Category Archives: Deer Hunting

Antlerless deer permits are ready. Did you win one?

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Hunters who applied for an Antlerless Deer Permit (permit) by July 16 must return to the MassFishHunt licensing system to try to win a permit. The instant award period began August 1 and continues through December 31.  The odds of winning a permit during the instant award period are the same whether you try to win in August, September, or any time before December 31.  Hunters have one chance to try for an instant award permit.

There are three ways in which a hunter may participate and try to win a permit: log into the MassFishHunt system,  visit a MassWildlife office, or visit a license agent location. Staff at these locations will help you out.

If you log onto MassFishHunt, here is what you do:

  • Enter your  last name and customer ID
  • Click the Enter Sales button
  • Click Accept in the Customer Electronic Signature dialog box
  • Choose Hunting Permits and Stamps from the main menu
  • Choose Add next to Antlerless Deer Permit
  • The zone for which you previously applied will appear on the next screen.
  • Click Select to check whether a permit has been won for that zone.
  • One of two messages will appear on the screen indicating the permit win/lose status:  “Congratulations! You have been awarded an Antlerless Deer Permit which has been placed in your shopping cart. Close this window and click check out to purchase it.” Or the one which I usually get, “Unfortunately you did not win this product.”

If you win, an Antlerless Deer Permit will be placed in the shopping cart, and you check out to complete the purchase.  These permits will remain in the shopping cart until purchased or expired.  Be sure to print your permit upon completion of the transaction.  All permits expire on December 31 of the year issued.   Good luck. *****

 

The Onota Fishing Club is sponsoring its 27th Annual Crappie Derby next Sunday at Onota Lake.   It will run from 6AM – 12 Noon.  Participants will be in 2 person teams at $25/person.  Prizes will be awarded for most crappie, most pan fish and heaviest crappie.  Sign up for the derby at Portsmitt’s Lakeway Restaurant where there will be an all-you-can-eat fish fry that will follow at a cost of $10 fee for non-participants.  For more information, call Chris Porter at 413-496-0105. *****

 

The Lee Sportsmen’s Association will be holding an NRA Basic Pistol Course for men and women on Sunday Aug 24 from 8AM to 1PM, and Aug 28 from 5:30 to 8:30PM.  Both sessions are mandatory.  Cost is $100 which includes an annual LSA membership.  To pre register, call Vicki 442-8107 or lady45white@gmail.com. *****

 

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The Berkshire Hatchery is busy these days.  According to Berkshire Hatchery Foundation Board Member Steven. J Schwartz, the hatchery’s primary mission is to provide lake trout as brood stock for Lakes Ontario and Erie.  The Foundation has continued with its support of two brood stock strains for the Lakes and each strain has multiple age classes.  Some of the trout raised at the Hatchery will provide eggs this year to the USFWS lake trout restoration program.  These fish will provide millions of lake trout fingerlings that will help the Lakes regain their breeding trout population.  The younger age classes will ensure a steady supply of eggs into the future and allow breeding between different aged fish which will help maintain genetic diversity.

 

This year the Hatchery and US Fish & Wildlife Service helped supply trout for 30 public fishing events in Western MA and CT.  In addition to those events, the Foundation sponsors six monthly fishing derbies for children (there is one scheduled for next Saturday from 9 to 10:30 at the lower pond).  The Hatchery is open during the summer months with the help of an intern and, on a permit basis, children can fish the lower pond.

 

The Foundation sponsored a graduate at Dartmouth College, Marcus Welker, who is researching the homing abilities of the Atlantic salmon. His doctorate will focus on how the migration to its natal stream is affected by the composition of amino acids in our waterways.

 

The Hatchery is continuing its efforts in the field of environmental research by providing two scholarships for local students.  These students will continue with their education in the field of environmental research.

 

Incidentally, the Hatchery Foundation is having its annual Lobster Fest on August 24 from 2 to 5 PM.  Tickets, which cost $65, can be purchased by contacting the Hatchery at (413) 527-9761.   Hope you can make it for such an organization deserves our support. *****

 

As you are well aware, we have had a very wet summer.  And nowhere is it more evident than in our vegetable garden.  It is so wet and muddy in parts of it that I have to wear knee high rubber boots.  And once in the garden, I sink and slide in the mud constantly fearful of losing my balance and falling into the quagmire.  I wouldn’t dare go there without using my fishing wading staff.

 

Think I am exaggerating?  Well last week it was so wet, I saw a great blue heron at the edge of the garden, peering through the garden fence.   Apparently, with all of the water, it thought it could snag a fish or two.  When it saw me, it flew just a short distance into our field and stood there watching me.

While wondering why it was hanging around it occurred to me that it was probably after the multitude of voles and baby rabbits that have invaded our property this year.  The voles in particular have raised havoc with our garden.   I hope that bird has a good appetite and sticks around for a while.

Questions/comments:  Berkwoodsandwaters@roadrunner.com.   Phone/fax:  (413) 637-1818

 

Environmental officials remind citizens to practice safe boating and wear life jackets

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The Massachusetts Environmental Police (MEP) are reminding boaters of safety guidelines, including the importance of wearing lifejackets. They also are urging boaters to take a boating safety course, and reminding operators it’s the law to operate boats only while sober and have safety equipment onboard.

“For the protection of everyone on the water, we want to remind all boaters to travel at reasonable speeds and never operate a vessel while under the influence of drugs or alcohol,” said MEP Acting Director Chris Baker.  “Officers will be patrolling our waters and enforcing both state and federal recreational boating laws which are in place to ensure that all boaters have an enjoyable and safe boating experience.”

Each boat must be equipped with one personal floatation device, or life jacket, for each person on the vessel. All children under 12 must wear a life jacket at all times on any vessel, including personal watercraft such as Jet Skis or Sea-Doos.  Everyone riding personal watercraft, and all water skiers and tubers must wear approved life jackets.

Last year there were 88 boating accidents in Massachusetts resulting in 12 fatalities.   In 2012, there were 93 accidents and 15 fatalities.  Of those 27 fatalities in 2012 and 2013, 17 were drownings and only two of the victims were wearing life jackets.  According to the US Coast Guard, there were 560 boating fatalities nationwide in 2013; 77% of those deaths were due to drowning and of those, 84% of the victims were not wearing lifejackets.

Boaters are also prohibited from operating within 150 feet of a public or private swimming area. For inland waters, operating at speeds greater than 45 mph is prohibited.

Under Massachusetts law, boaters under the age of 12 may not operate a motorboat unless accompanied and supervised by an adult.  Children between 12 and 15 must complete an approved boating course prior to unsupervised operation.  Children under the age of 16 may not operate a personal watercraft.  All boats are required to carry life jackets, fire extinguishers and navigation lights. A paddle or an oar is required on boats less than 16 feet long.

All boating accidents should be reported to the MEP at (800) 632-8075.

Staying with this sad subject, my fishing buddy, Attorney Michael Shepard of Dalton and I spent a weekend fly fishing recently on the West Branch of the AuSable River near Lake Placid, NY.  We took advantage of NY’s free fishing days.  The day before our arrival two teenage boys had drowned in the swollen river and they were still searching for one of them when we arrived.

The boys had been jumping into the raging river near the Flume, a place near where the river crosses under Rte 86 at the foot of Whiteface Mountain between Lake Placid and Wilmington, NY.  The river is squeezed into a chute with walls that stretch nearly 100 feet up on both sides.  You can see it while standing on the bridge and it is a scary sight.    The day before the teenagers drowned, the area had received 4 inches of rain and one can only imagine how that river was thundering through that chute.  You rarely see any fishermen there even under the best of conditions.

The missing teen’s mother, from Plattsburg, NY, was staying in the same motel where we were (Hungry Trout) and was awaiting recovery of her son’s body.   Her husband had recently passed away and she had only the one son.  It was so sad.

On Saturday, Mike and I fished but the river was still high and dangerous and we had no luck.  During the day, police helicopters were constantly flying overhead searching for the boy’s body as were drift boats manned by NY State troopers.  They even had some brave souls in kayaks searching every nook and cranny along the shores and banks.

On Sunday, the river had come down a little and we decided to fish it downstream of a dam which impounds the river in Wilmington (called Lake Everest).  There is a spot down there where Mike likes to fish, and he usually wades out to the middle and leans or sits on a big rock while he fishes.  But the water was still a little too high and he was forced to turn back.

I linked up with him after an hour or so of fishing and as we were talking, the river unexpectedly got loud, the water began to surge and its level came up almost a foot.   His rock was suddenly under water.  It turned out that officials had begun lowering Lake Everest in search of the body, without any siren or warning signs whatsoever.  I shudder to think what would have happened if Mike had made it out to that rock.  We may have been searching for another body.

We subsequently learned that it wasn’t until the following Monday that they recovered the teen’s body.  There is nothing that can bring a community down like a drowning.   Please, let’s have none of that here in the Berkshires by obeying the boating safety regulations and respecting the water. *****

MassWildlife reports that approximately 2,550 wild turkeys were taken by hunters during the 2014 spring turkey season; slightly less than recent averages. They cited many factors that likely contributed to the decline: cold, rainy weather during the 2013 hatch resulted in sub-par poult production; the longer, colder past winter probably affected the timing and extent of spring turkey breeding movements, and lastly, cold and rainy weather during the first week of the turkey hunting season may have influenced hunter effort as well as turkey activity.   *****

Attention deer hunters:  This Wednesday is the deadline for submitting applications for antlerless deer permits.

2014 Antlerless deer permit allocations remain unchanged in most districts

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In his May report to the MA Fish and Wildlife Board, DFW Deer Project Leader David Stainbrook recommended few changes to the antlerless permit allocations for this year’s deer hunting season.    In fact, no allocation changes were recommended for Wildlife Management Zones (WMZ) 1 through 9.   (The Western District encompasses WMZ 1 through parts of WMZ 4).  That is because the deer density levels are at the desired levels or very close to them.  However; in WMZ 10, 11 and 12 the Division is still struggling to attain what it considers optimal density levels.  He recommended increasing the antlerless permits from 11,000 to 12,000 in WMZ 10, from 10,000 to 11,000 in WMZ 11 and from 650 to 800 in WMZ 12.  Those zones are at the eastern end of the Commonwealth and Cape Cod.  The Board approved his recommendation.

To get an idea of the density problem which exists  in the east, contrast the total number of permits in WMZ 1 through 9 (13,174), which takes you from the Berkshires to Rte 495, to the 23,000 around the Boston area. They must have a serious deer problem on Martha’s Vinyard and Nantucket too, for the permits total 2,700 on each island.  The entire Western Massachusetts area, west of the Connecticut River only has 2,325 permits.

So why is there such a problem getting the deer density totals down in the east?  The main reason given by DFW is the fact that many of these towns do not allow deer hunting.  As a consequence, the deer herd there has skyrocketed to the point that residents are complaining they are eating all of their flowers, bushes and gardens.  The deer are also taking a heavy toll on various tree saplings necessary to sustain their forests as well as eating rare and endangered plants.  There are also high numbers of deer/auto collisions as well as high rates of lime disease caused by deer ticks.

The only way DFW can get the deer densities down to desired levels is by increasing the number of antlerless permits in towns where people can hunt.

Interestingly, some of those thickly settled towns are beginning to allow archery hunting.  They  consider  it safer than shotgun hunting but is still a way to help alleviate the problem.  Last year in those zones, more deer were harvested by bow hunters than any other method.  Now the State Legislature is looking into possibly allowing archery deer hunting on Sundays.

DFW Director Wayne MacCallum is pleased that two thirds of the state is basically at density goals.  He doesn’t believe there is another state in the country that has a deer population that’s as healthy as ours.   “We have hard winters but we don’t have winter kills because we’ve got those densities down to a point where we have sustainable harvests.  For nearly two decades some 10,000  deer have been harvested a year”.  Healso praised the new data base model used by DFW to manage the deer herd.

F&W Board Chairman George “Gige” Darey expects the new data model to get even better because they are just at the beginning of it.  “It is so important to manage the deer herd.  We can’t let it get out of sync, like what is happening in Maine (high winter kills) and on Long Island (where they are so many that they are contemplating poisoning them).

Stainbrook also reported the final numbers for the 2013 deer hunting seasons.  Some 11,566 deer were harvested by hunters during the combined 2013 hunting seasons. By season, the statewide total breaks down as follows:  6 deer taken during the special deer season for paraplegic sportsmen; 4,486 taken in the archery season; 4,609 taken during the shotgun season; 2,343 taken during the muzzleloading season and 122 deer harvested during the Quabbin Reservation hunt.  For more detailed information, go to the MassWildlife White-Tailed Deer Harvest Information web page.

Incidentally, the deadline for applying for a 2014 antlerless deer permit is July 16.   There is no application fee but a $5 fee is charged if you are selected for a permit during the Instant Award period.  If you are not sure you submitted an antlerless deer permit application, check your hunting license in the Item Purchased section where you will see a line item that reads: “Antlerless Deer Permit Application.  You can also log on to the MassFishHunt website at www.mass.gov/massfishhunt and check your customer inventory.  If you have not yet applied, you can submit your application for an antlerless deer permit either online through a computer or at a licensed vendor.  *****

Steve Bateman of Pittsfield, organizer for the 22nd annual Harry A. Bateman Memorial Jimmy Fund Fishing Derby which was held on June 7, can’t thank you enough for supporting this derby.   A record 252 people participated.  He reports that it was a beautiful day but no monsters were caught.  The winners were as follows:  Children’s Heaviest Game Fish Category:  1ST  place – Jayden Tucker, largemouth bass – 2 lbs 6 oz; 2nd place – Jordyn Hamilton – largemouth bass – 1 lb 7 oz; 3rd place – Chalyce Jones – rainbow trout – 1 lb 7 oz.  Children’s Heaviest Non-Game Category:  1st place Brody Perkins – bullhead – 11 oz; 2nd place– Corey Kahlenbeck – white perch – 7 oz; 3rd place – Logan Barde – bluegill – 7 oz.. Adult Heaviest Fish Category:  1st place – Clem Caryofiles – largemouth bass – 3 lbs 1 oz; 2nd place – Mitch Scace – Largemouth bass – 3 lbs, 3rd place – Brian Barde – largemouth bass – 2 lbs 13 oz.  Special Heaviest Fish 1st Place Awards:  Bass: Shaun Herforth – smallmouth bass – 3 lbs 2 oz, Perch/Crappie: Dakotah Thiede – yellow perch – 9 oz.  Trout Adult:  Stan Les – rainbow – 1 lb 11 oz.  Trout Child:  James Lambert – brown trout – 3 lbs.  Sportsmanship Award:  Lillian Wilson.

Massachusetts Sportsmen’s Council honored Jester, Kruszyna

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The Massachusetts Sportsmen’s Council (MSC) is a statewide umbrella organization serving as a strong, unified voice to preserve the rights of Massachusetts’ sportsmen and women and other conservationists with a shared interest in protecting and enhancing our natural resources.
The MSC is currently comprised of fourteen member organizations (Berkshire County League of Sportsmen is one) representing approximately 300 sportsmen clubs and thousands of sportsmen and women concerned with man’s fragile relationship with the out-of-doors.

It was formed in 1929 by a handful of foresighted sportsmen who recognized the need to organize under one statewide body.  It laid a strong foundation by working for the creation of the independent state Fisheries and Wildlife Board, securing dedicated funding for the Division of Fisheries and Wildlife, and guaranteeing access to the Great Ponds of the Commonwealth.
Today, it continues to build on that strong foundation to insure that the future of hunting, fishing, trapping, and other forms of outdoor recreation in the Commonwealth is preserved for our children and future generations

Last Saturday evening, at its annual Banquet and Awards Night, the MSC awarded the Raymond L. Gribbons Award to Mark Jester of Pittsfield.  This award recognizes a sportsman who exemplifies the values and respect for our natural resources that Ray held and demonstrated for nearly a century.    Jester has been a delegate to the Berkshire County League of Sportsmen (BCLS) for 32 years and served as its President for 16 years.  He was an officer of the Lakewood Sportsmen’s Club and is currently the Vice President of the Lenox Sportsmen’s Club.   He sits on the Board of Directors of the Gun Owners Action League, is a member of the State Zebra Mussel Committee, is a delegate to the MSC, and much more.  He is the driving force in getting the Archery in the Schools Program established in our local schools.  He was named the BCLS Year 2000 Sportsman of the Year.

Karen Kruszyna, of Cheshire received the Lillian Gribbons Award.  This award is given in recognition of the tireless efforts of a sportswoman who has dedicated her time quietly and unnoticed for the benefit of all sportsmen of the Commonwealth.  She is a member of many organizations including the Adams Outdoor for Youth (AOFY), Adams Agricultural Fair Committee and is a Board member of the Cheshire Rod & Gun Club.  She does much to get kids of this county outdoors.  She is always there to help out at the annual Youth Outreach Fishing Derbies at Reynolds Pond in Cheshire, the BCLS functions such as the Conte Banquet, the AOFY fund raisers and more.  She received the BCLS year 2013 Lifetime Achievement Award.

Congratulations to both for the well deserved recognition. *****

Recently, my wife Jan and I were away on a cruise to the eastern Caribbean area with friends  Michael  and Claire Shepard of Dalton.  No chance for fishing off the ship as we were on Deck 10 and 11 and traveling at a speed of 20 knots.  The only successful fishing that we saw was on St John Island near St Thomas Island.   As we walked along its shore something whizzed over our heads and exploded not more than a dozen feet in front of us. No it wasn’t incoming mortar but rather a pelican that slammed into the water and nailed a nice fish.     It and several other pelicans had good fishing that day.

I asked a local guide if the fishing was any good in that bay and he said yes but one couldn’t eat the fish.  The cove was too shallow and contained too much salinity, so much so that the fish there were actually toxic.  Fishermen had to fish outside the cove in deeper water in order to catch edible fish.  He said the only way the natives knew if a fish was edible was to cut a piece  off  and toss it to their dogs.  If the dogs ate it, the fish was edible, if they didn’t, it was toxic. Somehow they knew by the smell.*****

While I was away, the DFW had stocked the following waters with trout through April 11:  Hoosic River (South Branch) in Cheshire and Adams, Green River in Alford, Egremont and Great Barrington; Westfield River in Becket, Chester, Chesterfield, Cummington, Huntington, Middlefield, Savoy, Windsor and Worthington; Deerfield River in Buckland, Charlemont and Florida; Housatonic River (Southwest Branch)in Pittsfield, Williams River in West Stockbridge, Konkapot River in Monterey and New Marlborough, Farmington River in Otis and Sandisfield, Lake Mansfield in Great Barrington, Plunkett Reservoir in Hinsdale, Windsor Lake in North Adams, Goose Pond, Laurel Lake, Pontoosuc Lake, Onota Lake, and Stockbridge Bowl.

Subject to alterations or cancellations, the following additional waters were scheduled to be stocked last week:  Ashfield Pond in Ashfield, Greenwater Pond and Yokum Brook in Becket, Walker Brook in Becket and Chester, Housatonic River in Hinsdale and Dalton, Wahconah Falls Brook in Dalton, Pelham Brook in Charlemont and Rowe, North Pond  in Florida, Upper Highland Lake in Goshen, Littleville Lake in Huntington, Town Brook in Lanesborough, Housatonic River (C&R) in Lee and Stockbridge, Factory Brook in Middlefield, Dunbar Brook in Monroe, Lake Buel and Lake Garfield in Monterey, Pelham Lake in Rowe, Depot Brook in Washington, Green River and Hemlock Brook in Williamstown, and Windsor Brook and Windsor Pond in Windsor.  *****

The Stockbridge Sportsmen’s Club is offering the Ultimate Firearm License Course on April 27 to benefit youth activities at the club. This one course qualifies participants to apply for licenses in MA, CT, UT, FL, ME and NH, which makes them legal in 39 states.  For information, visit www.StockbridgeSportsmensClub.org. *****

The Wild Acres Free Fishing Derby for children and seniors will be held Saturday, April 26th at Wild Acres from 8:00am – 2:00pm.  This years’ event is sponsored by Lyon Aviation and will be hosted by The Onota Fishing Club.  Onota Fishing Club members will be on hand to help out participants with baiting, catching and cleaning all fish.  Poles and bait will be available for all children who need them.  Trophies will be given to all participants who catch a tagged fish.  Beverages, breakfast sandwiches, hot dogs and hamburgers will be free to all children (14 and under) and seniors (65 and older).  All participants must park in upper level at Wild Acres Pavillion.  Handicap parking will be available.  Please call Robert Van Der Kar at 499-9359 with any questions. *****

 Lastly, to the mentors and youths who will be participating in the Youth Turkey Hunt next Saturday, have a safe and enjoyable hunt. 

Questions/comments:  Berkwoodsandwaters@roadrunner.com.  Phone/fax:  (413) 637-1818..

 

2013 Preliminary deer season results are in

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Recently, the Division of Fisheries and Wildlife (DFW) reported that the preliminary deer harvest for 2013 (excluding Quabbin and any data not yet received) was 11,413. Although preliminary, this figure is up 4% from last year’s total harvest. The harvest figures for the previous four years beginning with year 2009 were as follows: 10,381, 10,699, 11,081 and 10,938. In the Western District (WD), which includes all areas west of the Connecticut River (Zones 1 – 4) some 1,664 deer were taken. For the previous four years beginning with year 2009 the figures were 1,667, 1,568, 3,417 and 1,626. Interestingly, Zones 10 and 11 in eastern Massachusetts yielded over 5,000 deer in 2013.
The statewide archery season harvest was 4,474, up 15% from last year. Harvest figures for the previous 4 years beginning with year 2009 were as follows: 3,492, 3,778, 3,765 and 3903. In the WD, 577 were taken with the bow last year. The WD archery harvests for the previous four years, beginning with year 2009, were as follows: 449, 466, 522 and 453. Zones 10 and 11 yielded 2,321 in 2013.
The statewide shotgun season harvest was 4,625, down 7% from last year. For the previous 4 years beginning with year 2009 the harvests were as follows: 4,927, 4,846, 5,349 and 4,950. The WD shotgunners checked in 739 in 2013, which compares with the previous 4 years beginning with year 2009: 857, 815, 904 and 842. Zones 10 and 11 yielded 1,661 in 2013. Some 660 more deer were taken with the bow out there last year than with shotgun.
The statewide primitive season harvest was 2,314, up 11% from last year. The previous 4 years beginning with year 2009 were: 1,958, 2,068, 1,959 and 1,958. In the WD, muzzleloaders checked in 350, which compares with the previous 4 years as follows: 360, 285, 251 and 301. Zone 10 and 11 muzzleloaders checked in 1,020 deer in 2013.
Online reporting was available during deer season for the first time during the 2013 archery and primitive arms seasons. Over 70% of the deer taken during those seasons were reported by hunters through the MassFishHunt system.
Not only is the online reporting system convenient for hunters, DFW claims it allows them to provide preliminary harvest totals much earlier than in previous years. It also allows them to break down the preliminary harvest information by Wildlife Management Zones (WMZ). While total harvest by zone can be informative, it doesn’t provide the complete picture for monitoring trends in deer density because total harvest is influenced by antlerless deer permit allocations in each zone.
The DFW Deer Project Leader analyzes harvest, biological, and hunter effort data, along with hunter success rates, female versus male harvest, and other factors to manage deer populations in each zone. A complete harvest summary will be posted on the DFW website shortly after the annual deer review. Hunters who included their e-mail addresses in their MassFishHunt profile will receive a hunter survey by email in February. *****
The Lenox Sportsmen’s Club will be having its annual Valentine’s Dinner Dance next Saturday evening at 7PM at the clubhouse on New Lenox Road. Tickets costing $25 pp are available from all board members. There will be a roast beef dinner catered by That’s Amore Fine Catering and dancing to DJ Russ Davis. BYOB.

Members should be in great shape for the 6AM registration for their annual Hard Water Open, ice fishing derby on Stockbridge Bowl the next morning.

If that isn’t enough, on the following day (President’s Day) the LSC will be having its 32nd annual rabbit hunt. Pre-registration is required, (Ron Carr at (413)442-5122). The entry fee is $10 with prizes for the heaviest dressed hare and cottontail. Weigh-in deadline is 4 PM followed by a venison goulash dinner. *****

Starting next Friday and running through Sunday, the 17 annual Northeast Fishing and Hunting Show will be held at the Connecticut Convention Center at 100 Columbus Blvd, Hartford, CT. Click onto http://www.fishinghuntingshow.com for more information. *****

Congratulations to 12-year old Dylan Sondrini of Pittsfield who caught the above pictured largemouth bass last weekend and winning the Stockbridge Sportsmen’s Club Ice Fishing Derby on Echo Lake. It weighed 6 pounds, was 22 inches long and had a girth of 17 inches. Although he was ice fishing with his dad, Nathan, he set up his own tip-ups and figured out how to catch that big fish. Thanks to his proud mom, Nina, for sending in the picture.

Questions/comments: Berkwoodsandwaters@roadrunner.com. Phone/fax: (413) 637-1818.

Local State legislator listens to sportsmen’s concerns

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At the December 11 meeting of the Berkshire County League of Sportsmen’s State Representative Gailanne Cariddi (1st Berkshire District) showed up to hear the concerns of local outdoor sportsmen. She is on the Environmental, Natural Resources and Agriculture Committee.

Phil Hiser of Lee asked if anything can be done to speed up the process of firearms permits and renewals. He mentioned that he lives in a town where they are talking as long as 5 months for a permit. The letter of the law says they have 40 days to issue or deny it. Wayne McLain, of Williamstown, checked with reliable state sources and found out the average wait is 10 weeks.

BCLS President Mark Jester said that the Attorney General should come out to the Berkshires to explain why it takes so long for licenses to be issued/reissued. According to Jester, who quoted GOAL figures, there are instances statewide where it takes 6 months to a year to get licenses renewed. He stated that the Attorney General’s office was presented with 1,000 examples of licenses for lawful gun owners not having them renewed in a timely manner. On behalf of the sportsmen of Berkshire County he asked Representative Cariddi to look into it.

She stated that she has signed onto a bill that would extend the license period (if your license expired) for 180 days instead of the current 90 days.

Robert McCarthy of Williamstown commented that when people are picked up with gun violations they should get at least one year in jail. (The judicial system) harasses the legal gun owners who are just trying to get their licenses renewed so they can go hunting or target shooting, while armed criminals are running around in our streets. Whoever is responsible, DA’s office or the judges, should adhere to the strictest letter of the law

Jester mentioned another issue, the legalization of crossbows. He commented that 43 or 44 states that passed some form of crossbow legislation. “We are trying to find ways to keep the hunter in the woods and this is one more tool to provide that ability”, he said. Mass. law states, “Crossbows may be used only by persons who are permanently disabled in such a manner that the affliction prevents the person from using conventional archery equipment. The person must submit to MassWildlife a statement to this effect from a licensed physician and they will then be issued a free lifetime crossbow permit.

Michael Kruszyna, of Cheshire, commented that he had a rotator cuff operation during the year and his shoulder is still healing. He filled out an application for a crossbow permit, but the doctor wouldn’t sign it because his was not a permanent injury. He lost the whole archery hunting season this year because of it. .

There were other concerns expressed which will be covered in next week’s column. *****

The way things are going this winter, we may be out ice fishing shortly. Paula and Tom at the Onota Boat Livery are willing to assimilate the various ice fishing derby information. Here’s hoping the organizers of the derbies get together early to coordinate their schedules so that there aren’t 2 or 3 going on at the same date, thus drawing from one another. We need them all to be successful so that they can support the many worthy causes. *****

Tad Ames, President of the Berkshire Natural Resources Council reported that last week the Commonwealth of Massachusetts awarded a grant of $35,632 to cover half the cost of buying and conserving 65 acres on the Hoosac Range. BNRC needs to raise the other half of the money by December 31 so that they can close the deal in January. If you donate $100 or so, the property could remain open to walkers, wildlife and everyone who lives, works and visits there. As Tad so eloquently put it, our donations guarantee that “the sun will rise and set over the hills where nature rules.” *****
Having a problem coming up with a gift for that outdoor enthusiast? MassWildlife has a few suggestions: How about a 2-year subscription to Massachusetts Wildlife magazine ($10), eight full-color issues of the Commonwealth’s best wildlife publication. The magazine is packed with award-winning articles and photos on the environment, conservation, fishing, hunting, natural history and just about everything relating to the outdoors in Massachusetts. Or how about their other publications: Critters of Massachusetts, Field Guide to Dragonflies and Damselflies, Field Guide to the Animals of Vernal Pools, or the Field Guide to the Reptiles of Massachusetts, The Introduction to the Threatened Turtles of Massachusetts ($5), is a video available from the DFW’s Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program. Contact the DFW Western Regional Headquarters in Dalton to see how to purchase them.
Trout Unlimited has an Angler’s Guide to Trout Fishing in Massachusetts ($20). The only local place where you can get one before this Christmas is Matt Tannenbaum’s Bookstore in Lenox. *****

Sorry, as of December 18 MassWildlife has still not disclosed how our deer hunters have done so far this year. Even figures from the archery season, which ended on November 30 have not been released. Such figures cannot be obtained from our DFW district offices because they don’t have the figures either. They don’t get to see a lot of the deer taken by archers or primitive arms hunters because most of them are now being checked in on-line. About all I could find out about the shotgun deer season is that the opening day and first week figures were down but the second week figures were better. So much for the highly touted automated check-in system, eh? We will probably find out these figures next month, when our interests have shifted to ice fishing.

Happy holidays!

Questions/comments: Berkwoodsandwaters@roadrunner.com. Phone/fax: (413)637-1818