Category Archives: Deer Hunting

New policies on MassWildlife lands

Posted on by

In his February report to the Berkshire County League of Sportsmen, DFW Western District Supervisor Andrew Madden announced that in response to increased and unauthorized trail development activities as well as requests for new trails on its lands, the Fisheries & Wildlife Board approved a Wildlife Lands Policy and a Walking Trails Policy in August 2016. Together these policies support MassWildlife’s statutory mission of conserving wildlife habitat and providing wildlife-related recreation. 

These new policies can be seen by clicking onto the following:  http://www.mass.gov/eea/agencies/dfg/dfw/wildlife-habitat-conservation/walkingtrailspolicy.pdf.

 

MassWildlife lands generally include simple, gravel or dirt parking lots with unmarked footpaths and wood roads. This minimal-development management approach keeps “wild places wild,” while allowing access to nature with an “off-the-beaten path” experience. 

 

Here’s what the policies DO:

  • Support MassWildlife’s mission to protect wildlife and its habitat
  • Formalize a trails license agreement process for six regional trails
  • Limit trail creation, marking, and maintenance
  • Allow areas damaged by trails to recover
  • Continue free public access to MassWildlife lands

The policies DO NOT:

  • Restrict public access to MassWildlife lands
  • Prevent walking on or require closure of any existing path, woods road, or cart path on MassWildlife lands
  • Limit hunting, fishing, trapping, wildlife-related recreation, hiking, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, or off-trail exploring.

 

Unfortunately, MassWildlife sees people developing new trails, cutting new trails or taking some ownership of trails on its lands.  These new policies address that problem.

 

Also Madden reported that MassWildlife recently acquired 125 acres abutting the Peru Wildlife Management Area (WMA) in Peru, MA.  The newly acquired land is off of East Windsor Road.

According to Madden, this acquisition not only protects and expands on huntable land but improves access to the WMA, which is one of the District’s largest at almost 5,000 acres. The property was cut recently for timber and has a variety of habitats including some wetland features. In the future they plan to develop a small informal parking area from East Windsor Road.  The property boundaries are completely marked. 

 

Keeping with WMA’s, Madden reported that the Western District is continuing its boundary marking efforts this winter. Through contract funds and internal staff time they will be marking more than 40 miles of boundaries by June.  MassWildlife’s land holdings in the Western District exceed 60,000 acres and 500 miles of boundary.

 

More information on the 2016 Deer harvest

In last week’s column, I mentioned that the preliminary statewide deer harvest for 2016 was 12,233, and that compared with last year’s harvest of 10,042.  Also mentioned was that the Western District (WD) accounted for 2,197 of them which compared to 1,887 last year.   Here are more WD data: 

Zone 1 produced a harvest of 349 (last year it was 293), Zone 2 – 479 (462), Zone 3 – 539 (486), Zone 4N – 531 (436) and Zone 4S – 299 (210). In the WD, 720 were taken during Archery Season compared to 511 last year; 969 during Shotgun Season compared to 898, and 418 were harvested during the Primitive Firearms Season compared to 320.

The biology structure of the deer harvest has not been broken down yet, but the average age structure for the last 5 years was:  About 40% were 1 ½ years old, 30% were 2 ½ years old and 30% were 3 ½ years old and older.  DFW feels that these are desirable age structures.

Incidentally, according to statistics from State Farm Insurance that were provided to MassWildlife, about 7000-9000 deer are killed statewide by vehicles each year.

Big E Sportsmen’s Show

The 34th annual Springfield Sportsmen’s Show opens on Friday, February 24 and runs through Sunday the 26th at the Big E in West Springfield.  The hours are Friday from noon to 8pm, Saturday from 9am to 7pm and Sunday from 10am to 5pm.  Tickets are $13 for adults, $5 for kids 6-12 and 5 yrs and under free.  It is billed as the undisputedly largest “pure” sportsmen’s show in the Northeast.  The show includes the best of hunting, fishing, boating and adventure recreation that the outdoor world has to offer all bundled together in one great event.  It is filled with hundreds of booths, exhibits, seminars and action areas.    For a listing of big named hunting and fishing presenters and more information, click onto www.osegshows.com.

 

Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation

The Bay State Chapter of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation is having a banquet on Saturday, February 25 at the Stockbridge Sportsmen’s Club.    It is a social evening of fun, great food and camaraderie all for the benefit of elk country.  Tickets are limited, so purchase yours ASAP for a chance to win top notch firearms, premium hunts and exclusive home furnishings.  Doors open at 5:00pm. Call Gary D. Johnston at (413) 298-3623 for more information.

 

Hoosic River

The Hoosic River Revival’s (HRR) vision is to revitalize the Hoosic River, maintain current levels of flood protection and bring the river back as an asset to the residents of North Adams. The North Adams Public Library is currently featuring two displays to learn about the history of the Hoosic River and the HRR’s vision for the south branch of the river.

 

The first floor display includes information about the history of the flood chutes in North Adams and an artist rendering that invites residents to “imagine a revitalized Hoosic River.”

 

A second display in the Children’s Library on the second floor features fun activities for children along with interesting facts about animals that live along the River.   Sara Russell-Scholl, the Youth Services Librarian, has included a collection of children’s books about animals that live in and around rivers.

 

The display, which will continue through February, can be seen Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday from 9am–5pm, Thursday from 12–8pm and Saturday from 10am–1pm.

 

 

 

Steve Sears appointed to the Massachusetts Fish & Wildlife Board.

Posted on by

 

Governor Charlie Baker recently appointed Stephen A. Sears, of Dalton, to the seven-person Massachusetts Fish & Wildlife Board representing the Western District.  This Board is assigned the responsibility of supervision and control of the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife (DFW).  Sears replaces George (Gige) Darey of Lenox who recently retired from that Board.

 

Steve was introduced to the delegates of the Berkshire County League of Sportsmen by Darey at its February meeting.  (The League had previously petitioned Massachusetts EOEA Secretary Matthew A. Beaton and Governor Baker to appoint him).

 

He said that he is truly humbled to be able to take Darey’s place.  Steve is a lifelong sportsman, having caught his first trout when he was 3 years old.  He recounted how he had an opportunity while he was working at Crane & Co to protect all of the land where he caught his first trout.  “If we hadn’t done that 15 years ago, it may have been sold for condos last year.”  He’s an avid hunter, shotgun or bow hunting almost every day of deer season until he gets his limit.

 

He acknowledged that he has a big job to do and huge shoes to try to fill.  He said he will do the best he can to support the sportsmen to preserve the (outdoor sports) for the kids and their kids.  It’s a big job and he will do his best to make the meetings, bring information back to the Berkshires, listen to the concerns of sportsmen and address them the best that he can.

 

Steve holds a Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering from UMASS, Amherst.  He was with Crane & Co., Inc., for over 25 years, most recently as Vice President in charge of manufacturing, engineering, and environmental services. In his tenure at Crane, he oversaw all the energy procurement and environmental policies, and was instrumental in applying many leading edge process developments in U.S. currency production as well as spearheading many environmental efforts.

 

He is the president of the Massachusetts Outdoor Heritage Foundation where money is raised to do projects in support of the DFW.    The Foundation has done some great things so far and he is looking forward to continuing that work as well.  He is the Vice-Chair of the Berkshire Brownfields Commission and serves or served on the boards of the Center for EcoTechnology, Mount Greylock Ski Club, Upper Housatonic National Heritage Area and The Trustees’ Notchview Advisory Committee.  He served as a long-term member of the Dalton Development and Industrial Commission, where he led the development and implementation of multiple new bylaws for the Town of Dalton.

 

He is currently developing a former Crane & Co., Inc., factory building in Dalton, creating a quality –oriented marketplace for local artisan products and sustainable businesses.

 

Steve grew up and still lives in Dalton with his wife Maria. They have three grown children.  Behind his house is a mountain of which he knows just about every inch.   It has about 25 square miles of good hunting land.  “ It’s a big place, it’s a great place” he said.  He lives only 2 miles from the DFW Western District Headquarters in Dalton.  He worked for Crane & Company when they sold the building to the Boy Scouts.   That was before the Boy Scouts sold it to the DFW.

 

Steve said that he is thrilled to work with all of (the sportsmen and women).  He thanked the League for its support.  In turn, the League wished him the best of luck with a round of applause.

 

Prior to Steve’s introduction, former Chairman Darey had a few words.  He recounted how Steve was one of his students at Wahconah Regional High School.  Later on they both coached cross country skiing.  They worked together a lot helping other schools that did not have cross-country ski teams, running workshops and other projects.  Gige feels very comfortable leaving the Board knowing that Steve is going to be there. “He will do a great job”’ he said.

 

Darey also mentioned how he was on the Board for 38 years, its chairman for 35.   He remembered the great people he met over the years and the wonderful accomplishments.    “Its been a wonderful time serving the sportsmen”, he said, “and wouldn’t trade the life he had for anything”.  He thanked everyone.   He received a rousing, extended round of applause from the delegates.

 

Ice Fishing Derbies

The Locker Room Ice Fishing Derby will be held on Sunday, February 26, dawn till 2pm, Laurel Lake, $10 Adults, $5 Students..  There will be a Raffle and Pasta Dinner at the Locker Room on Main Street in Lee at 2pm.  All proceeds will to benefit the Lee Youth Football

 

The Ashfield Rod & Gun Club will be having a kid’s ice fishing derby on Ashfield Lake on Saturday, February 18.  The free derby will run from 8am to noon.  A free luncheon and awards presentation follows.  Call Joe Miraglia (413) 628-4400 for more info.

 

2016 Deer harvest

MassWildlife recently reported that the preliminary statewide deer harvest for 2016 was 12,233.   This compares with last year’s harvest of 10,042.  Both archery and primitive firearms seasons saw record harvests in 2016.  The total harvest was near record levels as well.  This good harvest was likely due to the low harvest in 2015 due to unseasonably warm weather, lack of snow, and an abundance of food. The increased harvest during the 2016 season was likely making up for the low harvest of last season and the weather was much more favorable for hunters.

The Western District accounted for 2,197 of them which compares to 1,887 last year.   I hope to have more detailed harvest information in a future column.