Category Archives: Hunting

Hunting

Good news for the Deerfield River brown trout

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Background:  Wild Brown Trout Spawning Studies conducted by the Deerfield River Watershed Chapter of Trout Unlimited (DRWTU) volunteers, under the guidance of Dr. Michael Cole, of Cole Ecological, Inc. of Greenfield, in 2017, and Dr. Erin Rodgers, of Trout Unlimited, in 2018, documented that brown trout were successfully spawning in the upper Fife Brook section of the Deerfield River.

But the studies also revealed that winter conditions were destroying many of the eggs during periods of minimum flow. The irrefutable results in these studies convinced MA Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) that the damage to wild trout from Fife Brook’s winter flow regime needed to be addressed. Thank goodness, the DEP declined to authorize the Water Quality Certificate – mandated in the FERC re-licensing process – until this issue could be resolved.

The outcome was an Agreement negotiated between DRWTU (under the umbrella of Trout Unlimited, Inc), MA Division of Fisheries & Wildlife, MA Division of Natural Heritage and Endangered Species, Brookfield Renewable Power and MA DEP that will benefit the wild brown trout as well as other aquatic organisms in the river. It is noteworthy that DRWTU was the only non-governmental agency that signed-on to be an Intervenor in the process.

An Agreement with Brookfield Renewable Power Company will allow for increased minimum winter flows from their Fife Brook Dam and Bear Swamp Pump Storage Operations on the Deerfield River. The Agreement was approved by MA DEP Commissioner Martin Suuberg on September 27. The Agreement is part of DEP’s Water Quality Certification process, which is directly tied to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s (FERC) Re-Licensing of Brookfield’s Fife Brook Dam and Bear Swamp Pump Storage Operations. In late 2025 or early 2026, the winter minimum flow at Fife Brook Dam will increase from 125 cubic feet per second (cfs) to 225 cfs for the period from November 1 to April 15 every year going forward.

The Agreement also provides for a $125,000 fund, paid by Brookfield Power, for ecological projects on the Deerfield.

“This is a huge victory for the ecology of the river,” said Eric Halloran, president of the DRWTU. “We know from our spawning studies that the lack of water during minimum flows was killing off nearly 40 percent of the trout redds (nests) and eggs over the course of the winter. The eggs suffered as a result of being de-watered, exposed to the air, and frozen. The minor increase in river flow negotiated in this agreement will keep the eggs covered with water throughout the winter and allow more eggs to hatch in the spring. More trout will hatch and increase the number of wild fish in the river.”

Picture provided by Deerfield River Watershed TU

“Achieving Intervenor status gave us a seat at the table and a stronger bargaining position than we could ever have achieved by simply commenting on the outcome from the sidelines.” Halloran noted. “We’re incredibly pleased with this outcome and there were many years of hard work and countless hours of volunteer time that led to this moment.” Halloran specifically praised Springfield attorney Christopher Myhrum, who specializes in environmental law, for volunteering his services to lead the negotiation effort. Halloran also thanked former DRWTU President and Vice-President Kevin Parsons, Esq., and Christopher Jackson, a veteran fishing guide on the Deerfield, for pushing DRWTU’s agenda in the re-licensing process for 10 years.

DRWTU hopes that this historic achievement will be a crucial step in creating the Commonwealth’s first Wild Trout Management Area, where an improved ecosystem will allow fly fishers of today and tomorrow to appreciate a healthy population of wily, wild Brown Trout.”

Personally, I am particularly proud that our local chapter of TU (Taconic Chapter) helped in this effort by contributing funds and volunteer hours during this process. Well that they should, for many local anglers fly fish that river.  But the bulk of the work was conducted by the DRWTU volunteers.  Congratulations fellow anglers for the job well done. You have made Massachusetts’ premier trout river even better.

Time to bone up on our hunting laws

Now that many of the hunting seasons are open, hunters are (or should be) aware of the various regulations governing them.  Laws governing such subjects as daily harvest totals, hunting tags, the type of hunting tools allowed, hunter red requirements, etc. are generally known by hunters and are abided with in order to stay out of trouble with the law.

But tucked away in the abstracts are other not so obvious regulations which can also get you into trouble if violated. Let’s review some:

Tree Stands: Written permission of the landowner (on either public or private lands) is required to construct or use any tree stand which is fastened to a tree by nails, bolts, wire, or other fasteners that intrude through the bark into the wood of the tree, or that is fastened or erected in any manner and is emplaced for a period exceeding 30 days. This includes hang-on tree stands.

Landowner permission:  Hunting, fishing, and trapping are permitted on private land that is not posted against trespass; however, some towns have bylaws that require written permission. As a courtesy, ask the landowner for permission in advance. If you plan to use wildlife/trail cameras on private land, seek permission for that activity as well. Landowners with posted land may provide (written) permission for individuals to access their property. Written landowner permission is required to trap on posted land.

Hunters should check for relevant town bylaws pertaining to any written permission requirements and restrictions on discharge of firearms.

Landowner Liability: Landowners permitting use of their property for recreation without charging a fee are not liable for injuries to recreational users of the property except in cases of willful, wanton, or reckless conduct by the owner.

Careless and negligent use of firearms:   Fines of up to $500 and/or 6 months imprisonment and loss of license for 5 years.  In some cases, licenses could be revoked for one year in addition to other penalties; fines of up to $1,000, restitutions, and/or one year in jail.

Use of handguns:   Handguns are not allowed for deer hunting and may not be in your possession while deer hunting.

Animals tagged for research: Some bear, deer, coyotes, and other animals may have ear tags or radio collars. It is legal to harvest them. If you find or take one of these animals, contact MassWildlife’s Field Headquarters (508) 389-6300 immediately. You will be asked for information that will help biologists determine the source and status of these animals and you will be asked to return the equipment to MassWildlife.

Hunter harassment:  No person shall obstruct, interfere with or otherwise prevent the lawful taking of fish or wildlife by another at the locale where such activity is taking place. It shall be a violation for a person to intentionally (1) drive or disturb wildlife or fish for the purpose of interrupting a lawful taking; (2) block, follow, impede or otherwise harass another who is engaged in the lawful taking of fish or wildlife; (3) use natural or artificial visual, aural, olfactory or physical stimulus to effect wildlife in order to hinder or prevent such taking; (4) erect barriers with the intent to deny ingress or egress to areas where the lawful taking of wildlife may occur; (5) interject himself into the line of fire; (6) effect the condition or placement of personal or public property intended for use in the taking of wildlife; or (7) enter or remain upon public lands, or upon private lands without the permission of the owner or his agent, with intent to violate this section.. A person who sustains damage as a result of any act which is in violation of this section may bring a civil action for punitive damages. Environmental protection officers and other law enforcement officers with arrest powers shall be authorized to enforce the provisions.

This section shall not apply to the owners of the lands or waters or tenants or other persons acting under the authority of such owners of the lands or waters.

Wanton Waste:  And, of course, there is the recently enacted Wanton Waste laws where it is unlawful for any person while hunting or trapping to waste an animal. Each retrieved animal shall be retained or transferred to another until processed or used for food, the pelt, feathers, or taxidermy.

Small game, upland game and waterfowl hunting seasons are opening next week

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Time to oil up the pea shooter, check out the decoys, waterproof your boots, etc.  Monday, October 10 begins the hunting seasons for Regular Geese and Ducks in our area.  Its important that you check the waterfowl regulations for there is a myriad of regulations, including the use of non-toxic shot, HIP compliance, State and Federal permits required, kinds and numbers of ducks that can be harvested, etc. You are requested to report all banded bird information to www.reportband.gov. Don’t forget to wear your personal floatation vest if applicable.

Incidentally, Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) has been detected in domestic and wild birds in MA. Because common eiders were impacted by HPAI, hunters across the Atlantic flyway are being asked to voluntarily avoid shooting hens and young, brown eiders this season.

common eiders photo provided by MassWildlife

 

Next Saturday, October 15, the ringneck pheasant, ruffed grouse, cottontail rabbit, snowshoe hare and coyote seasons open statewide. Remember, this year there is a new pheasant/quail permit which is required for pheasant hunters.  It costs $4.00 this year.  As previously noted, it is imperative that you check and abide by the regulations covering these game species.

 

The woods are busy this time of year so be careful. Bring some tick protection spray along and, remember, no hunting on Sundays in Massachusetts.

Bear hunting season off to a good start

According to preliminary figures provided by MassWildlife some 153 black bears were harvested statewide in this year’s September bear hunting season.  That compares with 112 that were taken last year. According to DFW Western District Supervisor, Andrew Madden, it is a “solid number” for them and puts them on pace for a good overall season.

The second bear season opens on November 7 and runs to November 26

Lately, some bear hunters have expressed concern about shooting a bear that is collared.  Their concern is whether or not people should eat the meat that has been previously immobilized by a dart.  I took that question to David Wattles, DFW Black Bear & Furbearer Biologist and here is his response:

“It is perfectly safe to harvest and eat a bear that is ear tagged or collared. The ear tags enable us to identify the bear, so we can determine the last time it was handled. If we had a bear that was very recently handled and taken in the hunting season, we would notify the hunter not to consume it. That being said, it is safe to consume meat from a bear that has received immobilization drugs 15 days after handling. It is very common practice for bears to be immobilized, tagged, hunted, and eaten throughout the U.S. without negative results.”

 

“I should note” he wrote, “that we also make every effort not to handle bears during or shortly before hunting season. None of our collared bears have been handled since late June and the vast majority of them not since March or before. Our trapping season ends in early July and only bears relocated in emergency situations would have been handled since then. I believe there are at most only 2-3 in the whole state since July and all of those would be safe to consume by now.”

 

Tri-Club skeet shooting results

Bill Stanard, spokesman for the Sheffield Sportsmen’s Club, reported the results of the Tri-Club Skeet Shooting Tournament which took place last Sunday after two years of no tournament because of the covid 19 pandemic.  The Sheffield Sportsmen’s Club won.

 

The scores were:   Sheffield – 1,348, Stockbridge Sportsmen’s Club – 1,270 (second) and Lee Sportsmen’s Association – 1,258.  (third)

 

Ryan Shimmon was high scorer for Sheffield with scores of 45,46 and 49 out of 50 shots.

 

Fall trout stocking is underway

Children stocking trout, picture provided by MassWildlife

MassWildlife has begun its trout stockings here in the Western District.  As of October 3, they have stocked the following waters: Stockbridge Bowl, Onota Lake, Lake Buel, Goose Pond, Laurel Lake, North Pond, Windsor Lake, Windsor Pond, Otis Reservoir, Richmond Pond and Ashfield Lake.  They have also stocked the Deerfield and East Branch of the Westfield River (C&R).  With the exception of Ashfield Lake, which was stocked with brown trout, all of the other waters received stockings of rainbow trout.

 

DFW trout stocking program questioned

 

From time to time, I receive correspondence from readers expressing their opinions on items written in this column.  The following is one that I received from a close friend and well- known and respected local environmentalist/conservationist. Far from being an expert, the letter probably should have been forwarded to the DFW, and a better response given, but because of our friendship, I responded as following:

 

Question: “I completely support protecting and restoring brook trout habitat! But why on earth does DFW stock non-native trout that can out compete our native brookies for food?  I oppose DFW wasting money on fish stocking. What do you think?”

 

Response:  Your questions regarding the stocking policy of the DFW with regard to brook trout is bona-fide and deserves a serious response.  I will give you my take on it.

 

As you probably know, the only native trout in the eastern US, were brook trout (actually char).  They were plentiful and easy to catch and our forefathers were greedy (or hungry) and caught more than their share, resulting in bringing the numbers down to near extinction.  Surviving populations existed only in the remotest, most difficult places to access such as in Maine, Labrador, and a few secret spots here in the Berkshires.

Sometime in the late 1800’s fish biologists began to fear that the native brook trout population would be wiped out completely if no action was taken and because of that, began to look into importing and introducing other types of trout to our area.  It was either that or ban trout fishing altogether, which no one would accept.

Brown Trout from Europe and Rainbow Trout from out west were introduced to our waters with the probable thought being that some trout fishing was better than no trout fishing (and eating).  The new, non-native trout took hold nicely and provided anglers with fishing (and) immeasurable enjoyment (catching them.)  Unfortunately, the larger stocked trout out-competed the wild trout (for food) for a while until the warmer months when the wild guys have the advantage of knowing where to find cooler waters necessary for their survival.

Fast forward to now.  If brown and rainbow trout fishing was not allowed here, there would probably be no trout fishing whatsoever.  Yes, DFW stocks hatchery brook trout, but they would be caught out fairly rapidly and are not as tough or resilient as the native guys. (Put and take, thus leaving the native guys alone.)

MassWildlife is generally careful about where they stock the non-native fish, taking pains to leave wild brook habitat pretty much alone or stocking at the lower, larger reaches of the rivers while leaving the upper, cooler reaches of the river to the wild brookies.  I say generally as there are a few streams which are stocked which would perhaps be better off left alone.  But those streams (usually) are stocked mainly in neighborhoods for kids to fish and they want to go home with some nice fish.

The raising and stocking of these non-native trout, has provided a lot of employment as well as enjoyment for anglers over the years.  In some cases, it got the kids out of doors and have inspired youths to take up the sport which often times led to interests in other environmental issues. (I did).

Many kids don’t understand the concept of preserving the wild brookie and are only interested in catching a trout and bringing it home to mom or dad.  (I can speak from experience because each year, the Berkshire County League of Sportsmen has a Youth Outreach fishing day, mainly for kids who would otherwise not have the opportunity to go fishing.  You should see the look of glee on their faces when they catch a trout.)

By not stocking them, are we not depriving kids of that pleasure?

So, as you see, the answer to your question is complicated. And you are not alone in your concerns. There is a movement by some groups such as the Native Fish Coalition to do less such stocking.

Far from a perfect solution, I personally think the MassWildlife is addressing the trout stocking issue fairly well.

Carter’s new deer tracking book is possibly his best

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Local author, Paul C. Carter of Dalton has come out with a new deer hunting book entitled, More Deer Hunts, through a Tracker’s Eyes.  Paul is the author of several other hunting books including:  Tracking Whitetails: Answers to your Questions; Great Shot! A Guide to Acquiring Shooting Skills for Big Game Hunters; Sheep Hunts: One Man’s Journeys to the High Country and Deer Hunts: Through a Tracker’s Eyes.  I have always liked his writing and reviewed most of his books in this column. This last one is arguably his best.

Picture of the cover of Paul’s book

It is a collection of recounted hunting stories like his book Deer Hunts: Through a Tracker’s Eyes,, but chosen for its entertainment value.  It includes successful and unsuccessful hunts as well as humor.

In the beginning of the book, he spells it out.  “Innate skill, in any venture, is never determinative for one’s final station in life.  The wild card is effort: how much time and energy one is willing to dedicate to honing those natural gifts with which we have been blessed.”  Paul has demonstrated that principle throughout the book.

“Tracking” he wrote “means being able to sneak up to a deer within shooting range.”  “Independence, self-sufficiency, and proper mindset are hallmarks of every single tracker who has ever lived. Add to that patience and perseverance, and of course an overwhelming sense of satisfaction when successful. Good deer hunters are not born that way, they are made.”

He noted the importance of comrades and wrote stories involving them.  Important ones in his life include his father Charles Carter, William Drew, and Albert Cady (all deceased) and Paul “John” Dupuis who is still with us.  (Perhaps you knew these people and maybe hunted with them yourself). And, of course, his son Andrew.

He also discussed times when he and his son had tracked and shot deer in areas where they had no choice but to ask local residents if they could drag deer out of the woods onto their private properties.  He mentioned Cindy and Martin Glendon of Windsor and how nice and helpful they were in locating where Paul had probably left his deer and then called fellow Windsor residents Kevin and Debbie Robitaille and secured permission for Paul and Andrew to access their land to drag it out.

I like his “boots on the ground” approach.  It seems as though you are accompanying Paul on these hunts enduring 6 miles of tracking, sometimes in 18 inches of snow.  At times his hunts are like mysteries as you travel with him defining the clues and discussing his tracking strategies to be used.  It’s hard to put the book down until that mystery is solved with success or failure.

He did not take any actions or made any tracking decisions without thoroughly explaining and weighing the options.  For example, he discussed ways to determine the gender of an unseen deer by other means than just the size and characteristics of the track.    Now and then, you share his anguish in the possibility of being wrong (which was rare).

He discussed everything, even how a sudden shift in wind direction or a snapped twig could turn an opportunity to a disaster, something that experienced hunters know only too well.   In his later years, (70’s) Paul still had the tenacity to hunt and track hard and cover miles of terrain.  I liked how he mentioned one day hunting in the back of his house following a heavy snowstorm.  If you knew where Paul lives, you’d know that he is not writing about a hayfield, but rather rugged terrain.  Rugged terrain and winter conditions that local hunters also experience.

I liked how he put this: “A good tracker’s eyes penetrate brush, systematically, one branch at a time, in search of a small piece of your quarry’s body”.

In the final chapter of the book, Paul concludes, “I can only hope that my efforts to convey the true reasons for my bewitchment with tracking have been successful.  If my words prompt some readers to take the plunge, then that’s all for the better.  Potential new recruits aside, I pray I’ve adequately portrayed the essence of tracking deer, a subject both dear to my heart and worthy of wider appreciation”.

Well, you did, my friend, you did.

If you consider yourself a good deer tracker, you might want to pick up his book and compare strategies.  You may learn a thing or two.  (I did.) If you are contemplating taking up this method of deer hunting, you need to read this book.

The soft-covered book which is comprised of 276 pages, including many photos documenting deer kills, deer tracks and other deer signs, costs $20.00 and is available through Amazon. Alternatively, he always enjoys hearing from other hunters and he can sell his books personally.  His email is: jpcarter384@verizon.net and phone number is (413) 684-0634.

Deer Management Program

At the upcoming October 6 meeting of the Berkshire County League of Sportsmen, Martin Freehan, MassWildlife Deer Project Leader, will be giving an overview of its Deer Management program.  It will take place at 7:00 pm at the Cheshire Rod & Gun Club Clubhouse on 310 Curran Road, Cheshire.  The public is welcome.

Beagle Club field trials

On October 8 & 9 the Jack Silvernale Memorial Field Trial will take place at the Berkshire Beagle Club, 380 Sleepy Hollow Road in Richmond.  It will be a SPO sponsored trial on rabbits or hares.  Entry fee is $22.00.  The running order is:  13 and 15-inch males on October 8, and 13 and 15- inch females on the 9th.  They will have a raffle for a Garmin Alpha Collar TT Mini as well as raffles of $500, $300 and $100 for Cabela’s gift cards.  For more information contact Jeffery St John at (413)441-0744.

Active military and veteran waterfowl hunt

The special season opens on October 8.  Check the waterfowl regulations for the details

Be aware of Rabbit Virus

With rabbit and hare hunting seasons approaching in Massachusetts (October 15), hunters should be aware of the following announcement from the VT Fish & Wildlife:

picture provided by VT Fish & Wildlife

“Rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus, a highly contagious virus capable of affecting rabbits and snowshoe hares, is appearing in states close to Vermont and Massachusetts and may show up here according to the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department.

There have been no cases in either state but Connecticut Department of Agriculture recently confirmed an outbreak in Hartford County that killed 14 domestic rabbits. The disease has also been found in New York State and New Jersey.

It is thought to be spreading eastward from the western United States. The virus does not affect other wildlife, humans or pets, except rabbits. It spreads through direct contact with infected rabbits or indirectly through contact with contaminated surfaces.

Sudden mortality in healthy rabbits occurs with this virus, and infected rabbits may be lethargic, reluctant to move, or have blood coming out of the nostrils or mouth.

The disease has caused die-offs in wild rabbits in Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Nevada, Texas and Utah beginning in 2020 and was first detected in domestic rabbits in New York that same year.

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the virus is spread through exposure or contact with an infected rabbit’s excretions or blood. It can survive and spread from carcasses, food, water, and any contaminated materials and people can spread the virus indirectly by carrying it on their clothing and shoes.

There is no U.S. approved vaccine although Connecticut approved the sale of an unlicensed vaccine under emergency authorization last year.

The Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources recommends isolating pet and domestic rabbits from any possible contact with their wild cousins. Any new or returning rabbits to a colony should be quarantined for 14 days and watched closely; handlers should take sanitary precautions and use separate equipment to prevent any possible contamination between colonies.

When hunters are field-dressing rabbits, wear disposable gloves, securely bag entrails and other remains, and dispose of them in the trash. Do not discard remains where other animals may have access to them.

Fall Turkey Shoots

The Lenox Sportsmen’s Club and the Cheshire Rod & Gun Club are having their fall turkey shoots every Sunday until November 20 at their club houses.  The Lenox Club starts at 12:30 pm and also has pie shoots.  Cheshire shoots start at 1:00 pm

Black bears are killing chickens and damaging coops

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According to MassWildlife, that is becoming the number one source of human-bear conflicts in Massachusetts. They and the Environmental Police receive calls daily about bears breaking into chicken coops. Almost every bear in Massachusetts has learned this behavior. As backyard chicken farming has increased in popularity across the Bay State, conflict with black bears has also greatly increased.

picture provided by MassWildlife

The state’s bear population is estimated at over 4,500 animals. Common in central and western Massachusetts, black bears are expanding their range east to the Route 495 corridor. Bears will spend time in areas where human-associated foods like poultry feed, garbage, compost, livestock, and beehives are easy to find. Bears will revisit the same areas repeatedly if food is readily available. As the bear range expands eastward toward the most densely populated communities of Massachusetts, bear sightings are increasing in these areas and residents, especially those who keep backyard chickens, should take steps to prevent conflicts with bears.

MassWildlife feels that coops and chicken wire provide inadequate protection from black bears. Properly maintained electric fencing is the only way to protect chickens or other poultry from bears. Electric fencing is easy to set up and safe around kids and pets. Failure to use electric fencing will likely result in loss of birds and coop damage.

Tips from MassWildlife

  • Install electric fencing around coops to protect birds and coops regardless of flock numbers
  • Keep open, mowed areas on all sides around chicken coops, beehives, and livestock pens. Do not set up chicken coop or hives in abandoned areas or close to overgrown vegetation. Bears will climb trees to get into adjacent coops and use the brush as cover when approaching.
  • Do not place supplemental food nearby as a distraction. This can attract or habituate bears and is counterproductive.
  • Contact local bear hunters to hunt your property. Contact a MassWildlife District Office or a local sportsmen’s club for help connecting with bear hunters.
  • If you are (or anticipate) suffering property damage caused by a bear, contact the nearest MassWildlife District Office right away. MassWildlife biologists will provide you with advice that can lessen the problem.

 

Electric fencing tips

  • Keep the power on at all times (minimum of 6,000 volts).
  • Check and maintain chargers and batteries on a regular basis.
  • Teach bears to avoid electric fences. Place bacon strips, foil strips with peanut butters, or honey on the hot wires to deliver a shock to the bear’s nose. A bear will remember the shock and associate the fence with pain.
  • Remove vegetation on and near wires to prevent shorting out the fence.
  • Review the Electric Fencing Guide to Prevent Bear Damage and contact your MassWildlife District Office for advice on electric fence.

Large black bear taken in Lee

As of last Tuesday, some 95 bears were checked in either online or at check stations statewide

One of those bears was a big one taken last Monday in Lee by Travis Bailey also of Lee.  Based upon scales from Donovan’s Gravel in Lee, the boar weighed 620 lbs. field dressed (already gutted).  After it was skinned out, it measured 7 feet from nose to tail, with a space between its ears of 10 inches.

It took one shot from his .50 caliber muzzleloader at about 12 yards to bring it down. It was dead almost instantly. The first person he called was his mentor Jay Rhind of Interlaken and then his father James Bailey. James called his neighbor Mike Ford and soon the three of them arrived to help get that bear out of the woods.  Mike had an ATV with a winch.  They had to use weight on the front of the quad and had to actually winch from tree to tree just to pull it out of the woods.  The quad could barely drag it. Travis shot the bear at 6:00 pm and they didn’t get it out of the woods, a distance of about 100 yards, until almost 11:00 pm.

One of the reasons that he didn’t take the time to drive it somewhere to a certified scale was to make sure the meat was removed quickly due to the warm weather.  Travis is incredibly respectful of animals and he hunts specifically for the food that is derived from them. The time it would have taken with the warm temperature outside to get it measured for some kind of State record was so much time that the meat would spoil and he felt that he couldn’t possibly in his heart and in his morals disrespect that animal by waiting any longer to start processing it for meat.

The picture was taken after the bear was skinned and meat removed.   Travis is saving the pelt and head for making a large rug and the meat will be consumed. The skull is going to be removed and sent in to be measured for points.  He believes the size of the skull will also confirm the size of the bear. The taxidermist, Justin Gladu, will be taking care of the requirements for the point system.

Travis never hunted for bear before and it was his first time out. He said he has been given such great guidance by the “tribe” of hunters locally and the people who contacted him through this experience.  “They were so supportive, they told me all the right things to do and all the things not to do”.  “It’s good to know that I have that support and it is just so great”.

A bonus pike

 

Rachel Kanter of Lenox had recently graduated from college and was getting ready to start her first job in New York City. She was raised in the Berkshires and requested a fishing trip before the summer was over.  Her dad, Herb Kanter, had heard great things about Spencer Cookson at Berkshire Bass in Sheffield, and booked an outing.

 

According to Herb, from start to finish Spencer gave them a great experience and he can’t say enough about him. He took them out on the Housatonic River and was working nonstop to get them into fish.  They had plenty of action catching large and smallmouth bass.

picture of Rachel provided by Herb Kanter

 

They were about to call it a day when Rachel hooked into a monster 35-inch pike.   Herb’s not sure who was happier, Rachel, him or their guide.

 

Herb has lived in the Berkshires for 34 years and usually flyfishes the streams for trout. He had no idea the Housatonic held fish like this.  “The time on the water with my daughter was priceless”, he said “and that pike was quite a bonus.”

 

According to Cookson, Rachel caught the pike on a War Eagle Spinnerbait and played it well.  Because they weren’t using steel leaders, only 8 lbs. test braided line, the fear was there that the fish would cut the line with its sharp teeth or gill plates.  But it didn’t.

 

After taking the picture, the fish was harmlessly released to fight another day.

 

Cookson owns and operates Berkshire Bass, a well- stocked fishing equipment store in addition to the guide service at 105 Main Street Sheffield.

 

Black bear, early goose hunting seasons starting

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The Early Canada Goose hunting season (statewide) began Friday, September 2 and runs through September 24.  For Early Canada Goose season only, hunting hours are 1/2 hour before sunrise to 1/2 hour after sunset.  The daily bag limit is 15 and the possession limit is 45.  The reason for this early season and the large numbers of geese allowed to be taken is to reduce the large local resident population that is befouling our lawns and beaches.  The regular goose hunting season in the Berkshires opens on October 10 and runs through November 11.

There are many regulations regarding goose hunting and rather than to list many of them out like I did last year, your attention is directed to the  2022 – 2023 SEASON DATES & BAG LIMIT provided at https://www.mass.gov/doc/2022-2023-migratory-game-bird-regulation.

I will note that a 15-goose harvest limit for one day and a 45-bird possessive limit is high. Please make sure the geese won’t go to waste (see wanton waste comments below) and that you or someone else consumes them.  The meat can be tough, so you might want to search out grandma’s old recipes or perhaps you can make goose jerky.

The early Black Bear hunting season opens statewide on September 6 and runs through September 24. Those hunting hours are 1/2 hour before sunrise to 1/2 hour after sunset.  There are no blaze orange requirements during this season.  Hunting implements allowed during this season are rifles, revolvers, muzzleloaders and archery equipment.  There are also many regulations governing bear hunting and instead of listing all of them out here like I have done in previous years, I direct your attention to pages 30 and 31 of the Massachusetts Fishing and Hunting laws (commonly referred to as the abstracts).

 

Please remember:  It is unlawful for hunters to intentionally or knowingly leave a wounded or dead game animal in the field or the forest without making a reasonable effort to retrieve and use it. Each retrieved animal shall be retained or transferred to another until processed or used for food, pelt, feathers, or taxidermy. This does not apply to animals unfit for consumption or use—animals and their parts that are damaged, destroyed, decayed, rotting, diseased, or infected.

No hunting is allowed on Sundays in Massachusetts.

Here’s hoping you have safe and successful hunts.

 

Surplus Antlerless Deer Permits go on sale in September

 

Unlimited surplus Antlerless Deer Permits (ADP) will be available for zones 10, 11, 13, &14 starting Sept. 27.  A limited number of ADPs for zones 3, 9, & 12 will go on sale on a first come, first served basis on Sept. 28.  They will cost $10 and you will need a hunting license in order to purchase one. The easiest way to buy a license or a surplus permit is online through MassFishHunt. In-person sales are also available at select license vendor locations and MassWildlife offices.

I hope you noticed that Zone 3 here in the Berkshires will have surplus permits, some 351 of them.  I believe this is the first time that they will be made available.

Governor Baker appoints four new members to the F&W Board

Some of the following information was gleaned from the July 18, 2022 Minutes of the Fish & Wildlife Board which were approved at the August 23, 2022 Board Meeting.

In my column of July 3 entitled (Steve Sears elected as Acting Chairman of the MA Fish & Wildlife Board), I noted that Steve Sears of Dalton was elected Acting Chairman of the Board, Bob Durand was elected Acting Vice Chair and Ernest Foster was elected Acting Secretary.

In the July Board Meeting, Acting Chair Sears thanked the former Board members, Mike Roche, who had served on the Board for 35 years; Joe Larson, who had served for 22 years; Brandi Van Roo, who served on the Board for 17 years; and Bonnie Booth, a member for 13 years. Sears said that the members had performed a lot of service as volunteers for MassWildlife and the Commonwealth. He said that he was humbled as the Acting Chair and would work hard in the position

DFW Director Tisa introduced the new Board members, who he said clearly bring passion and commitment to their roles on the Board. They are:  Emma Ellsworth, Mathew Sisk, John Organ and Sasha Dyer.

Ellsworth said that she was both overwhelmed and honored to join the Board. She talked about taking a walk with retired Habitat Program Leader John Scanlon in a recent burn site where she saw “lots and lots” of blueberries. Ms. Ellsworth said she loves to see the results of MassWildlife’s habitat work and is looking forward to supporting the effort.

I had the opportunity to correspond with Ellsworth and she told me that she is an avid outdoorswoman, having grown up canoeing, camping and hiking in Montague. In the last ten years her husband has introduced her to the hunting and fishing sports and is now an addict. In addition to having a pair of bird dogs, last year she shot her first elk and the year before her first deer. “I would be lying if I didn’t admit that half my time fly fishing is spent trying to untangle myself from my line. But I am learning.” she wrote.  (Join the crowd of newcomers).

 

“Across the board, in the ten years since I first held a shot gun and fly rod, I have been embraced by the sporting community and find patient mentors on the sporting clays course, wading the swift river, and in the bird fields. I am eager to have the opportunity to give back to this community and to the Massachusetts forests. I am the Executive Director of Mount Grace Land Conservation Trust and am passionate about the protection and stewardship of the unique and stunning natural resources of our commonwealth and backyard.” she wrote.

 

Sisk had been Deputy Commissioner of DCR.  He is well regarded here in the Berkshires for while in office, he helped get gates reopened and roads fixed at Pittsfield State Forest, Beartown State Forest and October Mountain State Forest. He stated that his appointment to the Board is a lifelong dream come true.

Organ said that he’s humbled and honored to be a Board member. He said that he has worked in various capacities with MassWildlife for many decades and has nothing but respect for the hard work of the its staff.

Dyer said that as a lifelong hunter she had always heard her father speak with respect for the Board, and she was very glad and honored to be a member.

Director Tisa said that he looks forward to working with them and thanked them for agreeing to do the job. He reported that over the next five months through the end of the calendar year, his staff will be offering a comprehensive review of programs and district reports to bring the new members up to speed.

Wear your life jackets, it’s the law

 

MassWildlife cautions us that all canoe or kayak occupants must wear a U.S. Coast Guard approved Personal Flotation Device (PFD) from September 15 to May 15, and that includes waterfowl hunters.

Nice way to end a first day in class

Eight year-old Michael (Mikey) Hubbard of Pittsfield had a busy day last Tuesday.  It was his first day of class in 3rd grade and to celebrate it he went bass fishing with his dad Jason Hubbard later at Plunkett Lake in Hinsdale.  Fishing with a 5-inch rubber worm from shore, he hooked into a big fish. He successfully landed what turned out to be a 21-inch, 4.4lbs largemouth bass.

No, he didn’t release it back into the lake.  Once cleaned, it will be released into his mom’s (Rachel Soules Hubbard‘s) frying or baking pan.

Thanks to Steve Bateman for bringing this catch to our attention.

Fishing Derby

Where did the summer go?  The Berkshire Hatchery Foundation in Hartsville-New Marlborough is scheduled to have its last Youth Fishing Derby of this year next Saturday, September 10, from 9:00 to 10:30 am at its Lower Pond at the Berkshire National Fish Hatchery, 240 Hatchery Road, Hartsville, MA.  Children aged 13 and under must be accompanied by an adult.

 

Here’s wishing you all an enjoyable Labor Day weekend.

 

More deer/deer hunting information disclosed

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Last week’s column dealt with a report DFW Moose and Deer Biologist Martin Freehan made at the June 22, 2022 Meeting of the Fish & Wildlife Board.  In addition to the amendment to the Antlerless Deer Permit allocations, he reported the following:

He and other staff continue to work with communities to open more private and municipal lands for hunting, particularly of deer. He noted that the Town of Harvard Conservation Commission has doubled the number of properties open to hunting and that the Town of Brewster approved a 3-week December Archery season in the Punkhorn area, as two examples of recent fruits of those efforts.

He also reported that MassWildlife collaborated with the USDA Wildlife Services to test deer for SARS-CoV-2 antibodies and active-virus during the 2021 Shotgun and Primitive Arms deer seasons as part of a national surveillance program in 28 states.

He reported that MassWildlife staff sampled 558 deer (just over the USDA’s goal of 500 for the state): 86 were positive for antibodies, with the Delta detected as the active variant. He also stated that he will be working again this fall with the USDA on further surveillance.

Mr. Feehan reported that he is planning to disseminate a survey to hunters this summer, in coordination with the USGS’s Coop Unit at UMass/Amherst, to measure baseline knowledge about Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) and about misinformation that might be circulating. This will allow staff to develop an effective communication plan to improve knowledge about CWD and guide future management. He stated that MassWildlife has also joined the SOP4CWD project, to collaborate with states across the country to predict areas of high risk for new invasions of CWD.

Possible Expanded Archery Hunting Season

Feehan commented on the DFW analyses of past deer harvests by sex to show the trends in a couple of sample zones, He then outlined a proposal for the Board’s consideration to unify the Archery deer season statewide by extending the Archery season 2 weeks earlier in zones 1-9 (which includes our area) to match that already established in zones 10-14, with the change to begin with the 2023 season.

He explained that this proposed change simplifies the regulations, the seasons, and enforcement; would allow hunters to spread out their effort and therefore creates more hunting opportunity; and addresses feedback staff receives from many Archery hunters wanting more hunting opportunity.

Discussing the impact of the existing extended Archery season in zones 10-14, Mr. Feehan reported that the extended season in zones 10-14 did not increase the harvest beyond the established trajectory but rather redistributed the harvest based on hunter preference and was very popular with Archery hunters who don’t want to overlap with pheasant season.

Feehan closed his presentation with a request to the Board to endorse the ADP allocations and to direct staff to develop specific regulations that would extend the Archery season statewide to match the current extended season in zones 10-14 and take those proposed regulations to a public hearing for public feedback and comments.

The Board approved the development of specific draft regulations to extend the Archery deer season statewide and take them to a public hearing to solicit comments.

Youth Pheasant Hunt Program

The Massachusetts Youth Pheasant Hunt Program was developed by MassWildlife to provide an opportunity for Hunter Education graduates aged 12 to 17 to practice firearms safety, develop shooting skills, and participate in a special pheasant hunt under the guidance of experienced adult hunters.

The program is divided into multiple parts:

  • Seminar and Range Practice: Participants get hands-on instruction in shotgun shooting fundamentals and firearm safety, learn upland hunting basics, and focus on how to have a safe and fun hunt.
  • Pheasant Hunt: Participants get to experience a real pheasant hunt under the supervision of an experienced hunter on 1 of the 6 Saturdays prior to the regular pheasant season. This year, the pheasant hunting season starts on October 15, 2022.

Requirements

  • Be between the ages of 12 to 17

Steps

  1. Make sure you meet all the requirements above
  2. Register for the Programby August 31, 2022
  3. Complete the Seminar and Range Practice
  4. Have a great day hunting pheasants.  Please note, all other regular pheasant hunting regulations apply including bag limits, hunting implements, hunter orange requirements,

In our area, the Lee Sportsmen’s Association has tentatively scheduled such a course on September 24 from 9:00 am to 11:00 am and on October 8 from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm at its clubhouse on Fairview Street in Lee.

The youth pheasant program is designed to provide young hunters with specialized pheasant hunting training and instruction, as well as reinforce what they learned in Basic Hunter Education. Young hunters will have the opportunity to practice firearms safety, develop shooting skills, and participate in a special pheasant hunt under the guidance of a safe, experienced adult hunter. This program, held by Lee Sportsmen’s Association, is more than just a day in the field pheasant hunting and is divided into multiple parts including hands-on instruction in shotgun shooting fundamentals, a pheasant seminar, and a mentored pheasant hunt. In addition to the seminar and hunt, participants are required to attend mandatory range days. The date and time of these range days will be based on participant’s availability

Keeping with the LSA and pheasants, the Board reported that the pheasant pen located adjacent to the Main Clubhouse has been stocked with about 400-500 pheasants, which LSA raises for the state of Massachusetts.  Every year, MassWildlife stocks an average of 40,000 pheasants on Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs) and other lands open to the public.  These birds are stocked for recreational hunting and are paid for by revenue from license fees; however, the cost of raising the pheasants is the responsibility of LSA, and the caretakers are all Club volunteers.  Members are asked to not allow their dog(s) to wander unattended over near the pen, and if you witness any suspicious or abnormal activity in/on/near the pen, to please contact President Doug Frank at (413) 822-0720 as soon as possible.

 

New pheasant hunting regulations take effect this year 

 

Remember, a Pheasant/Quail Permit is now required for resident and non-resident hunters, there is no season bag limit (2-bird daily limit), and hens can be hunted statewide. Registration for Saturday hunting at Martin Burns WMA is no longer required. The permit this year is $4.00 for residents and $6.00 for non-residents.  Don’t forget!

 

Gun Safety Course

 

Pete’s Gun Shop is holding a LIVE FIRE NRA & Massachusetts State Police Certified LTC Safety Course. This will be a one day all inclusive, live fire class on Sunday September 11 at the Cheshire Rod & Gun Club. The class starts at 9:00 am.

 

Call the shop at (413) 743-0780 to inquire availability of a seat. A non-refundable deposit is required to reserve your seat at the time of registration. They do accept credit cards in person at the shop or by phone.

 

This course is a live fire class where time is spent 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. This is to qualify MA residents and non-residents alike for the MA License To Carry or FID Card. This will be a hands-on, LIVE FIRE course. You will also receive a $10 gift certificate to Pete’s Gun Shop in appreciation for taking the course. The cost is $100 and covers use of the range firearms, ammo, safety gear, class materials, certificates, and the NRA Safety Textbook.

 

Interested parties 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.

 

Growing Massachusetts deer population prompts increase in Antlerless Deer Permits

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The following information was gleaned from the June 22, 2022 Minutes of the Fish & Wildlife Board.  They were approved at the July 18, 2022 Board Meeting. DFW Deer and Moose Biologist Martin Feehan provided much of the following data to the Board.  Let’s start with the 2021 deer harvest figures.

The total statewide 2021 deer harvest was 13,363 indicating a 10.8% decline from the 2020 harvest of 14,766 which was an all-time record year.  The minutes do not indicate a reason for the decline.

We didn’t do too bad here in Western Mass.  The breakdown of our deer harvest (Zones 1 through 4) for 2021 and 2020 are as follows:

Zone 1- (2021) 356 vs (2020) 352; Zone 2- 531 vs 541; Zone 3- 549 vs 578; Zone 4N- 574 vs 611; and Zone 4S-364 vs 367.  The total deer harvested for 2021was 2,374 vs 2,449 or a total drop of 75 deer.

Once again, there were more deer harvested statewide by archery than by shotgun or muzzleloader.  The deer harvest by method of hunting was as follows: 6,432 were taken by archery, 4,282 by shotgun and 2,652 were taken by primitive firearms.

More than 3,000 of the deer taken in Zones 10 and 11 were taken by archers and that doesn’t include deer taken by archers in the shotgun and primitive firearms seasons which is legal.  Probably the main reason is that those zones have high density human populations. Some towns may not allow hunting with firearms in their town/city limits, so some hunters went to the quieter way of hunting, archery.  Just speculating.

Here in Western MA, it appears that we still like our shotguns.  Of the 2,374, deer taken, 866 were by archery, 1,064 were by shotgun and 415 were by primitive firearms. Once again, we don’t know how many deer were taken by archers in the shotgun and primitive firearms season.

Feehan also noted that in-person biological deer checks resumed in 2021, and, to help illuminate trends, staff collected information used for modeling the abundance of deer in each Wildlife Management Zone (WMZ).  Feehan stated that MassWildlife uses a Downing Reconstruction Model for harvest-based abundance estimates, noting that this method does not sample areas closed to hunting and that areas with significant closure are likely to have much higher deer abundance than harvest-based estimates would predict.

Feehan demonstrated through a sequence of graphs showing the DFW’s density estimates in each WMZ that some zones, including zones 2, 4N, and 4S, are maintaining densities well within the Board-approved statewide goal of 12-18 deer per square mile. But data from the other western zones –Zones 1 and 3 – are indicating that densities there are rising and are now slightly above the statewide goal. He demonstrated a similar analysis for Zones 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9, which showed that 5-8 are relatively stable, while Zone 9 is becoming increasingly similar to zones 10 and 11, which are above the statewide goal with high densities and showing persistent growth. Zone 12 is still relatively stable but increasing in density, and in zones 13-14, where densities are very high, the harvest is actually declining.

Given the trends revealed by these analyses and after reminding the Board that MassWildlife sets its Antlerless Deer Permit (ADP) allocations on the assumption that they will be kept stable for the ensuing 3 years so that effects on abundance can be thoroughly studied, Feehan reported that DFW staff proposed changes to the allocations for the next 3 years.  (See chart)Antlerless permits 2022

 

He explained that the proposed allocations marked “No Cap” are functionally unlimited, being set well above the maximum number of ADP permits that are sold each year in those zones.

Mr Feehan’s recommendation for increasing the antlerless deer permits were unanimously approved by the Board.

 

As you can see, with the exception of Zone 4S, antlerless permits in all of the Wildlife Management Zones in Western Massachusetts will increase.  Permits in Zone 1 went up by 100, Zone 2 went up by 40, Zone 3 went up by 150 and Zone 4N went up by 50.  This is certainly good news for deer hunters wishing to supplement their meat diet with healthy venison.

 

Feehan had other interesting comments and recommendations which we will detail in next week’s column.as follows:

So, did you get a permit?

As of August 1, deer hunters can check to see if they were awarded an antlerless deer permit (doe permit).  If you were awarded one, a $10 fee is charged. (Remember, the doe permit fee went up from $5 to $10 this year).

Bad then good news for hunting and show dog owners

Recently, Al Costa, President of the Berkshire Beagle Club informed me that a bill originally intended to address issues with boarding kennels has been expanded to a “meat-cleaver” approach that lumps all breeders into the same category as kennels that sell dogs to pet stores and wholesalers. Senate Bill 2994 was originally drafted to address a few issues concerning problems with doggy daycares that were highly publicized in recent years.

Unfortunately, Massachusetts Senators objected to the clear differences between boarding kennels, hobby breeding kennels and commercial dog breeding businesses. In their effort to “simplify the bill,” Senate Bill 2994 lumped them all together.

I wrote about that bill in this proposed column with the hopes that hunting dog owners would be outraged enough about it to contact their legislators.

Well, the following information was received from the Sportsmen’s Alliance of Massachusetts just before my deadline for submitting this column to the Eagle:

“

Legislation that lumped sporting dog kennels and hobby breeders in with large-scale commercial dog breeding operations died when the Massachusetts House of Representatives adjourned earlier this week. Senate Bill 1322, originally intended as a reform bill to address issues with boarding kennels, was turned into an attack on those who hunt, field trial and show dogs, but who do not breed dogs primarily for sale.”

“The Massachusetts Senate made last-minute changes to S.1322, in response to several high-profile issues at boarding kennels, requiring owners of personal kennels to be licensed and subject to inspections, even in their own homes. Current law recognizes the difference between those who breed dogs for commerce, and those who do so for hobby and sport. The bill would also have made personal kennel owners subject to any change in regulations at both the state and municipal government levels.”

“The Sportsmen’s Alliance alerted Massachusetts sportsmen and directly contacted members of the House of Representatives in opposition to S.1322 as part of a larger effort that included the American Kennel Club and local dog and sporting organizations. Together the effort prevailed as the lower chamber decided not to take up the Senate Bill, instead allowing it to die as the legislature adjourned for the remainder of the 2022 session.”

What is the Sportsmen’s Alliance?  It protects and defends America’s wildlife conservation programs and the pursuits – hunting, fishing and trapping – that generate the money to pay for them. Sportsmen’s Alliance Foundation is responsible for public education, legal defense and research.  Its mission is accomplished through several distinct programs coordinated to provide the most complete defense capability possible.

Thanks to those who jumped on this matter and contacted their legislators.  Needless to say, I had no problem scrapping my old bad news article in favor of this good news one.

Berkshire Natural Fish Hatchery Youth Fishing Derby

The Friends of the Berkshire National Fish Hatchery in conjunction with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service will be sponsoring a free fishing derby on Saturday, August 13 at the lower pond of the Berkshire National Fish Hatchery, 240 Hatchery Road, New Marlborough from 9:00 am to 10:30 am for children 13 and under.  They must be accompanied by an adult.

Duck hunters donate research tool

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The following is a news release from MassWildlife:

“On June 22, state officials accepted a special piece of waterfowl research equipment donated by the Massachusetts Chapter of Ducks Unlimited (DU) and Western Mass. Duck Hunters (WMDH). A tub net launcher is a tool used by trained wildlife biologists in the field to capture waterfowl like mallards and black ducks for banding.

“We are extremely grateful for our ongoing partnership with Ducks Unlimited and Western Mass. Duck Hunters,” said Mark S. Tisa, MassWildlife Director. “This equipment donation will make a huge difference in our capacity to band and study ducks, and will be put to use by our biologists right away this summer.”

In the field, biologists bait a small area with corn, wait for the birds to congregate, then use the tub launcher to discharge a net that is capable of capturing many ducks at once. Biologists place a leg band on each bird with a unique ID code and record data like sex, location, and species before releasing them. This information is critical to the conservation and management of waterfowl, as biologists gather data on the movements and survival of these birds across the Atlantic flyway.

“I want to thank the hunters who put in the time and energy to fundraise and provide a piece of equipment the state was in desperate need of,” said Ron Amidon, Department of Fish and Game Commissioner. “Your generous donation will directly support conservation work right here in Massachusetts.”

Securing this piece of research equipment was not an easy task, as tub net launchers are hard to find and must be custom built. Dedicated volunteers from DU and WMDH organized all the fundraising to purchase the equipment and found a company willing to build the custom tool.

“It took many months but I am very proud of our dedicated members who really stepped up to help fund this research,” said John Dow, State Chair for the Massachusetts Chapter of Ducks Unlimited. “We are always looking for opportunities to partner and support local conservation projects.”

“Part of our club’s purpose is to understand waterfowl populations, maintain critical habitat, and advance wildlife education,” said Ed Snyder, longtime member of Western Mass. Duck Hunters. “Our volunteers have been supporting conservation efforts like this for years, such as the installation and maintenance of nesting boxes for wood ducks.”

Hunters play a critical role in funding and supporting wildlife conservation. For example, Ducks Unlimited has been a key partner to MassWildlife in many recent conservation projects, including the restoration of wetland habitat at Burrage Pond Wildlife Management Area in Hanson and the improvement of public access sites at Three Mile Pond Wildlife Management Area in Sheffield. All hunters contribute to the funding of wildlife management, as proceeds from hunting licenses, permits, and stamps, as well as a portion of federal excise taxes on hunting equipment, is given to state fish and wildlife agencies for conservation”.

 

Stuff like this makes me proud to be a member of such outdoor organizations.

North Adams’ Hoosic River: past, present, and future

 

Judy Grinnell, the founder of the Hoosic River Revival (HRR), and Cary Kandel, an HRR board member and clerk of the board, will speak at the July Pittsfield Green Drinks event on Tuesday, July 19, at 6:00 PM on Zoom. Judy and Cary will dive into the history of the Hoosic River, a 76-mile-long tributary of the Hudson River that partially runs through the northern Berkshires. They’ll talk about the many facets of Hoosic River Valley history, the great things it’s brought to this area for centuries, and the challenges.

As part of the discussion, Grinnell and Kandel will take a brief ‘look back’ at our Hoosic River Valley history from its Mohican, Colonial, Industrial, and fledgling Tech days. They will also address the River’s blessings, challenges, and the solution to those challenges: a three-sided concrete sluice. With current information about river restoration and relevant conceptual plans, they will share the current status of the local, state, and federal government’s roles in the development of a healthy, accessible, flood-controlled downtown river in North Adams.

 

Judy Grinnell is a former French teacher, Williams College conferences director, and Storey Publishing sales manager. She has also led and participated in many Berkshire County organizations, such as the League of Women Voters, the Mt. Greylock School Committee, and the Northern Berkshire United Way Board of Directors. Since 2008, she has been advocating for a modernization of the aging, unattractive, flood-controlled section of the Hoosic River in North Adams.

Cary Kandel is an avid outdoorswoman, bird watcher, and health care practitioner. She has a strong interest in the relationship between the health and resilience of a community and its surrounding natural environment. Now working as a physical therapist at the Berkshire Medical Center, she has a keen interest in creating engaging activities that will inspire others to support the restoration of the River.

 

Pittsfield Green Drinks is an informal gathering on the third Tuesday of the month. These nights are free and open to everyone with any environmental interest. The drinks aren’t green but the conversations are.

 

***Due to COVID-19, these events are virtual until further notice.

This event will take place on Zoom. Registration is required to join. You can register at: https://tinyurl.com/July2022-Green-Drinks

Pittsfield Green Drinks is sponsored by the Berkshire Environmental Action Team (BEAT). For more information (and photos) regarding Pittsfield Green Drinks, contact Chelsey Simmons, chelsey@thebeatnews.org,  (413) 464-9402.

Pistol License Course

The Lee Sportsmen’s Association (LSA) will be sponsoring a Massachusetts Pistol License Course on Saturday, July 23.  This course qualifies participants to apply for a Massachusetts FID or LTC, plus pistol licenses in other states.  This comprehensive one-day course includes information for federal and state firearm laws, operation and safe handling of firearms, shooting fundamentals, care and cleaning, concealed carry methods, a live fire session on the LSA Indoor Pistol Range, and much more.

Course fee is $160 due in cash on the day of the course. State license application fees and processing are not included. Participants will receive a course certificate, application forms, other resources, supporting documents and new Walker’s earmuffs and safety glasses that are theirs to keep.  Club membership applications will be available at the course.

To register, visit www.NRApistolinstructor.com and use the Contact form; provide your full name including middle initial, date of birth, course date, course selection (Massachusetts Pistol License Course (LTC-020) at Lee Sportsmen’s Association with date), address, telephone, and email contact information.  Payment is due in cash at the course.

Check-in starts at 8:30am, and the course will run from 9am until approximately 1:30pm.

For more information contact Robert McDermott at (413) 232-7700 or email robmcdermott@verizon.net.

West Branch Housatonic River Cleanup

On Saturday, July 23, from 9 AM – 1 PM, volunteers are invited to help clean up the West Branch of the Housatonic River.

 

Cleanups make a considerable difference in the health of the Housatonic River. Over the years, Berkshire Environmental Action Team (BEAT) and Housatonic Valley Association (HVA) have collected a startling array of debris. Since beginning annual cleanups, their efforts have made a noticeable difference, with the piles of trash getting smaller.

Meet at Wahconah Park, 105 Wahconah Street, Pittsfield.  Cleanup teams will disperse to nearby locations, gathering miscellaneous trash from the river banks and bottom. Canoes will be used to transport the trash. Old clothes, a hat, sunscreen, old sneakers or waterproof boots/waders, a full water bottle, and sunglasses are recommended.

 

West Branch river cleanups are organized by BEAT and HVA and co-sponsored by Blue Q, the City of Pittsfield, and American Rivers. The cleanup will be canceled in the event of pouring rain or thunder.

 

For more information or to register to volunteer, contact BEAT at team@thebeatnews.org or call (413)464-9402.

 

Berkshire Natural Fish Hatchery Youth Fishing Derby

The Friends of the Berkshire National Fish Hatchery in conjunction with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service will be sponsoring a free fishing derby today at the lower pond of the Berkshire National Fish Hatchery, 240 Hatchery Road, New Marlborough from 9:00 am to 10:30 am for children 13 and under.  They must be accompanied by an adult.   My apologies for this late notice.

Carp Palooza Derby was a great success

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Carp Palooza is a carp fishing derby that ran on Pontoosuc Lake from 3:00 pm on June 25 until midnight, June 26. Two person teams vied for money and trophies.  Some of the trophy titles were:  Best Combined Weight, Largest Mirror Carp and the Dink Master Award for the smallest carp caught.   Derby rules state that all fish must be weighed and released alive

According to Carp Palooza organizer Joshua Christman, it was a great event with 39 teams participating.  Some of them traveled 3 hours to participate even though it was very hot.   Special thanks go to Steve Bateman for helping to promote the event.

Christman said that it was non-stop fish weighing from his boat. He gave a huge thank you to his friend Brandon Murray of Pittsfield who also weighed fish from his boat. “Without his help it would not have been possible to keep up”’ said Christman

First place was won by Dan Conant and Mark Dimond with a two Carp weight of 30.6 lbs.  Payout for first place was $750.  Second place was won by the team of Austin Harvender and Dylan Ladoucer with a two Carp weight of 30.00 Lbs.  They went home with $400. Third place was won by Jay Pesci and Scott Rozzay Dickey, and they went home with $200.

The Lunker Pool payout was $350, and was also won by the first- place team Dan Conant and Mark Dimond.  They ended up with $1,100.00 in prizes.

The largest Mirror Carp award went to Robert Houghtlin and Payton Quinn. They won two $25 Dicks Sporting Good’s gift cards and two Carp nets.  Even the smallest Carp won a prize.  Rebecca Parlato won the Dink Award with a 6 lbs carp.  She won a unique trophy and a $25 gift card to Dicks Sporting Goods.

There was another winner – The Jimmy Fund.  Some $740 was raised for it and the funds were given to Steve Bateman to remit.  Those funds, when added to the funds raised in the Harry Bateman Fishing Derby totaled over $10,740!  Thanks to the anglers who participated, to Joshua who organized the event and to all the helpers, contributors and sponsors.

Sponsors of the Carp Palooza Derby are as follows:  Private Donations from Christopher Parlato, Becki Grimsley and Ron Mazzeo Jr, Haddad’s (Pittsfield), Wal-Mart (Pittsfield/North Adams), RSI Signs (Pittsfield), Dick’s Sporting Goods (Pittsfield), Undisputed Belt.com, Wristband bros.com, VulgrCo.com and Sticker company.

Josh Christman did a yeoman’s job in putting this derby together.  Incidentally, if his name sounds familiar, he has won numerous MA Freshwater Fishing Awards.  He was named MA Adult Catch and Keep Angler of the Year in 2016, 2020 and 2021.

Joshua is also owner of Christman Charters.

Antlerless Deer Permit applications due by July 16

If you want to hunt antlerless deer this fall, you need an antlerless deer permit, sometimes called a doe permit. If you apply for a permit by the July 16 deadline, you then must check back after August 1 to find out if you have been awarded the ability to purchase the permit.

Hunters can apply online using MassFishHunt on a computer or smartphone. You need a valid hunting or sporting license to apply for an antlerless deer permit. There is no fee to apply; a $5 fee is charged only if you are awarded a permit during the instant award period.

The instant award period begins August 1 at 8:00 a.m. and ends on December 31. Your odds of being awarded a permit are the same regardless of when you check your permit status. You can check the status of your permit through MassFishHunt.

Because this is a new system, I recommend that you not wait until the last minute to apply.  You never know if you will encounter a glitch of some kind.

River Flowers

Author Robert (Bob) Romano has come out with a new book entitled River Flowers.

He is author of at least 6 prior books, most of which I have reviewed in this column, simply because I like his writing.  Most of his books feature stories about fictional people and the entire book follows what happens to them.   They are always based in Western Maine commonly known as the Rangely area.

River Flowers is different in the sense that there are 22 individual short, unrelated stores.  But they are all in a way linked together because of where the stories take place, – the Rangely area of Maine.

Romano did not divert from a talent which I really like.  Although they are fictional stories with fictional characters, the surrounding scenery of which he writes is far from fictional.  When he wrote about the dark forests, the trillium and trout lilies along the pathways, smelling the balsam and spruce and observing the tea -colored streams you know he’s been there, done that.  (Actually, Bob should know what he is writing about for he and his family has owned a seasonal cottage there for 40 years).

So, how do you know?  If you have ever visited and fished that area you have smelled the aroma of those woods and walked the damp pine needled forest floor, yourself.  Not every author can capture and convey those surroundings, but Bob does it perfectly.

Most of his chapters keep you wondering where he is going with the story up until the last page, sometimes the last paragraph.

This book is not for the living room end/coffee table, but rather for your night stand.  The chapters are just long enough to get through and then drop off to sleep.   No, I assure you the book is not so boring that you fall to sleep before finishing a chapter.  But when you nod off after reading a chapter, it almost feels like you are bringing the balsa, spruce and the sound of the flowing rivers into your dreams.

Another thing which strikes me about this book is that even though all ages of readers should enjoy it, it is especially appealing to older (or shall we say experienced) anglers.  Not sure if intended, but he writes about things that older anglers, those who have been around a while and are inching toward the riverbend, can relate.  In one story, I loved how an angler was thrashing through a dense forest trying to get away from the angling crowds heading toward the sound of a bubbling stream somewhere downhill, hopefully containing wild brook trout.  I’m not sure if our younger anglers do that anymore.

But I think the younger generation of anglers will also enjoy this book.  It is a great example of how the old anglers used to fish and how the old- time outdoor writers used to write.

One thing which puzzled me about the book was is its name –River Flowers.  What’s with that?  It wasn’t until nearly the end of the book that he reveals what it is all about.  Pretty slick.  Clue – it has something to do with Henry David Thoreau.

Having read all of Romano’s books, I find this one his best. I’ve already started reading it again.

It is a soft-cover 217- page book containing 22 stories with artwork by his daughter Emily Rose Romano. It is published by West River Media and costs $25.

Pick one up for grandpa, he’ll enjoy it.

Happy 4th

Here’s hoping that everyone has a safe and enjoyable Fourth of July.  As you undoubtedly know, our country has gone through a tough couple of years, with Covid, an insurrection, mass shootings, ridiculous gas and grocery prices and more.

No, we are not a perfect nation, at least not for everyone, but let’s work on that.

Speaking for myself, there is no other place on earth where I would rather live.  How about you?

What do you do if you find a fawn?

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MassWildlife says, leave it alone. The animal may be motionless and seem vulnerable, but this is the normal behavior. Even if you see a fawn alone for several days, leave it alone. The mother is probably feeding or bedded nearby. Does visit their fawns to nurse very infrequently, a behavior that helps fawns avoid detection by predators. It is not uncommon for fawns to be left alone for 6-8 hours at a time. Young fawns are usually quite safe when left alone because their color pattern and lack of scent help them to remain undetected.

A couple of years ago, I wrote about a doe that gave birth on an island in Lake Ashmere, probably to get away from people and predators.  While fishing one early morning, the doe swam past me and went up on the island.  A few minutes later, there they were mother and a tiny happy fawn splashing along its shoreline.

If you have taken a fawn into your care, you should immediately return it to where you found it, or to safer cover nearby (within 200 yards). Then, quickly leave the area to ensure the fawn doesn’t follow you and so the mother feels safe enough to return. The mother will soon return to nurse the fawn, even after it has been handled by humans. Don’t try and feed fawns as they have sensitive stomachs.

If a fawn is visibly injured, call MassWildlife at 508-389-6300. Fawns cannot be cared for by wildlife rehabilitators.

e facts from MassWildlife

  • A fawn that is still and unresponsive. Fawns view humans as predators and will drop their head and freeze to avoid detection.
  • A fawn that is crying. Fawns can bleat (vocalize) in a way that sounds like crying if they are disturbed or are trying to locate their mother.
  • A fawn that is in your yard. Fawns are commonly found bedded in brushy areas with vegetative cover or even in some grassy areas – even in suburban areas close to homes or near roadways. Their mother felt this was a safe place for the fawn. On occasion, a fawn that has been disturbed may wander into a dangerous area or an area where the mother may not feel comfortable going (e.g., onto a road, near people, into a garage, etc.). Only if a fawn is in real danger should you interfere by moving the fawn to nearby forested or shrubby area where there is thick cover. Then leave quickly, so the fawn does not follow, and don’t linger. The mother will not come if you are nearby.
  • A fawn alone for long periods of time. Young fawns remain bedded, alone for most of the day and night. The mother will return several times to nurse briefly. She will not approach if people are nearby.
  • A fawn that looks skinny and weak. All fawns appear skinny, but it’s not an indication that they are abandoned or starving. If disturbed, they may also look like they are weak or having trouble walking. Never feed a fawn; their stomachs are sensitive and the food or milk you give them can be very harmful.

These are all normal things for fawns, and while they may be alarming, you do more harm than good attempting to care for a fawn.

At the June meeting of the Berkshire County League of Sportsmen, MEP Lt. Tara Carlow commented on this subject.  To date, the MEP took only one fawn to a rehabber and that was because the fawn’s mother was dead and the fawn would not leave her.  She noted that in the entire state, there is only one fawn rehabber.

Habitat management grant application opens mid-July

Private and municipal landowners of conserved lands can apply for grant funding to support active habitat management projects that benefit wildlife and enhance outdoor recreation opportunities. MassWildlife’s Habitat Management Grant Program (MHMGP) provides financial assistance for projects that:

  1. improve habitat for game species
  2. manage for State Wildlife Action Plan species, with an emphasis on State Endangered, Threatened, and Special Concern species, and
  3. enhance habitat in ecological communities disproportionally susceptible to climate change.

Although MassWildlife and other conservation organizations have made unprecedented investments in land acquisition in Massachusetts, acquisition alone is not enough to guarantee the persistence of biological diversity. Investment in habitat restoration and management is urgently needed on public and private lands across the state. To address this need, MassWildlife and the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs have substantially increased their investment in habitat management on state wildlife lands and are committed to working with partners to promote these efforts on conserved lands across the state. Over the past 7 years, the MHMGP has awarded over $2.4M in funding to 35 different organizations and individuals for 92 habitat improvement projects.

MassWildlife is offering technical assistance to landowners who want to apply to the MHMGP from now until July 15. If you are interested in speaking to a MassWildlife Habitat Biologist about habitat management on your property or your eligibility for the MHMGP, contact James Burnham, Program Coordinator.

If your project site is within priority habitat, a pre-review of the project is highly encouraged. Email Emily Holt, Senior Endangered Species Review Biologist with a site map and description of the project to begin the pre-review process.  Requests for pre-reviews should be made at least 3 weeks before the MHMGP application deadline.

Grant applications will be accepted starting July 15, 2022 and are due by August 31, 2022. Technical assistance on potential grant application projects needs to be completed by the opening of the application period. Visit the MHMGP webpage at any time to learn more about the application process and to see examples of funded projects. For general questions about the grant program, contact James Burnham, Program Coordinator.

Report wild turkey sightings

MassWildlife encourages all wildlife enthusiasts to contribute to our state’s annual Wild Turkey Brood Survey.

Record and report observations of hens (female turkeys), poults (newly-hatched turkeys), jakes (juvenile males) and toms (adult males). Be especially careful when counting broods, because small poults can be tough to see in tall grass or brush.

Every year from June 1 to August 31, your wild turkey reports help state biologists determine productivity, compare long-term reproductive success, and estimate fall harvest potential. Reports come from all regions of the state, from our most rural communities to our most densely-populated areas. Citizen support for the brood survey is a cost-effective way to gather valuable data. It’s also an additional fun way for people to connect with nature. Please note that turkey nesting success can vary annually in response to weather conditions, predation and predator populations, and habitat characteristics.

The easiest method for reporting your wild turkey observations is online. If you prefer to report on paper, you can download and print a Turkey Brood Survey form, complete it over the summer, and mail it to, MassWildlife Field Headquarters, Attn: Brood Survey,1 Rabbit Hill Road, Westborough, MA 01581.

Another nice field trial held at the Berkshire Beagle Club

 

According to Berkshire Beagle Club (BBC) Board Member, Jeffrey St John and Club Secretary Pat Barry, they had a good turnout at its Derby Trial last Saturday.  A Derby Trial is for dogs 6 months old, up to the day they turn 2 years old.  The club ran the trial by AKC SPO (Small Pack Option) rules.   There were 25 entries which far exceeded their expectations. The beagles were classified as either 13-inch or 15-inch males and females combined.

The winner of the 13-inch class was Butlers Bilbo owned by BBC member Kate Butler of East Chatham, NY.  The winner of the 15-inch class was OT’s Finnegan Fluffy Cakes owned by Emmelia Elizabeth May and handled by Scott Harrington, both of Cambridge, NY.  BBC President Al Costa’s dog, Timberswamp Miss Lulu, took the Next Best Qualifier (NBQ) honors in the 15-inch class.

 

According to St John, Club members Sal Dabbraceio, Filipe Ribeiro and John Morris put on a delicious feast, with rabbit, pork and turkey in various entrees along with potato salad and beverage.

Darn!  I was unable to attend the trials.  I especially wanted to try Filipe’s rabbit meal of which I heard many positive comments.