Category Archives: Hunting

Hunting

A tale of two youth turkey hunters

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On opening morning of the Youth Turkey Hunt Day, thirteen-year-old Hunter Lawson and his mentor and dad Dan Lawson of Williamstown were hunting on public land

They woke up at 4:00 am and left the house at 4:30 am. They had previously scouted a few areas and knew there were birds in one area. They snuck into their spots a little after 5:00 am, and got their decoys set up and then waited for light. Hunter said that it wasn’t great weather, as it was a bit windy and cool, but soon they had turkeys gobbling nearby.

 

After some “tree talking” and “fly down cackle”, the turkeys were very excited, as were Hunter and Dan. Unfortunately, the toms had hens with them and didn’t want to leave them.

 

Things quieted down for the next 3 hours, and Hunter was getting a little discouraged. Around 9:00 am they called again and had an answer.  Hunter was excited!  After 15 minutes or so, they saw the turkeys heading their way, and they knew they had a good chance.

 

Hunter had his gun already up and ready as there were 5 jakes coming in. Hunter had already decided he would shoot a jake as this was his first turkey hunt ever and wasn’t going to be picky. At about 35-40 yards Dan whispered he could shoot the one on the right. Within seconds, he shot, and it went right down.

 

The other four jakes then proceeded to attack the dead one. Dan told Hunter he could shoot another one if he wanted. He was already sighting on another and shot it.

 

“The look on Hunter’s face was amazing!” said Dan.  “I’m not sure who was happier, him or me.”

 

Hunter was using a Mossberg SA-20-gauge shotgun with TSS turkey loads. He had patterned the gun at the East Mountain Sportsmen’s Club and knew what it could do.

 

The turkeys each weighed 15 pounds. After checking the birds in online, Dan showed Hunter how to dress the birds out. They saved the beards, fan, and a wing.

 

Dan’s father had taught him how to hunt turkeys in Vermont back in the 70’s, and then in Massachusetts when they started turkey hunts. Hunter’s other grandfather, Bob McCarthy of Williamstown taught all his kids how to hunt and appreciate the outdoors, and to see his grandkids follow in those same footprints is priceless.

 

To say Hunter is hooked on turkey hunting is an understatement.

 

That evening, Hunter accompanied his dad and granddad to the Berkshire County League of Sportsmen’s Silvio O. Conte Memorial Banquet which was held at the Cheshire Rod & Gun Club.  While there, emcee Mark Jester spoke about the Youth Turkey Hunt and Hunter’s success that day and had him stand up to quite an ovation. Later that evening, Hunter won award winner Joe Miraglia’s donated wing bone turkey call in the silent auction.  Joe immediately helped teach him how to use it. Hunter had a big smile on his face all night. He said it was almost as much fun as the hunt.

 

Seventeen-year-old Matthew Melito, of Adams, also went hunting that day with his mentor Conner Tworig of Cheshire. They arrived in the woods right before first light and waited at a spot where they thought they were going to see some turkeys. Two nights prior to the hunt, Matt had heard them nearby. After not having any luck there, they walked around the area looking and listening for turkeys that might be in the woods. The weather was a little rainy but mostly comfortable. Walking around between spots was enough to keep them warm for the time being, but when they were sitting and waiting for the turkeys Matt started getting a little cold. Not panning out in their favor, they decided to walk back to the truck and head to another spot Conner knew there were turkeys.

 

Conner was able to call in some birds. Matt said that he is incredibly talented with a diaphragm and slate call and was able to play both at the same time to imitate two hens fighting.  A hen walked by the decoys first and then shortly after, around 9:00 am, the two toms came in to check them out.

 

Using his 20-gauge shotgun with 3.5-inch, #5 birdshot, Matt dropped both toms at a distance of 15 yards.   One tom was 22 pounds, 3oz and the other was 18 and a half pounds.  The hunters were both very excited when Matt shot the birds and they both jumped up and pretty much ran over to them as soon as they both were down.

 

Matt is going to save the fan, spurs, and beards. Conner showed Matt how to dress the birds and Matt even got to attempt to breast one of them, but Conner was kind enough to do it for him.

 

Matt’s family was very proud of him. They’re not really hunters, but they all enjoyed the turkey they ate from last year’s hunt. Conner was mighty proud of Matt, too.

 

Last year, Matt and Conner went turkey hunting in Ashfield and were so successful it was like they were being handed turkeys. This year was a little different. Conner made Matt work for his birds and he is very grateful for that, because” that’s how it actually is and I’m glad I got to experience that so I know what to really expect next year.”

 

While Matt is one in the picture and the one who shot the turkeys, he insists that he cannot take all the credit. “Without Conner I wouldn’t be out there turkey hunting, mainly because I wouldn’t know how to be successful in it. He’s also the one who did the hard part, which was calling them in. I wouldn’t have been able to shoot them if we weren’t there in the first place.  He has done a lot for other people, too, getting them into turkey hunting and helping them fill their tags. He absolutely deserves recognition for that too.”

 

“Overall, I’ve had a lot of fun the couple times I went, and this isn’t the last time you’ll see me on Facebook with a turkey or two.”

 

Trout Stocking

The following local waters were scheduled to be stocked last week, subject to change: Hoosic River (South Branch) in Cheshire and Adams, Hoosic River (North Branch) in Clarksburg and North Adams, Green River (north) in New Ashfield and Williamstown, Green River (South) in Alford and Egremont, Clesson Brook in Buckland and Ashfield,  Upper Clesson Brook and Ashfield Pond in Ashfield, Westfield River (West Branch) in Becket, Chesterfield and Huntington; Cold River in Charlemont, Chickley River in Hawley and Charlemont, Pelham Brook in Rowe and Charlemont, Housatonic River (East Branch) in Hinsdale and Dalton, Housatonic River (South West Branch) in Pittsfield, Hudson Brook in Clarksburg and North Adams, Hubbard River in Granville, North Pond in Florida, Upper Highland Lake in Goshen, Berry Pond in Hancock, Dunbar Brook in Monroe, Pelham Lake in Rowe, Buck and Clam Rivers in Sandisfield, Windsor Lake in North Adams, Hemlock Brook in Williamstown, Lake Buel, Goose Pond, Otis Reservoir and Stockbridge Bowl.

Kids Fishing Derbies beginning at the Hatchery

On the second Saturday of each month beginning in April and running through September the Friends of the Berkshire National Fish Hatchery put on a kid’s fishing derby. They start at 9:00 and run to 10:30 am.  No child goes away empty handed.

The next derby will be next Saturday, May 13 at the Hatchery’s Lower Pool at 240 Hatchery Road, New Marlborough.

1,000th column

If you have been reading this column since its beginning, you are now reading the 1,000th column. Can you believe it? Yep, it’s true. Can’t believe it myself.   Never thought I could put out 10 columns, much less 1,000.

It started in March, 2004, just a couple of months after the “Magnificent Scribbler,” Ted Giddings, retired after 55 years of writing his Our Berkshires outdoor sports column.

Ted joined the Berkshire Eagle in 1928 serving as a reporter until 1937 and as city editor from 1938 to 1971. He was best known for his popular outdoors column, “Our Berkshires,” which he began writing in 1948.

Don’t look for me to challenge Ted’s remarkable run of 2,860 columns.

Spring trout stockings under way

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Spring trout stocking is in full swing now with approximately 30% of the allotted numbers for the Western District already being stocked. That equates to about 30,000 trout swimming around there right under your nose. Hope you got out and caught some. Last week I was unable to provide any stocking information, but were catching up now.

Subject to change, the following waters were scheduled to be stocked with trout during the week of April 3 – April 7.  Westfield River (West) in Becket, Chester, Middlefield, and Huntington; Westfield River (Middle Branch) in Middlefield, Worthington, Chester and Huntington; Westfield River (East Branch) in Chesterfield, Cummington and Windsor; Housatonic River (East Branch) in Hinsdale and Dalton; Deerfield River in Buckland, Charlemont and Florida; Farmington River in Otis, Sandisfield and Tolland; Town Brook in Lanesborough, Norwich Pond in Huntington, Goose Pond in Lee and Tyringham, Windsor Lake in North Adams, Windsor Pond in Windsor  and Onota Lake in Pittsfield.

This past week, the following local waters were scheduled to be stocked, pending any changes:

Hoosic River (South Branch) in Cheshire and Adams, Housatonic River (Southwest Branch) in Pittsfield, Housatonic River (C/R) in Stockbridge and Lee, Littleville Reservoir in Chester and Huntington, Plunkett Reservoir in Hinsdale, Laurel Lake, Garfield Lake in Monterey, York Lake in New Marlborough, Big Pond in Otis, Otis Reservoir in Otis and Tolland, Onota Lake, Stockbridge Bowl and Windsor Pond in Windsor.

School is out, help stock trout!

Did you know that the public is invited to help MassWildlife stock trout during school vacation week?  It’s your chance to meet MassWildlife fisheries staff, view trout up close, and learn about places to fish near you. It is such a fun time to see the toddlers running to the lakeshore with a pail and a trout or two in it.  They are supposed to toss the trout out of the pail into the water, but every now and then in their excitement, they toss the pail in, too.

Stocking in our Western District will be on April 19 at Onota Lake in Pittsfield beginning at 1:30 p.m. at Burbank Park on Lakeway Drive.

Parents, bring a camera with you to capture these wonderful memories.  You’ll be glad you did.

New additions to the Freshwater Sportfishing Awards Program

Beginning in 2023 two new fish species (Fallfish and White Sucker) will be included in the Sportfish Awards Program. These are fish not normally eaten and some consider them trash fish.  But they make up an important part of the “game” fish’s diet. It will be interesting to see the sizes of some of the fish entered into the Sportfish Award Program.

Personally, I never understood why Rock Bass were classified as Sunfish. One only needs to look at the size of their mouths and you can tell they ae of the bass family. It’s hard to get a pin for a Pumpkinseed or Bluegill when they are competing against a Rock Bass. I think they should be separate categories. If any tweaks were to be made to the Freshwater Sportfishing Program, that’s where I would have made it.

They have also added a Youth Catch and Release category to the Awards Program.  Now this is where an adult should make sure that the youth knows how to safely remove a hook from a fish so that it has a chance for survival. Maybe I can get into that in a subsequent column.

Some of the 2022 winners with connections to the Western District:

As previously mentioned in this column, there was a 3-way tie for Catch and Keep Youth Angler of the Year; the winners were:

Carter Flagg of Gill, Logan Middlebrook of Pittsfield, and Gabriel Christman of Pittsfield. Each angler caught 9 of the 22 eligible species.

Other 2022 Gold Pin Winners with local connections:

Brook Trout 3. 5 lbs. from Goose Pond by Allan Armstrong of Lee, Brown Trout 3. 6 lbs. from Onota Lake by Logan Middlebrook of Pittsfield; Bullhead; 2. 0 lbs. from Plainfield Pond by Carter Flagg, of Gill; Crappie 2. 4 lbs. from Norwich Pond by Dominic Crochier of Chesterfield; Rainbow Trout 3.5lbs. from Stockbridge Bowl by Gabriel Christman of Pittsfield; White Perch 1. 4 lbs. from Pontoosuc Lake by Gabriel Christman of Pittsfield; Northern Pike 44″ from Onota Lake by Seth Davis of Oxford; Northern Pike 44″ from Onota Lake by Jake Burke of Pittsfield and White Catfish 23.25″ from Onota Lake by Jason Wingrove of Bernardston.

Migratory Bird Regulations Public Hearing–

A public hearing will be held on Wednesday, April 26 at 1:30 p.m., at the S.O. Conte Anadromous Fish Research Laboratory, 1 Migratory Way, Turners Falls, MA to establish rules and regulations relative to the 2023–2024 migratory game bird hunting seasons.

Due to the migratory game bird season filing requirements of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Fisheries and Wildlife Board must vote to finalize and approve the 2023–2024 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 mail to the Fisheries and Wildlife Board, MassWildlife Field Headquarters, 1 Rabbit Hill Road, Westborough, MA 01581. Written public comments will be accepted until Tuesday, April 25, 2023, 5:00 p.m.

Here is a summary of the proposed changes.  I think our waterfowl hunters will like them:

  • Woodcock Season: October 2 through November 22
  • Youth Waterfowl Hunts: September 23 and October 7
  • Veteran’s Waterfowl Hunts: September 23 and January 29
  • Early Goose Season (statewide): September 1 through September 22
  • Regular Goose Season

o Berkshire Zone: October 10 through November 25 and December 11 through December

14 (now 45 days, increased from 30 days; daily bag now 3, increased from 1)

o Central Zone: October 14 through November 25 and December 12 through January 6

o Coastal Zone: October 14 through October 21 and November 29 through January 27

  • Late Goose Season

o Berkshire Zone: December 15 through January 30

o Central Zone: January 15 through February 12

o North Coastal Zone: January 29 through February 15

  • Duck Season

o Berkshire Zone: October 9 through November 25 and December 11 through December

30

o Central Zone: October 14 through November 25 and December 12 through January 6

o Coastal Zone: October 14 through October 21 and November 28 through January 27

Beagle Club Field Trials

 

Next weekend, April 22 – 23, 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.  For beagle lovers, there’s no finer sound than that of a beagle singing its heart out while following the scent of a bunny.

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 50/50 raffle.

2023 spring trout stocking beginning soon

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At the last Berkshire County League of Sportsmen’s (BCLS) meeting, DFW Western District  Supervisor Andrew Madden reported that MassWildlife will stock nearly 500,000 brook, brown, rainbow, and tiger trout across Massachusetts this year—nearly 470,000 will be stocked during the early spring.  The Western District waters should receive approximately 20% of the allotted fish.

Stocking in southeastern waters started March 6 and other regions of the state will begin as soon as weather conditions allow. As of Tuesday, March 14, no Western District waters have been stocked yet.

MassWildlife raises trout in its five hatcheries in Sandwich, Palmer, Belchertown, Sunderland, and Montague.

“Anglers can look forward to another outstanding trout fishing season. Thanks to the year-round work of our dedicated staff, the quality and size of the fish we are stocking this spring is exceptional,” said Dr. Caleb Slater, MassWildlife’s Chief of Hatcheries. “MassWildlife stocks these trout in more than 220 cities and towns across the Commonwealth, which helps make great fishing opportunities more accessible to anyone who enjoys the outdoors.”

Most of the trout will be over 12 inches, more than 175,000 rainbow trout will be over 14 inches, more than 51,000 brook trout will be over 12 inches, including 300 18”+ retired brood fish.  Some 50,000 brown trout will be over 12 inches, including nearly 700 18”+ retired brood fish and more than 2,500 tiger trout will be over 14 inches

Boating Safety Classes

 

At that same BCLS meeting, Environmental Police Lt. Tara Carlow reported that she scheduled two boating safety classes in our region. One is at Berkshire Community College on April 16 and April 23 from noon to 5:00 pm.  The other is at the Cheshire Rod & Gun Club on April 4, 5, 11 and 13 from 5:00 to 8:30 pm. Participants must be there all days.

 

She reminded the League that Massachusetts law requires all motorboat operators who are 12 through 15 years of age to complete an approved boating course in order to operate a motorboat without adult supervision. Also, all PWC operators who are 16 or 17 years of age or older must complete an approved boating course.  The Massachusetts Environmental Police Requirements are: You must be at least 12 years old to take the course, and you do not have to be a resident of Massachusetts to take this course.

People must have written permission or trails must be open to the use of off-road vehicles (ORV) and all machines must be properly registered, even on their own property.  Pittsfield State Forest ORV season does not open until May 1, and may be delayed by muddy conditions.  All fines and regulations were modernized in 2010 when an 8-year-old boy was involved in a fatal ATV accident.

A Massachusetts law, enacted that year restricting the use of ORVs to those age 14 and older led to significant reductions in both emergency department visits and hospital admissions resulting from ORV injuries in the following three years according to a study by investigators at Massachusetts General Hospital, comparing injury rates before and after the law’s enactment.

Lt Carlow also mentioned that they will try to do an ORV education class.  Anyone in Massachusetts who is younger than 18 years old has to have this education to drive an ATV, dirt bike or side by side along with other age requirements. A class has not been held in the Berkshires in a while because only certified officers can teach it.  There are no specifics on it yet.

 

Lastly, she also mentioned an incident where MA EPOs assisted with a case that resulted in an arrest in Maine.  A guy from Attleboro, MA was paying people in Maine to trap wild snowshoe hares and he was taking them back to Attleboro for his own beagles to run.  The US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) also got involved. He received a 1-year probation, a $10,000 fine, and a $1,800 restitution to Maine for the hares.

Migratory Bird Regulations

At that same BCLS meeting, Madden reported that The Massachusetts Fisheries and Wildlife Board voted to move MassWildlife’s proposed Migratory Bird regulations to public hearing. This annual process sets dates and limits for seasons on Migratory birds within a framework set by the USFWS.

The primary changes include the following:

  • Increase the Mallard Bag limit from 2 to 4
  • Increase the Berkshire Goose season from 30 days to 45 days and increase the bag from 1 to 3
  • Open the Berkshire duck season October 9 (Holiday)
  • Open the Central duck season October 14th (Saturday)

 

Here they come again

MassWildlife officials are reminding the public that March is the month when hungry bears emerge from their winter dens and seek out food. Natural foods such as acorns and other nuts are usually available on the ground, but 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. Act 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.

 

Gala Event

On April 1, the Lee Sportsmen’s Association/Ducks Unlimited (LSA/DU) 7th Annual Youth Sports Gala will take place at the Country Club in Pittsfield.  There will be raffles, live and silent auctions.  Doors open at 4:00 pm, dinner served at 6:00 pm.  Tickets cost $100 per person and can be purchased at leesportsmen.com or mail to Lee Sportsmen’s Association, PO Box 175, Lee, MA 01238.

Keeping with the LSA, Turkey Shoots will take place every Sunday through March 26, from 1:00 pm to 4:00pm.  Prizes include: NY Strip steaks, turkeys, pork loins, and spiral hams.  Cost: $3/shot-meat, $3/shot money shoot.  Lunch available for purchase.  Contact President Doug Frank at (413) 822-6490 with any questions.

Pistol License Course

On Saturday, March 25, Pete’s Gun Shop is hosting the MA Pistol License Course which qualifies you to apply for a MA LTC or FID, plus pistol licenses issued by AZ, CT, FL, ME, NH, PA, etc. The course includes firearm laws, safe gun handling, operation, maintenance, shooting fundamentals, etc. Live fire is also included, and is required by CT, FL and several MA municipalities. You will receive new wrap-around shooting glasses and folding muff type hearing protection that are yours to keep.

This will be a one day all inclusive, live fire class at the Cheshire Rod & Gun Club. The class starts at 9:00 am. They spend time at the range and you get to shoot. You are also given an NRA Basic Pistol Safety textbook which is included in the class cost of $160.00.

 

You also get a $10 gift certificate to Pete’s Gun Shop in appreciation for taking the course. You are asked to pre-register by calling or stopping in at Pete’s Gun Shop at 413-743-0780, as space is limited. This live fire course fills up very quickly so call or stop in early to pre-register.

 

Prepayment is required at the time of registration. They do accept credit cards in person at the shop or by phone.

More 2022 deer harvest information

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More information has become available regarding the 2022 deer harvest.  As readers may recall, some 15,853 deer were harvested statewide last year.  The breakdown by harvest sex:  9,076 were adult bucks, 5,516 were does and 1,261 were buck fawns.

The following is the breakdown by Wildlife Management Zones and by seasons.  I am listing only the figures for the area west of the Connecticut River (WMZs 1 through 4), our area.

Zone 1: 4 deer were taken by paraplegics or youth (P/Y), 110 by archery, 139 by shotgun and 119 by primitive arms for a total of 372.

Zone 2:  13 taken by P/Y, 193 by archery, 234 by shotgun and 160 by primitive arms for a total of 600.

Zone 3:  5 taken by P/Y, 168 by archery, 283 by shotgun and 197 by primitive arms for a total of 653,

Zone 4N:  14 taken by P/Y, 210 by archery, 286 by shotgun and 148 by primitive arms for a total of 658.

Zone 4S: 8 taken by P/Y, 158 by archery, 140 by shotgun and 79 by primitive arms for a total of 385.

Just to give you an indication of how large the deer herd is in the eastern part of the state, Zone 9 yielded 1,414 deer, Zone 10 yielded 2,793 and Zone 11 yielded 4,259.

2022 wild turkey harvest

Based upon information listed on the MassWildlife web site, some 3,067 turkeys were harvested statewide last year, 2,837 in the spring hunt and 230 in the fall hunt.

The spring totals were as follows:  2,240 adult males, 508 jakes, and 10 bearded hens.  (Hunting the normal hens is prohibited in the spring hunt).  Those numbers were based upon the spring estimated harvest which was estimated to be 2,758 at the time. When final figures came in, the count was subsequently jacked up to 2,837. Some 365 of them were estimated to be from the Berkshires.

The harvest was nearly identical to the 10-year average of spring turkey harvest.

Young hunters harvested some 76 turkeys (49 adult males, 26 jakes, 1 bearded hen) statewide on the Youth Turkey Hunt Day.

Sex breakdowns were not available for the fall harvest nor how many were taken in the Berkshires.  Of the total 230 statewide fall harvest, 118 were toms and 112 were hens.

A talk on Mustelids

On Wednesday, March 8 at 6:00 pm local MassWildlife biologist Nathan Buckhout will make a presentation on mustelids, otherwise known as the weasel family—and go over some common characteristics of the diverse group.

river otter photo provided by MassWildlife

The talk will be at the March Berkshire Green Drinks gathering at the Shire Breu-Hous inside The Stationery Factory, 63 Flansburg Ave, Dalton, MA, and online via Zoom.

 

Mustelids are a family of carnivorous mammals, which include weasels, minks, otters, fishers, martens, and wolverines, among others. They’re an incredibly diverse family that comprises a vast number of individual species. Nathan will briefly discuss each species presently in Massachusetts, as well as species that have disappeared from the region. He will also discuss some common misconceptions and human-mustelid-related issues that commonly occur.

 

Additionally, Nathan is an expert on bears and enjoys discussing all types of wildlife.  He welcomes all questions about any wildlife during the Q&A session.

The in-person gathering begins at 5:00 pm at Shire Breu-Hous. The presentation will take place upstairs in a venue space of The Stationery Factory at 6:00 pm. RSVP to the in-person event at https://March-2023-Berks-Green-Drinks.eventbrite.com

Pre-registration is required to attend the virtual presentation. Register at https://tinyurl.com/March-2023-Berks-Green-Drinks

Berkshire Green Drinks (formerly Pittsfield Green Drinks) is an informal gathering on the second Wednesday of the month. A guest speaker talks for about 30 minutes beginning at 6:00 pm, and the presentation is followed by a discussion and Q&A. These nights are free and open to everyone with any environmental interest. The drinks aren’t green but the conversations are. Everyone is welcome and encouraged to join and bring along questions

First time out ice fishing

I don’t think anyone forgets the first time they went ice fishing. Five-year old Cameron and three-year old Colin Phillips of Groveland, MA surely won’t forget their first ice fishing experience.  They were out ice fishing on Onota Lake last Sunday with their mom and dad Nicole and Shaun Phillips and their grandparents Elaine and retired Pittsfield Deputy Fire Chief Keith Phillips. Shaun grew up in Pittsfield and fishing on Onota Lake but now resides in Groveland. Elaine and Keith Phillips still reside in Pittsfield.

Fishing on about 8 inches of ice, Cameron hauled in a 3 lbs. 10 oz smallmouth bass.  According to Shaun, Cameron pulled it in himself, his first time catching one while ice fishing. It will earn him a youth bronze pin from the state, and if no one catches a larger one this year, he may get a gold pin.

Cameron and Colin Phillips picture provided by family

They kept the bass this time and plan to have it mounted so Cameron has one on the wall next to his dad’s bass, which he caught when he was about the same age as Cameron.  Shaun says it kept him fishing throughout his life

Teaching Shaun and now Cameron was their grandfather Keith who was present to witness both catches.  I’d say he did a good job of teaching, don’t you think?

Some small game hunting ends next week

Tuesday marks the end of the cottontail rabbit, snowshoe hare, squirrel and fox hunting seasons until this fall.  Oil up your guns and safely lock them away in the gun cabinet. Remember to lock your ammo in a separate location. The next time hunters will probably be picking up their shotguns again is in April, when the Spring Wild Turkey hunting season opens on April 24.

Let’s help those that are endangered

Is pulling junk out of our rivers not your forte?  Are you too busy to help eradicate the invasive hardy kiwi plant? Feeling guilty about not doing more to protect our environment and the critters that inhabit it, especially the endangered ones?

Well, one possible way to alleviate the guilt is to support the endangered at tax time. By adding a donation to line 33A on your State income taxes, you can help Massachusetts endangered animals and plants thrive.

 

According to MassWildlife, more than 430 plants and animals are listed under the Massachusetts Endangered Species Act. These rare species play an important role in keeping the Commonwealth’s natural communities thriving. You can make a difference by supporting endangered species conservation while filing your taxes this year. Remember, look for Line 33A on your state tax form and write in any amount. Your meaningful donation will go to the Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Fund which is dedicated specifically to the conservation of rare species in the Commonwealth.

 

Good time to tie some flies

 

With ice fishing almost over, the hunting seasons closed, little or no snow for snowshoeing, too early to start scouting for wild turkeys, what are the outdoors folks going to do now?  Go shopping?  Nope, you don’t want to hang around a mall all day. I don’t know about you, but my legs get more tired there than traipsing through the woods all day or climbing a mountain.

 

If you are a fly fisherman, you have no problem.  This time of year is traditionally the time to sit down at the fly tier’s desk and start winding the thread, furs, feathers, tinsel, etc. onto the hooks.  For many, it’s the only time of the year they have to do this.  They will probably restock the reliable, time-tested old flies like the Woolie Bugger, the Hendrickson, the Gold Ribbed Hare’s Ear, etc., that they lost during last year’s season, either in fish, snags or branches.  Or maybe they will tie up variations of those trusted old flies by changing the color, size, etc., just to see how they’ll work in the upcoming fishing season.

 

By the time that they are done fly tying, it will be springtime with our lakes and streams full of hungry trout ready to gobble them up………..or totally reject them.

2022 deer harvest set a record

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In his February report to the Berkshire County League of Sportsmen, DFW Western District Supervisor Andrew Madden reported that the preliminary statewide deer harvest for 2022 was a record with  15,853 deer. “That harvest highlights growing deer abundance statewide and increased access to permits, with the previous 3-year average of 14,007.” he said.

The breakdown of the harvest by season is as follows:

  • Youth Deer Hunt Day: 114
  • Paraplegic Hunt Days: 7
  • Archery Season: 6,543
  • Shotgun Season: 5,823
  • Primitive Firearms Season: 3,366

He noted that the harvest is well within the expected range allowed under strict regulations set by MassWildlife.

“The statewide deer population has been increasing for several decades,” said MassWildlife Deer and Moose Project Leader Martin Feehan. “Hunting is a critical tool for balancing deer populations with forest health while feeding tens of thousands of families across Massachusetts every year. It really is a win-win for both people and wildlife conservation.”

Deer densities vary widely from an ideal range of about 12–18 deer per square mile in most of central and western Massachusetts to more than 30–50 deer per square mile in areas of eastern Massachusetts and on the islands. Without population management through regulated hunting, deer become overabundant, increasing risks to public safety from vehicle collisions and habitat damage. When there are too many deer, they over-browse tree saplings and seedlings, which degrades forest health and negatively impacts many other wildlife species.

 

Basic hunting education is mandatory for all hunters.

 

There are different rules for minors based on their age. No person under the age of 12 may hunt in Massachusetts.

Youth ages 12-14

Youth ages 12-14 do not need a license or stamps or firearms license to hunt. They may hunt only when accompanied by a licensed adult hunter 18 or older. Only one minor per adult is permitted. The adult and minor share one firearm/bow and a single bag limit along with any applicable permits/tags.

The adult must have:

  • A valid Massachusetts hunting or sporting license
  • Any required state or federal stamps or permits
  • Firearms license if a firearm is being used
  • All other hunting laws apply.

 

 Youth Ages 15–17

Youth ages 15-17 must have a minor hunting license along with any required stamps and permits.

  • Minors without a Basic Hunter Education certificate must be accompanied by a person 18 years of age or older.
  • Minors with a Basic Hunter Education certificate may legally hunt without adult supervision and must carry their Basic Hunter Education certificate while hunting.
  • Minors hunting with a shotgun or rifle must follow Massachusetts Firearms license laws and must obtain a Firearms Identification Card (FID).
  • All other hunting laws apply.

Basic hunter education is required even for adult hunters.

  • Blended: Students complete the online MA hunter study guide before attending one in-person Field Day.
  • In-person (traditional): Students attend an entirely in-person, instructor led course that is offered over multiple days.  All courses are free of charge and open to the public.

 

Such a class will be held at the Cheshire Rod and Gun Club on March 13, 17, 20, 22, 27 and 31 from 6:00 to 9:00 pm. If interested, you should click onto the MassWildlife website education and call the number listed to sign up.

 

Ice Fishing derbies

The Great Barrington Fish & Game Club will be holding an ice fishing derby on Saturday, February 11 from 7:00 am to 1:00 pm at Mercer’s Pond in Great Barrington.  The entry fee is $15 for adults and children 12 and under $5. There will be a spaghetti and meatball dinner following the derby.  There will be prizes for every child.  The grand door prize for adults will be an ice auger, for children a bicycle. Other prizes include:  largest fish (adult and child), heaviest fish overall plus many raffle prizes. Tickets must be pruchased at the clubhouse prior to derby, no exceptions.

The Cheshire Fire Department’s Sixth Annual Ice Fishing Derby will be held on Sunday, February 12 on Cheshire Lake.  There will be prizes for the three largest fish of any species for both adult and youth age groups. An additional prize for the largest bass of the day will be awarded as well as the Bill Lewis Biggest Bass Award.

Registration will take place from 6:00 am until noon on both boat ramps. It will run from 7:00 am to 4:00 pm on both the north and south basins. Registration Fee: $15.00 for adults, youths 12 and under free with an adult. Registration fee automatically enters you in for thousands of dollars worth of raffles to be drawn throughout the day.  A 50/50 raffle will also be available.  All fish must be weighed in by 4:00 pm.

All proceeds from this derby go directly to benefit the Cheshire Volunteer Fire Department for things like training, equipment, vehicle maintenance, etc. Call or text with any questions. 413-281-5020.

 

Results of Ice fishing Derby

 

The winners of the Lanesboro Fire Association Ice Fishing Derby which was held on Saturday, January 28 on Pontoosuc Lake are as follows:

Pike: 1st Place John O’Neil 8 lbs 2 oz, 2nd Jon Jewell 7 lbs 6 oz, 3rd  Brian King 6 lbs 6 oz.  Bass: 1st Place Kristen Strum 3 lbs 5 oz, 2nd Dan Dufur 3 lbs 4 oz, 3rd Brian Littlefoot 2 lbs 8oz.  Pickerel: 1st Place Dan Starkey 2 lbs 15 oz,

 

Some 80 or so ice fishermen entered the Coles Memorial Ice Fishing Derby last Sunday on Goose Pond. John Kelley caught the largest fish of the day, a 2 lb 5 oz brown trout which measured 19 ½ inches long.

 

Other Adult Category winners were:  Bass: Trevor Goodermott took 1st place with a 1 lb 15 oz bass.  James Trumps came in second with a bass weighing 14 oz.  Pickerel:  Shamus Daley took 1st place with a 1 lb 10 oz fish.  J Petersoli came in second with a 1 lb 7 oz fish, Trout:  John Kelley took that 2 lb 5 oz brown trout.  2nd place went to Josh Brown with a 1 lb 8 oz 16-inch rainbow trout.  Perch: Tyler Swicker took first place with a 11 oz yellow perch.  Josh Brown took second place with a 10 oz perch.

Picture taken by
Gene Chague

 

In the Kid’s Category, Carson and Emmit Mechare tied for 1st place by each catching a 14 oz rainbow trout. Young Trenton Santolin caught the only pickerel in this category which was a 13 oz pickerel.

 

The 39th Annual Springfield Sportsmen’s Show coming soon

 

The show takes place at the Eastern States Exposition (Big E) 1305 Memorial Ave., West Springfield, MA on February 24 through 26.   The show hours are Friday from noon to 8 pm, Saturday 9 am to 7 pm and Sunday 10 am to 5 pm.  Admission:  Adults – $15, kids 6 to 12 – $5 and under 6 free.

Billed as the largest pure hunting and fishing show in the Northeast, it is filled with hundreds of booths, seminars and action areas. The show is filled with an outdoorsman’s dream of fishing and hunting gear, outfitters, charter boats and adventure destinations, along with great deals on fishing boats, ATV’s and UTV’s. There will be great attractions and displays such as The Northeast Big Buck Club, Trout Pond, and more.

The Outdoor Sports Expo Group brings together just the right mix of hunting and fishing celebrities, industry experts, and entertainment features to produce a sporting and outdoor show that is educational, entertaining, and fun.

Each year, the show draws exhibitors from all over the Northeast who are eager to present their products and services to outdoor sporting enthusiasts. Returning and all new fishing tackle vendors will exhibit and sell fishing reels and rods, hard and soft plastic baits, fishing kayaks with accessories, boats of all types, etc.

State of the Hoosic River

On February 9, from 6:30 to 8:00 pm, the Taconic Chapter of Trout Unlimited will have at its general meeting Arianna Collins, Executive Director of the Hoosic River Watershed Association (HOORWA).  She will be speaking about the state of the Hoosic River and the work HOORWA is doing in water quality and temperature testing. The meeting will take place at the Trailhouse Kitchen and Bar, 896 State Rd, North Adams.

Fly Tying with Chris Samson

 

On February 7, Chris Samson of Berkshire Outfitters, 169 Grove St, Adams, MA, is hosting a fly-tying night at 6:30 pm.

Time to review ice safety tips

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Well, with ice fishing season here or approaching, and with fishing derbies scheduled, it’s that time again to review information from MassWildlife regarding ice thickness.  A truck already went through the ice in Warwick, MA.  Fortunately, no one was injured.

I recommend you read the great article on Page A4 of the January 13, 2023 Berkshire Eagle dealing with ice safety. Or you could click onto MassWildlife’s website https://www.mass.gov/news/stay-safe-on-the-ice-this-winter where there is important safety information listed.  There is no need for me to reprint all of that information here.

But I would like to point out a couple of items:

One is the suggestion by MassWildlife that 4 inches of ice may be safe for ice fishing or other activities on foot.  But they clearly stipulate that it is safe only on new clear/blue ice on lakes or ponds.  Keep an eye on the ice especially this year because of the freeze/thaw days this winter.  The ice may be cloudy and not as thick and hard as one thinks.

Another important suggestion is to always keep pets leashed while walking on or near ice. Well- meaning pet owners can easily become victims themselves when trying to assist their pets.

 

Obviously, rabbit hunters don’t keep their dogs on a leash for they work the bushes trying to kick up some bunnies and unfortunately, they’re apt to run onto dangerous ice pursuing them.

 

That happened to me a few years back while my beagle Jacques and I were hunting an area near the Housatonic River in Pittsfield.  He was barking away running a bunny out of my sight when I heard ice breaking in the area where he was.  I rushed over to find him and there he was in a frozen flooded area near the river some thirty feet away.  Only his head was sticking out of the ice and he was looking at me for help.  I had to try to save him, so I gingerly started walking out to try to reach him.  To my delight, the water under the ice had receded and there was dry ground under that ice.  When I reached Jacques, he was standing on dry ground under the ice, too.  We really lucked out that day.

 

After that I never hunted him in the late fall or winter where there were ponds or rivers. Actually, I didn’t have to worry, for he never forgot that incident and never went on ice again, unless he went ice fishing with me.  He loved to play Huskie and help me drag my ice fishing sled out onto the lakes.  I brought a 30-foot lead so that he wouldn’t wander away and get into trouble near thin ice or try to bum a hot dog from other nearby ice fishermen.

 

Upcoming ice fishing derbies 

The Lanesborough Volunteer Fireman’s Association will be sponsoring an ice fishing derby on Saturday, January 28 on Pontoosuc Lake.  It will run from 6:000 am until 2:00 pm.  Registration will be conducted behind the park on Narragansett Avenue.  There will be a $15 entry fee for adults with kids 12 and under free.  Each entry fee includes a chance at the door prize (Weber Grill).

The Coles Memorial Hard Water Fishing Derby is scheduled to take place on Goose Pond on Sunday, January 29 from 7:00 am to 2:00 pm. Tickets can be purchased in advance at Dresser Hull, Terrace Hair Studio or on the ice near the boat ramp and must be purchased by 10:00 am in order to fish. Tickets cost $10.00 for adults and free for kids 12 and under.  There will be cash prizes for adults.  All proceeds will go towards a memorial donation to the boat ramp in the late Evan Colbert’s name.

Check to make sure there are no changes due to ice conditions,

 

Learn to ice fish with MassWildlife

Learn how to set up your rod, how to use a tip-up and how to bait your hook. Events are free, family friendly, and open to all skill levels. No fishing license or registration is required. Bring your own fishing equipment or borrow theirs. Limited gear and bait will be provided. Note: Events will be canceled if ice is less than 6 inches thick or if there is heavy rain or snow.

Such a class will be held on Cheshire Lake on February 19 from sunrise to 4:00 pm.  Meet up and weigh in at Farnham’s Causeway.  It is held in cooperation with the Cheshire Rod & Gun Club and the Adams Outdoorsmen for Youth.

There are also some nice ice fishing tutorial videos on the MassWildlife website.

Nice crappie hauled through the ice

Last Tuesday, January 17, Javius Johnson of Ashfield, MA caught a nice crappie out of Ashfield Lake. It weighed 1 lb 12 oz, was 16 inches long and had a girth of 11 ¾ inches He caught it on a shiner.  I happened to be at the Onota Boat Livery in Pittsfield when Javius weighed it in. It was a beauty.

Incidentally, Javius said that there were approximately 8 inches of ice on Ashfield Lake that day.

To be eligible for a bronze pin from the DFW Freshwater Sportfishing Awards Program Catch and Keep Category, the crappie had to weigh at least 1 lb 8 oz.  If no one catches a larger crappie, Javius will receive a gold pin and be recognized at the awards ceremony later on this year (provided Covid doesn’t rear its ugly head again).  In that case the pin and certificate will be mailed to him.  Last year’s gold pin winning crappie weighed 2 lbs 13 oz and it came out of Quabbin Reservoir.

2022 Deer Harvest figures still not yet released

In his January report to the Berkshire County League of Sportsmen (BCLS), MA DFW Western District Supervisor Andrew Madden said that early reports indicate that 2022 was an excellent year for Massachusetts deer hunters. Final tabulations are still being calculated but all Western District zones saw an increase over 2021. Full statewide numbers should be available soon.

Preliminary Bear Harvest

 

Andrew Madden also reported that a total of 223 black bears were taken during the combined 2022 bear hunting seasons. This was the second highest in the last 5 years and the 6th highest overall. Some 79 bears were taken in Berkshire County.

 

Environmental Police Comments

At the above-mentioned BCLS meeting, Lt. Cara Carlow of the Massachusetts Environmental Police discussed the recent hunting fatality in Chesterfield.  She offered this advice:

  • If you have an older person with a smart phone, please show him//her how to use it, how to find where the coordinates are and how to send them.
  • That deceased hunter only brought 5 shotgun rounds with him and blasted them all off before law enforcement even got to the location. They had nothing to help triangulate where the lost hunter was. On top of that, he kept moving.
  • If you like to hunt alone, tell a friend where you will be and that you will text them later when you come out of the woods.
  • Plan for the worst weather, make sure your phone is charged before you go out. If you know the battery is dying, put it on airplane mode. Carry a portable phone recharger.

 

She had one other tidbit of useful information – Make sure you have a plan if you shoot a deer or bear.  Can you drag it out? If not, have some friends on standby. Also, please know that you are not allowed to use an ATV to drag your bear out of a Wildlife Management Area unless MassWildlife gives you permission to do that.

Definitely some useful advice from which we all can learn.

Monies awarded for recreational access projects in MA

$56,000 has been awarded in Massachusetts state grant funds to the Towns of Barnstable and Cohasset, and the City of Newburyport for saltwater fishing access projects popular with the recreational fishing community.

The access funds, which were awarded by the Department of Fish and Game’s Division of Marine Fisheries are provided through the collection of revenue from the sale of saltwater fishing permits, a portion of which fund construction and improvements to public access facilities in Massachusetts coastal communities.

 

It’s good to know that our salt water permit fees are being put to good use.

Hunters Share the Harvest Program” is a success.  Expansion planned for next year.  

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In my December 10, 2022 column, I did an article on MassWildlife’s Hunters Share the Harvest Program, a new program which provides an opportunity for hunters to donate and share wild game meat like venison with Massachusetts residents in need.

Free range, organic venison is a lean, healthy protein with a low carbon footprint that already feeds thousands of licensed hunters and their families across Massachusetts each year and now successful hunters can help combat hunger and food insecurity in their communities by donating venison.

In last year’s deer hunting seasons, there was only one approved meat processor that accepted whole-deer donations.  The packaged venison was to be distributed to those in need through the Massachusetts Military Support Foundation’s Food 4 Vets program.

Meat processors, food pantries, hunger relief agencies, or other organizations who wanted to participate in MassWildlife’s Hunters Share the Harvest program in the future could contact Martin Feehan, MassWildlife’s Deer and Moose Project Leader, at martin.feehan@mass.gov.

Well, at last week’s Berkshire County League of Sportsmen’s (BCLS) meeting, DFW Western District Supervisor Andrew Madden reported that MassWildlife had a very successful launch of the Share the Harvest Program. “With support from the Massachusetts Outdoor Heritage Foundation and through the generosity of hunters, more than 700lbs of venison were distributed.” said Madden.

MassWildlife will be expanding the program in 2023 to reach wider distribution and provide meals for more people throughout the state.

BioMap is available.

BioMap, a newly-updated online tool that identifies critical land and waterways throughout the Commonwealth in need of conservation is now available. MassWildlife and The Nature Conservancy (TNC) worked to develop the tool to help state and local governments, land trusts, non-government organizations, and other conservation partners strategically plan projects to conserve wildlife and their habitats.

The latest version of BioMap combines more than 40 years of rigorously documented rare species and natural community records from MassWildlife with cutting-edge climate resilience data from TNC and spatial data identifying intact fish and wildlife communities, habitats, and ecosystems that are the focus of the Massachusetts State Wildlife Action Plan.

You are invited to join Assistant Director of MassWildlife’s Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program Eve Schluter and TNC Ecologist Andy Finton for a demonstration of the new BioMap webinar on January 18 at 7:00 p.m. on Zoom. Click onto https://www.mass.gov/news/new-release-of-biomap to register for the webinar.

Email natural.heritage@mass.gov to request BioMap technical support or to request notification of future trainings.

 “Tracking Wildlife: Stories from the More-Than-Human World”

Skilled wildlife tracker and educator Dan Gardoqui is visiting the Berkshires to present a talk: “Tracking Wildlife: Stories from the More-Than-Human World” at Berkshire Community College’s Robert Boland Theater in Pittsfield on Friday, January 20 at 6:00 PM. This event is sponsored by Berkshire Environmental Action Team (BEAT), Greenagers, Berkshire Natural Resources Council (BNRC), Housatonic Heritage, Richmond Pond Association, and Berkshire Community College. It is free and open to the public, with a $10 suggested donation.

Dan Gardoqui will give a presentation on tracking wildlife. He’ll lead attendees to make deeper connections with the natural world and the wildlife that surrounds us by sharing thrilling stories and photos from his tracking experiences and discussing ways to actively participate in the more-than-human world by applying wildlife tracking skills. A Q & A session will follow the talk.

The following day, Saturday, January 21, Dan will lead two back-to-back trackings (8:30 am to 11:30 am and 12:30pm to 3:30pm at the Eugene D Moran Wildlife Management Area on the border of Cheshire and Windsor, MA. Each workshop costs $50 and has a limited space of 10 participants Email team@thebeatnews.org with any questions.

For over 30 years, Dan Gardoqui has been a student, teacher, observer, and active participant in the more-than-human world. A Certified Wildlife Tracker since 2006, he has trained hundreds in the science and art of tracking. Dan is also a bird language expert and bird mimic – known for his YouTube series “Learn a Bird.” Some of his contributions include the books “Mammal Tracks & Sign: A Guide to North American Species” (Elbroch & MacFarland) and “What the Robin Knows: How Birds Reveal Nature’s Secrets” (Young). Dan applies wildlife tracking skills in citizen science projects (e.g., Canada Lynx, Flying Squirrels, Moose, Eastern Wolf) as a Registered Maine Guide.

Fly fishing show in Marlboro

 The 2023 Fly Fishing Show will take place January 20-22 at the Royal Plaza Trade Center,181 Boston Post Road Marlborough, MA. Hours are 10 am to 6 pm on Friday, 9 am to 5:30 pm on Saturday and 9 am to 4:30 pm on Sunday. The show promises more fly-casting, tying, manufacturer and retail store displays of the newest rods, reels, lines, boots, waders, clothing and flies during the three-day run.

The show will have many demonstrations at its Destination Theater presentations each hour including Labrador’s Monster Brookies, Fly Fishing Martha’s Vineyard, Montana, Iceland, the Adirondacks and many others.  There will be more than $30,000 in door prizes.

Admission is $15 for one day, $25 for two days and $35 for three days. Children under age 5 are free, children 6-12 are $5 and active military with ID’s are $10.

Fly Fishers International hosts the Fly-Fishing Show Learning Center with fly tying, casting instruction and other fly-fishing information and is free to show attendees.

The New England premiere of the 2023 International Fly-Fishing Film Festival is Friday at 6:30 pm. Tickets are $10 in advance or $15 at the door.

For a complete listing of fly-fishing films, classes, seminars, door prizes, demonstrations, etc., visit www. flyfishingshow.com or phone (814) 443-3638.

Beginner Snowshoe/Winter Hike

 On Saturday, January 21 from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm BEAT and the Great Barrington Land Conservancy are having a 1-mile beginner winter hike at BNRC’s Housatonic Flats reserve on Stockbridge Road, Great Barrington. If weather permits, they’ll snowshoe, if there’s no snow, they’ll go for a winter hike. They will review the basics of winter hiking like what traction to wear on your feet, how to layer properly, and what to look for.

It will be an easy hike of 0.9 miles.  Bring water, wear sturdy footwear and wear layers. BNRC has a few pairs of micro-spikes and snowshoes to loan.  Animals not allowed. For questions contact Charlotte at chood@bnrc.org

Fishing community mourns the loss of Fred Moran

Frederick Dennis Moran of Adams passed beyond the riverbend on January 8 at the age of 80. He undoubtedly will be remembered by former students from the Lenox, Cheshire and Dalton schools.  He completed his last years as a classroom teacher at the Craneville Elementary School in Dalton.

Perhaps more people will remember Fred as an avid fly fisherman who ran Points North Outfitters in Adams.  For two decades Fred and his wife Marilyn taught hundreds how to fly fish and they guided hundreds more on the Deerfield River.  Fred was known for collecting antique (bamboo) fishing rods and reels and the building and restoration of fly-fishing rods. He later worked at the Orvis fly rod factory in Manchester, VT. He was a close friend of the legendary local bamboo rod builder, Francis “Digger” Degere and became his apprentice.

Fred was an esteemed member of the Taconic Chapter of Trout Unlimited where he and Digger put on rod building demonstrations.  Fred and Marilyn were recipients of TU’s Crooked Staff Award, the highest honor that the chapter bestows.  He was also a director of the Hoosic River Watershed Association.

Fred was a good friend.  The last time I saw him was when we did some flyfishing one day at the Alford Brook Club in August of 2020.  It was such a wonderful day that I did an article about it in this column. (Google Gene Chague-Fred Moran to read the Berkshire Eagle article). Boy, could he cast a fly!

Fred’s son Kevin (Berkshire Eagle Executive Editor) emailed me about his dad’s death and included these words, “I figured maybe some of his fishing buddies would imagine him casting a fly out there on heaven’s river, which is one way he’d like to be remembered, I’m sure. I suspect that Digger Degere is waiting for him there, and probably has the flies already picked out and ready to give to dad.”

Our condolences go out to Marilyn, Kevin and his entire family.  He will never be forgotten.

Hunters Share the Harvest Program” is a success.  Expansion planned for next year.  

Posted on by

In my December 10, 2022 column, I did an article on MassWildlife’s Hunters Share the Harvest Program, a new program which provides an opportunity for hunters to donate and share wild game meat like venison with Massachusetts residents in need.

Free range, organic venison is a lean, healthy protein with a low carbon footprint that already feeds thousands of licensed hunters and their families across Massachusetts each year and now successful hunters can help combat hunger and food insecurity in their communities by donating venison.

In last year’s deer hunting seasons, there was only one approved meat processor that accepted whole-deer donations.  The packaged venison was to be distributed to those in need through the Massachusetts Military Support Foundation’s Food 4 Vets program.

Meat processors, food pantries, hunger relief agencies, or other organizations who wanted to participate in MassWildlife’s Hunters Share the Harvest program in the future could contact Martin Feehan, MassWildlife’s Deer and Moose Project Leader, at martin.feehan@mass.gov.

Well, at last week’s Berkshire County League of Sportsmen’s (BCLS) meeting, DFW Western District Supervisor Andrew Madden reported that MassWildlife had a very successful launch of the Share the Harvest Program. “With support from the Massachusetts Outdoor Heritage Foundation and through the generosity of hunters, more than 700lbs of venison were distributed.” said Madden.

MassWildlife will be expanding the program in 2023 to reach wider distribution and provide meals for more people throughout the state.

BioMap is available.

BioMap, a newly-updated online tool that identifies critical land and waterways throughout the Commonwealth in need of conservation is now available. MassWildlife and The Nature Conservancy (TNC) worked to develop the tool to help state and local governments, land trusts, non-government organizations, and other conservation partners strategically plan projects to conserve wildlife and their habitats.

The latest version of BioMap combines more than 40 years of rigorously documented rare species and natural community records from MassWildlife with cutting-edge climate resilience data from TNC and spatial data identifying intact fish and wildlife communities, habitats, and ecosystems that are the focus of the Massachusetts State Wildlife Action Plan.

You are invited to join Assistant Director of MassWildlife’s Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program Eve Schluter and TNC Ecologist Andy Finton for a demonstration of the new BioMap webinar on January 18 at 7:00 p.m. on Zoom. Click onto https://www.mass.gov/news/new-release-of-biomap to register for the webinar.

Email natural.heritage@mass.gov to request BioMap technical support or to request notification of future trainings.

 “Tracking Wildlife: Stories from the More-Than-Human World”

Skilled wildlife tracker and educator Dan Gardoqui is visiting the Berkshires to present a talk: “Tracking Wildlife: Stories from the More-Than-Human World” at Berkshire Community College’s Robert Boland Theater in Pittsfield on Friday, January 20 at 6:00 PM. This event is sponsored by Berkshire Environmental Action Team (BEAT), Greenagers, Berkshire Natural Resources Council (BNRC), Housatonic Heritage, Richmond Pond Association, and Berkshire Community College. It is free and open to the public, with a $10 suggested donation.

Dan Gardoqui will give a presentation on tracking wildlife. He’ll lead attendees to make deeper connections with the natural world and the wildlife that surrounds us by sharing thrilling stories and photos from his tracking experiences and discussing ways to actively participate in the more-than-human world by applying wildlife tracking skills. A Q & A session will follow the talk.

The following day, Saturday, January 21, Dan will lead two back-to-back trackings (8:30 am to 11:30 am and 12:30pm to 3:30pm at the Eugene D Moran Wildlife Management Area on the border of Cheshire and Windsor, MA. Each workshop costs $50 and has a limited space of 10 participants Email team@thebeatnews.org with any questions.

For over 30 years, Dan Gardoqui has been a student, teacher, observer, and active participant in the more-than-human world. A Certified Wildlife Tracker since 2006, he has trained hundreds in the science and art of tracking. Dan is also a bird language expert and bird mimic – known for his YouTube series “Learn a Bird.” Some of his contributions include the books “Mammal Tracks & Sign: A Guide to North American Species” (Elbroch & MacFarland) and “What the Robin Knows: How Birds Reveal Nature’s Secrets” (Young). Dan applies wildlife tracking skills in citizen science projects (e.g., Canada Lynx, Flying Squirrels, Moose, Eastern Wolf) as a Registered Maine Guide.

Fly fishing show in Marlboro

 The 2023 Fly Fishing Show will take place January 20-22 at the Royal Plaza Trade Center,181 Boston Post Road Marlborough, MA. Hours are 10 am to 6 pm on Friday, 9 am to 5:30 pm on Saturday and 9 am to 4:30 pm on Sunday. The show promises more fly-casting, tying, manufacturer and retail store displays of the newest rods, reels, lines, boots, waders, clothing and flies during the three-day run.

The show will have many demonstrations at its Destination Theater presentations each hour including Labrador’s Monster Brookies, Fly Fishing Martha’s Vineyard, Montana, Iceland, the Adirondacks and many others.  There will be more than $30,000 in door prizes.

Admission is $15 for one day, $25 for two days and $35 for three days. Children under age 5 are free, children 6-12 are $5 and active military with ID’s are $10.

Fly Fishers International hosts the Fly-Fishing Show Learning Center with fly tying, casting instruction and other fly-fishing information and is free to show attendees.

The New England premiere of the 2023 International Fly-Fishing Film Festival is Friday at 6:30 pm. Tickets are $10 in advance or $15 at the door.

For a complete listing of fly-fishing films, classes, seminars, door prizes, demonstrations, etc., visit www. flyfishingshow.com or phone (814) 443-3638.

 Beginner Snowshoe/Winter Hike

 On Saturday, January 21 from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm BEAT and the Great Barrington Land Conservancy are having a 1-mile beginner winter hike at BNRC’s Housatonic Flats reserve on Stockbridge Road, Great Barrington. If weather permits, they’ll snowshoe, if there’s no snow, they’ll go for a winter hike. They will review the basics of winter hiking like what traction to wear on your feet, how to layer properly, and what to look for.

It will be an easy hike of 0.9 miles.  Bring water, wear sturdy footwear and wear layers. BNRC has a few pairs of micro-spikes and snowshoes to loan.  Animals not allowed. For questions contact Charlotte at chood@bnrc.org

Fishing community mourns the loss of Fred Moran

Frederick Dennis Moran of Adams passed beyond the riverbend on January 8 at the age of 80. He undoubtedly will be remembered by former students from the Lenox, Cheshire and Dalton schools.  He completed his last years as a classroom teacher at the Craneville Elementary School in Dalton.

Perhaps more people will remember Fred as an avid fly fisherman who ran Points North Outfitters in Adams.  For two decades Fred and his wife Marilyn taught hundreds how to fly fish and they guided hundreds more on the Deerfield River.  Fred was known for collecting antique (bamboo) fishing rods and reels and the building and restoration of fly-fishing rods. He later worked at the Orvis fly rod factory in Manchester, VT. He was a close friend of the legendary local bamboo rod builder, Francis “Digger” Degere and became his apprentice.

Fred was an esteemed member of the Taconic Chapter of Trout Unlimited where he and Digger put on rod building demonstrations.  Fred and Marilyn were recipients of TU’s Crooked Staff Award, the highest honor that the chapter bestows.  He was also a director of the Hoosic River Watershed Association.

Fred was a good friend.  The last time I saw him was when we did some flyfishing one day at the Alford Brook Club in August of 2020.  It was such a wonderful day that I did an article about it in this column. (Google Gene Chague-Fred Moran to read the Berkshire Eagle article). Boy, could he cast a fly!

Fred’s son Kevin (Berkshire Eagle Executive Editor) emailed me about his dad’s death and included these words, “I figured maybe some of his fishing buddies would imagine him casting a fly out there on heaven’s river, which is one way he’d like to be remembered, I’m sure. I suspect that Digger Degere is waiting for him there, and probably has the flies already picked out and ready to give to dad.”

Our condolences go out to Marilyn, Kevin and his entire family.  He will never be forgotten.

A look back at 2022 Woods and Waters columns

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At the end of last year, I highlighted the more informative and interesting articles that were included in this column during the year.  Because of positive comments received, I am doing the same for the year 2022.

In January we reported that seventeen women deer hunters participated in MassWildlife’s 2021 Becoming-an-Outdoors-Woman (BOW) Deer Hunt Program. Nearly all the women saw deer and all participants enjoyed their hunt. Two women harvested their first deer ever.  We also mentioned a lost Steller’s Sea Eagle (Haliaeetus pelagicus), which is native to Asia. Somehow it found its way to the Taunton River in Massachusetts.

In March there was an article about Bob Leverett “the old growth evangelist”.  He informed us that there were indeed old growth forests in Massachusetts. He developed ways for measuring and aging them and their ability to capture carbon.  His work, along with that of Dr. Anthony D’Amato (of University of Vermont), have helped to ensure the protection of 1,200 acres of old growth in the Commonwealth’s Forest Reserves.  His message is “We have a duty to protect an old-growth forest, for both its beauty and its importance to the planet”. We learned of the death of Leo M Daley who spent some 42 years with the DFW.  He had held the titles of Aquatic Biologist, Fisheries Manager, and interim District Manager. In the 30 years spent in our district, he stocked over 1.5 million trout in Western Massachusetts waters.

In March and April there were articles about hungry black bears emerging from their dens and the problems they cause by raiding our bird feeders.  In the Berkshires there are about 2,000 of them and readers were advised on how to avoid conflicts with them.  MassWildlife Black Bear and Furbearer Biologist Dave Wattles’ study showed that female bears that they study in more suburban areas are very large, with weights averaging more than 250 pounds, compared to bears in more rural, forested areas averaging closer to 150 pounds.  A second big takeaway was how close to people bears will den. They had bear dens 10 yards off the back parking lot of a fire department, under a building on piling foundations, on the edge of a backyard, and in the middle of a construction yard. These bears had plenty of options to den in more remote locations but chose not to, indicating bears are finding supplemental food sources in suburban areas, such as unsecured garbage, bird feeders, and open compost. Biologists warn that human food sources are harmful to bears’ natural diets and put communities at added risk of unwanted conflicts.

picture taken and provided by Gene Chague. Bears heading for Gene’s deck.

In April we learned about the numbers and types of wildlife violations that our Massachusetts Environmental Police are dealing with.  A pitch was made for Massachusetts to join the Interstate Wildlife Violator Compact, a network that seeks to reduce wildlife poaching through information sharing across state lines and reciprocal recognition of license suspensions and revocations for fishing, hunting, and trapping. The legislation, co-sponsored by Berkshire State Representatives Tricia Farley-Bouvier and Paul Mark, would update the Commonwealth’s outdated penalties for illegal hunting, some of which have not been updated in a century and currently amount to little more than a slap on the hand.  The bill passed later this year.

In April we reported that the highly pathogenic Avian Influenza was detected in wild birds in multiple locations in Massachusetts. Avian flu, also known as bird flu, is a common influenza strain that can spread from birds to humans through saliva, naval secretion and feces. The avian flu is not common among humans, but is very contagious among birds.  We reported the Preliminary 2021 deer harvest figures verses last year figures:

  • Youth Deer/Paraplegic Hunt Days: 86 vs 131 last year
  • Archery Season: 5,894 vs 6655 last year
  • Shotgun Season: 5,008 vs 5138 last year
  • Primitive Firearms Season: 2,375 vs 2842 last year

 

Although Western Zone harvests were not mentioned, DFW Western District Supervisor Andrew Madden said that they were consistent with 2020 (which was a record year).

In May, 5 individuals received Silvio O. Conte sportsmen awards:  The late Chris Puntin, formerly of Pittsfield, received the Sportsman of the Year Award posthumously; Meredyth Babcock of Becket received the Outstanding Achievement Award; Stephanie Dupont of Pittsfield received the Sportsmen’s Appreciation Award; Donald E. Girard of Adams received the Lifetime Achievement Award and Gregg Armstrong, of North Adams, received the John Zuber Award.  We also reported that after 38 years of state service, Marion E. Larson retired in early March from her position as Chief of MassWildlife’s Information and Education (I&E) Section.  Joshua Christman of Pittsfield, who had been named Massachusetts Angler of the Year (Adult Catch and Keep Category) in 2016, 2020 and 2021 by MassWildlife and a frequent multi-gold pin awardee, was off to another good start this year.  He caught a large rainbow trout out of Berkshire waters which measured 24 inches long and weighed 4 lbs.

In June Berkshire Environmental Action Team Executive Director Jane Winn announced that BEAT was awarded $200,000 from the Cultural Facilities Fund of the Massachusetts Cultural Council to renovate their new Environmental Leadership & Education Center.  Thirteen-year old Logan Middlebrook of Pittsfield landed a carp out of Pontoosuc Lake which weighed in at 13.3 lbs. and was over 30 inches long.   While fighting it he had to cross 2 house lots, a couple of bridges and over people’s docks.

Picture provided by Middlebrook family

James McGrath, Park, Open Space, and Natural Resource Program Manager, City of Pittsfield announced that the Mill Street dam was successfully removed along with over 8,000 tons of contaminated sediments.   Lee Sportsmen’s Association Higher Education Scholarship was awarded to Brianna Kelly.   The Bateman Jimmy Fund fishing derby was the greatest with over 355 people in attendance and over $10,000 raised.

In July, Joshua Christman, organizer of Carp Palooza, announced that it was a great event with 39 teams participating.   Steve Sears of Dalton was elected Acting Chairman of the MA Fish & Wildlife Board. We featured an article about a Picnic Table Boat.  It is powered by an electric motor, and if you run out of power, it has a solar panel on the top of the umbrella which recharges the battery.  The battery has a USB port into which they plug in lights, a speaker, an iPad, cooler, etc.

In August we covered the 75th anniversary of the Stockbridge Bowl Association.  Feature speaker was the old growth evangelist Bob Leverett. We covered successful flyfishing trips to Labrador and Yellowstone National Park made by local anglers.  Eight-year-old Michael (Mikey) Hubbard of Pittsfield successfully landed a 21-inch, 4.4lbs largemouth bass.

 

In September, Travis Bailey of Lee harvested a bear weighing 620 lbs. field dressed.  After it was skinned out, it measured 7 feet from nose to tail, with a space between its ears of 10 inches. Rachel Kanter of Lenox landed a monster 35-inch pike.

In October we reported that It was a good year for MassWildlife/ Department of Fish & Game land acquisitions and conservation completing 11 projects and protecting 937 acres. Great Barrington approved a new ordinance to help curb problem bears.

 

In November Paraplegic hunters took four deer in the Berkshires, seven statewide. The Youth pheasant hunt produced happy hunters. Some $483,922 was awarded in state grant funds to improve wildlife habitat on 514 acres of land within the Commonwealth.

 

In December we did an article about MassWildlife’s controlled burns. National Geographic wrote an article titled, ‘This Trail May Be the Best Way to See New England’s Fall Colors”. The specific Berkshires trail mentioned was BNRC’s High Road. The town of Nahant hired sharpshooters to eliminate its coyote problem. DFW Western District Supervisor had a great article in Massachusetts Wildlife about feeding bears.

 

During the year, we reviewed three books, two by local authors. The Richmond Pond Association and the Richmond Historical Commission produced a book entitled, The Gem of Richmond:  A History of Richmond Pond. The editor was Ken Kelly, of Lenox and Richmond. Paul C. Carter of Dalton came out with a new deer hunting book entitled, More Deer Hunts, through a Tracker’s Eyes.  Author Robert (Bob) Romano came out with a wonderful book entitled River Flowers.  All were still highly recommended.

Thanks for taking the time to read the columns this past year and hopefully you’ll stay with us next year.

Happy New Year!

Great article in Massachusetts Wildlife magazine

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There was an interesting article in the Massachusetts Wildlife magazine which came out last week.  (No.3, 2022) The article, written by Andrew Madden, DFW Western District Supervisor is entitled “The Stockbridge Solution”.  It deals with “habituated bears.”  (Bears becoming unnaturally comfortable around humans).  It is a growing problem in Massachusetts, especially here in the Berkshire because of unintentional feeding (through bird feeders, unsecured trash, etc.) and by outright intentional feeding

“Outreach and education campaigns have made some progress by altering behavior for those who choose to follow recommendations.” wrote Madden. “Unfortunately, collective gains that are made through outreach and public compliance are too often offset by individuals who intentionally attract wildlife, including bears, by feeding.”  “Feeding habituates wildlife, causing the animals to lose wariness and seek additional food sources around homes and people” he wrote.

The 10-page article went on and illustrated cases where people were carelessly feeding bears and cases where people were attacked by bears in their own homes.  “Intentional bear feeding cases in Lanesborough and Pittsfield have rendered neighboring yards unusable because bears are constantly passing through.” (Presumably to get to neighboring homes where they are being fed).

According to Madden, feeding has negative implications for wildlife, including increased risk of mortality.  This is where the disconnect between the desire to experience wildlife and concern for the animal’s welfare.  Feeding sites draw wildlife across roads, increasing the risk of collision with vehicles.  MassWildlife’s radio-telemetry research, which tracks bear movement, clearly shows that individuals repeatedly travel distances to known feeding sites, increasing the frequency of exposure to vehicles. MassWildlife has documented multiple cases of bears killed on roadways as they traveled to a feeding site.

The article mentioned the towns of Stockbridge and Great Barrington and how they have passed Wildlife Feeding ordinances in efforts toward reducing human-wildlife conflict.

Picture taken by DFW Western District wildlife biologist Nate Buckhout

It is a well written article which I highly recommend reading.

There also is a short article written by DFW Assistant Director of Wildlife Michael Huguenin entitled “Do we have a coyote problem or a people problem? According to Huguenin, there are 5 cases per year of coyotes biting or attacking people in Massachusetts. Over the last 25 years there have been 30 such cases.  Of those cases, 5 animals were either confirmed or suspected rabid, 6 involved the defense of a pet and 4 were undetermined.  The remaining fifteen (50%) were a result of confirmed or highly likely habituated coyotes.

If you are a Massachusetts Wildlife subscriber, you might want to share the above articles with your neighbors.

Incidentally, Massachusetts Wildlife is a quarterly magazine featuring award-winning writing and photography covering the environment, conservation, fishing, hunting, natural history and just about everything outdoors in Massachusetts. It is a great magazine which has been in circulation for more than 65 years.  A subscription for one year is only $6.00.

Bunnies want your used Christmas trees

 

The Berkshire Beagle Club will once again be accepting used and unsold Christmas trees at its club at 380 Sleepy Hollow Road, Richmond.  There should be an A frame sign by the drop spot.  In case it’s not there just put them to the right of the driveway as you pull in. The bunnies nibble on the branches and use them to provide cover from predator raptors.  Make sure to remove all tinsel, angle hair and other decorations and ornaments.  The bunnies have a tendency to eat them and can die from their ingestion.  And please no plastic or metal trees.

Basic Hunter Education Course Field Day


The Lee Sportsmen’s Association (LSA) has scheduled a blended Basic Hunter Education Course in its Main Clubhouse with MassWildlife, in which students complete the online MA Hunter Study Guide before attending one in-person Field Day

Information and links can be found at: https://www.mass.gov/info-details/basic-hunter-education-courses.  The field day at LSA has been scheduled for Saturday, January 7, 2023, from 9:00 am to 4:00pm, and participants are required to sign up for the field day through the MassWildlife website, as LSA does not handle registration.  Contact MassWildlife directly for any further questions or concerns at (508) 389-7820.  All courses are free of charge and open to the public.  Students 17 years old or younger must have parental consent to attend this course, and parents/guardians are invited and encouraged to stay for the in-person field day session as well.

Muzzleloader Deer Hunting Season

For those deer hunters who have yet to harvest their deer, they only have until next Saturday to do so.  After that, it’s time to empty the gun, oil it and put it away in a locked cabinet until next year’s hunting season.

Some other hunting seasons will still be open in January.  Cottontail rabbit, snowshoe hare and fox hunting seasons end on February 28, 2023.  Coyote and bobcat hunting seasons end on March 8, 2023. If you decide to hunt them, don’t forget to buy your 2023 license.

Sportsmen’s club elections

Most of the sportsmen’s clubs have elected their officers for the 2023 season.  Here are a couple:  Berkshire Beagle Club officers reelected were:  President – Al Costa, VP- Dick Kalisz, Treasurer – Tim Cahoon and Secretary – Pat Barry.

The officers elected at the Sheffield Sportsmen’s Club were:  President – Robbie Brownson, VP- Jim Olmsted, Treasurer – Lee Donsbough and Secretary – Ryan Shimmon.

Congratulations to all for stepping forward and helping their clubs.

Follow-up on the Town of Nahant

Following last week’s article about the coyote problem in the Town of Nahant and the hiring of a sharpshooter to control them, I received an email from Tom Zuppa, Public Relations Representative for the Town.  In it he stated that the article overlooked a key point:

“While hunters could provide a valuable service here, hunting is effectively illegal in Nahant.

Massachusetts General Laws, Ch. 131, Sec. 58, states that hunting is not allowed within 500 feet of an occupied dwelling or within 150 feet of a paved road. Nahant is one square mile, accessible only across a peninsula, and is densely populated. Nahant does not have a significant area in which to allow hunting safely.”

“Nahant is the smallest town in the state land-wise. It’s beautiful, right on the Atlantic, and only one way in-out.”

 

“I have attached a statement released on Sunday that provides further background about the Town’s efforts and decision” wrote Zuppa.

 

Statement from town: “For more than two years, the Town of Nahant has taken significant steps to limit the impact of habituated coyotes on our community.

The Town has increased its educational efforts, posted informational signs to improve public awareness, and strengthened its reporting procedures. The Town has worked with both wildlife experts and animal interest groups to gain new insight into the issue, and adopted many of their mitigation suggestions. The Board of Selectmen also has held several public forums with wildlife professionals to educate residents and hear their concerns and ideas.

Despite these efforts, habituated, aggressive coyotes remain a serious public safety problem.

In the past few months, the Town has received multiple, vetted reports of packs of coyotes placing residents in danger. Three times in the past year a coyote has attacked a pet while on its leash, under its owners’ control, and two were killed on the spot. Human presence and hazing attempts in these cases did not curb the aggressive behavior by problem coyotes.

Mass Wildlife has identified the coyotes as “problem animals,” meaning they cannot be captured and relocated.

The safety and well-being of Nahant residents and visitors is the Town’s top priority. Therefore, selectmen approved hiring the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Wildlife Services to conduct a cooperative wildlife management project. The Board reached this decision after careful consideration of the facts, and only after lengthy consultation with Mass Wildlife experts.”

My apologies if I have offended residents or officials of the town.  It sounds like a beautiful place to live.  Too bad the coyotes found it attractive too.

Keep our armed forces personnel in your thoughts and prayers

Most veterans will tell you that the Christmas season can be an emotional time for soldiers who are stationed abroad. No gathering around the Christmas tree with their loved ones, no watching the joy of youngsters opening their presents, etc.

With that in mind, you might want to contact them, thank them for their service, tell them you are thinking about them and are hoping for their safe return.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!