Category Archives: Hunting

Hunting

Fish Hatcheries are good neighbors

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National fish hatcheries in the northeast region of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) help raise fish for large-scale aquatic restoration. They also help raise awareness of fish through local fishing derbies and events.
For example, Mickey Novak, Hatchery Manager for the Richard Cronin National Salmon Station, hosts several fishing events for veterans at his facility in Sunderland, Massachusetts. A veteran of the Vietnam war, Novak and a team of volunteers, many of them veterans themselves, help those who have served our country spend an enjoyable day angling. “It’s vets helping vets,” says Novak.
Berkshire National Fish Hatchery, located in Hartsville, annually co-hosts six fishing events for kids April through September with the Berkshire Hatchery Foundation friends group. The Foundation also has a longstanding summertime program where any child 14 and under accompanied by an adult can check in at the office, receive a pass and fish the hatchery’s stocked lower pond.
Berkshire also provided fish for 21 public fishing events throughout Western Massachusetts and Connecticut in 2013, including a fishing day at the USFWS Northeast Regional Office in Hadley, Massachusetts. “Over 7,000 brook trout and rainbow trout were provided for public fishing events so far in 2013,” said Hatchery Manager Henry Bouchard. In addition, 2,500 surplus brook trout were donated to Massachusetts public fishing waters last fall. These fish were released into the Green, Williams and Konkapot Rivers and Lakes Garfield and Buel.”
Incidentally, next Saturday, the Berkshire Hatchery Foundation will be holding a fishing derby in conjunction with Monterey Days. The derby, which is for kids under the age of 15, will be held from 9AM to 10:30 AM. Parents are asked to call ahead to ensure that there is room for their young anglers.
Finally, on Sunday, August 25, the Foundation will hold its 11th annual Lobsterfest celebration. The four course Maine Lobster dinner, which includes one free drink, costs $65 pp and can be purchased from Foundation President George Emmons (413-528-5985). There will be raffle prizes. According to Emmons, keyboard music and lyrics, provided by Mark Caldwell, will “orchestrate a mountainside melody in tempo with the flow of the 300 gallons a minute gravity fed water supply through the covered pools nearby. The hatchery fish may appear to be dancing in the afternoon current of renewal by the swing and sway of their tails.” *****
Deer hunters, have you checked to see if you won an antlerless permit yet? Beginning August 1, and continuing through the end of the calendar year, antlerless deer permit applicants must return to the MassFishHunt website from a computer, any authorized license agent location, or any MassWildlife Office to try to win their antlerless deer permit in the zone for which they previously applied.
Enter your last name and Customer ID number. A page with your personal information will appear. Click on the blue “Enter Sales” button at the bottom right of your screen. Click on “Hunting Permits and Stamps” in the menu at the left side of your screen. Click on “Antlerless Deer permit” and you will see the zone for which you originally applied. Click on the “add” button next to your zone and you will instantly receive a message that informs you if you have won your permit or not. Winning permits will be placed in your shopping cart where you can pay the $5.00 permit fee immediately and print the permit, or leave the winning permit in the shopping cart where it will remain until payment is made or until the permit expires at the end of 2013. ****
The East Mountain Sportsman’s Club in Williamstown will be holding a Basic Hunting Education Course on Monday Sept. 9 from 6 to 9 PM, Saturday Sept. 14 from 9 AM to 4:30 PM and Sunday , Sept 15 from 9AM to 4 PM. Students must attend all sessions as part of the requirement for passing the course. To enroll, call (978)772-0693. *****

The Onota Fishing Club will be holding its 26th annual crappie derby from 6 AM to noon next Sunday on Onota Lake, Pittsfield. Entry fee is $25pp; 2 person teams. Prizes will be awarded for most crappies per team, heaviest crappie and most pan fish by weight. All fish must be at least 8 inches and weighed in by 1 PM at PortSmitt’s Lakeway Restaurant, Pecks Road. There will be an all-you-can-eat venison and fish fry to follow, $10 fee for non participants. Sign up at PortSmitt’s or call Chris Porter at 413-496-0105. *****

Brad Klose, from Dalton has designed and patented a fishing lure which he calls the Turbo Weedless Spinner. He claims that his inspiration and research ground is Cheshire Reservoir middle lake, an extremely difficult place for anglers due to the dense weed cover. The lure is best fished from a kayak or canoe where one can enjoy the challenge that this lake has to offer, without clogging up your motor with weeds.

Does it work? He claims yes and it has exceeded all of his expectations. He will be available most evenings at the lake to give hands on demonstrations to anglers who want to give the lure a “spin”. No charge for the lure but anglers will need to bring their own spinning rod, ball bearing swivel, tungsten bullet weight and a kayak or canoe to really experience the ability of this lure.

He wants to keep it made in the USA and manufactured in the Berkshires, but the most challenging obstacle so far has been raising enough funds to bring the lure to market. He has started a Kickstarter campaign (http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/449388303/856622301?token=15f55f48.} Kickstarter is an American-based private for-profit company that provides tools to raise funds for creative projects via crowd funding through its website

Leave wildlife alone

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Each spring, MassWildlife issues an alert reminding us to leave wildlife alone. Well-meant acts of kindness tend to have the opposite result. Instead of being left to learn their place in the world, young wildlife removed from the wild are denied important natural learning experiences which help them survive on their own.

Most people quickly find that they can’t really care for young wildlife, and many of the animals soon die in the hands of well-meaning people. Young wildlife that does survive human “assistance” misses experiences that teach them to fend for themselves. If these animals are released back into the wild, their chances of survival are reduced. Often, the care given to young wildlife results in some attachment to humans and the animals may return to places where people live, only to be attacked by domestic animals or hit by cars. Some animals become nuisances and people have even been injured by once-tamed wildlife.

Fawns are safest when left alone because their camouflaging color helps them remain undetected until the doe returns. If sympathetic people repeatedly visit a fawn, it can prolong the separation from the doe and delay important feeding. Unlike deer, newborn moose calves remain in close proximity to their mothers who, in contrast to a white-tailed doe, will actively defend calves against danger. An adult cow moose weighing over 600 pounds will chase, kick, stomp potential predators, people included.

Only when young wildlife are found injured or with their dead mother may the young be assisted, but must then be delivered immediately to a licensed wildlife rehabilitator. Due to the difficulty in properly caring for them there are no rehabilitators licensed to care of fawns. It is illegal to possess most wildlife in Massachusetts.

Message poorly timed you say, for we are past the spring fawning season. Please let me relate asituation that has recently come to light. It is a true Berkshire story but I have been asked to keep the names and locations anonymous. Let us call the person Parker who lives in Ripton.

Parker was recently visited by a year old spike horned buck which walked up to him in his driveway. He appeared tame and let Parker scratch his head and neck. He picked up a handful of grass and the deer ate right out of his hands. He later followed him right into his garage. He has no fear of humans whatsoever and is hanging around his property, frequently laying down on his lawn. It must have been a rescued fawn from last year and has adopted a close attachment with humans. In any event, Parker enjoyed the visits from this deer and grew fond of it himself.

Things were fine up until a few weeks ago. Parker became concerned when two game wardens (EPO’s) visited his place twice to track what is happening with the deer. They want to make sure it doesn’t turn into a public safety issue. Parker is afraid they will put it down. According to Andrew Madden, DFW Western District Manager, they are not at that stage right now, but the situation must be monitored.

Why kill it you ask? I posed the same question to the DFW folks and received the following answer. The deer is mature now and will be going into its first rut (breeding season) this fall when deer do goofy things because they are smitten with love. He could become a danger to the public, especially children, as he may attack people thinking they are rivals (or possibly lovers). He may dart out into traffic and cause an accident. It is sad, but the EPO’s must do their job and protect the public.

Personally, I hope the deer “high tails it” when he spots the EPO’s vehicle approaching. But unfortunately, it is doubted that this story will have a happy ending. If he sees a human in the woods, perhaps a deer hunter or a hiker with dogs, he may walk right up to them. The hunter may shoot him or the dogs chase him. Because he is not woods savvy, he may fall prey to coyotes, bears, etc. He may not know how to find food during our rugged winter. And don’t forget about the other wild bucks in the area who may not take too kindly to this stranger who is wooing his harem of does.

This is a sobering example of what could happen when we interfere with Mother Nature. Madden recommends that when people encounter what appears to be abandoned fawns, they should contact his office before doing anything. As far as Parker, Madden recommends that he make it uncomfortable for the deer to stay there or be near humans. *****

According to DFW’s Astrid Huseby, this spring’s youth turkey hunt was the most successful to date with 275 participants signing up statewide to hunt on the youth day. Of those youths, 82 students (30%) were successful in harvesting a turkey. Some 57 birds were reported online and 25 reported at a physical check station. A survey of the young hunters revealed:
23% had never hunted turkey before, 12% had never hunted anything before, 96% saw turkeys,
68% had an opportunity to take a shot, 72% of youth hunted during the regular season and
17% harvested a bird during the regular spring season

DFW will be celebrating the Youth Turkey Program’s 5 year anniversary at the next Fish & Game Board Meeting on July 31at the Western District Office in Dalton. The meeting will start at 1pm. The National Wild Turkey Federation has created plaques for each club to thank them for their dedication to this program. Astrid will also be giving a brief Power Point presentation to the Board about the program.

Wisconsin provided fond memories

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My wife Jan and I just returned from a 2 week vacation in the Midwest. The reason for going there was to visit relatives in Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin, visit the Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame in Hayward, Wisconsin, take a boat cruise among the Apostle Islands and do a little trout fishing in upper Wisconsin.

Well, forget about the fishing. Like here, they received an awful lot of rain and it was impossible to fish the rivers. In fact, we couldn’t even get to the river’s edge due to the flooding.

A major item on our agenda was to stop in to visit relatives (daughter-in-law’s parents – Sharen and Dan Theissen) whom we had not seen in 3 years. They own a diner called The Rivers Edge in Saukville, Wisconsin, and we arranged to have breakfast with them. I must admit that was the longest drive for breakfast we ever made (970 miles, 15 hours). After a great breakfast and wonderful visit with Sharen and Dan, we headed north toward Hayward, WI. We planned to stay a few days, take a boat cruise on Lake Superior through the Apostle Islands near Bayfield, and visit the Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame in Hayward.

The primary reason for visiting the Hall of Fame was to see if the late Charles Lahey of Pittsfield, a close personal friend of ours, was truly inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2010. At first, we couldn’t find him, but it turned out we were looking in the wrong place. His plaque and picture were prominently displayed in a more important place than we were looking, along with the most famous fishermen and fishing writers in the world – people like Isaac Walton, Gadabout Gaddis, Ted Trueblood, Ray Bergman, Ted Williams, Curt Gowdy, Ernest Hemmingway and others – names undoubtedly familiar with the gray haired anglers. Only 5 others from Massachusetts have ever received such honors.

On his plaque were the following words: “Inducted Legendary Angler, Charles Lahey, 2010, Massachusetts”- “Charles is a great example of the high ethical standards consonant with the Fresh Water Fishing Hall of Fame. Charles prefers to walk and move from place to place while trout fishing even at age 100! He was acknowledged on the “Today” television show for his legendary fly fishing reputation. He has created a special fly to fish the Mad River in Vermont. His flies have legendary popularity in the waters of the famed Berkshires”.

Charlie passed away in 2011 just days before his 102nd birthday.

Talk about a unique place. On the 7 acre museum complex grounds is a giant sculpture of a muskellunge, one-half city block long and four and one-half stories tall. Its gaping, open jaw accommodates about 20 persons. There were many different giant freshwater fish sculptures also there.

One of the most interesting parts of the museum for me, and perhaps for anglers of my generation, was a the adjacent four-building museum complex housing over 50,000 sportfishing historical and vintage artifacts such as lures, rods, reels, plugs, ice fishing stuff, fly fishing equipment and accessories. There are over 300 mounted fish and about 1,000 antique motors on display, some of which date back to 1917. Talk about a nostalgic trip into yesteryear.

One could easily spend a whole day in those buildings alone looking at the old equipment and reminiscing about fishing days not thought about in years. There was one old boat motor circa 1950’s that particularly caught my attention and prompted a comment that I spent more time tugging on the starter rope than the motor actually ran. That prompted chuckles from a few other older anglers who overheard me and apparently had similar experiences.

We had a wonderful time in that place. The boat tour through the Apostle Islands was also very enjoyable. If you are ever in Wisconsin, I recommend that you visit these places. It’s a long drive, and you might want to stop for something to eat …..at The River’s Edge Diner in Saukville. *****

The Cheshire Rod and Gun Club drew it Summer Sizzler Raffle winners last Sunday and the winners were:: First Prize/Truckload of Goodies – Kelly Wick; Second Prize – Dick Walsh, Third Prize – Dan Paciorek of Adams, Fourth Prize – Brian Trudeau of Cheshire and Fifth Prize – Ken Hodgdon of Adams. *****
First-time license buyers in Massachusetts are required to show proof that they have taken a basic hunter education course in order to purchase a hunting or sporting license. Or they can fill out a course notification form and they will be notified by email when a course is scheduled in their areas. Basic hunter education courses average 15 hours in length and are taught by volunteer instructors. Students must attend all scheduled sessions as part of the requirement for passing the course.
Students who successfully pass the course receive a Certificate of Completion that is accepted for purchasing a Massachusetts hunting or sporting license and for Massachusetts residents 15 years old and over to apply for a firearms license with their local police departments. If they lost their certificates from years past, they may obtain a duplicate certificate from the Hunter Education Program by filling out a form or by contacting the Hunter Education office directly at (978) 772-0693.
Local upcoming courses are as follows: Worthington Rod & Gun Club – July 29, 30, August 1 and 2 from 5:30 to 9:00 PM; Great Barrington Fish & Game Club – August 6 and 8 from 6:00 to 9:00 PM and August 10 from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM; Lee Sportsmen’s Club – August 26 and 27 from 6:00 to 9:30 PM and September 7 from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM. To enroll in a course, call the above number.
Questions/comments: Berkwoodsandwaters@roadrunner.com. Phone/fax: (413) 637-1818.

Fly Fishing season swinging into high gear

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For the fly fishermen, this is the time they have been waiting for, when the mayflies and various caddisflies start hatching in our waters.   Anglers are anxiously awaiting the appearance of flies such as the Gray Fox, March Browns, Light Cahills, Sulphurs and others.  Hatching as duns (sub-imagos with smoky or colored wings) most float on the water surface for a short time before flying to nearby vgetation before the birds get them.  They will be around only a few days, transform into spinners (imagos with long tails and glassy clear wings), do their in-air mating dances, mate, drop their eggs into the waters, spread their wings fall into the water and die. 

Thus begins the new cycle, the eggs hatch into nymphs which crawl along the river bottom hiding under rocks and woody or leafy debris for the next 360 days before they emerge again.  When it is their time, they come up from the bottom and hatch in the surface film or climb onto rocks and branches and hatch there. 

These insects don’t have mouths or stingers and are harmless so there is no need to swat or zap them.  Trout feed on them as well as the birds.   I don’t know which excites the fly fisherman more, actually catching fish or the mere sight of these delicate insects. 

Flyfishermen are well aware of these life cycles and have flies that imitate each phase.  They fish with weighted nymph flies along the river bottom, with emerger flies that imitate the nymph as they swim to the top just before hatching into duns, with dry flies which float on top of the surface that imitate the duns and with spent wing spinners flies. 

To be a good fly fisherman, one has to become an entomologist of sorts, one who knows when the flies emerge, their habitat, size, color, traits, etc.  They already know everything that I have mentioned above and are probably critiquing my every word.  But the comments are directed primarily to the person who knows nothing about the sport and may be contemplating taking it up.  If you are one, may I suggest that you tag along with an experienced flyfisher who would be more than happy to teach you about the sport.  That will save you a lot of time of trial and error.  But be careful, flyfishing can be extremely addictive. *****

The Twenty-first Annual Harry A. Bateman Memorial Jimmy Fund Fishing Derby will take place next Saturday at the Frank Controy Pavilion at Onota Lake in Pittsfield from 6:00 AM to noon.   No fishing license is required because it is Free Fishing weekend in MA.   Open to the public, its purpose is to raise money for the Jimmy Fund – Dana Farber Cancer Institute For Children.  All of the proceeds will be donated to the Jimmy Fund in memory of Harry A. Bateman a former member of Berkshire County Jimmy Fund Council, Central Berkshire Bowman & I.U.E. Local 255 who was well known throughout Berkshire County and who became a victim of cancer.

Many trophies and prizes are given away to the winners of the fishing derby, 8 for the Children 4 for Adults and 3 that can be won by adults or children.   There is a special category for those fishing with a bow & arrow.  All fish must be weighed in at noon and can be caught at Onota Lake from a boat or the shore.  Fishing tackle is given with the trophy prizes and two $100 cash prizes for heaviest trout. A sportsman award is given out to a child which includes a tackle box full of stuff.  Fee is $10 Adults $5 for Children 14 years old and younger. Fee includes food & beverages. All children receive a free gift and a chance at winning a Mountain Bike. There is a raffle for other great prizes.   For more information, contact Steve Bateman at 413-464-5035 or email “mailto:iggnatz@msn.com”>iggnatz@msn.   *****

The Stockbridge Sportsmen’s Clubs Fishing Derby was held on May 18 at Stockbridge Bowl.  Largest Salmon was caught by Lino Dus of Pittsfield, 2 lbs, 18”, Largest Bullhead – Seth Slemp of Lee 1 lb, 5oz, 13 ½”, Largest Bass – Tim Fogarty, Gt Barrington, 3 lbs., 3oz, 18”, Largest Pickerel –  Lucas Trumps, South Lee 2 lbs., 12oz, 22 ½”.  Mike Soules, of  Lee won the $300 raffle.

Age 12 and Under Winners:  Largest Pickerel – Mason Colli, Stockbridge,1 lb. 13 oz., 20 ½”, Largest Trout- Brady Whalen, Gt Barrington 1 lb., 6oz, 15”, Largest Bullhead –  Seth Slemp, Lee   1 lb., 5oz, 13 ½”.  *****

The Lee Sportsmen’s Association will be conducting a NRA Basic Pistol Course on June 3 and June 6 from 5:30 to 9:00 PM.  Graduates can then apply for their MA LTC Class A after successful completion.  Pre registration required.  The Cost is $100 which includes a one year  membership in LSA.  Learn pistol parts and operation, gun safety, shooting fundamentals, MA. laws, and more.  Contact Larry K (413) 442-7807 for more information. *****

The following waters were scheduled to be stocked last week:  Green River in Alford, Egremont and Great Barrington, Deerfield River in Buckland, Charlemont and Florida; Westfield River in Chester, Chesterfield, Cummington, Huntington, Middlefield, Russell, Windsor and Worthington; Housatonic River in Hinsdale, Dalton, Lee and Stockbridge; Walker Brook in Becket and Chester, Wahconah Falls Brook in Dalton, Bennett Brook in Hinsdale, Trout Brook in Peru, Greenwater Pond, North Pond, Littleville Lake, Goose Pond, Laurel Lake, Otis Reservoir, Big Pond, Onota Lake and Stockbridge Bowl. *****

This weekend, you might want to put down the fishing rod and spend a couple minutes remembering those who paid the ultimate price in defending our nation, especially the local men we lost this year.

Weather was perfect for the youth turkey hunt

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SSC Youth Turkey hunt 2013 Last Saturday young hunters and their mentors took to the woods to bag a turkey.  It was a special day reserved just for youths 12-17 years of age who successfully completed the Youth Turkey Hunt Program.    Several sportsmen’s clubs in our area including the Stockbridge Sportsmen’s Club (SSC), Lee Sportsmen’s Association (LSA), Cheshire Rod & Gun Club (CR&G) , East Mountain Sportsmen’s Club and the Worthington Rod & Gun Club  participated in the youth hunt program.  This year I covered the SSC. 

 Of the 14 youths that participated in the SSC hunt, 6 of them were successful and bagged 5 jakes (sexually immature male wild turkeys under two years old) and one tom.  The largest turkey weighed 20 lbs and was bagged by Chris Massini.   In addition to taking a jake, Scott Stringham saw a moose.  Mike Buffoni, Chairman of the SSC program said that the number of jakes taken showed that the adult males were preoccupied with the hens.   Everyone had the same story, the toms were “henned up, meaning the hens were not going to their nests and the toms were hanging around them.    Perhaps it was due to the cold spring causing late breeding.

 The SSC youths and their mentors are as follows:  Kadin Shafiroff – Mark Borghi,  Silas Lockwood – Bob Spence, Ryan Havil – Jeff St John,  Ryan Smyth – Don Langille, Nick Errichetto – Mike Buffoni/John Mange,  Nick Puntin – Chris Puntin, Nick Bryant – Josh Grayworth, Brittany Collins – Chris Puntin/ Brian Korte, Michael Buffoni Jr. – Jay Raifstanger, Max Buffoni – Ed Noble, Chris Massini – Tom Reynolds,  Sam Harding – Brian Korte/Matt Sawyer,  Zack Tinker – Dave Gilmore, and Scott Stringham – Greg Middleton.

 Following the hunt, they were treated to a delicious meal prepared by club manager Peter Delgrande.   It consisted of bear meat loaf, venison stew and scalloped potatoes and ham.  I had some and boy was it good.  Following lunch, the youths were taught how to dress the birds and preserve the turkey tails, beards, feathers and spurs.

 The LSA had ten young hunters participating and they bagged 5 turkeys, two toms and three jakes.  Their largest bird was also 20 lbs taken by Connor Larock.  Other youth participants at that club were Paddy Sullivan, Matty Kelly, Sam Polastri, David Belanger Zachary Richardson, Mathew Leprovost, Ryan Reuf, Chip Consolati and Tanner Hill.  (Sorry, I did not get the names of the mentors).  According to project chairman, Matt Zamboni, they had lunch prepared by John Polastri and they also learned how to process their birds.

 Details were not available as to how the other club hunters fared. ******

Nest Saturday, the Berkshire Hatchery Foundation will be holding a youth fishing derby at the lower pond at the Berkshire National Fish Hatchery.  The derby, which is for kids under the age of 12, will be held from 9:00 AM to 10:30 AM.   Parents are asked to call ahead (413-528-9761) to ensure that there is room for their young anglers.  At 9:30 AM at the Hatchery, Simon Winchester will be having a book signing of his best-selling book Skulls: An Exploration of Alan Dudley’s Curious Collection.  “Skulls” is a beautiful spellbinding exploration of more than 300 different animal skulls—amphibians, birds, fish, mammals, and reptiles.*****

 The following local waters were scheduled to be stocked with trout last week:  Deerfield River in Buckland, Charlemont, Florida; Westfield River in Chesterfield, Cummington, and Windsor; Chickley River in Charlemont, Hawley and Savoy; Cold River in Florida, Savoy and Charlemont,  Little River in Huntington and Worthington, West Branch Brook in Chesterfield and Worthington, Farmington River in Otis and Sandisfield, Hubbard River in Granville, Kinderhook Creek in Hancock, Mill Brook in Plainfield, Westfield Brook in Windsor, Bronson Brook in Worthington, Ashfield Pond, North Pond, Upper Highland Lake, Berry Pond, Plunkett Reservoir, Littleville Lake, Pontoosuc Lake, Laurel Lake, Goose Pond, Lake Garfield, Otis Reservoir, Big Pond and Onota Lake. *****

 The CR&G Club is once again having its monthly shoots on Saturdays starting at 10AM.   The entry fee is $10 for 1st shoot and $5 for the second.  Winners split ½ of the take.  Next Saturday they will have centerfile – 4×4 wood block shoots. *****

The LSA is having its Steel Challenge next Saturday.  Sign up is at 11:30 and matches begin at noon.  The cost is $15.

Spring turkey hunting season opens on April 29, with changes

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New this year, turkey hunters can check their turkey harvest online this spring season.  Here are some important reminders regarding turkey tagging and online game checking:

 • As in the past, you must tag your bird with your permit immediately after harvesting it. 

 • Within 48 hours of harvest and before the bird is processed for food or for taxidermy, you   must check your bird on the MassFishHunt web site.

 • After submitting your report, turkey hunters must write the MassFishHunt assigned confirmation number on the turkey tag that is on the bird. (The confirmation number is the official seal.)

 •           The tag with confirmation number must remain on the bird until it is processed for food or for taxidermy.

  Turkey hunters still have the option of bringing their bird within 48 hours of harvest to a traditional game check station.  

  New this year, the regulations on shot size for turkey hunting have changed.  The legal shot sizes for turkey hunting are now is # 4 – #7 shot.

 Also new this year, Youth Turkey Hunt Permits will not be mailed to youth hunters.  All youths participating in the hunt must obtain their permit through the MassFishHunt website.  Also, all youths who harvest a turkey on the Youth Turkey Hunt date of April 27, must check their turkey either online on MassFishHunt or at a traditional game check station within 48 hours of harvest.

 MassWildlife reminds turkey hunters that the bag limit is: (a) 2 bearded birds in spring season (1 per day) with no fall bird allowed, or (b) 1 bearded bird in spring season and 1 bird of either sex in fall season. No hunter may take 2 birds in the fall season.  The printed version of the 2013 MA Guide to Hunting, Fishing and Trapping omitted information regarding the bearded bird requirement in the spring turkey season. The bag limit information has been corrected in the online version of the 2013 Guide.  *****

  Congratulations to the Southern Berkshires Regional School District in Sheffield for incorporating the National Archery-in-the-School (NAIC) Program into its curriculum at its grammar/middle school.  Thanks go to the Berkshire County League of Sportsmen (BCLS), Massachusetts Outdoor Heritage Foundation, Pittsfield Cooperative Bank and the Berkshire Taconic Foundation for providing the funding, and to MassWildlife for training the instructors.  Recently, I joined Mark Jester, President of the BCLS,  Astrid Huseby Project Leader from DFW, Janet Latuda and Kimberly Rock of the Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation in attending the rolling out of the program. 

  Some 190 kids in Grades 4, 5 and 6 are enrolled in the program.  Assistant Elementary Principal Tom Nadolny, himself an outdoor sportsman, was instrumental in getting the program into the school system.   The instructors, Joshua King and Kelly Milan (both physical education teachers), received instructor training from four DFW personnel including Huseby.  Two high school teachers, Jessica Tomich and Susan Tomich also received instructor training and will be teaching it in the high school next year.

  Teachers applied for the grants and received funding from The Taconic Foundation’s Janet and Eagle Funds, and the BCLS received funding from the Massachusetts Outdoor Heritage Foundation, which in turn received funding for this project from the Pittsfield Cooperative Bank.

  The shooting takes place in the school gymnasium under the watchful eye of instructors King and Myland.  There is no danger of harming the floor, as there are no sharp points on the arrows.  The program, which appears evenly divided among girls and boys, is well received by the students.  They compete on their own level, not against the person next to them.  According to Nadolny, they are on their best behavior because they want to be in this program.   Feedback from parents has also been very positive.     

 “It’s great to see these kids excited about the program”, said Jester.   Nationwide, 48 states have incorporated the NAIC program and by 2017 there will have been 9 ½ million kids who went through this program in 15 years.  “I can’t wait to try archery myself”, said Nadolny, as we watched the kids hit bulls eye after bulls eye. *****

 Weather and equipment permitting, the following local waters were scheduled to be stocked with trout last week:  Hoosic River in Cheshire and Adams, Westfield River in Becket, Chester, Cummington, Huntington, Middlefield, Savoy, and Windsor; Deerfield River in Buckland, Charlemont and Florida; Farmington River in Otis and Sandisfield, Goose Pond, Onota Lake, Richmond Pond, Stockbridge Bowl Windsor Pond , Windsor Lake, Yokum Brook and Walker Brook in Becket, Dry Brook and South Brook in Cheshire, Factory Brook in Middlefield, Housatonic River (SW) in Pittsfield, and Depot Brook in Washington.  Broodstock salmon were also stocked into:  Goose Pond, Onota Lake, Stockbridge Bowl, and Windsor Pond.

 

Sequestration may definitely affect sportsmen, conservationists

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In his editorial in the most recent Massachusetts Wildlife magazine, DFW Director Wayne MacCallum commented on the Federal Aid in Fish and Wildlife Restoration Act, commonly referred as the Pittman-Robertson (PR) Act.  He reminded us how it was passed in 1950 for sport fish restoration and provided the states with the financial foundation to restore our fish and wildlife resources.  It was financed by establishing a dedicated funding stream supported by a 11% excise tax on bows, arrows, ammunition, firearms, fishing tackle and related equipment.  By law, the monies could only be used for fish and wildlife restoration by the state fish and wildlife agencies. It was strongly supported by hunters and anglers that buy equipment as well as the industries that manufacture such products.

Some state legislatures (including ours) tried to seize the funds to pay for state services, but have failed because any diversions would automatically result in the loss of the federally collected taxes.  But now, according to MacCallum, the use of these funds is being threatened at the Federal level.  It is called sequestration.  At first, sequestration didn’t immediately appear to threaten PR funding.  The Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Act of 1985 had specifically exempted payments to trust funds from excise taxes from sequestration. 

However, the Office of Management and Budget, on the advice of its lawyers and in consultation with the US Fish and Wildlife Service, interpreted the sequestration exemption for trust funds paid by excise taxes to mean that only the payments of the excise taxes into the wildlife and sport restoration trust funds are exempted from sequestration, but that the appropriations of funds out of these trust funds to implement the purposes for which the trust funds were created are not exempt. 

 According to MacCallum, about 50% of the Massachusetts DFW annual revenue is derived from these funds and their loss would seriously impact the stability of its long term wildlife conservation programs.  Sequestrating the spending of these trust funds to the states is a breach of faith and clearly violates the intent of the user-pay excise tax collection.  To quote MacCallum, “These funds have provided the fuel for the incredible engine that has driven the immensely successful fish and wildlife restoration and management efforts in this country, and it is a violation of public trust to threaten to cut off that fuel supply after sportsmen across the country have already filled the tank”.

 MacCallum does not offer advice as to what we can do about this.  Perhaps it is time to write to our new legislators, US Senators Cowen and Warren and US Representative Neal and ask them to oppose the sequestration of these funds.  This will be a good time to see what kind of legislators we have and whether they will honor the trust which we placed in them.  *****

 It was 25 years ago that the late Al Goerlach and a group of friends decided to put on a game supper to help support the football programs in Dalton and the Hilltowns.  Over the years, all proceeds have gone toward equipment and uniforms.  This Thursday evening at 6:00 pm, the game supper will take place again at the Dalton American Legion in Rte 9 in Dalton.  Tickets cost $15 and are available at the Dalton General Store or by contacting Mike Sondrini at (413)684-3524 or Matt Morrison at 684-5052.*****

The MassWildlife Basic Hunter Education Course is mandatory for first-time hunters or hunting license buyers in Massachusetts.  All courses are free of charge. Students must attend all dates listed.   The Worthington Rod & Gun Club on Dingell Road will be holding a course on April 16, 17, 18 and 19 from 5:30 to 9:00 pm.  As of this writing, it is not yet filled up.  To enroll, call (978) 772-0693. 

 Is hunting on the decline in Massachusetts?  Before answering, please click onto the MassWildlife hunter education web page, and you will see 33 basic courses being taught across the Commonwealth this spring.  Every single one is filled except the one that is being taught in Worthington.

 I am not sure of the maximum size of the classes but assuming that it is 25, then approximately 800 new hunters signed up to take the course and that is just for this spring.  They can’t keep up with the demand for the course and there are waiting lists.  And this is in a state with some of the most restrictive gun laws in the nation.   I don’t think the sport of hunting is declining at all.

 Keeping with MassWildlife hunter education courses, Mike Foley, Fran Tremblay and a few other instructors will be holding a Map and Compass course at the Lenox Sportsmen’s Club on New Lenox Road on Saturday, April 6.  It runs from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm.  Four hours of the course will be held indoors, and after lunch the field course will take place.

 I just learned that the course is already filled, but you might call Mass Wildlife @ 1-(978) 772-0693 to get on the waiting list in case someone cancels out.  *****

 

Near record bullhead caught by local 6 year older

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On Wednesday, February 20, six year old Nathan Luczynski, of Cheshire, was ice fishing on Cheshire Lake with his father Tim.  It was a cold and windy day and around 10 am a tip-up flag went up.  Tim was 80 – 90 yards away from it and Nathan responded to the flag.   Tim watched his young son pulling and pulling line for what seemed like 4 or 5 minutes.  He pulled in approximately 60 or 70 yards of line before he finally pulled the fish out of the hole.  At first, Tim was hoping that it was a big bass.  You can imagine his surprise when he discovered it was either a big bullhead or catfish.

 They brought the fish to the DFW Regional Headquarters in Dalton and two biologists confirmed that it was a brown bullhead.  It measured 23.2 inches long, with a girth of 14.7 inches and weighed 6 lbs 1 oz!  That fish weighed only 3 ounces shy of the Massachusetts state record.  To get an idea as to the rarity of catching a fish this size, an adult fisherman qualifies for a State bronze pin if a bullhead exceeds 2 lbs 0 oz.  In the youth category, the bullhead only has to be 1.0 lbs to get a pin. 

 I think Nathan and his family might be traveling down to the New England Fishing and Outdoor Expo at the DCU Center in Worcester next February to pick up a gold pin and trophy for that fish.  It is doubtful that a larger bullhead will be caught for some time.   Incidentally, the state record brown bullhead, which weighed 6 lbs 4 oz came out of Forest Lake in Methuen in 2008 and was caught by Roger Aziz, Jr. of Methuen. 

 Tim said that if the fish turned out to be a catfish, he was not going to mount it because they grow to good size.  But seeing that it was a potential award winner and very nearly a state record, he is having it mounted by Countryside Taxidermy in Cheshire.  He said that he purchased his shiners from JCB Live Bait also in Cheshire. *****

 According to club vice president Mark Jester, the 29th annual Lenox Sportsmen’s Club Rabbit Hunt was “tough going” this year.  Even though there was plenty of snow cover, it was a very hard crust with temperatures in the single digits early in the day and never getting above freezing.  There was only one cottontail weighed in and that was by 12 yr old club member Nick Puntin of Becket, and it weighed 3 lbs. Nick hunted with his Dad, Chris and Grandfather Bill.

 Seventeen brave hunters participated that day.  One hunter fell through some ice up to his waist crossing a swampy area and called it quits early.  However; he did make it to the club later for a warm and tasty venison goulash dinner.    ****

 The Stockbridge Sportsmen’s Club (SSC) is holding a game dinner this Saturday evening.  Social hour is from 6 to7 pm and dinner at 7.  The cost is $20 for adults and $10 for kids 10 years old and under.  For more information, contact Marc Fadding at (3)441-4249.

 Incidentally, the SSC is a very active club which is rapidly approaching 400 members.Its youth archery program is well underway and there are currently 76 kids signed up, ranging from 4-15 yrs old. Staying with the subject of young hunters, archers and anglers, did you pick up on the fact that   both Nathan Luczynski and Nick Putin shared their experiences with their dads?  I don’t know about you but I get a warm and fuzzy feeling about that.  And if the parents can’t get these kids out, it is nice to know that the local sportsmen‘s clubs are picking up the slack with archery programs, youth rifle leagues, fishing derbies, etc.  If for no other reason, I encourage you to join and/or support them. *****