to feed.  We couldn’t see any flies on which it fed, but like clockwork, it would porpoise or do a belly flop every 15 minutes or so.  It was no more than 20 feet away from us. Paul fished for that trout, so I fished downstream from the pool.

After 2 ½ hours, I fished my way back to the pool and found Paul still after that trout.  He would time his casts every 15 minutes or so to try to catch that fish when it made its scheduled rise. (It only rose in a slot of about 5 feet wide and 10 feet long).  Sometimes, the fish would make a scary splash only inches from his fly and one would naturally think that the fish bit his fly, but it didn’t. 

Paul sat down on the bank and let me try for it. Right after my fly hit the water, BANG!  A big splash near where the fly landed, and I thought I hooked him.  Nope, it rose right next to the fly. Later on, I fished the river above the pool while Paul stayed there determined to catch that large trout.  From upstream, I could see it tormenting Paul, every 15 minutes or so.

The day was getting late and when I returned to the pool, Paul had had enough, having tried for that fish nearly 5 hours.  Before leaving, I gave it one last shot as the fish was due to rise again.  Twenty, twenty-five, thirty minutes passed but the fish didn’t rise.

Last cast! I shouted to Paul and made a halfway decent cast right about where that fish should rise. And then?  And then?  Nothing!  The fish quit rising.  It was either full from eating something all day or tired from harassing us and wanted us to go home. The fish won!  We left the river befuddled and scratching our heads wondering what the fish was eating.  Oh well, it was fun fishing for it and kept our interest at a time when there was no other fish or mayfly activity.

A week or so after Paul and I returned home, he sent me an Ausable River Association website that he discovered (https://www.ausableriver.org/blog/form-function-fish).  On it was information which confirmed our theory about the siltation problem and their multi-year efforts to rectify it.

Maybe we should have fished the Salmon River in Pulaski, NY for King Salmon like Ron Wojcik of Windsor did. Those big fish travel up the river in the fall from Lake Ontario to spawn.  This year it is very difficult for the fish to travel upriver because of a drought there also. Ron feels that the big fish are getting worn out and he is not sure how they are ever going to be able to spawn in the shallow creeks.

Ron was able to land the pictured 23lbs. King Salmon on a fly rod.  You probably know the fellow to his right, WTEN weatherman Steve Caporizzo.  Ron also caught one bigger than that, almost 25lbs. His buddy Bob Gale caught one weighing 33lbs 14oz while fishing the lake on Trout One Charters (captained by Jim Carpenter of Adams).  It may very well be the largest salmon caught up there this year. 

This year, the Massachusetts Chapter of The Nature Conservancy (TNC) hired a new Director, Deb Markowitz. She was the former Secretary of the Vermont’s Agency of Natural Resources (a position similar to MA’s Secretary of EOEEA). I had the opportunity to interview her and find out more about her and the MA TNC.

The Nature Conservancy is a global environmental nonprofit working to create a world where people and nature can thrive. Founded at its grassroots in the United States in 1951, TNC has grown to become one of the most effective and wide-reaching environmental organizations in the world. Thanks to more than a million members and the dedicated efforts of its diverse staff and more than 400 scientists, it impacts conservation in 79 countries and territories across six continents.

Deb Markowitz loves nature and the outdoors. What she really loves about TNC is that they think globally, but act locally, using state of the art science to address some of the world’s most difficult challenges.  For this reason, Markowitz believes TNC is one of the most effective environmental organizations in the world.  TNC has been in MA for about 60 years and has had a significant impact in the Berkshires and beyond.  The chapter started in the Berkshires by conserving very important pieces of property.

Using science, TNC helped develop a state grant program called the Municipal Vulnerabilities Program where every town can apply for funding to assess their vulnerabilities to climate change and natural disasters such as flooding. This program has put millions of dollars in the hands of communities to use nature-based solutions and other approaches to make the town more resilient.

“There are many local land trusts in MA, in the Berkshires in particular, and that is wonderful.  TNC plays an important role, particularly when there is a really complex project. As a global organization, TNC can help with lawyers, provide scientific expertise and, when appropriate, connect landowners to local conservation organizations.  We don’t have to keep every piece of property we help to conserve. In many cases, it’s much better if they are managed locally.  TNC has a lot of really good projects, but at the end of the day it’s the local land trusts who are the closest to the community,” said Markowitz.

Over the past 20 years TNC protected about 26,000 acres in MA.  In Western Massachusetts, there are more than 15,000 acres of protected land.  Just in the Berkshires alone there are 8 properties that are protected by TNC.  Some are owned by TNC and some are lands owned by others, but TNC has purchased conservation restrictions. TNC has 8,000 acres in fee and conservation easement lands in Western Massachusetts and 10,000 statewide.  The largest preserve is the Schenob Brook area in Sheffield (2,100 acres), Mt Plantain in Mt Washington (over 1,600 acres) is the second largest and Colebrook in Becket and Washington is the 3rd largest (over 1,500 acres).

I asked Deb if they allowed hunting on TNC lands.  It depends, she said.  They have to abide by donor intent.  In most cases hunting is allowed by permission.  In that way, they can ensure that there are not too many hunters at one time for safety reasons (Contact TNC in Massachusetts at massachusetts@tnc.org for more information).

According to Markowitz, “TNC is interested in ecosystem health and if you don’t allow hunting, you are going to be out of balance and the deer can be pretty destructive of new growth trees.” 

TNC is also working to restore the bog turtle population, with focus in the Berkshires. In partnership with the MassWildlife Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program they are managing rare species and restoring natural habitat.  They do a lot of other things like dealing with the fisheries, oceans, and policy work in the statehouse on the environment and climate change.

TNC has also a multi-state program that is looking at how to make sure that there is ecological connection between the Green Mountains in Vermont and the mountains of the Berkshires.  They are trying to help the migration of species by learning how they move across the landscape.  With climate change, species are going to be pushed farther north or further south, depending on the species. TNC wants to make sure they can survive. Through the Berkshire Wildlife Linkage Project, TNC scientists have mapped the lands to identify critical areas for conservation to ensure that wildlife can continue to move.  They are well aware that because of new development, the land is broken into smaller and smaller pieces as people put in houses, roads and highways.  For this reason, TNC has been working with the highway departments and the state governments when new roads, culverts, etc., are planned.  They also work with local land trusts and the Berkshire Natural Resources Council to take care of critical parcels that should be preserved if we are going to maintain these linkages.

TNC is starting to think deeply about forests and how to help owners manage their lands for carbon and get paid for it.  There are great carbon stocks in our forests which are of tremendous value for climate change and meeting our climate goals.   Keeping hard forests and managing them to store and pull out carbon from the atmosphere is very important.  Because of this, TNC is thinking deeply on how to work with local landowners as well as the State so that is a financially viable option for landowners. 

When asked if they are butting heads with MassWildlife and its programs of encouraging early successional growth, Deb felt that there is room for everything on our landscape.  They know that some wildlife does better with early successional forests.

Markowitz said, “There are a lot of forests in MA with much of it in private ownership.  Many people own the land because they love it, not because they want to make money off of it necessarily.  So, let’s think about how to help private landowners with their forests and provide environmental and carbon benefits while finding a way to make that financially viable as an option.”

When asked if TNC is having any problems with their lands regarding Covid-19, Deb said “this has not been an issue for us because most of our preserves are pretty remote, unlike state parks and other land that is primarily managed for public access.” 

Deb’s message to us: “It is a real pleasure being in MA and getting to know the people and landscape.  This is a difficult and challenging time and it is also a time for counting our blessings.  We are blessed in MA, especially in Western MA, to have such great access to the natural world.  Nature is really healing, so get out as much as you can and enjoy what nature has to offer.”

“One of the things happening because of Covid-19 is that there is more and more interest in building in some of these special places in MA, and so now, more than ever, we need to rededicate ourselves to land conservation and to make sure that these special places are there for our kids and grandkids.”

I was really impressed with Deb and what she is doing, I also like the fact that she is a deer and turkey hunter and an avid lady flyfisher.

DFW Western District Fiscal Year 2020 Land Acquisitions

While we are on the subject of land conservation, DFW Western District Supervisor Andrew Madden recently reported that last year the Division conserved nearly 900 acres in the Western District as follows:

Monterey – 7.7 Acre Conservation Easement along Tyringham Road

Cummington – 2.1 Acres along the Swift River near Route 9 Dalton – 5 Acres near East Street

Cummington/Plainfield – 50 Acres along Meadow Brook

Windsor – 177 Acres on the West side of North Street

Windsor/Savoy – 102 Acres off Cheshire Road

Plainfield – 20 Acres off Pleasant Street

Heath – 154 Acre Conservation Easement along the West Branch of the North River

Rowe – 92 Acres near Maxwell Brook

Worthington – 281 Acres along Bronson Brook

Hunting, fishing, birdwatching and other passive recreation is allowed on all of those properties which can be viewed on the MassWildlife Land Viewer https://www.mass.gov/howto/masswildlife–lands–viewer

Recently, I received an interesting story from a superb, well-known local fly fisherman, retired physician Dr. Charles Wohl.    He wanted my opinion of it.  Charles has fished for trout and other game fish all over this country, Canada, Europe, South and Central America, the Bahamas, Iceland and New Zealand.  However, he claims his favorite fishing experiences have happened while fishing in such local rivers as the Deerfield, where the events depicted in this story occurred.

God and the Fish

By Charles I. Wohl

“A couple of days ago, I decided to fish the Deerfield River where it courses through a fairly remote area of northwestern Massachusetts.  The flow of that part of the river is controlled by a hydroelectric dam owned by Pacific Gas & Electric, the folks who brought you the deadly Northern California forest fires of 2017 and 2018.  The normal flow at which the river is fishable is about 130 cubic feet per second (cfs).  When PG&E needs to generate electricity, the flow is ramped up so that the river rises from one 130 cfs to about 850 cfs in a matter of a few minutes.  When that happens, an angler wading in the river should get out quickly or risk drowning. If he or she is on the other side of the river from the access road, they will be stranded and face a long trek in waders through deep woods to get to the nearest bridge.   A loud warning siren at the dam that can be heard for a few hundred yards goes off when the flow is about to increase.  The company also obligingly posts its daily schedule of dam releases on its website.  Before I left to go fishing, I checked the website and noted that the flow rate would be at 130 cfs from 3 PM until midnight, so that I would have several hours of fishing.

I got there just before 6 PM and planned to fish until dark.  About an hour later, I was casting flies to a rising trout about 200 yards below the dam when the siren sounded, some five hours before the scheduled release time on the website.  Perhaps, on that warm day, extra power was needed to run the air conditioners of suburban Boston.

 I quickly got out of the water and decided to drive to a good fishing spot two or three miles downstream where I could fish for an hour or so before the high water reached that point.  On the way, I spotted another angler fishing on the other side of the river.  I knew he would not have heard the siren that far below the dam so, even though it would cut into my fishing time, I knew I had to warn him.  I pulled off the road, walked down the trail to the river and started screaming at him to come back across the river.  When he reached my side, I told him (from a safe distance in view of the pandemic) about the imminent rise of the river, and he thanked me profusely.  I continued my drive down the river in the hopes that the spot I hoped to fish, which was quite popular, was not already occupied by another fisherman, which it often was.  Perhaps, I thought, God will reward me for warning the angler by leaving the good fishing spot vacant for me.

Indeed, there was no one else around when I got to the stretch of river I wanted to fish.  I thought, God has rewarded me for my deed.  Dayenu*.   I sat down on a rock by the river and waited for a fish to rise.  Perhaps God will reward me further by having a trout rise to insects floating down the river.  Wouldn’t you know it – about five minutes later, a trout rose about twenty-five feet in front of me.  Dayenu.  Maybe God would think I deserved yet a further reward and prevail upon the trout to take my fly.  After all, if it weren’t for my warning, that angler upstream would have been stranded on the other side of the river and would have faced an hour or so schlep through dense forest before being able to cross.  

I cast my fly, and – bingo – the fish rose and ate my fly.  Dayenu, and game on!  The reel screamed as the great fish shot across the river and treated me to several magnificent leaps.  After an arduous struggle, I gained enough line so that the fish was about twenty feet from me and seemed to be tiring.  I was definitely tiring.  In the gin clear water, I got a good look at the fish – maybe twenty inches or so of gleaming rainbow trout – obviously, the best rainbow of this season and possibly several seasons.  I began to lose muscle tone, allowed myself to think that perhaps, as a final reward for my wondrous act of kindness, God will let me draw the behemoth into my landing net, admire it, and then, of course, let it go.  The fish had other ideas.  He looked at me, shook his head, and the hook popped free. 

I said a very bad word, and sat on my rock, head between my knees.  I thought, “Was God teasing me by connecting me to such a great fish only to lose it?  Had I done something wrong? Or, maybe, for some reason, God hates me.”  Or, more charitably I supposed that God would never want to micromanage an event that, in the enormity of time and space, was rather insignificant, although you couldn’t have convinced me of that.  I did recall how silly I felt as a child after praying for God to give me an “A” on my history final, as if that were all she had to think about. Of course, if God were the theological equivalent of the laws of nature, as folks like Spinoza believe, then it was clear that, according to the laws of physics, the fish got off because it wasn’t well hooked.  It wouldn’t have mattered what I thought I deserved for warning the guy.    I finally settled on the explanation that perhaps God, whether the same as the laws of nature or not, felt it sufficient to give me the opportunity to catch the fish and then to get out of the way while I either landed or lost the fish.  Dayenu.

As I mulled over these possibilities, I heard someone coming down the path behind me and turned to see another fisherman.  He – again at an epidemiological safe distance – greeted me and said that he was the angler that I had warned about the rising water.  He told me that about fifteen minutes after crossing to the road side of the river, the water came up and he would have been stuck on the other side.  He said he stopped just to thank me again.  Then the river where we were started rising, and we both left. 

On the way home, it came to me:  Yes, I had taken the trouble and delayed my fishing to warn the guy; but it wasn’t much trouble, and it was a relatively brief delay.  I hadn’t done anything miraculous or dangerous or heroic.  It couldn’t touch what thousands of healthcare workers and other frontline personnel were doing every day during the pandemic. I had done nothing more than what any other normal human being would have done in similar circumstances.    It was incredible chutzpah for me to think that God should have rewarded me by making sure that no one else was fishing where I wanted to, that a gorgeous trout would be rising, and that the fish would take my fly, whether I landed it or not.

It should have been – and was – enough that the man I warned took the trouble to stop and thank me again.  Dayenu.”

*Dayenu is the Hebrew word meaning, approximately, “it would have been enough.”  It is also the name of a song sung at the seder of the Jewish holiday of Passover. 

Charles, thank you for that great story. I think the readers will agree that it was Oysgetsaykhnt! **

** Oysgetsaykhnt is Yiddish for excellent.

In July, I had an opportunity to listen in on the MA Fish & Wildlife Board meeting by Zoom. At each monthly meeting an officer from the MA Environmental Police makes a report of their activities to the Board

In the July meeting they reported that they had a huge increase in calls for service this year.  As of July14 they had over 20,000 calls.  They don’t normally reach that level until sometime in September. The calls ranged from fresh water fish complaints, marine fisheries complaints, and requests for assistance from other agencies because of the Covid-19  state of emergency.  They still have to patrol fish and wildlife properties, state forest land and other public property. 

Some examples reported in July were: There was a deer case where an individual from Springfield, MA went to a farm in NY, shot 2 deer (fauns with spots) and brought them back to MA (in violation of regulations established to prevent the introduction of Chronic Wasting Disease into our state).  The perpetrator was caught  with the cooperation of NY and USFWS agents.  They sent blood and hair samples to a USFWS facilities in Oregon for analysis and the firearm believed to have been used was currently being tested to make sure they recovered the right firearm involved.

They had a moose in Savoy State Forest that ran into a gate and had fatal injuries.  It was chased by a dog owned by a local resident who was walking it in the State Forest.  The dog chased the moose into a fence.  She was issued a citation for not having a dog on a leash on State Forest Land.

They had a bear relocation incident with Connecticut Valley District personnel near I-91 in Holyoke.  They successfully immobilized and relocated it. They had a boat fire on the Connecticut River where officers were able to take 6 people off of that boat.  Luckily, they were in the right place at the right time,

In some areas, they are having a huge increase in animal nuisance calls, – bear, coyotes and smaller animals.  They assisted in a Bald Eagle rehabilitation and release with MassWildlife. 

There has been an increase in fishing violations in the Wachusett and Merrimac areas and had directed some patrols in those areas to help combat fishing complaints. 

They continue to do off road vehicle patrols on Masswildlife, DCR and private lands.  Recently a patrol in the Winchendon/Ashburnham area resulted in some $4,700 in fines and several vehicles towed. There were trapping violations in East Brookfield and citations issued, and they had an ongoing investigation in Douglas involving the illegal use of conibear and foothold traps. 

That was just the July Environmental Police report!

Covid-19 indirectly causing the Environmental Police headaches

In August, they were plagued with boating and boat ramp violations.

By way of background, please know that according to MA Fish & Wildlife Commissioner Ron Amidon, boat sales this year are up between 300% and 400%.  He felt that it was indirectly the result of Covid-19 where people have more time on their hands and are taking to our water bodies more frequently.  Because of that, the State’s 306 boat ramps are experiencing heavy traffic.  Added to that, according to Amidon, people new to boating are not familiar with boating regulations and as a result, there have been accidents and some inappropriate usage.

A new problem which has surfaced this year is boaters “wrapping” their boats by tying them together while out on the water.  According to Amidon, social distancing is being tossed right out of the window.

Social distancing is also becoming a problem on the crowded boat ramps with non-boaters using them to fish off of, sun bathe, swim, walk their dogs or just park their vehicles taking up all the space from boaters. According to Amidon, some municipalities are talking about closing the boat ramps, but the Secretary of Environmental Affairs, the Governor and Lieutenant Governor do not support that action. Instead, they are supporting the enforcement of the boat ramp regulations. 

Commissioner Amidon’s Office and the Office of Boating Access are currently in the process of developing a task force to address this problem. 

Amidon thanked the Environmental Police for helping to keep the boat ramps open.  Fortunately, the boat ramp problem does not appear to be a problem in our area.

Gun course filled up

Last week I mentioned in this column that the Lenox Sportsmen’s Club would be holding a Ladies Only –LTC and UTAH gun course today.  Well, the course filled up.  They are rescheduling another one for September 26.   According to its news release, American women are the fastest-growing group of gun owners.  Whether it’s for self-protection, hunting, or target shooting, women are expressing more interest than ever to own a firearm and are taking steps to train and educate themselves – more importantly, getting involved. Women aren’t just going with a trend, they’re proving to be an important and vital part of the shooting community.  Gun Sales are up around the country and people are looking for LTC classes, the news release states.

New State Record

A tip of the hat to Andrew Langley of Peabody. MA.  He caught a 9 lb. 10 oz. bowfin out of the Taunton River on August 31. It measured 29 ¼ inch long with a 15 1/8 inch girth.  It is a new Massachusetts state record for a bowfin.There was music in the air

Something nice happened on Ashmere Lake last Sunday evening. Across the cove from our cottage, cottage owners Amy and Bart Collins hired a singer, Melissa Brinton. Everyone on the lake was invited to come hear her sing.

Around 6 pm, the waterfront entertainment began and shortly thereafter people began showing up as did all kinds of boats in the cove in front of their cottage:  pontoon boats, speed boats, bass boats, kayaks, jet skis, paddle boats, etc. and parked there.  Everyone socially distanced.  Other than the beautiful music, you could hear a pin (or a bass plug) drop.  I have never heard our cove so quiet.  The only sound coming from the boats were rounds of applause after each song.  Every time there was applause, our beagle Jacques would give a howl of approval also.

The sound of Melissa’s voice drifted across the cove to us on the opposite side.  That’s how quiet the cove had become.  There was no loud back-up band blaring the music but just Melissa and her guitar.   She had a sweet voice, reminding me a bit like Judy Collins.  At times she sang folk songs from the 60’s and 70’s which brought back memories of another turbulent time in our country.

More than 20 boats drifted into our cove and stopped to hear the music. Others, like my wife Jan and I sat on our decks/docks and enjoyed the music.  With all that our country has been through this year, it was a pleasant respite seeing people getting together albeit on their own boats.  We deserved something like this to settle our nerves, to sing along and to laugh again. 

She sang on into the darkness and when the Collins’ lit their torches, it just added to the ambience. At one time, Jan took Jacques for a walk and I was sitting on our dock alone in the darkness. When Melissa sang Sunday Morning Coming Down, I couldn’t help but sing along with her.  Fortunately, it was dark and nobody knew who that lousy male singer was.

The evening and entertainment were very pleasant, but if that wasn’t enough, Melissa closed out her performance with the song Ave Maria.

It was quite an evening.  The best way I can describe it is, “darned nice”.

I’m sure I represent everyone who attended that evening when I write, Thank you Bart and Amy Collins.  You made our day.

The return of cooler weather means many Massachusetts sportsmen and women will head into the woods for the fall 2020 hunting season. The Early goose hunting season and the early black bear hunting seasons begin this upcoming week.

The Early Canada goose hunting season (statewide) begins this Tuesday and runs through September 25.  For Early Canada Goose season only, hunting hours are 1/2 hour before sunrise to 1/2 hour after sunset.  The daily bag limit is 15 and the possession limit is 45.  I suspect the reason for this early season and the large numbers of geese allowed to be taken has to do with cutting down the large local resident population that is befouling our lawns and beaches.  The regular goose hunting season in the Berkshires starts on October 12 and runs through November 14.

Waterfowl hunters aged 12–14 do not need stamps (or a license). Waterfowl hunters aged 15 or older must possess a MA waterfowl stamp which is valid from Jan 1 through Dec 31 and may be obtained online at mass.gov/massfishhunt or wherever hunting licenses are sold. Waterfowl hunters aged 16 and older are required to possess a federal waterfowl stamp which is valid from July 1 through June 30.

Waterfowl stamps are required for most hunters who hunt any ducks (including sea ducks), geese, and brant.

Federal eDuck stamps may be obtained online at mass.gov/massfishhunt or wherever MA hunting licenses are sold.  They are temporary stamps expiring 45 days from the date of purchase. Before the eDuck expires, a physical Federal Duck Stamp will be sent to customers via U.S. mail. Upon receipt, it must be signed across the face in ink and carried while waterfowl hunting. If a physical Duck Stamp does not arrive after a few weeks, contact Amplex at duckstamp@amplex.com or (800) 852-4897. Physical federal waterfowl stamps are also available at all National Wildlife Refuges and select post offices

New this year, there will be two special waterfowl hunt days for veterans, but they are only applicable during the regular goose and duck hunting seasons in October. (More to come on this in a later column).

The early Black bear hunting season opens statewide on September 8 and runs through September 26.

There are no blaze orange requirements during this season.  Hunting implements allowed during this season are rifles, revolvers, muzzleloaders and archery equipment.  Be sure to check the regulation abstracts dealing with caliber size, draw weights, etc. Shotguns are not allowed during this season. If you are a Massachusetts resident bear hunter, you must have a hunting or sporting license and a bear permit.  If you are a non-resident, you must have a big game license and a bear permit.

Hunting hours begin ½ hour before sunrise and end ½ hour after sunset.  

It is illegal to use dogs for bear hunting and to bait bear. This includes the use of lure, scents or any other substance as a bear attractant.

Successful hunters are asked to submit a tooth and hair sample to MassWildlife. Teeth are used to determine a bear’s age, and hairs are used to study bear genetics. You can learn how to collect and submit them by clicking onto the MassWildlife web page.

As of 7/20/20, it is unlawful for hunters to intentionally or knowingly leave a wounded or dead game animal in the field or the forest without making a reasonable effort to retrieve and use it. Each retrieved animal shall be retained or transferred to another until processed or used for food, pelt, feathers, or taxidermy. This does not apply to animals unfit for consumption or use—animals and their parts that are damaged, destroyed, decayed, rotting, diseased, or infected.

Non-hunters, please know that many public lands are open to hunting including Wildlife Management Areas, most state parks, and many town-owned lands. Research the property you plan to visit to learn if hunting is allowed.

MassWildlife notes that hunting is a safe activity and non-hunters should feel comfortable using the woods at any time of year. Although hunting accidents are extremely rare, wearing blaze orange will help minimize your chances of being mistaken for game animals during the hunting season. While hunters are required to wear blaze orange during certain seasons, all outdoor users who are in the woods during hunting seasons should wear a blaze orange hat or vest as a precaution.

MassWildlife recommends the following:

• Be safe, be seen. A brightly colored orange vest or hat will help you stay visible. Avoid wearing any earth-toned or animal-colored clothing. Remember, hunters are often active during the early morning and late afternoon when animals are most active. Be especially aware of your own visibility during these times when light is dim.
• Keep pets leashed and visible. Place a blaze orange vest or bandana on your pet to keep it visible. 
• Know when and where hunting is allowed. Get information about hunting regulations and season dates from the MassWildlife website.  Wildlife Management Areas, Wildlife Conservation Easements, and Access Areas are open to hunting. Most state parks and forests are open to hunting, and many towns allow hunting on municipal lands.  Research the property you plan to visit to learn if hunting is allowed. If being in the woods during hunting season makes you uneasy, find a location where hunting is not allowed or plan your outing for a Sunday or another day outside of hunting season. Hunting on Sunday is not permitted in Massachusetts. 
• Make your presence known. Talk loudly or whistle to identify yourself as a person. You may also consider wearing a bell. If you see someone hunting or hear shots, call out to them to identify your location. 
• Be courteous. Once you’ve made your presence known, don’t make unnecessary noise to disturb wildlife or hunting. Hunter harassment is against state law. Avoid confrontations with hunters. If you think you’ve witnessed a fish or wildlife violation, report it to the Massachusetts Environmental Police at 1-800-632-8075. 
•  

Be tick free

Here are some safety tips for non-hunters passed onto us by the NY State Department of Environmental Conservation

• Wear light-colored clothing with a tight weave to spot ticks easily.
• Wear enclosed shoes, long pants and a long-sleeved shirt. Tuck pant legs into socks or boots, and shirt into pants.

• Consider using insect repellent on your clothing. 
• Stay on cleared, well-traveled trails. Walk in the center of trails. Avoid dense woods and bushy areas.
• Keep long hair tied back.
• Bathe or shower as soon as possible after going indoors (preferably within two hours) to wash off and more easily find ticks that may be on you.
• Do a final, full-body tick check at the end of the day (also check children and pets), and remove ticks promptly.

Fall trout stocking about to begin

Four thousand brown trout over 9 inches long, 33,000 rainbow trout over 12 inches long, and 27,000 rainbow trout over 14 inches long will be stocked across Massachusetts this fall. Fall stocking season will begin around mid-September depending on water temperatures and wrap up around mid-October.

To avoid crowding at stocking locations, the Mass.gov/Trout stocking report will be updated on a weekly basis this fall. 

Remember to practice social distancing while you’re on the water, on the trail or in your duck blind and enjoy the great outdoor sports the Commonwealth has to offer in the fall.

License-to-Carry Course

The Lenox Sportsmen’s Club will be hosting a Ladies Only –LTC and UTAH Course next Sunday, September 13 from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm at its clubhouse.  This course is Mass State Police Compliant.  The cost for MA certification is $70, other states cost $125 and a combination of any two states cost $150. You must pre-register.  Contact Tom Nadolny at  413-822-6451 or tnadolny1@gmail.com for more information or to pre-register.

Continuing the Trump Administrations efforts to increase recreational access to public lands, U.S. Secretary of the Interior David L. Bernhardt recently announced the historic opening and expansion of over 850 hunting and fishing opportunities across more than 2.3 million acres at 147 national wildlife refuges and national fish hatcheries. This is reputed to be the single largest expansion of hunting and fishing opportunities by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in history.

“On the heels of President Trump signing the most significant conservation and recreation funding in US history, (see my August 16 column) providing nearly $20 billion over the next 10 years to fix and conserve the American people’s public lands, the Trump Administration has now made an additional 2.3 million acres accessible to new hunting and fishing opportunities,” said Secretary Bernhardt. “We continue to take significant actions to further conservation initiatives and support sportsmen and women who are America’s true conservationists.”

On top of last year’s expansion of 1.4 million acres for new or expanded hunting and fishing opportunities, this proposal would bring the Trump Administration’s total expansion to over 4 million acres nationwide.

In Massachusetts, the following would be affected:

• Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge (Hudson):  Open duck, geese, coot, bear, coyote and fox on new acres and acres already open to other hunting, and expand existing big game hunting to new acres. 
• Oxbow National Wildlife Refuge (Located in several towns 40 miles west of Boston): Open coyote, fox and bear hunting on new acres and acres already open to other hunting, and expand existing migratory bird, upland game, and big game hunting to new acres and expand method of take for existing upland game and big game hunting to further align with state regulations.
• Great Meadows National Wildlife Refuge (Located in several towns 20 miles west of Boston):  Open wild turkey, coyote and bear hunting on new acres and acres already open to other hunting, and expand existing migratory bird and big game hunting to new acres. 

• Berkshire National Fish Hatchery (located in New Marlborough): Open the hatchery lands to sport fishing.

I attempted to get clarification of exactly where anglers can fish on the hatchery lands from the Hatchery Manager but to date no response has been received.  Surely, fishing in the hatchery itself will not be allowed, except for the special youth fishing derbies held by the Friends of the Berkshire National Fish Hatchery group in its lower pool.   My guess is it allows fishing on a nearby stretch of the Konkapot River which the hatchery owns.  I’ll keep trying to get that information for you. As of this writing, there have been no public announcements concerning these recreational accesses by the Baker/Polito Administration.

According to Secretary Bernhardt, the rule also continues the effort from last year’s rule toward revising refuge hunting and fishing regulations, so they more closely match state regulations where the refuge is located. Whenever refuge regulations depart from state regulations for safety or conservation compatibility reasons, these extra regulations are as consistent as possible across all refuges in a given state. Interior Dept. worked closely with the states during the rule making process.

Now, if we can get President Trump to not support the proposed Pebble Mine, a massive mineral extraction mining development in Alaska’s Bristol Bay, it would be wonderful. Bristol Bay is home to one of the most important wild salmon fisheries on Earth. Annual sockeye salmon returns there top 60 million fish, feeding a wide variety of wildlife and human communities, from grizzly bears to Alaska Native families to a globally important commercial fishery.

If constructed, Pebble would be one of the world’s largest open pit copper/gold/molybdenum mines, with an earthen dam 60-stories tall that would ultimately hold up to 10 billion tons of toxic tailings and contaminated water — forever. The mine and tailings lake would sit just north of Iliamna Lake, the largest lake in Alaska and one of the most important sockeye salmon nurseries in the world.

Hanging in the balance is a $1.5 billion-a-year salmon fishing economy and an important subsistence food source for Bristol Bay communities. Commercial salmon fishing in Bristol Bay employs more than 14,000 people every year, from seasoned boat captains to young deckhands paying their way through college to workers in processing facilities.  Sportfishing tourism brings in at least $75 million a year to the local economy and draws fishermen and women from around the world.  Subsistence salmon fishing for 31 federally recognized Alaska Native tribes in Bristol Bay continues a tradition several thousand years old. Salmon is a critical food source — up to 65% of protein consumed in rural Alaska communities comes from salmon.

According to a recent news release by the American Sportfishing Association (ASA), the Army Corps of Engineers has decided Pebble Mine can’t be permitted as proposed. Pebble Limited Partnership, the mine’s developer, must now outline how it will address the proposed mine’s damage to nearby wetlands and waterways. Within 90 days, the company must show how it will compensate for harming more than 2,800 acres of wetlands, 130 miles of streams and more than 130 acres of open water within Alaska’s Koktuli River Watershed.

The Army Corps’ decision is a pivotal moment in the fight against the Pebble Mine,” said Chad Tokowicz, ASA’s Inland Fisheries Policy manager. “By denying the current proposal, the Army Corp has acknowledged what ASA and many other outdoor recreation groups have been saying for years: Pebble Mine is simply the wrong mine in the wrong place. While the fight isn’t completely over, we’re glad that the Army Corps has brought to light the insurmountable risks the mine poses, creating a significant barrier to the project moving forward.”

Trout Unlimited President Chris Wood called it, “ A day to celebrate”: “We look forward to moving the Bristol Bay conversation beyond Pebble and toward permanent protections that ensure this special place, and all the communities, people, and fisheries that depend on it, can continue to thrive”.

“For more than 15 years, Trout Unlimited has helped to connect local people, commercial fishermen and women who rely on the region’s salmon fisheries, as well as anglers and hunters across America, to protect Bristol Bay. We applied the best of what TU has to offer: organizing tools, science-backed policy expertise, a nationwide grassroots network, and legal acumen.”

Big brown trout caught on fly out of Deerfield River

Congratulations to Deerfield River guide Chris Jackson for catching a 34-inch brown trout last Monday evening out of the Deerfield River.  The fish weighed approximately 18 lbs on a digital scale, (subtracting the weight of the net). Using a 5-weight Sage One switch flyrod with a RIO 5-weight switch line, Nautilus reel and 2x tippet, he was fishing at night dead drifting and slow swinging his version of a Flaggs Smelt fly. 

Chris is a Deerfield River guide (https://chrisjacksonflyfishing.com/) as is fellow guide Brian Lynch (of Pheasant Tail Tours – https://www.pheasanttailtours.com/) who netted the fish for him. According to Brian, they were “putting in a night shift” after a long day of guiding.  They said the fish was released and is swimming in the upper Deerfield River today. It’s the biggest fly-caught trout anyone has ever heard of from the Deerfield, possibly the biggest fly-caught brown trout ever taken in New England.

Jackson is a Deerfield River Watershed Trout Unlimited (DRWTU) board member who showed off what years of experience on the Deerfield River can produce. His years of dedicated advocacy and conservation work to improve the Deerfield’s wild trout fishery is certainly paying off.  So, if you are thinking about hiring a guide to drift fish the Deerfield………..

Many thanks to Michael Vito, President of the Deerfield River Watershed Chapter of TU for sharing the enclosed photo and story with us.

In the summer of 2018, I received an email from Fred Moran of Adams. In the email message he wrote that he would like me to take him to fish the Housatonic River.  Of course, I jumped at the opportunity to fish with this local flyfishing legend.

Fred was a teacher and principal in the Central Regional School District for twenty-five years. Fred also is the well-known elder statesman of fly fishermen in Berkshire County. He has been a local fly-fishing guide, owned a flyfishing shop in Adams, taught flyfishing courses, restored antique bamboo fly rods, and did some fly tying.  I have known Fred and his wife Marilyn for quite a long time through our affiliations with Trout Unlimited chapters. Incidentally, Marilyn is also an excellent flyfisher and has assisted Fred in guiding.  Some readers may remember her as a key local person in the Casting for Recovery organization. Fred’s three sons also fllyfish.  I hadn’t heard from them for quite some time.

Conflicting schedules, high water conditions and a lot of obstacles prevented us from going fishing that year.  In 2019, I contacted Fred again and for health reasons, water conditions, etc., we couldn’t go at all that year either. Earlier in this year I contacted Fred once more and he said that he couldn’t go fishing for a while due to surgery he had on his foot. He said that he would have to practically learn how to walk all over again., much less handle slippery rocks, river currents, etc.  Maybe later this year.

Oh no, that didn’t sound good. Not only that, but Fred is getting older and may not be able to go fly-fishing anymore.  (Subsequently, I learned that we are the same age ……he’s not really that old after all.)

About a month ago, I contacted Fred’s son, Kevin, and asked him if he thought that Fred would ever be able to go fly-fishing again.  I didn’t want to make Fred feel badly by constantly asking him if he can go when, in reality, he might not be able. Kevin said that he recently tried taking him to fish the Deerfield, Swift and other rivers but due to his foot condition and the steep banks and stairs that have to be navigated, he couldn’t get him to the water.  I suggested that perhaps he could fish some private waters that I know of where we could practically drive up to the water and fish from the banks.  Kevin was going to see if Fred was interested and when he got back to me, I was delighted to hear that Fred was looking forward to it.

Now it was a matter of logistics.  Not being a member of that club, I prevailed upon two members of the ROMEOs (Retired Old Men Eating Out) who were also members of the private club to allow us access to the water.  They were happy to accommodate us and wanted to be there to see Fred again.  

While making plans with Fred, we decided to bring along some “friendly spirits” with us.  We both possessed bamboo (cane) rods that were made by the late legendary bamboo flyrod maker Francis “Digger” Degere of Adams.  Digger passed beyond the riverbend in 1999 but his rod making fame lives on nationally. (perhaps a future article on him in this column?) For a while Fred assisted Digger in the making of bamboo fly rods.

When I arrived at Fred’s place, there he was waiting at the end of his driveway.  Off we went motoring down the road, two 77-year olders going fishing like a couple of youngsters. Our bodies have acquired a few dings, dents, and additions and lost a few parts over the years, but we are still on this side of the riverbend and anxious to catch a few more trout before we get there.

Upon arrival at the private club, we were met by fellow fly-fishing ROMEOs Ron Smith of Pittsfield, retired Dr. Richard Greene of Tyringham, Paul Knauth of Hinsdale and Bob Baumann of Lenox, all fly-fishermen. There was no way they would miss this event.  We had one goal, that being to enable Fred to experience the thrill of once again casting a fly with the flyrod that his good friend Digger Degere made and, good Lord willing, to catch a trout.

Our group separated with Fred and I going downstream to fish off a dam while Ron and Bob fished upstream around a bend.  Paul didn’t fish this day but acted as our gilly (Usually a Scottish attendant or guide for fishing) even though he is not Scottish. He carried a beautiful long handled wooden net that Dr. Greene had made during his retirement.  He also didn’t fish that day but preferred to watch the master.

When we assembled our rods and reels, I was surprised to see that in addition to our rare Degere rods, we both were using classic Bill Ballan reels.  They were not massed produced but individually hand crafted by Bill Balland himself. Fred actually met Balland at a fly-fishing show who, after having a nice conversation, suggested that Fred buy one of his reels.  “Darned if I didn’t” said Fred.  My reel, and Degere’s rod, were given to me by the family of the late Tony Lorio.  Tony and I were close friends who fished together in several Canadian provinces and the family felt that Tony would want me to have them.

Fred and I didn’t do well at all.  Fred caught a couple of small sunfish. It was getting near lunch time and after having a photo op, we walked back to the vehicles to get our sandwiches and find a shady spot to eat.  When Ron joined us, he said that he had some luck, having caught one trout and hooking a couple more.  Well, we were there to fish, not to eat, so we delayed our lunch and went to the spot that Ron had mentioned.  When we got there, trout were rising and splashing apparently chasing some kind of an emerging fly.

Because of Fred’s foot/leg condition, it was uncomfortable for him to stand very long so he sat on a small stool and cast from the bank.  I was a short distance from him and managed to hook a couple of trout but both were able to shake my barbless fly. We insisted that Fred move and try fishing there.  Fred put on a bead-headed nymph and after some perfectly executed fly casts, he was into a nice trout.  The trout did its darndest to shake Fred’s fly, but to no avail and Paul ultimately netted it with the wooden net.

Fred didn’t see it, but after the fish was landed and released, there was a series of hand pumps by the guys. We were elated that Fred caught that nice 12-inch rainbow trout, perhaps more excited than Fred himself.

Now we could finally eat lunch.  After that, we went back to see if Fred could catch another one, but the fish had stopped feeding.  The time was not wasted though, as Fred shook off the rust and was casting even better, with beautiful tight loops.  He was delicately laying the fly out at least 30 feet, all while sitting on the stool. Truly, fly casting is an art form, and Fred was a master at it.

Finally, it was time to go home.  You couldn’t find two happier guys than us on the way back.  We agreed that old Digger was probably smiling down on us as we were putting his beautiful rods to use more than 50 years after his making them.  I didn’t say it then, but I’ll bet he was especially happy to see his old friend Fred haul in that nice trout using his rod.

I recently received an email from Fred thanking me and the ROMEOs for providing him with a day “he will remember for a long time.”  Of course, the pleasure was all ours.  He also tacked onto the message, “Hopefully, when I get my legs back to working, we can share a fishing day that will concentrate on the fishing only.”  Let’s hope so Fred.

The Franklin Land Trust (FLT) recently acquired for conservation 154 acres in Heath abutting its 96-acre Crowningshield Conservation Area (CCA). The 154-acre parcel purchase – which took place on June 25, 2020 from the Gudell Family – was supported by funding from the MA Dept of Fish and Game; local, state and national chapters of Trout Unlimited; the John T. and Jane A. Wiederhold Foundation; the William P. Wharton Trust; and Franklin Land Trust’s Heath Conservation Fund.

Tom Curren, FLT Executive Director, is thrilled to see this project cross the finish line. “This is a fine example of FLT’s partnership with other organizations in pursuit of shared conservation goals. We’re proud to expand here upon the work accomplished during decades of efforts by local volunteers, private groups, other non-profits, and governmental agencies.

” FLT’s Crowningshield Conservation Area was originally purchased and protected in 2015 with the support of local and regional Trout Unlimited chapters. It is preserved permanently under a Conservation Restriction held by the MA Dept of Fish and Game. “This land protection project and the habitat restoration of the uplands and stream habitat in the North River West Branch is the result of an incredible long term partnership including Franklin Land Trust, Trout Unlimited, MassWildlife, private foundations and local residents,” said Department of Fish and Game Commissioner Ron Amidon.

“The conservation restriction we acquired ensures permanent protection of the land, access for hunting, fishing, hiking, and birding, and protection of one of the finest cold-water fisheries in the region.” CCA has over one mile of river frontage on West Branch Brook, a tributary of the North River and an important subwatershed of the Deerfield River for native brook trout. In their native range, wild brook trout are a valuable indicator species for the overall health of a river and its watershed. They require clean, cold water to thrive and have seen sharp population declines due to warming water temperatures, pollution, and loss of habitat.

FLT’s partnership with Trout Unlimited offers a unique opportunity for those who care about fishing, climate change, and land conservation to take real and meaningful action. “Our partnership with the Franklin Land Trust goes beyond our local chapter,” said Michael Vito, president of the Deerfield River Watershed Trout Unlimited Chapter #349. Paul Beaulieu, president of the Mass-Rhode Island Trout Unlimited Council, notes “The Council, a number of Massachusetts TU chapters, and individual TU members from around the Commonwealth reached into their own pockets and generously contributed to this purchase. We even got a grant from TU National’s Cold-Water Land Conservation Fund.” Bill Pastuszek, Mass Representative to TU’s National Leadership Council, noted:

“The West Branch of the North River is an important native brook trout stream in Massachusetts. We all want to see it protected. The diversity and breadth of support for this acquisition shows the importance associated with this effort to preserve and enhance this resource.” The Deerfield TU chapter will now start planning conservation projects to help protect and enhance the West Branch’s cold-water fishery. “We’ll start doing an assessment of this new stretch of river and see what it needs,” Vito said. Fish assemblage, bank erosion prevention, fish habitat restoration and a macro invertebrate study have already been completed by Trout Unlimited, FLT and Cole Ecological, Inc. in the Crowningshield portion of the West Branch.

The newly acquired 154-acre parcel abuts the original 96-acre CCA to the south of West Branch Brook, ensuring that both sides of this cold-water stream and the drainages that feed it are permanently protected. “FLT is thinking about land conservation on a watershed scale,” said FLT Head Land Steward Will Anderson. “Tributaries and headwaters like those found at Crowningshield Conservation Area and the new Gudell acquisition are fed by groundwater and travel through shaded forests, supplying important cold water to the mainstems within the watershed. This cold water is critical to many aquatic species facing warming temperatures due to climate change.”

“The Gudell acquisition was the last piece of a very large puzzle,” said Alain Peteroy, FLT’s Director of Land Conservation. The Gudell parcel connects CCA to a 60-acre Mass Audubon wildlife sanctuary along its eastern border, and FLT recently conserved a small farm field, now owned by Heath Farmer Mike Freeman, that abuts the northern boundary of the CCA. The Freeman Farm produces organic beef, honey, and maple syrup and abuts 130 acres of privately conserved land on its northeastern boundary. Continuing north, the HO Cook State Forest offers an additional 918 acres of conserved land in the region. “This has been a continued process of building a significant conservation block, incorporating Sanders Brook and the West Branch of the North River,” said Peteroy. “We are looking at almost 500 acres of conserved land sitting next to over 900 acres of state forest land, all with tributaries that drain into the Deerfield River.”

But as our rivers and streams face the impacts of climate change, land conservation is just one part of the solution. FLT, the Massachusetts Woodlands Institute (MWI), and Trout Unlimited are working to restore fish habitat by developing a new program called Forests for the Fish. This project is designed to enhance habitat for cold water fish by offering tools to forest landowners interested in improving fish habitat in their forest streams. “Private landowners – farms, families, organizations, and individuals – own over 2 million acres of forest in Massachusetts. This places the future of threatened species like native brook trout squarely in all of our hands,” said Emily Boss, MWI Executive Director. “Forests for the Fish will connect landowners who love and cherish their woodland streams with management resources and expertise.”

To learn more about the Forests for the Fish program email info@masswoodlands.org. The Gudell parcel will be open to the public for hiking, fishing, birding, and hunting. Access to this newly acquired land will be through the trails at Crowningshield Conservation Area off West Branch Road. To learn more about the Crowningshield Conservation Area, and the Forests for the Fish program, visit www.franklinlandtrust.

Readers may recall my July 19, 2022 column entitled Climate change and the effects on brook trout, particularly the section which included these words from Dr. Rebecca M. Quinones, the MassWildlife Rivers and Stream Project Leader:

“By 2099 there could very well be a 77% drop in the cold-water streams available for habitat for brook trout (in MA).  The projections indicate that perhaps some of the cold-water streams located primarily in north western MA could be cold-water climate change refugia.  Even with a 6 degree C temperature increase, they could still provide cold water habitat for brook trout.”

Well guess what.  The Crowningshield land and other abutting protected lands, which total approximately 1,400 acres are right in the middle of that northwest section of MA which is so critical. To reiterate, they incorporate Sanders Brook and the West Branch of the North River which are tributary streams to the Deerfield River

NYS Hunting and Trapping Licenses go on sale tomorrow

There are a considerable number of local hunters who hunt over in New York State.  If you are one, please know that that hunting and trapping licenses and Deer Management Permits (DMPs) for the 2020-2021 season will go on sale tomorrow, August 10.

You can purchase licenses and permits at any one of the Department of Environmental Conservation license-issuing agents or by telephone at 866-933-2257. The new hunting and trapping licenses are valid from Sept. 1, 2020 through Aug. 31, 2021, while annual fishing licenses are valid for 365 days from date of purchase.

Adult non-resident hunting license fees are $100.  To that add $30 for a bow permit, $30 for a muzzleloader permit and $20 for a turkey permit if you hunt them there.

The Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation (RBFF) recently announced the findings of a 2020 Special Report on Fishing noting that participation is still on the rise The Outdoor Foundation and RBFF-produced report, now in its 10th year, provides insights into demographics, the “leaky bucket,” perceptions of fishing and more.

“Thanks to the strong improvements in recruitment and reactivation, fishing participation (in our nation) is up again this year,” said RBFF president and CEO Frank Peterson. “Better yet, the key audience segments we feel are tantamount to the future of fishing continue to see gains in overall participation and participation rate.”

Key Findings:

• Participation is up to the highest rate since 2007.
• 17% of the total U.S. population participated in fishing in 2019 which equates to a total of 50.1 million Americans ages 6+. A net increase of more than 700,000 participants. 
• 1 million Americans tried fishing for the very first time in 2019, making up 6% of all active participants.
• Youth participation is up over the last years.
• Hispanic participation continues to rise – 4.4 million participated in 2019, participation rate of 12% is the highest ever recorded in the Special Report. Hispanics go on an average of nearly three more trips per year than the general population.
• Female participation grew to 17.9 million, the third straight year of growth. The gender gap is continuing to close.
• “Leaky bucket” is still an issue. Fishing lost 9.3 million participants in 2019 – a loss of 19% of the 2018 participant base – and nearly double the 5.6 million lost participants in 2017.

Peterson continued, “Despite losing 9.3 million participants, fishing is still making gains. We are pleased with the increases among newcomers and key growth segments but are again reminded of how important effective angler retention efforts are in safeguarding the future of fishing and boating. To that end, we are continually working on ways to keep participants better engaged, including developing programs and resources for our state agency and industry partners, as well as assisting them in developing their own R3 (recruiting, retaining and reactivating) plans.”

“In addition to demographic and participation-related data, the Special Report also looked at intangibles such as perceptions of fishing and trends that can help the industry predict and shape the future of participation.”

“Overwhelmingly, anglers look to fishing as a way to escape the day-to-day, become close with nature, and of course, catch fish. While survey respondents didn’t hold strong stereotypes of anglers, more men than women feel that fishing participants look similar to them. Prioritizing youth participation continues to be a theme in preserving the future of fishing; 91% of current anglers first participated before the age of 12.”

I don’t know about you, but I have never seen so many anglers out on our ponds and rivers as this year, undoubtedly indirectly due to the Corona virus. Anybody want to bet that the 2020 Special Report will indicate another rise?

Keep an eye out for Water Chestnut

Thom Smith, popular Berkshire Eagle Naturewatch columnist is on a mission.  He is trying to determine on what Berkshire lakes/ponds Water Chestnuts exists.   In case you don’t know, they are nasty invasive aquatic vegetation that can severely choke a shallow pond.

So, it you can identify them and know in what ponds they exist, you might want to get in touch with him at Thom Smith” naturewatch@live.com. If he gets enough data, he plans to do an article on them. As I understand it, his list is already up to 10 local water bodies.

Undoubtedly, Thom knows his stuff when it comes to Water Chestnuts.  He did an article about them in the Massachusetts Wildlife Magazine #1, 2006.  We hope he gets the required data so that he can put together the planned Naturewatch column.  We all look forward to it.

Antlerless Deer Permit instant award period began August 1

If you applied for an Antlerless Deer Permit by the July 16 deadline, you can check back this upcoming week to find out if you have been awarded one. The award period began August 1 and ends on December 31. Your odds of being awarded a permit are the same regardless of when you check your permit status. You can check the status of your permit through MassFishHunt, or by visiting a MassWildlife office or license agent location. A $5 fee is charged only if you are awarded a permit.  Good luck!

If you aren’t awarded an antlerless deer permit, you might want to consider applying for a surplus antlerless deer permit in zones 9, 10, 11, 13, and 14 until sold out.

Surplus Permits are first-come, first-served and must be purchased within 15 minutes after being placed in your shopping cart. The MassFishHunt online licensing system only allows 1 session per customer, so do not log in on multiple devices or you may be kicked out of the system and need to start over. 

You may purchase only one Zone 11 and one Zone 10 permit per day; up to four permits per day may be purchased for Zones 13 and 14. 

Steel Challenge at Lee Sportsmen’s Association

Next Sunday, August 9, the LSA is conducting its Steel Challenge.  There will be a safety briefing at 11:45 and starting time will be at noon.  Cold range rules apply.
There will be six stages with two being classifier stages. Center fire pistol and pistol caliber carbine, 22LR pistol and rifle.

The cost is $20.00, additional gun costs $10.00. You must bring exact payment as there will be no change made. You can sign up for the matches at Practiscore.com.

Individuals should use a face covering or mask at all times, especially when social distancing is difficult to maintain, and carry a facial covering or mask on their person at all
times while on Club property.  Check leesportsmens.com home page for covid-19 requirements.

Lenox Sportsmen’s Club Update

In an update for the LSC Board of Directors, it was noted that while the LSC is suffering a little bit with this Corona crisis, fortunately during the summer months the ranges don’t see as much use as the winter months but their other events that help make up the revenue stream for this time of year have been affected.  They had to cancel their end of summer Steak & Lobster Dinner Dance, the first time in over 30 years.  The club is not sure if it will be able to hold its annual Fall Turkey Shoots at this time.  It does not look good.  It has an outdoor 3D Archery Tournament scheduled for August and they may be able to host that one.  They are worried about the upcoming winter indoor shooting leagues for both the archery and pistol range.  No determination has been made on those yet, they will see where this virus leads.
 
Right now, the club indoor pistol range is open, still with the limitations on the number of ports and members allowed in the ready room.  The outdoor archery range as well as the indoor archery range are open with the same restrictions. 

The saving grace for some of its members is its Outdoor Rifle Range located at the GEAA on Crane Ave in Pittsfield. 

It is a research project in collaboration with MassWildlife, the Massachusetts Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, Amherst College, and University of Massachusetts, Amherst. It is a study of black bears in Massachusetts in order to estimate their population size and distribution, and provide other information about bear movement and conflict with humans. Such information will help managers make scientifically-informed decisions about managing black bears across the state.

In this study, data is collected in various ways: by the hair corrals described below or, by reporting the sightings on the MassBears website (https://massbears.wordpress.amherst.edu/). 

Hair Corrals

To be able to estimate density and population sizes for wildlife, MassWildlife often captures and marks individuals and then recapture them later. This allows them to compile a history of captures which in turn permits them to estimate the number of bears in an area. Due to advances in their ability to identify individuals from DNA extracted from hair, they do not need to physically capture bears for this study, they only need to capture their hair.

To do this, they use a non-invasive wildlife survey technique called hair corrals. (Click onto the web site to learn what they look like and how they work).  They are used extensively throughout the range of black bears and do not harm bears, other animals, or people. The corrals only stay up during the field season and are taken down at the end of each summer. Students working on the project check each site weekly and collect any bear hair. They record where the hair was found and what day they collected the sample.

Population Estimation

According to information provided on its website, density estimates are a tool used to estimate population sizes for wildlife. The last density study was conducted in the Berkshires in 1993 and it was estimated that there were 18 female black bears per 100 km².(about 62 square miles).

Because the black bear population has expanded well beyond the Berkshires into different habitat types with different levels of road densities and human development, a new density estimate is needed. With the new estimates, they can determine how black bear densities change with different habitat types across the state. For example, other studies have shown that the density of black bears can be higher in suburban environments than in more natural environments due to the availability of anthropogenic foods (relating to the influence of human beings). However, this also means bear-human interactions may be elevated in these areas, which sometimes causes conflict. New density estimates will result in more accurate population estimates for black bears across the state.

This project aims to update the density estimates from 1993 with current data and provide estimates of black bears numbers in Massachusetts. This information will help managers make scientifically-informed decisions about how to manage the black bear population and help predict where nuisance situations may arise.

Sightings Map

Sighting reports will appear on a map. It will take a few days for the map to update with your sighting.

If interested in volunteering to collect further information that would augment this study, contact them through the website.

Incidentally, it is a research project so if for some reason you need assistance on how to deal with a bear in your backyard etc., you should contact the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries & Wildlife at 508-389-6300 or Environmental Police Dispatch at 800-632-8075.

Ladies night at the range

By popular demand, the Lee Sportsmen’s Association (LSA) is bringing back Ladies Night at the Outdoor Pistol Range.  The first night was last Thursday evening, but there will be another on August 6 starting at 6:00 pm. There will be a safety briefing at 5:45.

New or inexperienced female shooters are welcome.  If you have no gun/equipment, they can provide safety equipment, firearms, limited ammo, and friendly instruction.  The focus is on shooting fundamentals and having safe fun.  Cold Range Rules apply; gun handling only at the Safety Table.  For those with their own equipment: 5 magazines are recommended.

The cost is $3 for LSA members and $5 for non-members who provide their own firearm(s) and ammo. $10 for LSA members and non-members who do not provide their own firearm(s) & ammo (to help defray costs).

For further information, contact Stephanie DuPont at dupontfam5@gmail.com or call / text (215) 668-7808. 

Silent stalkers

Right around dawn, they appear out of the morning mist and are upon you with no warning sound, silently stalking.  At first sighting from a distance, they appear to be walking on water, silently stalking – one, two and sometimes three of them.  Eerie, like something out of an Alfred Hitchcock movie.  Makes one wonder if the grim reaper is finally coming after you.

It is only when they get nearer that you realize they are bass fishermen, standing up (or seated in the high seats) in their bass boats.  They are not stalking you but rather the bass.  Their electric motors make no sound as they drift slowly past you casting away.  The only sound you hear are the plops of the fishing plugs and lures as they hit the water and occasionally the jumping or splashing when the bass hit them.

Just about every morning you will see some of them on your favorite lake.  I usually see them on Ashmere Lake in Hinsdale around 5 or 6 am as I myself am silently trolling with my electric motor for crappies. Lately, we are being joined other silent stalkers, those fishing out of kayaks and canoes. You hardly hear a clunky, creaky rowboat anymore.

Early mornings are our favorite times to fish the lakes and ponds during the hot summer months because there are no speed boats or jet skis out yet.  Any wakes made are by some kayakers or canoeists who are seriously working out, perhaps getting ready for the next Josh Billings Race.

There is always something interesting to see or hear on the lake at that time of day, geese, ducks, herons, bullfrogs and perhaps an eagle or an osprey.  Where I fish, I am usually greeted by a huge snapping turtle that swims out to my boat, after my lure. It chases my lure no matter which side of the boat I cast.  Actually, it’s kind of hilarious.  I finally leave for that’s one critter that I don’t want to hook.

I had a couple of interesting sightings on the lake this year.  One morning, I caught movement along a summer camp shoreline and when I focused on it, it turned out to be a deer, doe to be exact.  For a while, she appeared a little nervous with me around.  Ultimately, she jumped into the lake and swam toward a nearby island.  I thought that maybe a coyote was chasing her, but neither saw nor heard any.   A little while later I heard splashing on the island shoreline.  There was the doe walking along and following her was a little fawn jumping and playing in the shallow water. It appeared happy to see mama again.

A couple of weeks later while crappie fishing with fishing buddy Doug Yates from Dalton, we had the privilege of seeing 9 great blue herons land on the shore of that same island.  They squawked, did some bobbing and weaving and shortly thereafter all but three of them flew off for parts unknown.  Doug and I joked that they probably flew in to get their morning joe or to get their daily assignments.  It was quite a sight to see.

The lakes are usually calm and quiet at that time of day, save for the honks of the geese and quacks of the ducks and the croaks of the frogs.  One sound I really enjoy hearing is that beautiful sound of loons.  They are not on Ashmere Lake, but on nearby Cleveland Reservoir. Their calls resound eerily in the early morning calm.

You will note that I never mentioned how good the fishing was on those mornings.  Who was it that said that fishing is not all about catching fish? If you get a chance, give it a try.  You will be glad you did.