Massachusetts DFW (MassWildlife) is reminding us that young wildlife belong in the wild and urging us to leave them alone. Finding a young animal alone does not mean it’s been abandoned or needs to be rescued. Adults are often nearby and visit their young only occasionally to avoid detection from predators.

What you should do:

• If you find a baby bird: While baby birds may look helpless, they do not need your assistance unless you see clear signs of injury, like a broken wing. If you find a hatchling or nestling (a young bird without feathers) outside the nest, you can try to return it to its nest or create an artificial nest. The parents will not reject it if you touch it. If you find a fledgling (a young, fully feathered bird) outside the nest, leave it alone. While it is spending some time hopping around on the ground learning how to fly, the parents are usually nearby still taking care of it. If you find a fledgling near a road or exposed to danger, it can be moved to a safer, sheltered location nearby. Young birds naturally have a low survival rate, which keeps populations in balance with available resources.
• If you find a fawn: Young deer are born in late May and early June. Even if you see a fawn alone for several days, you should still leave it alone. The animal may be motionless and seem vulnerable, but this is the normal behavior for a fawn and the mother (doe) is probably feeding or bedded nearby. Fawns are safest when left alone because their camouflaging color helps them remain undetected. Does visit their fawns to nurse very infrequently, a behavior that helps fawns avoid detection by predators. If sympathetic people repeatedly visit a fawn, it can prolong separation from the doe and delay needed feeding. Fawns cannot be cared for by wildlife rehabilitators; if a fawn is visibly injured or found with its dead mother, call MassWildlife at (508) 389-6300.
• If you find bunnies or other young mammals: Generally, young mammals are visited by their mother only a few times a day to avoid attracting predators to the young. For example, a nest of bunnies will only be visited by the adult female twice per day to nurse the young. The young are generally safe when left alone because their color patterns and lack of scent help them remain undetected. In most cases, it’s best to leave young animals alone.
• Keep pets leashed. Keeping pets indoors or restrained helps wildlife, as pets often like to chase and hunt songbirds and other mammals. This also helps your pets avoid health and safety dangers posed by wild animals, other pets, or automobiles.
• Contact a wildlife rehabilitator for advice. In almost all cases, it’s best to leave wildlife alone and let nature take its course. In the rare case you find a young animal with a dead parent or if you see visible signs of injury, you can contact a licensed wildlife rehabilitator for assistance. An injured wild animal may be assisted, but a person must deliver the animal immediately to a licensed rehabilitator. MassWildlife licenses wildlife rehabilitators who are qualified to care for most injured or truly orphaned wildlife.

For more information on what to do if you find sick, injured, or young wildlife, click onto https://www.mass.gov/info.

Trout stocking

Last week, subject to last minute change, the following local waters were scheduled to be stocked by Massachusetts DFW:  Green River (South) in Alford, Egremont and Great Barrington;  West Branch of the Westfield River in Becket, Chester, Huntington and Middlefield; Westfield River East Branch in Cummington (C&R), Chesterfield (C&R) and Huntington;   Westfield River Middle Branch in Middlefield, Chester, Huntington and Worthington; Westfield Mainstem in Huntington, Russell, Montgomery; Cold River in Florida and Charlemont, Hoosic River (North Branch) in Clarksburg and North Adams,  Hudson Brook in Clarksburg and North Adams, Farmington River in Otis, Tolland and Sandisfield; Green River (South) in Alford, Egremont and Great Barrington; Housatonic River (C&R) in Lee and Stockbridge, Konkapot River in Monterey, Ashfield Pond in Ashfield, Littleville Reservoir in Chester and Huntington, Mansfield Pond in Great Barrington and Windsor Pond in Windsor.

New Migratory Game Bird Regulations

A public hearing will be held on Friday, April 23 at 9:30 a.m. to establish rules and regulations relative to the 2021–2022 migratory game bird hunting seasons. This public hearing will be held virtually via Zoom

Due to the migratory game bird season filing requirements of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the MA Fisheries and Wildlife Board must vote to finalize and approve the 2021–2022 migratory bird seasons at the close of the hearing. Therefore, please note: There will be no written comment period after this public hearing. Written comments may be submitted prior to the hearing via email to susan.sacco@mass.gov, Subject: Fisheries and Wildlife Board, or by postal mail. to the Fisheries and Wildlife Board, MassWildlife Field Headquarters, 1 Rabbit Hill Road, Westborough, MA 01581.

The full proposed rules and regulations are posted on the website https://www.mass.gov/doc/dfw-final-draft-2021-2022-migratory-game-bird-hunting-regulations/download.  Interested persons can review them and provide written comments prior to the hearing and oral comments during the public-comment portion of the hearing. Here is a summary of the proposed changes:

• Woodcock Season: October 7 through November 27

• Youth and Veteran’s Waterfowl Hunts: September 25 and October 9
• Early Goose Season: September 7 through September 24
• Regular Goose Season
  • Berkshire Zone: October 12 through November 13
  • Central Zone: October 11 through November 27 and December 13 through January 1
  • Coastal Zone: October 16 through October 23 and November 23 through January 22
• Duck Season
  • Berkshire Zone: October 12 through November 27 and December 6 through December 27
  • Central Zone: same as Regular Goose Season
  • Coastal Zone: same as Regular Goose Season

Youth Artist from Hanson Wins Junior Duck Stamp Contest

Caleb Clemons, a homeschool student from Hanson, won Best of Show in the 2021 Massachusetts Junior Duck Stamp (JDS) Contest. His acrylic painting of American black ducks was selected from 134 entries. Clemons award-winning work will move on to the National JDS Contest.

Students from kindergarten through grade 12 from across the Commonwealth submitted original works of art depicting waterfowl in appropriate wetland habitat, demonstrating both artistic talent and a knowledge of the value of wetlands for wildlife. In March, MassWildlife held the judging, at which time the top winning artists were selected. Combinations of the top artworks will be exhibited throughout Massachusetts in the coming year based on reopening guidelines for host sites.

The Massachusetts JDS Program is sponsored by MassWildlife and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, with support from the Massachusetts Sportsmen’s Council. You are asked to support the JDS Program and wetland conservation by purchasing Junior Duck Stamps featuring national winners from previous years. Stamps can be purchased at https: // www.duckstamp.com.

To learn more about the Massachusetts JDS Program, and to access the traveling exhibit schedule, visit mass.gov/dfw/jds.

Beagle Club Field Trials

After all that we have been through lately, it will be nice to get out among fellow beagle owners and their dogs.  Next weekend, April 24 – 25, the Berkshire Beagle Club on Sleepy Hollow Road in Richmond, MA is having its spring field trials.  Some of the best beagles in the northeast will compete at following the scents of snowshoe hares and/or cottontail bunnies. All of the dogs are AKC registered and many already possess championship ribbons won at other field trials.  When they strike a scent, they sure sing, some practically yodeling.  For beagle lovers, it is truly music to their ears.

The club welcomes folks to come and just listen to the dogs and observe the judges.  Every now and then, you will hear someone shout “Tally Ho!” to let the judges know that they spotted a bunny or dog on its scent.

There will be food to purchase there as well as a raffle for an Alpha Tracking System dog collar worth about $300.  (Ticket cost $10 or three for $20.)  If you decide to attend, remember to bring your mask and practice social distancing.

The number of American bald eagles has quadrupled since 2009, and more than 300,000 birds soar over the lower 48 states, government scientists said in a report recently. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service said bald eagles, the national symbol that once teetered on the brink of extinction, (due to habitat destruction and degradation, illegal shooting, and the contamination of its food source, largely as a consequence of DDT)   have flourished in recent years, growing to more than 71,400 nesting pairs and about 316,700 individual birds.  “We’re approaching 80 pairs of bald eagles statewide, which is absolutely wonderful, ” said Dave Paulson of the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife (MassWildlife). “This is a great time of year because right now, the eagles have either laid eggs or they will be soon. They’ll start hatching in April and May, and they’ll be very active once that happens.”  Paulson said the eagles tend to nest in tall white pines near lakes, ponds and rivers.

They have even made it to the South Shore of Massachusetts, Paulson said, and before that, the last sighting of a baby eagle was 115 years ago.  “It really captivates the local community because they are this majestic species that people grew up not seeing, but we’re seeing them more and more,” he said. “The fact that they are starting to enter into these suburbs and easterly towns is wonderful.”

Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland hailed the eagle’s recovery and noted that the majestic, white-headed bird has always been considered sacred to Native American tribes and the USA generally.  “The strong return of this treasured bird reminds us of our nation’s shared resilience and the importance of being responsible stewards of our lands and waters that bind us together″ said Haaland, the first Native American Cabinet secretary.

As readers are probably aware, DFW folks are busy this time of year finding the eagle nests and banding the young ones.  I recently asked Andrew Madden, DFW Western District Supervisor if he used booms or anything like that to get to the tall nests.  No, he said, he shimmies up the tall trees to get to them.  I suspect the eagles are not too pleased with him invading their nests.  Yo!   I think that man deserves hazardous duty pay!

He asks that if people see eagles to report them to MassWildlife, especially if we see pairs of them or those carrying nest building material.  The reporting of nests by the public helps them to paint a picture of the population’s growth.

Trout stocking

Last week, subject to last minute change, the following local waters were scheduled to be stocked by Massachusetts DFW: South Branch of the Hoosic River in Cheshire and Adams, East Branch of the Housatonic River in Hinsdale and Dalton, Housatonic River (C&R) in Lee and Stockbridge, Deerfield River in Buckland, Charlemont and Florida; West Branch of the Westfield River in Becket, Huntington, Chester and Middlefield, East Branch of the Westfield River in Chesterfield, Cummington and Windsor; Farmington River in Otis, Tolland and Sandisfield;  Littleville Reservoir in Chester and Huntington, Norwich Pond in Huntington, Pontoosuc Lake, Onota Lake, Big Pond in Otis and Windsor Pond in Windsor.

Keystone Arch bridges receive National Historic Landmark designation

Two keystone arch bridges located within MassWildlife’s Walnut Hill Wildlife Management Area (WMA) in Middlefield and Becket were recently designated as National Historic Landmarks by the U.S. Department of Interior (DOI). Soaring above the West Branch of the Westfield River, the bridges are an intact segment of the country’s first railroad built to pass over a mountain. The two bridges are part of a series of area stone railroad bridges built for the Western Railroad that ran from Boston to Albany. Major George Washington Whistler is credited with the design and implementation of an unprecedented plan to extend the rail through the central Berkshires by spanning the West Branch of the Westfield River in multiple locations. With only 2,500 National Historic Landmarks in the entire country, this prestigious designation recognizes the structures’ significant place in United States history. The federal designation was the result of a combined effort of cultural and conservation partners. An application for Landmark designation to the DOI was filed in 2013 by the Friends of the Keystone Arches and the Wild and Scenic Westfield River Committee with a unanimous endorsement by MassWildlife’s Fisheries and Wildlife Board.

Anyone willing to do a little hiking can experience some spectacular examples of architecture and railroad history in a beautiful natural setting. In addition to the arches, visitors can enjoy the state’s longest free flowing waterway situated in one of the largest blocks of undeveloped landscapes in the region. The West Branch of the Westfield River, a National Wild and Scenic River, is popular among anglers fishing for wild and stocked trout and for experienced kayakers paddling the river rapids. The WMA includes exemplary forested communities of northern woodlands, rich mesic forest, and hickory-hop hornbeam in various stages of growth. Walnut Hill WMA offers excellent opportunities for deer, bear, and turkey hunting. Wildlife viewing prospects include forest dwelling birds such as thrushes, warblers, and woodpeckers. Minks and otters patrol the waterways along with aquatic insects; mayflies, damselflies, and dragonflies. Several state-listed species of rare plants and insects have also been documented on the property.

In an era of human and horsepower, construction of the 150-mile railroad was completed by 3,000 laborers in an incredible two and a half years, opening in 1841. The group of arched bridges located near and within the remote 900+ acre Walnut Hill WMA can be accessed via the 2.5mile one way Keystone Arch Bridge Trail in Chester. The trail is maintained by the Friends of the Keystone Arches with the permission of MassWildlife. The nearby Chester Factory Village Depot in Chester was also granted National Historic Landmark status. Visitors can stop by the Western Railroad museum in Chester to learn more about the national engineering marvel that the bridges represented at the time.

MassWildlife’s mission to protect wildlife lands across the state has been remarkably successful. Thanks to an unusual partnership, at Walnut Hill WMA the conserved land and water comes with a spectacular added cultural benefit, sure to be appreciated by all who visit.

For me, the area surrounding these keystone arch bridges evokes fond memories.  I caught my first trout with a fly that I had tied near one of them.  I caught it on a wet fly (Gold Ribbed Hares Ear) in the late 1970’s a little below Bancroft near the first arch.  Some years after that, when MassWildlife was raising and stocking salmon fry into the West Branch of the Westfield River, Taconic Chapter of Trout Unlimited volunteers trudged the river below these arches stocking them.  Paul Ouellette and his late brother Homer took on this difficult assignment, when they were probably in their 70’s, even though the remoteness of the area made assistance in the event of a mishap unlikely.  That’s around the time that my wife Jan led some hikes along the Keystone Bridges Trail which parallels the river from Chester to Bancroft.

The last time I visited that area was about 5 years ago when good friend, Fred Rugo from Rhode Island came to the Berkshires to fly fish with me one summer day.  After fishing the Westfield and Housatonic Rivers, he asked if I could take him to see these arches before he headed home.  He had heard about them in Rhode Island.  We parked at the trailhead in Chester and hiked up to see them. I’ll never forget it for below the first of the double arches were two pre-teen lads fishing.  Even though it was a hot day and no respectable fish should have been biting, they hoisted up to show us two beautiful rainbow trout they had caught.  On the way back to our car, both Fred and I remarked on what a wonderful sight it was to see those youngsters and how it reminded us of our own younger days.

Of the 500,000 trout that MassWildlife will be stocking statewide this year, approximately 100,000 will be stocked in the Western District.  Last week, subject to last minute change, the following local waters were scheduled to be stocked: Farmington River in Otis, Tolland and Sandisfield; Deerfield River in Buckland, Charlemont and Florida; Middle Branch of the Westfield River in Middlefield, West Branch of the Westfield River in Chester and Huntington, Main Stem of the Westfield River in Huntington, Montgomery and Russell; Laurel Lake, Richmond Pond, Stockbridge Bowl, Pontoosuc Lake, Lake Buel and Stockbridge Bowl.

Also note that the Trout Stocking Report, with maps and tables including Stocking Date, Town, Waterbody and Species is available at Mass.gov/trout.

As you are well aware, we are not out of the COVID-19 woods yet.  Even if you have received both vaccine shots it’s still a good idea to take precautions to prevent any possibility of spread by maintaining a distance of at least 6 feet from others, wearing a mask and washing your hands frequently. Avoid congregating in parking areas, on boat ramps, or along the shore and have a back-up plan if your usual spot is crowded.

Wear a life jacket

If you plan to fish from a boat, it is recommended that you wear a life jacket because accidents often happen too quickly to reach and put on a stowed life jacket. Wearing a properly fitted life jacket (personal flotation device) could save your life. History has shown that most boating fatality victims were not wearing a life jacket. In Massachusetts, life jackets must be worn by:

• Canoeists and kayakers from September 15 – May 15 (including waterfowl hunters)
• Youth under 12 years old
• Personal watercraft users
• Waterskiers

Fishing Derby

The Berkshire Hatchery Foundation in Hartsville-New Marlborough just got the go ahead to hold monthly free children’s fishing derbies this year.   They are scheduled to have one next Saturday, April 10 from 9:00 to 10:30 am at its Lower Pond at the Berkshire National Fish Hatchery, 240 Hatchery Road, Hartsville, MA.  Children aged 13 and under must be accompanied by an adult.   These fishing derbies will run once a month through September.  Following State guidelines, masks are required and 6 feet social distancing is required.

Sweren chosen to lead MA/RI Council of Trout Unlimited

At its last meeting, the delegates of the MA/RI Council of Trout Unlimited chose Henry Sweren, of Lanesborough, to be its Chairman.  He succeeds Paul Beaulieu of the Pioneer Valley Chapter as Chairman.    Sweren most recently had served as the President of the Taconic Chapter of TU in the Berkshires from 2018-2020.

The MA/RI Council of Trout Unlimited is a grassroots conservation organization dedicated to protect, reconnect, restore and sustain the region’s coldwater resources.  Part of the National TU organization which was founded in 1959, the MA/RI Council is the unifying body region wide, connecting more than 4,500 members spread among 13 chapters.  Through advocacy, education and partnerships with other statewide conservation organizations, the Council works towards improving the ecological health of rivers and streams throughout the state.   The MA/RI Council is a non-profit organization with 501(3)c status under the umbrella of TU National.

Replacing Sweren as the Taconic Chapter President is John Burns, of Cummington.  He was the past MA/RI Council Vice Chair of Environmental Affairs for a few years. Sweren will also serve as the Chapter Vice President.  Rounding out the officers of the Taconic Chapter are William Travis of Pittsfield, Treasurer and Fran Marzotto of Pittsfield, Secretary.

MassWildlife:  Keep an eye out for critters coming to areas near you.

Watch for amphibians on the road

This spring, be mindful of amphibians as they emerge from their winter retreats and travel to breeding sites. Use caution while driving on rainy spring nights.

For many Massachusetts residents, spring rain is a reminder of the changing seasons. For smaller Massachusetts natives, like amphibians, spring rains signal it’s time to emerge from winter retreats and migrate to breeding sites. Unfortunately, many of those animals will face the daunting task of having to cross roads to reach their destinations. Spotted salamanders, wood frogs, blue-spotted salamanders, Jefferson salamanders, American toads, spring peepers, four-toed salamanders, northern leopard frogs, and eastern red-backed salamanders are frequently encountered on roads during early spring rains. Migrations may have started for some pool-breeding amphibians already.

They can be difficult to see, as they are generally small-bodied and move under the cover of dark.

Recommendations from MassWildlife as to how you can help:

• Drive cautiously and carefully.
• Whenever possible over the next 2 months, consider not driving on rainy nights when air temperatures are 40°F or higher. If you must travel during such conditions, delaying beyond the first 2 hours after sunset is recommended.
• Travel on larger highways rather than small, wooded roads if possible. Plan routes that minimize the number of wetlands or vernal pools passed.
• If observing amphibian migrations, consider arriving at your destination prior to sunset, and then conduct your monitoring on foot.
• If assisting amphibians across roadways or handling them for other reasons, be sure your hands are free of lotions, bug repellent, or other chemicals.
• Report high levels of amphibian activity or mortality to the Linking Landscapes for Massachusetts Wildlife initiative, which compiles data to reduce wildlife-vehicle collisions on problem roadways.
• If you encounter any of our state-listed rare amphibian species (eastern spadefoot, blue-spotted salamander, Jefferson salamander, and marbled salamander), take a clear photograph of the animal, carefully record the location, and submit an observation report to MassWildlife’s Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program.
• Go the extra mile to help preserve amphibian habitat by certifying vernal pools on your property. The data you collect is used to help MassWildlife and local conservation organizations better understand habitat resources for our native amphibians.

Black bears are active and searching for food: take precautions

If you have bird feeders or if you keep chickens, bee hives, or livestock act now to keep bears wild and out of neighborhoods.

MassWildlife is reminding us that now is the time when hungry bears emerge from their winter dens and seek out food. If you live in western Massachusetts, or other areas where bears have been spotted, it’s time to take down your bird feeders. Natural foods such as acorns and other nuts are usually available on the ground, but, in some areas last year’s fall hard mast crop was meager. Bears will often ignore seasonally available natural foods including skunk cabbage in favor of an easy meal at a backyard bird feeder. Other species including wild turkeys and coyotes may also frequent bird feeders leading to a variety of nuisance issues. To avoid these problems, MassWildlife asks property owners to be proactive by removing bird feeders and other potential food sources including garbage or open compost. If you enjoy watching birds in your yard, MassWildlife suggests adding a water feature, growing native plants, shrubs, and trees to attract birds. Individuals should also secure bee hives, chickens, and livestock. Properly maintained electric fencing is the only way to protect chickens or bee hives from bears. Taking these actions may prevent the unnatural feeding of bears and other kinds of neighborhood wildlife.

There are at least 4,500 black bears in Massachusetts and their range is expanding eastward. Take action by educating yourself and your neighbors about proactive measures to avoid conflicts with bears. For more information about black bears in Massachusetts, visit mass.gov/bears.

Hunter Survey

You may receive a Novi Hunter Survey from the Massachusetts DFW.   Nicole McSweeney, Outreach and Marketing Manager at MassWildlife, informs us that this survey is sent annually by MassWildlife staff.  A sample of hunters who have provided their email addresses in MassFishHunt are sent this annual survey to better understand their preferences and efforts. This information helps MassWildlife biologists receive important “on-the-ground” data to aid in the management of game species. Depending on the variety of game you hunt, the survey takes around 10–20 minutes to complete. The survey is distributed through NoviSurvey and is set up so all responses remain confidential. I recommend that you respond.

Readers may recall my bemoaning the fact that we don’t get snowy, old fashioned winters anymore.  In December, I wrote about black powder hunting and how in the good old days, we deer hunted on snowshoes. A couple of days later, we got clobbered with nearly 2 feet of snow. I then received comments like “You got what you wanted Chague, thanks a lot!  Then in January, I bemoaned the fact that lately, our ice fishing seasons are too short because of climate change (warm winters) and asked for January freezes..  A week after that, it got seriously cold around here and the ice formed rapidly and may still be there.  On March 16, there was still over 15 inches of ice in some of our lakes.

It seemed like more people got out ice fishing this year, probably because they were sick of being shut-ins due to the Covid-19 and took to the outdoors.  Some people who gave up the sport years ago took it back up again.  However; the covid also had a negative effect on ice fishing as most derbies were cancelled.  Organizers just didn’t want to get people congregated together and become spreaders.

There are those who question the ice fishermen’s sanity.  How can you sit out on a frozen lake all day?  Have you frozen or numbed your minds?  Don’t you get cold or bored?  The answer is, no!  It doesn’t get any better! 

The following are some of the highlights that my group of 10 or so ice fishermen experienced this year.  Most mornings, we enjoyed absolutely beautiful sun rises, with colors of salmon pink.  After we cut our holes and baited our tip-ups, it was time for breakfast.  Stan Kordana, Dan Miraglia or John Bassi usually took care of that by making egg sandwiches cooked on our grills. Someone usually brings venison for lunch.  Mark Lucier, Stan Kordana, Brian Kordana, Rick Saldo and Ed Bertelli kept us pretty well fed with venison stews, chilis, tenderloin tips and burgers.  My nephew Joe Chague and I brought additional hamburgers, hot dogs and sausage links.  The last time we got out, John brought filet mignon to grill. After dining, someone inevitably remarks, “The food is good here, I think I’ll come back and dine here again.”

Other memorable times this year were:  We were nearby when Jamie Pollard caught that 15 ½ lbs. brown trout out of Stockbridge Bowl.  We could see and hear them hooting and hollering over the catch.  During the season, a couple of us hooked really large trout, but they either got off or they broke the line.  I’ll never forget one of our guys hooked a large brown trout at Richmond Pond and he had the fish up to the hole with its head out of the water.  As the ice fisherman stepped back to heft the fish out, he stepped on a loose piece of ice and went “arse over teakettle” and landed on his back, unhurt.  The sudden pull on the line as he went down enabled the fish to escape.  It was actually a graceful fall – wish I had my camera.  He went back to that same spot again a few days later, but that fish wouldn’t fall for the bait again. 

Then there was the time when we were fishing Richmond Pond a week ago when the weather got up into the 60’s.  We got onto the ice with no problems, but during the day with the warm temperatures, the ice thawed along the edges of the lake, in spite of over 15 inches of ice further out on the pond.  Getting off was a different matter and I’ll never forget it.  Just as I took my last step from the ice to the shore, the ice broke under my foot and there I was standing in about a foot and a half of water.  With my boots filling up with water, I hurriedly pulled my sled ashore, but not before the motorized ice augur fell off of the sled into the water also.  It was completely submerged.   No damage done, though, for when I got home, it started right up again.

Then there was the time when we were entertained by an airplane doing landings and take offs on the ice at Stockbridge Bowl.  Instead of wheels, the plane was equipped with skis. On another day at that same lake, we were entertained watching Frank Wall of Ghent NY skimming along the lake in his ice boat.  We saw him on several different occasions and on the windy days, that thing really moved.  Just last week, on Richmond Pond, John and I threw a small perch onto the ice a little distance from us and watched a bald eagle swoop down and grab it.

This year, there were a couple of weeks with ice without snow cover.  You had to wear studs or spikes on your boots in order to walk.  Because of the lack of snow on bare ice, the wind would occasionally blow our folding chairs across the ice.  Now that’s a comical sight, watching a fellow chase his empty chair across the lake trying to catch it.   Perhaps the most unusual sight of the season was watching Jim from the Chatham, NY Unicycle Club peddling around Stockbridge Bowl on his unicycle.  The tire on it was studded so that it didn’t slip on the slick ice.  After 70 years of ice fishing, I never saw that before.

 Bored?  You’ve got to be kidding me!

But, as they say, all good things must come to an end.  It was a good, long season and my friends and I are done for this year.   

Getting back to the Chatham Unicycle Club (chathamunicycleclub@gmail.com), if you are interested, it has indoor and outdoor practice sessions, Unicycle Hockey, group rail trail and group mountain unicycling rides. Although drastically curtailed this past year, they have started to resume activities. The practice sessions are suitable for all levels and they have a bunch of unicycles to try.

More chatter regarding the proposed license fee increase

I recently received a letter from an active local hiker in response to my recent articles about reduced revenue coming in from anglers and hunters and the proposed hike in licensing fees.  This person suggested a partial solution that would provide some equity in the “pay as you go” recreation sector and would help generate revenue for managing open spaces and in particular Fisheries and Wildlife lands. This hiker suggests that hikers and other passive recreation users (bikers, runners, horseback riders, skiers) of public lands might willingly participate in a permitting process through a yearly purchased pass to use trails.  Most users understand that purchasing open space and managing the lands has become costly for F&W and that current revenues don’t meet what is needed to create and maintain sustainable trails. How broad and deep support is for this idea could be assessed by creating a survey for hiker/biker/skier groups. Some could choose to pay a higher fee to support free permits for lower income users or students etc. Since numbers of outdoor recreationists have increased substantially these past years, the fee could be set low. People are now used to getting online tickets in advance for everything from skiing to museums so the process wouldn’t be difficult for users to manage.  Issues like administration and compliance would have to be worked out as well as the incorporation of a mandate that funds generated go into state park or F&W budgets and not general funds. Certainly, education and peer pressure would need to play a role. But if licensing can be done for anglers and hunters, a variation on that can be developed for other user groups. This hiker feels the time has come for all users to pay their fair share of supporting F&W and public lands and believes there is strong support for that to happen.

We thank the writer for that letter.  Its nice to know that she and other non-hunters and fishers are sympathetic to our plight and want to help.

The subject of MassWildlife’s proposed license fee increase is still a hot topic among Massachusetts outdoor sportsmen. Readers may recall that the proposed hunting and fishing license fees will increase moderately, but the proposed permit fees (for hunting bear, waterfowl, turkey, antlerless deer, and now for pheasants) would increase nearly 300%.   As noted in previous columns, most sportsmen understood the need for a license increase, but increases of 300% for permits?  Seniors like me who got free licenses last year but who paid $20 or more for the various permit fees, (for turkey, bear, waterfowl, archery, etc.) saw the proposed cost skyrocket to $180.  The Massachusetts Sportsmen’s Alliance and the Massachusetts Gun Owner Action League, representing thousands of sportsmen, came out opposing the existing proposal.   No word yet where the Massachusetts Sportsmen’s Council stands on this issue.  The Berkshire County League of Sportsmen (BCLS) is waiting until all of the listening sessions have transpired and after consulting with its member clubs before making its decision.  Incidentally, the last informational sessions is scheduled for Thursday, March 25 at 6:30 PM.  Click onto: http://mass.gov/info-details/masswildlife-funding and there, you will find the zoom links to the new information sessions and important background information about MassWildlife’s programs, its funding, and the proposed new license fees.

In response to the sportsmen’s ire, MassWildlife has held several informational sessions explaining reasons for the steep rise – it will go broke in less than 5 years unless drastic action is taken.    In my opinion, they did a good job in explaining the dilemma they face.    In these sessions, sports folks were given the opportunity to ask questions and make recommendations. The vast majority of comments dealt with their concerns that:   Massachusetts does not allow Sunday hunting, does not allow use of crossbows (unless a doctor recommends it) and has what some consider overly restrictive setback requirements from roads and dwellings.  They bemoan the fact that they have to foot the entire bill for maintenance of the wildlife management areas, habitat management, etc., even though the general public has full use of them without paying one cent.  They cited numerous examples of hunters who will now hunt out of state, and the decrease in the numbers of outdoor sports folks will only be exasperated by the propose fees.

MassWildlife points out that they have no say in the above-mentioned issues and that authority to change them rests with the Legislature.  MassWildlife can’t even lobby for such changes.    At the March Meeting of the BCLS, F&W Board Member, Stephen Sears of Dalton pointed out that the Agency provides a lot of public service to the non-hunting public – racoon problems, bear problems, etc.  MassWildlife does a lot not directly related to the sportsmen.  It’s because that is part of the Agency’s mandate and is their responsibility.  General funds for that type of thing would be a better approach than trying to figure out different user groups and trying to attach dollars onto specific user groups.  DFW Director (Tisa) and a sub-committee of the F&W Board are looking at these types of things and how they can generate income from the public that they serve and not just the sportsmen bearing the entire burden.   Sears also mentioned that the Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program is part of MassWildlife and is glad it is, but there is no financial support of it other than contributions on your taxes each year. That brings in a few hundred thousand dollars, which don’t come close to offsetting the expenses of services provided, which are enjoyed by every resident in MA.

He brought up another thing, as a perspective. Anybody who is 40 years or younger has never in their lifetime seen an increase in the license fees; and anybody who is 55 has seen only one license increase.  In explaining, he said: “You don’t get a license until you are 15; you add that 15 to 40 years, and you come up to 55 years old.  You have seen only one increase.  Put that into perspective to what is happening in the rest of the world.  It is important that we out here in the Western District, get all of our comments out – the good, the bad, and the ugly.  In the first three listening sessions that had already transpired, there were only 110 participants statewide, which is awful”.  The public information sessions are invaluable, you can ask questions to DFW Director Mark Tisa and they are all written down and answered.

While reviewing the various major expenses that MassWildlife incurs each year, about $1,000,000 is spent covering the cost of free licenses which are granted to seniors over 70 years of age.  MassWildlife explains that the Massachusetts Legislature mandated that they issue those free licenses.  But the Legislature doesn’t fund it.  Somehow, MassWildlife has to cover that expense which is expected to grow as more people reach the 70-year age mark.  So, where does MassWildlife get funds for that?   From those younger license buyers under 65.  In effect, these are funds taken away from other important MassWildlife programs.  So, are those free licenses really free to the total population of hunters and fishermen?  That’s a pretty good deal that the Legislature put together, ey?  I should note that the state does offset discounted licenses for those aged 65 to 69.

Thankfully State Senator Anne Gobi (D-Spencer), who is co-chair of the Massachusetts Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus and past chair of the Joint Committee on Environment, Natural Resources, and Agriculture, has filed a bill (SD.1453) aimed at addressing lost revenue that the state is failing to reimburse to the Massachusetts DFW, An Act to Reimburse the Inland Fisheries and Game Fund, would target the more than $1 million/year the agency forfeits each year by providing those free licenses to residents aged over 70 that is not currently being reimbursed by the state.

Gobi said, “Our sportsmen and women play a critical role in conservation and the fees from licenses have made sure land is set aside, not just for hunting and fishing but for many types of recreation such as hiking and bird watching. Offering free licenses to those over a certain age is the right thing to do, especially now when we want people to enjoy the outdoors. Reimbursing that lost revenue is also the right thing to do. I appreciate the support I have received including from the Nature Conservancy and the Trustees (of Reservations).   This legislation targets that inconsistency while raising desperately needed funds for the agency tasked with overseeing sportsmen and women’s activities while conserving and restoring critical habitat.”

Perhaps the local outdoor community should contact and ask Senator Hinds to support this bill.

MassWildlife:  Report winter fish kills

During winter, thick ice and heavy snow cover can result in low dissolved oxygen levels in ponds. With increasing ice and snow packs, there is less light penetration through the water column. This alters chemical and biological processes, often resulting in a winter fish kill.

The vast majority of fish kills turn out to be caused by this natural event. However, it’s important for biologists to rule out other causes including pollution. Natural fish kills are generally the result of low dissolved oxygen levels (anoxia), spawning stress or fish diseases. Dissolved oxygen depletion is one of the most common causes of natural fish kills. Weedy ponds that are less than 15 feet deep are particularly vulnerable. This can be the case at any time of the year but generally occurs during severe winters or late spring/early summer.

Ice anglers may encounter signs of a low oxygen environment when they drill through the ice and notice the smell of rotten egg or observe sluggish or dying shiners. The odor is hydrogen sulfide gas which is a natural byproduct of low dissolved oxygen environments, and is not likely the result of pollution. Oxygen levels will  return to normal shortly after the ice melts in the spring.

If you observe dead fish, contact the Environmental Police’s 24-hour radio room at 1 (800) 632-8075. A MassWildlife biologist will review each situation to determine whether the kill

On January 15, John Scanlon, MassWildlife Habitat Program Supervisor, of Barre, MA retired after 35 years of service. The Habitat Program will now be managed by Brian Hawthorne, who was promoted from his role as Habitat Planning Coordinator.

The job of Habitat Program Manager is 1.) To inventory and assess the State’s Wildlife Management Areas (WMA), particularly the forested portions, which is the majority of land. 2.) To design and contract management practices to benefit a diversity of species, (game and non-game) whether common, declining, threatened or endangered.  Thanks to the State Wildlife Action Plan, many species of conservation need have been identified across the state.

Several tools are used to create, restore, and maintain a variety of open habitat types including grassland, shrubland, and young forests on public WMAs across Massachusetts to meet habitat goals. Tools include: forest cutting, mowing and mulching, invasive plant management, and prescribed fire.

The Division’s mandate is to conserve the full diversity of native wildlife species and that was the most enjoyable part of John’s job.  Once it is determined that a conservation need exists on a WMA, and biologists identify where they can best enhance conditions, they get to work.   John’s job was to coordinate with district supervisors and other biologists, design projects and then get them contracted out addressing the whole spectrum.   There is much overlap between management for game species, such as ruffed grouse, American woodcock, wild turkey and non-game threatened and endangered species.

“What we have always tried to do at MassWildlife is to take the ecosystem approach, as opposed to saying ok, we are going to do grouse management here, endangered moths there and over there help that species.  We really try to avoid that and take a more systems-oriented approach” said John.

“The Fish & Wildlife Board long ago approved state-wide habitat goals for state wildlife lands with specific amounts of grassland, scrubland, young forest and old forest habitat to make sure they had the full diversity of habitats in place to provide good hunting opportunities and to provide habitat for threatened and endangered species as well.  They often merge really nicely and it’s a great thing to see.  Frequently there are species overlaps with various habitat types, such as game bird and songbird benefits in young forest areas, and game birds and native pollinators such as endangered bees and moths in shrubland areas, especially barrens habitats like at Montague Plains WMA”.  John’s focus was on the habitat types that were most lacking in the State.

His work over the past decade focused on expanding grassland habitats for rare pollinators and threatened songbirds like grasshopper sparrow (these grasslands also provide courtship areas for woodcock, feeding grounds for grouse and turkey poults, and fawning sites for white-tailed deer), restoring globally rare shrubland barrens where prescribed fire supports multiple threatened and endangered species (and also provides excellent feeding areas for ruffed grouse on abundant scrub oak acorns), as well as young forest, in particular aspen forest regeneration.

“During the last decade or so, MassWildlife does between 1,000 and 2,000 acres a year of active management projects on the ground requiring coordination among the various districts and the Westboro staff.  District supervisors are critical to have on board for they are responsible for the properties in their district”.  John always tried to work closely with the district managers to make sure they are on the same page.  He heaped praise on all five district managers.

Habitat projects here in the Berkshires where John was involved included aspen regeneration work on Stafford Hill WMA in Cheshire, abandoned field reclamation at the Gene Moran WMA and aspen and orchard work on the Peru WMA.  One big project site is on Fox Den WMA in Middlefield.  Brian Hawthorne, MassWildlife Habitat Planning Coordinator, ran the 35- acre aspen regeneration project at the Fox Den WMA in 2008 with direct design input from Dick DeGraaf, long time wildlife biologist with the US Forest Service.  (DeGraaf is the author of New England Wildlife: Habitat, Natural History, and Distribution; Landowner’s Guide to Wildlife Habitat: Forest Management for the New England Region and at least 4 other books, which serve as the foundation of landscape habitat used by MassWildlife.

Other local projects included the young forest cutting at the Farmington River WMA in Otis (David Scarpitti from the Westborough Field Headquarters oversaw a 20-acre cut there about 8 years ago).  They are preparing another 20- acre cut adjacent to that one.  “There has been incredible deer use of the Otis cut” he said.

Under Scanlon’s management, they did habitat work at the Maple Hill WMA in West Stockbridge, and a new young forest project in Ashfield-Hawley is now being done by Fletcher Clark from the Westborough Field Headquarters.

“A dozen years ago, when we first started to work on Fox Den WMA’s combination of abandoned orchards and aspen regeneration, Brian did the contracting and worked long winter hours with a local logging crew on that project”.  John is happy with all of the work he’s done with MassWildlife, but in terms of individual projects, “The wildlife response at Fox Den exceeded our highest expectations producing some of the most awesome covers in the state.  The aspen at Fox Den is on moist ground, with some adjacent wetlands, which is highly productive for American woodcock, ruffed grouse, wild turkey, black bear, whitetail deer and moose”.

This past year they went back to that same site of the original 35 acres that Brian Hawthorne worked on a dozen years ago.  This time they regenerated 8-10 acres of it to get the second age class of aspen started.  They also did some work to get the orchard open and on 50 adjacent acres they did a pretty heavy cut of aspen and northern hardwoods.  That work was overseen by Tom Wansleben, (who worked for Scanlon as a habitat biologist).    In September, only 3 months later, there were a number of turkey dust sites, as well as plenty of non-game species and song birds.  If someone wants to see ruffed grouse, woodcock, moose, whitetail deer and bear in our area, that would be John’s first choice recommendation.  “It was a prime example of how a well-designed project can succeed so quickly.   Brian Hawthorne did such a tremendous job, and now Tom Wansleben is following up”, he said.

Rich Pantermehl, heavy equipment operator, worked the whole winter there.  It was so thick and isolated they had to do burns all winter long.  “For aspen regeneration you have to cut heavy to stimulate root suckering. You need enough direct sunlight to warm the soil to the point where the shallow aspen roots will sprout.  Fox Den is living proof of just how well a system can respond if you are doing the right treatment at the right time”, said John.

In the February Fish & Wild Board Meeting, DFW Director Mark Tisa announced that Brian Hawthorne, out of the Dalton Office (since 2004) has been promoted to MassWildlife Habitat Program Manager replacing John.    Brian has been the Habitat Planning Coordinator since 2015 working for John and coordinating the statewide effort in habitat planning.

Brian Hawthorne

Brian will be overseeing the habitat program for the agency statewide. Since the habitat biologists and restoration ecologists in the program spend most of their time in the field, he expects to be doing a fair amount of “managing by driving around” as well as continuing to telework. He’ll be keeping his office in Dalton, and will certainly be making many trips to Westborough Field Headquarters once we are past our current pandemic restrictions. “John (Scanlon) built an excellent program in his decades of work for the Division, and the team I am picking up from him is an extraordinary group of experienced professionals” said Hawthorne.

We extend our congratulations to John Scanlon for the job well done and wish him a long and happy retirement.  To Brian Hawthorne we congratulate him too for the well-deserved promotion.  We are glad that he will stay in our district and wish him the very best in his new position.

Readers are surely aware that there currently is a furor over the necessity for MassWildlife to increase its license fees.   I hope you picked up on the 1,000 to 2,000 acres of active habitat management projects a year.  Such important projects didn’t even exist 26 years ago, when the last fee increase was implemented.

Each year, MassWildlife recognizes anglers who catch exceptional freshwater fish in waters open to the public. If you submit the largest or longest fish in an eligible species category, you will get a gold pin and a plaque, and you’ll also be honored in a MassWildlife awards event.

Log onto https://www.mass.gov/service-details/gold-pin-winners to see all of the 2020 winners in the Adult Catch & Keep, Youth Catch & Keep and Catch & Release categories.  You will notice that there were 13 gold pins awarded to local or out-of-area anglers who caught fish out of local waters.

Usually, MassWildlife has a ceremony which is held at the MassWildlife Field Headquarters in Westborough, MA, and it presents gold pins and plaques to the lucky anglers commemorating their great feats.  This year, due to COVID-19, they are having everyone send in pictures and then do an online ceremony.

Adult Catch and Keep local gold pin winners

A note from MassWildlife:  Catch-and-keep affidavits for fish caught when this category was closed (March 16, 2020 – July 6, 2020 due to COVID-19) that meet the requirements will be issued bronze pins; however, these entries will not be eligible for a gold pin.

Brook Trout – 4 lbs 5 oz caught out of Stockbridge Bowl by Joshua Christman of Pittsfield

Carp – 21 lbs 1 oz caught out of Pontoosuc Lake by Brandon Murray of Pittsfield

Carp – 21 lbs 1 oz caught out of Laurel Lake by Joshua Christman

Northern Pike – 27 lbs 11 oz out of Lake Buel by Heather Newalu of Agawam

Smallmouth Bass – 5 lbs 11 oz out of Onota Lake by Joshua Christman

Sunfish – 1 lb 7 oz out of Richmond Pond by Joshua Christman

Tiger Trout – 2 lbs 12 oz out of Onota Lake by Crystal Taylor of Pittsfield

There was a new state record in the Catch and Keep category.  It was a 9 lbs 10 oz Bowfin out of Taunton River in Taunton by Andrew Langley of Peabody

Youth Catch and Keep local gold pin winners

Crappie – 1 lb 3 oz out of Ashmere Lake by Gabriel Christman of Pittsfield

Smallmouth Bass – 4 lbs 6 oz out of Onota Lake by Scout McKnight of Peru

Sunfish – 1 lb 2 oz out of Richmond Pond by Alice Christman of Pittsfield

Tiger Trout – 1 lb 1 oz out of Goose Pond by Alice Christman

White Perch – 1 lb 5 oz out of Pontoosuc Lake by Gabriel Christman

Catch & Release local gold pin winners

Northern Pike – 43 inches out of Onota Lake by Neil Daigneault of Holyoke

There were eight new state records in the Catch & Release category last year as follows:  Brown Trout – 32 inches out of Littleville Reservoir in Huntington by David Desimone of Amherst; Chain Pickerel –  28.75 inches out of Leverett Pond, Leverett by David Desimone; Channel Catfish – 34.50 inches out Connecticut River in Easthampton by Jason Montanez of Springfield; Channel Catfish – 34.50 inches out of Connecticut River, Hatfield by Kenneth Langdon of  Montague; Crappie – 18.25 inches out of Putnamville Reservoir, Danvers by Thomas Melanson of Danvers; Lake Trout – 34 inches out of Wachusett Reservoir by David Desimone; Smallmouth Bass – 23.50 inches out of Wachusett Reservoir by Zachary Aquino of Attlesboro; Tiger Trout – 23.00 inches out of Westfield River in Russell by David Desimone.

Please note that the Catch & Release category is still a relative new category and there will be fairly frequent state records reset for a while yet.

Anglers of the Year

The local Adult Catch & Keep Angler of the Year winner was Joshua Christman.   The Youth Catch & Keep Angler of the Year winner was Philip Prieus of South Hadley.  There was a tie for the Catch & Release Angler of the Year.  The winners were Andrew Langley of Peabody and David Desimone of Amherst.

Eight of the above listed 13 gold pin fish were caught by Joshua Christman, his 7 year old daughter Alice or his 5 year old son Gabriel.  And, of course Joshua was named an angler of the year. Wow!  Congratulations.

Readers may recall that Alice was the Youth Catch & Keep Angler of the Year in 2019, having been awarded 16 bronze or gold pins out of 22 species included in the program.  Her picture is featured on page 17 of the 2021 Mass Official Freshwater fishing, hunting and trapping laws.  That’s her on the top right- hand corner.

2021 Youth Turkey Hunt

The Youth Turkey Hunt Program introduces youth to the world of hunting. After completing program requirements, young adults (aged 12-17) can hunt on a special day (this year it is April 24) with a licensed adult hunter. The youth turkey hunt seminar provides hunters with specialized turkey hunting training and reinforces concepts from Basic Hunter Education. Young hunters will have the opportunity to practice all aspects of a safe hunt.

This year’s Youth Turkey Hunt Program will be different from previous years. Changes have been made to ensure the safety of volunteers and youth participants in accordance with COVID-19 guidelines.  The traditional seminar has been broken into 2 parts with online options and smaller in-person class sizes. All new participants are required to complete both parts of the seminar. If you have a youth who wants to participate in the 2021 Youth Turkey Hunt Day, click onto the 2021 Youth Turkey Hunt | Mass.gov page for all the details.  There are pages of instructions and information to participate in this program. Don’t delay!  The online seminars begin on March 16 and run into April.

So far only Lee Sportsmen’s Association has been listed as participating in the program.  Other club locations and dates have not been finalized, so check back in March for the full list of club dates and times.

To participate in the youth turkey hunt, new participants must be 12-17 years of age and fulfill the following:

1.Graduate from a Basic Hunter Education Course (before the day of the hunt). As of this date, all Basic Hunting Courses are being held at the MassWildlife Headquarters in Westborough, and unfortunately all the courses scheduled there through April have already been filled up.  Be sure to keep checking for new courses.

2.Obtain a firearms identification (FID) card. This step is only required if the participant will be 15-17 years of age on the day of the youth turkey hunt and wishes to hunt with a shotgun.

3.Submit the New Participant Registration Form. This form registers the new participant in the mandatory youth turkey hunt online seminar and field day.

More Information Sessions

Over the last couple of weeks, I have been inundated by phone calls, emails and face to face questions regarding the proposed outdoor sporting fee increases.  It was surprising how many people lacked information on how we got to this point as well as MassWildlife’s lack of authority to change certain hot button items such as Sunday hunting, crossbow regulations, etc.

Fortunately, MassWildlife has scheduled 3 additional information sessions in March about the proposed license increase. Now is your chance to ask questions, make comments, and learn more about its programs, how it is funded, and why a license increase is needed by attending a virtual information session.  The dates and times are as follows:

Tuesday, March 9 at 6:30 PM, Wednesday, March 17 at 6:30 PM and Thursday, March 25 at 6:30 PM.

Click onto: http://mass.gov/info-details/masswildlife-funding and there, you will find the zoom links to the new information sessions and important background information about MassWildlife’s programs, its funding, and the proposed new license fees.  You owe it to yourselves to attend these information sessions and get your questions answered.

Incidentally, Jason Zimmer, DFW District Supervisor Southeast Wildlife District Massachusetts is on a podcast wherein he discusses this topic among other things.  He discusses some of the common misunderstandings surrounding regulations vs statues.  You can listen to the podcast on You Tube (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnTAoU_pbD57UPTeHCEyoKg)  or the podcast site (HuntSuburbia).   I listened to the podcast on HuntSuburbia and found it very informative.  Allow yourself some time for it is about 1:45 hours long.  Most of the information which deals with the fee increases is on the first half hour of the podcast, but all of the other subject matter was so interesting I listened to the whole thing.

Most outdoors folks that I have spoken with realize a license, tag, or permit fee increase is warranted.  After all, they haven’t been raised in 25 years.  With inflation up nearly 67% since 1996, declining license sales, increased agency responsibilities, and steadily increasing state-mandated costs such as payroll taxes and health insurance, revenue has not been meeting expenses for several years.  Some interested sportsmen attended the Zoom listening sessions put on by  MassWildlife and understood the plight that they face with its income shortfall to cover expenses and even expressed support for a fee increase.  There was no mention in those Zoom meetings as to the size of the fee increase to be proposed, but most sportsmen presumed that they would be reasonable.

During some of those meetings, some hunters expressed disappointment at the thought of increasing the hunting fees without addressing one very important issue – Sunday hunting.  After all, surrounding states allow Sunday hunting but not Massachusetts.  People who are required to work a 6-day week never get a chance to hunt in their own state and have to travel to VT, NY or CT.  (I’m retired now and don’t have those concerns anymore, but let me tell you, when I was working, few things agitated me more).

Other Zoom attendees posed the question as to why the licensed outdoor sportsmen have to foot the entire bill for the purchase and maintenance of properties that the general public can use, such as the Wildlife Management Areas.  How come the bird watchers, hikers, snow shoe enthusiasts, etc. don’t share the cost?  How come they aren’t required to buy a tag or permit to use these lands?

Other issues were raised during those Zoom meetings, such as the stalled Crossbow Bill.  Why is it that all surrounding states can use crossbows for hunting, but not in Massachusetts?  Only bowhunters with certain disabilities are allowed to use a crossbow in our state?

In all fairness to MassWildlife, the regulations dealing with Sunday hunting and crossbow use rests with the Massachusetts Legislators. Sportsmen for years have been lobbying for them and their pleas and petitions appear to be falling on deaf ears.  In spite of legislative support for the crossbow bill each year, it always dies in one committee or the other.  As often stated by outdoor sportsmen, we don’t have anyone (or not enough) support in the Legislature – no one fighting for our causes. (I honestly believe we have Massachusetts legislators who would do away with hunting altogether in our state if given the opportunity.  Just take a look at some of the proposed bills regarding firearms and hunting.)

Well, after of two years of study the MassWildlife recently announced its proposed new fee schedule, and many hunters went ballistic.  (See attached proposed fee schedule).  Hunters who paid $80.00 this year for their sporting licenses along with permits for archery hunting, waterfowl, primitive firearms, antlerless deer, bear, turkey and land stamp will now have to pay $220.00.  That is a 275% increase.  In my case, as a senior, my sporting license is free, but the permit fees will go from $20 to $80, an increase of $60 or 300% jump.  C’mon!  Most likely, I’ll be dropping some forms of hunting such as waterfowl and turkey hunting next year, as I only get out to enjoy those sports once or twice a year anyway.

The proposed fishing license fee increases appear to be more acceptable.

One person who contacted me wrote the following, “For my senior dad who simply hunts large game and occasionally pheasants, his free license with added stamps, permits and land stamp will increase from $20 to $100.   That is a five-times increase for a senior that deserves a free license.  This is an outrageous and unreasonable charge.  A five times increase burden on these seniors is the highest percentage increase in the real cost of a license that I have calculated.  How can the DFW propose to excessively burden this group of elderly sportsmen to this extent?”

A lot of sportsmen have contacted me since the proposed fee increases have been announced.  More than a few of them have said that they will no longer hunt in Massachusetts, but rather in neighboring states.  The displeasure of not being able to hunt in Massachusetts on Sundays, its restrictive gun laws, the expensive FID cards and now the dramatic fee increases seemed to have provided the proverbial straw that broke the camel’s back.

Some people who have contacted me want to know my opinion of the increases.  Well, I am a numbers person (spent 35 years of my life as a bank internal auditor).  One thing I have learned is that an enterprise must have revenues that exceed expenses in order to survive.  It cannot survive sustained losses year after year.  That is what is projected to happen to MassWildlife within the next 5 years if a fee increase is not implemented.   In fiscal year 2021, they project outflows (expenses over revenue) of $1.5 million, in 2022 it will be $2.1 M, in 2023, it will be 2.7 M, in 2024 $3.4M and in 2025 it will be $4.1 M.  The Inland Fish and Game Fund balance in 2021 was a positive balance of $9.5M, but by the end of 2025, if there is not a change, it will stand at a minus $2.8M.  Hey folks, something has to be done, and pronto.

The Massachusetts Fisheries and Wildlife Board has gone on record as being “committed to working with the Baker Administration, sporting constituents, outdoor recreation partners, and environmental stakeholders to explore a long-term, more diversified and sustainable funding model that is supported by the public at large. In the short term, the proposed license fee increases are critical to maintain current operations, programs, and services that MassWildlife’s constituents have come to expect. The proposed increase is projected to sustain the solvency of the Inland Fish and Game Fund for 8–10 years”.

MassWildlife anticipates scheduling and holding formal public hearings in the spring which will be advertised well in advance. In the meantime, you can provide feedback about the license fee proposal by using a convenient feedback form which can be downloaded from the MassWildlife web site or by mail to: MassWildlife Re: License Fee, 1 Rabbit Hill Road, Westborough, MA 01581.

It is a bitter pill that we sportsmen have to swallow.  I don’t know about you, but I would rather take that pill than to go with reduced services and lose some of the excellent programs that MassWildlife offers.

Spring trout stocking

MassWildlife informs us that approximately 450,000 brook, brown, rainbow, and tiger trout will be stocked this spring from MassWildlife’s five hatcheries located in Sandwich, Palmer, Belchertown, Sunderland, and Montague. These fish, coupled with the more than 60,000 fish stocked last fall, will provide some excellent fishing in the coming months. Stocking is scheduled to begin in southeastern waters in early March with other regions of the state expected to follow soon after. You can get daily stocking updates at Mass.gov/Trout. Anglers are reminded to purchase their fishing license online using MassFishHunt or by visiting a license vendor location.

2021 spring trout stocking stats:

• More than 75% of the trout will be over 12 inches
• More than 45% of the trout will be over 14 inches
• More than 48,000 brook trout will be over 12 inches

• More than 48,000 brown trout will be over 12 inches
• More than 200,000 rainbow trout will be over 14 inches
• More than 500 brown trout and 500 brook trout will be over 18 inches
• 1,000 brook trout will be over 14 inches
• All 2,500 tiger trout will be over 14 inches

We are asked to practice social distancing by keeping 6 feet away from others while fishing. Avoid congregating in parking areas, on boat ramps, or along the shore. Don’t share a boat with those outside your household unless it is large enough to allow for social distancing. Avoid busy areas and have a back-up plan if your usual spot is crowded. Visit to mass.gov/covid19 for the latest Massachusetts information and guidance.

On Saturday, February 6, the Berkshire County Whitetails Unlimited (WU) Ice Fishing Derby was held on Laurel Lake.  According to derby chairman Bill Bailey of Otis, 160 people attended it on that sunny day.  He considered it a huge success. He reported that 24 sizeable fish in the 3 lbs range were weighed in.

First Place was won by 11year old Nolan Bloomrose of Blandford, MA who caught a 6 lbs 14 oz largemouth bass. He also pocketed the $750.00 first place prize.  The Second- Place prize of $500 went to Keith Kalacki who caught a 4 lbs 5 oz largemouth bass. Third Place prize of $250 went to Kemp who caught a 4lbs 4 oz chain pickerel.  (Sorry, Kemp’s last name was not made available).  Congratulations to all.

Bailey, who is a Massachusetts WU Area Field Director, reported that half of the net proceeds from the event was targeted to be spent in the Berkshires and the other half forwarded to the WU national organization.  Over the last couple of years, WU have provided grants to the Berkshire County League of Sportsmen to help offset its expenses incurred while conducting its Youth Outreach fishing derbies and other events.  These derbies provide opportunities for kids who would otherwise not be afforded the opportunity to go fishing.  Annually,selected youth groups are chosen and provided access to a small pond freshly stocked with brook trout, complete fishing outfits, bait, a lunch and fish cleaning service so that they can take the trout home to eat.

Never heard of Whitetails Unlimited? Well, it is a national nonprofit whitetail deer organization which was established in 1982.  It is dedicated to the betterment of the whitetail deer, its habitat, and the future of hunting. It is a national nonprofit conservation organization raising funds in support of education, habitat enhancement, and the preservation of the hunting tradition. Thanks to its 114,000-plus members, chapter volunteers, and corporate sponsors, Whitetails Unlimited has earned the reputation of being the nation’s premier organization dedicating its resources to the betterment of the white-tailed deer and their environment.   Since its beginning, it has spent over $109.9 million on projects including research, wildlife agency assistance, habitat enhancement/acquisition, scholarships, educational materials, hunter safety/education, anti-poaching measures, and cooperative projects with other conservation organizations.

Hopefully, when COVID-19 becomes history, the Berkshire Chapter of WU will again begin holding its annual banquets locally.

Hunting/Fishing/Trapping fee increases move one step closer to reality

At its February 17 Fish & Wildlife Board Meeting, board members gave the MA Division of Fisheries and Wildlife its approval to forward its proposed fee increases to Administration and Finance.  If A&F approves them, the Division will hold a public hearing this spring on the proposed fee schedules.  The Division will be recommending a wide array of fee increases.   Assuming the fee increases are approved by all committees and boards, the increases will take effect in year 2022 and they should cover expenses for another decade.

In next week’s column, I hope to cover the various types of license and fee increases proposed.  In the meantime, the DFW will probably post its recommendations on its web page.  The public is encouraged to read and comment on these recommendations.  There have been listening sessions conducted during the past month and, not surprisingly, few attendees stated they were against any fee increase.  After all, it has been 25 years since its last increase.

Tax season, a great time to help keep Massachusetts wild!

One easy way to help endangered animals and plants in the state is by donating on your state tax return. Simply fill in the amount you would like to donate on Line 33A for Endangered Wildlife Conservation. Your donation will go to the Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Fund, a fund dedicated specifically to the conservation of rare species. This Fund supports MassWildlife’s NHESP responsible for the hundreds of species that are listed as endangered, threatened, or of special concern in Massachusetts.

Despite its status as the nation’s symbol, bald eagles were targeted and killed for the better part of a century. This intentional killing, coupled with habitat loss and pollutants like DDT, caused breeding bald eagles to disappear from Massachusetts in the early 1900s. Beginning in 1982, MassWildlife and its partners began to relocate young eagles from Michigan and Canada to an area overlooking the Quabbin Reservoir in efforts to reestablish breeding pairs in the state. These relocated eagles were raised by a wildlife management practice known as hacking, in which young birds of prey are raised in an outdoor cage with no direct human contact and later released into the wild. The eaglets came to view the area around the Quabbin as their home turf and when they matured, some of the hacked eagles established breeding territories at the reservoir. In 1989, eight decades after the last historic bald eagle nest was observed in Massachusetts (on Snake Pond in Sandwich), three chicks fledged from two Quabbin nests. Fast forward to now when over 70 territorial pairs of bald eagles were documented in Massachusetts last year.

While Massachusetts has made considerable progress, 432 plants and animals are still recognized as rare in the state. MassWildlife’s NHESP is the first line of defense for Massachusetts’ most vulnerable plants and animals. Donating to this fund ensures continuing conservation for these rare species.

American Museum of Fly Fishing

The AMFF, next to the Orvis Company in Manchester, VT, has partnered with the F3T to bring us the 2021 Fly Fishing Film Tour virtually this year. This is a great opportunity to sit back with family and friends and enjoy the Tour on our own time. This year’s F3T has an incredible line up with everything from Arapaima in the Amazon basin, Bream and Tarpon in the same film, Smallies, Pike, Steelhead, and some of the best trout footage ever captured.  Did you know Dr.Martin Luther King Jr. had a special relationship with long time bonefish guide Ansil Saunders and the island of Bimini? All of these stories and more are part of the 2021 F3T streaming virtually March 10 – April 4 and tickets are on sale now.

Click onto 2021 Fly Fishing Film Tour – Digital Event: Wed, Mar 10, 2021 (myeventscenter.com) to watch the trailer and purchase tickets.
As well as having access to the films, you will be supporting The American Museum of Fly Fishing. As part of its partnership this year, $2.00 of every ticket sold through the link will be given back to AMFF. So, if you have friends or family that may be interested please share the link so we can work together to strengthen our fishing community. Remember the more tickets sold through the link the more money they raise.

Hey!  Get me out of here!

In early February, MassWildlife received a call from a Bolton homeowner with an interesting predicament. A barred owl had found its way into the chimney and was sitting in the fireplace. Fortunately, MassWildlife Central District Manager Todd Olanyk was able to assist, carefully removing the owl from the fireplace and examining it for injuries before releasing it outside, where it quickly flew off.

If you’re wondering why a barred owl would be attracted to a chimney, a look at their life history might give a clue. From February through May, barred owls across Massachusetts begin laying eggs. Barred owls do not build their own nests. They are cavity nesters, meaning they typically will select a hollow tree or use the nest of a hawk or squirrel to lay their eggs. This particular barred owl might have been looking for a cavity to nest when it found itself in a chimney with no easy escape. MassWildlife has also received reports of this occurring with other cavity-nesting birds like American kestrels and mergansers.

To help prevent wild animals like birds, bats, raccoons, or squirrels from entering your home, MassWildlife recommends placing a metal cap with a screen on your chimney. If you find injured wildlife, you can find a list of licensed wildlife rehabilitators on MassWildlife’s website.  Many thanks to MassWildlife for the comical picture and useful information.

Jamie Pollard of Hinsdale, was out ice fishing on Stockbridge Bowl last Saturday with a couple of close friends Aaron and his stepfather Billy and his blind springer spaniel hunting dog.  He was fishing 10 feet under the ice, with Arkansas shiners bait and 8lbs test monofilament leaders.   Around 10:00 am his tip-up flag went up and when he set the hook, he thought “Good God,” and he wondered what was on the other end. At first, he thought it might be a monster pickerel. It took 15 minutes before he got the large fish to swim past the hole. He said that his heart almost stopped when he saw the large brown trout swim by.  “Oh, my God!”, he said.  It was another 10 minutes before he got it back near the hole.  “We were doing the “Keystone Cops” said Jamie.   Billy was taking the line off of and putting it back onto the reel as the fish came in and out of sight.  He and his buddies circled the hole about 30 times before he got its head into the hole.  “I was going to send it back.   I was not going to keep the fish, but when I pulled it out, got it onto the ice and got a look at it, I did a quick search and thought maybe I had a chance at the State record”.  His measuring tape showed that the fish was 32 inches while the State record measured 31 inches.

Another reason why he kept it was something that happened to him in Vermont 18 years ago.  Then he had caught a 4+ lbs. yellow perch that was 16 inches long.  The guy at the bait store was a new hire at 15 years old and didn’t suggest he report it to the state fisheries and wildlife as a possible record setter.   The next year when he went up there the youngster said that he had been waiting to see him again because he was pretty sure Jamie beat the all-time state record for the perch in the state of VT. It was too late to do anything by then and now he wishes he had followed up.   This time he didn’t want to mess it up again.

He had a gaff but didn’t use it because he had full intentions of releasing it and didn’t want to seriously harm it.  The fish came out of an 8- inch hole!  They got its head out finally and Aaron got a finger under its gill while Jamie grabbed onto the back of its head/neck, hoisted it out of the hole and onto the ice, saying “Mother of God, look at the size of that thing!”.  They had a small thin tape measure and it measured 32 ¼ inches, had a 21 ¼ inch girth and on the portable scale that they had, it was weighed between 17 and 18 lbs.  I think he did the right thing by keeping it because the Brown inhaled the hook and it was way down in its belly.   Jamie said that after the 25-minute battle, his back was screaming in pain and his bare hands felt like they were frozen.  “That fish had no intentions of getting near the hole,” said Jamie. (I believe the part about frozen hands, for 5 fishing partners and I were ice fishing not very far from where he was that day.  Just a couple of minutes of exposure to the wind and cold and our ungloved hands ached like heck.)

The next day, at the Onota Boat Livery, it weighed in at 15 lbs.8 oz., measured 32 ¼ inches and had a 19+ inch girth. (The difference possibly due to shrinkage as it was measured a full day after catching.)  He had no idea that there were brown trout anywhere in Massachusetts that size.  He will submit pictures and data to MassWildlife and perhaps, he will be awarded a gold pin and plaque through the MassWildlife’s Freshwater Sportfishing Awards Program.  MassWildlife has recognized anglers who catch exceptional freshwater fish across Massachusetts for some 50 years now.  Last year’s winning Adult Catch & Keep Brown Trout has not yet been announced yet, but the winning weight in 2019 was 12 lbs. 2 oz caught out of the Ware River in Ware.

So where did this behemoth come from?  I asked Andrew Madden, DFW Western District Supervisor and himself a fish biologist, what his opinion was.  He said that they stocked broodstock brown trout in the Stockbridge Bowl in 2016, 2017, and 2020.  Their broodstock fish come from either the Roger Reed Hatchery in Palmer or the Sandwich Hatchery on Cape Cod. “These fish typically range in size from 3lbs to 8lbs with sometimes an occasional individual reaching close to 10lbs. The ages can vary but generally they are 3 or 4 years old at the time of stocking” he said. The broodstock are a bonus that they spread throughout our lakes and ponds to provide an opportunity for anglers to catch a lifetime quality fish. “We can’t know for sure, but I would guess that the Stockbridge brown was probably a broodstock from 2016 or 2017. That would likely put the fish around 6-8 years old. Regardless of when it went in, it is an awesome catch and must have been a serious thrill to see it come through the ice”.

“The trout that we stock daily in the spring are numerous and big,” he said, “Its good to see that our local lakes are hanging in there and have some of these large fish”, said Andrew.

Jamie said that he didn’t bring it to my attention to boast about it. (Someone else forwarded the picture that very evening.   News of a big brown trout like that caught in the Berkshires spreads like wildfire.) I’m glad he did contact me as I didn’t know who had caught it.  He said he saw a lot of guys at Onota Lake while weighing it in and showed them the fish not for purposes of bragging, but rather to provide a little brightness on a dark day and it caused guys to put a little spring in their steps as they headed out onto the ice.    He said he is not much of a trout eater and he always releases them.  Someone suggested that he smoke it but instead is going to have it mounted.  Who knows, perhaps if he was able to get it officially weighed right away, it might have gone down as a new Massachusetts State Record.  Perhaps, on Saturday, February 6, 2021 it was.

Incidentally, the Massachusetts record brown trout weighed 19 lbs. 10 oz and measured 31 inches long.  It was caught out of Wachusett Reservoir by Dana Deblois in 1966.

Jamie and his friends fished until 4:00 pm that day and caught two more trout (Rainbows) and a pickerel.  They had quite a memorable day, wouldn’t you say?

Junior Conservation Camp teaches outdoor skills to Massachusetts teens

Designed for teens aged 13–17 who want to try new outdoor activities, improve their current skills, or meet other like-minded peers, the Massachusetts Junior Conservation Camp (MJCC) offers a hands-on curriculum focused on outdoor skills, conservation education, and ethics to girls and boys. Participants will have fun and make friends during the two-week overnight camp. The MJCC will be held at the Moses Scout Reservation in Russell from August 1-13.  Registration is now open at http://juniorconservationcamp.org and will continue through May 1. Conservation groups and sporting clubs who want to sponsor a camper may also register to reserve a spot for a deserving teen.

The MJCC offers varied and educational programs. Professionals from environmental agencies provide hands-on experiences and demonstrations on wildlife, fisheries, forest fire control, and forest management. Experienced and enthusiastic outdoors men and women offer outdoor skills instruction on fishing, camping, wild foods, archery, and firearms safety. Certifications in Hunter Education and Boating Safety are also part of the curriculum. Tuition is $1,000 but the majority of campers receive full scholarships from sporting clubs and conservation organizations across the state. Click onto http://juniorconservationcamp.org/sponsors for more information on groups with camp scholarships.  For an inside look at camp life, check out the No.1, 2020 issue of the Massachusetts Wildlife magazine.