Category Archives: Rabbit Hunting

Public Hearings coming up regarding Coyote and Wanton Waste regulations

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Two upcoming public hearings will be conducted by MassWildlife on proposed new regulations, summarized as follows:

It is proposing the prohibition of contests for the capture, take or waste of certain predator or furbearing animals, and a new section that would prohibit the “waste” of certain game animals and birds.

MassWildlife is also proposing an amendment to existing regulations that would change the time for checking harvested fox and coyote from four days from the end of the season to within forty-eight hours of harvest.

The first public hearing will be held this Tuesday at 7:00 pm, at the Lenox Town Hall, 6 Walker Street, Lenox. The second public hearing will be held on Tuesday, October 29, at 7:00 pm, at the Field Headquarters, Richard Cronin Building, 1 Rabbit Hill Road, off North Drive, Westborough.

The draft of MassWildlife regulations, as well a related summary and other explanatory information, are available for review by the public at https://www.mass.gov/servicedetails/fisheries-and-wildlife-board-public-hearings.

There is a 2-week public comment period after the public hearings. The Fish & Wildlife Board will then review the comments at a future meeting and decide on a path forward.

Preliminary bear harvest report
In his October report to the Berkshire County League of Sportsmen, DFW Western District Supervisor Andrew Madden reported that during the September bear hunting season, licensed bear hunters reported a harvest of 137 bears; 55 reported as female, 82 as male.
This is down slightly from the 151 and 145 taken during the September season in 2017 and 2018. He felt that this may be partly due to the abundance of natural foods available this fall.
The Second Season opens on November 4 and runs through November 23.
Hopefully, if you harvested a black bear this season, you submitted a tooth and hair sample to MassWildlife. Teeth are used to find out a bear’s age, and hairs are used to study bear genetics. If you haven’t submitted the samples and wish to, MassWildlife has a video guide on how to properly extract the tooth and it is suggested that you watch it before attempting it yourself. There are also instructions as to which hairs should be sent.
They ask that you provide them with precise locations where the bears were harvested.
If you have any questions, contact MassWildilfe Black Bear & Furbearer Biologist, Dave Wattles at (508) 389-6359 or dave.wattles@mass.gov
You will receive a letter in June or July with the age of your bear.
Wild Turkey Hunting
The fall hunting season for wild turkey opens tomorrow and runs until November 2. As you may be aware, the Fisheries & Wildlife Board recently approved turkey hunting changes affecting bag limits, fall season dates, shot size, and the Youth Hunt.
NOTE: Regulation changes will NOT be effective until 2020. There are no changes to turkey hunting regulations in 2019.
Other hunting seasons open
On October 12, the hunting season for ducks and geese opened up here in the Berkshires. Be sure to familiarize yourselves with all of the regulations. You can find them at the MassWildlife web site by clicking onto Waterfowl.
There are new bag limits this year: The Mallard daily bag limit has been decreased to 2 birds (only 1 female), the Regular Goose daily bag limit for the Berkshire Zone has been decreased to 2 birds, and the Northern Pintail daily bag limit has been increased to 2 birds.
Yesterday, the hunting seasons opened for cottontail rabbits, snowshoe hare, pheasants and ruffed grouse.
Every year, MassWildlife stocks about 40,000 ring-necked pheasants statewide. These birds are stocked on public and private lands that are open to hunting. The Western District should be receiving about 10,000 of them for stocking. For a listing of local areas stocked and the frequency of stocking, click onto: https://www.mass.gov/service-details/pheasant-stocked-areas.
Incidentally, in Vermont, biologists hope a multistate research program will help them determine if West Nile virus could be responsible for a decline in the population of ruffed grouse across the Northeast and other parts of the country. Vermont is taking part in the project to determine the distribution, prevalence and potential effect of the virus on the bird and are asking hunters to help collect blood and feather samples from the birds they take this season and submit them to the state so they can be tested for the mosquito-borne illness.
The populations of the birds have been declining in several locations and biologists suspect West Nile, an illness that can also infect people, could be at least partially responsible.
Stresses are adding up because of a loss of suitable habitat, said Benjamin Jones, president and CEO of the Ruffed Grouse Society & American Woodcock Society. The Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study is working with state biologists and veterinarians from the Great Lakes, Mid-Atlantic, Southeast and Northeast to test blood samples from hunter-harvested ruffed grouse.
Its goal is to estimate West Nile infection rates in wild grouse. Once finalized, the data will be shared with the participating states.
Coyote hunting season opened on October 13. NOTE: The current, existing coyote regulations (as described in the 2019 abstracts) ARE STILL IN EFFECT. There are no changes to coyote hunting regulations in 2019.
Tomorrow the Archery Hunting Season opens in Zones 1 – 9. Don’t forget, an Archery Stamp is required.
Hunters would be wise to refamiliarize themselves with the various regulations which affect these hunting seasons.
Here’s wishing you an enjoyable and safe hunting season!
Be alert for moose and deer

Fall is moose breeding season, which means the animals are more active, and they sometimes follow waterways into urban areas, according to wildlife officials. Whether in a car or on foot, it’s best to keep your distance — moose are big, and they can get aggressive if they feel threatened.

Last month, two moose made it into Worcester, MA the same day but only one made it out alive. One was a 600 lbs moose roaming around St. John’s Cemetery which the Worcester police and DFW personnel tranquilized and relocated to a rural area.
But later that day, a second moose wasn’t so lucky. A young bull, thought to be about 3-1/2 years old was hit by two cars on Stafford Street, Worcester. The moose suffered compound fractures in its legs and had to be euthanized.
MassWildlife reminds motorists to be mindful of increased deer and moose activity, especially during early morning and evening hours. Moose, found in central and western parts of Massachusetts, breed in September and October. White-tailed deer breed from late October to early December.
To protect yourself, your vehicle and the deer and moose from physical damage, please slow it down a bit while driving through dark and remote areas at night.
Wildlife observations

If you are an archery deer hunter or a game bird hunter, consider keeping a hunting log on all the days you hunt this season. If you complete and submit either an archery deer hunting log or a game bird hunting log before the December 20 date, you will be entered into a drawing. Prizes, donated by Cabela’s, include 1 Polar Cap Equalizer cooler (value $249.99) and two $25 Cabela’s/Bass Pro gift cards. Winners will be randomly selected and notified in late December. If you complete both types of logs, your name will be entered twice.
Archery Deer Hunting Season Log: If you are an archery deer hunter in Massachusetts, keep a daily log of your hunting activities and observations of wildlife during the archery deer season. Because archery hunters are usually very stealthy and camouflaged, they are uniquely suited to record valuable observations of wildlife including deer, wild turkey, black bear, coyote, and other species not commonly observed.
Game Bird Hunting Season Log: If you are a game bird hunter in Massachusetts, keep a daily log of your hunting activities and observations of game birds while hunting bobwhite quail, pheasant, woodcock, or grouse. These observations will provide MassWildlife biologists with information on game bird populations across the state and allow them to evaluate hunter effort of various upland game bird species.
MassWildlife seeks to maintain healthy game bird populations while ensuring quality hunting experiences for both wild and stocked birds across the Commonwealth. Your input is essential and they need hunter participation in every Wildlife Management Zone.

MA F&W Board to hold public hearing on new coyote, fur bearing hunting regulations proposed by DFW

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On Wednesday, July 17, after receiving recommendations from the DFW, the MA Fish and Wildlife Board voted 6 to 1 to hold a public hearing regarding three matters: the prohibition of hunting contests for coyotes and other fur bearers such as foxes, bobcats, raccoons and opossums; Inclusion of a ”wanton waste” provision prohibiting the intentional killing of wildlife without retrieving animals for consumption or other use and altering the reporting requirements for fox and coyote.
Board member Steven Sears, representing the Western District, voted with the majority. The lone no vote was given by newly appointed Board member Robert Durand. His reasons for the negative vote will be given further on in this column and a subsequent one.
On Tuesday, July 23, Berkshire County League of Sportsmen President Wayne McLain and I met with Western District DFW Supervisor Andrew Madden and Board Member Steven Sears. At that time, no written regulations had been made available to the public or, so I was told, to the Board Members themselves who approved it and forwarded it on. Only a power point presentation was made at the July 17 meeting. That is one reason why Board Member Durand opposed it. He brought up the fact that the Board didn’t have the info that staff was contemplating for the coyote regulations at the board meeting. “Why would we move to public hearing”, he said “when we don’t know the parameters of the regs?”
Well, that was the issue that Wayne and I were also dealing with now. I must credit Madden and Sears for their efforts in trying to obtain the information for us. The formal proposed regulations were finally made available to the general public on Wednesday, July 24.
Rather than risk erroneously paraphrasing the proposed regulations, I am including them r verbatim in this column along with the attached FAQ’s. I and many other hunters have serious issues and concerns with the above proposed regulation and how it came about, but due to space limitations, we’ll have to get into them in next week’s column.
DFW SUMMARY
In response to public concern related to coyote hunting contests sponsored by private entities, MassWildlife and the Fisheries and Wildlife Board conducted a review of policies and regulations associated with coyote hunting and contests. To gather public feedback, MassWildlife held 4 listening sessions from April through June in Barnstable, Shelburne Falls, Westford, and Bourne. Phone calls, letters, and emails from the public were also reviewed and factored into MassWildlife’s analysis and review. In addition to gathering input from stakeholders, MassWildlife professionals considered the best available science and consulted with wildlife professionals from other state agencies.
MassWildlife staff made a regulatory recommendation to the Fisheries and Wildlife Board based on this comprehensive review. The recommendation addresses public concerns that these hunting contests are unethical, contribute to the waste of animals, and incentivize indiscriminant killing of wildlife, inconsistent with the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation. Further, recognizing that public controversy over this issue has the potential to threaten predator hunting and undermine public support for hunting in general, MassWildlife recommended the following regulatory changes:
• Prohibit hunting contests for predators and furbearers.
• Prohibit “wanton waste” of all wildlife taken during regulated hunting and trapping seasons. • Change harvest reporting requirements for fox and coyote to be reported within 48 hours, consistent with current reporting requirements for deer, turkey, and bear.
The Fisheries and Wildlife Board voted to hold a public hearing on the Agency’s recommendations. Details about the public hearing and proposed regulatory language will be available soon on Mass.gov/MassWildlife-Public-Hearings.
THIS PROPOSAL DOES:
• Fulfill one of MassWildlife’s core functions to develop and maintain hunting, fishing, and trapping opportunities in Massachusetts.
• Address public concern that certain contests contribute to the waste of animals.
• Recognize and address the fact that public controversy over this issue has the potential to threaten predator hunting.
• Discourage the waste of wildlife and reinforce a core principle and expectation that all animals taken during the regulated seasons are utilized to the greatest extent possible, as taught in Hunter Education.
• Recognize that coyotes and other furbearers are managed as a valuable natural resource
THIS PROPOSAL DOES NOT:
• Reduce opportunity for hunting coyotes or other furbearers.
• Apply to the defense of people or property. •
Apply to problem wildlife, such as Beaver Emergency Permitting and Problem Animal Control.
• Apply to animals “unfit for consumption or use” (damaged, destroyed, decayed, rotting, diseased, or infected).
• Apply to certain animals listed in M.G.L. c. 131 Sec. 5: English sparrow, starling, crow, chipmunk, flying squirrel, red squirrel, porcupine, skunk, weasel, or woodchuck.
• Apply to wounded or dead animals that cannot be retrieved after a reasonable effort has been made.
DETAILED SUMMARY OF PROPOSED CHANGES
Prohibition on contests for predators and furbearers
• A predator or furbearer contest is where participants compete for prizes of cash value or other inducements in the capture or take of predatory or furbearing animals.
• It shall be unlawful for any person to organize, sponsor, promote, conduct, or participate in a contest (as described above) for take of coyote, bobcat, red fox, gray fox, weasels, mink, skunk, river otter, muskrat, beaver, fisher, raccoon, and opossum. (Animals regulated under 321 CMR 3.02(3) or 3.02(5)(b)(2, 5-11)).
Prohibition of wanton waste
• “Waste” means to intentionally or knowingly leave a wounded or dead animal or bird in the field or the forest without making a reasonable effort to retrieve and use it.
• It is unlawful for any person while hunting or trapping in accordance with 321 CMR 3.02 to waste an animal or bird. Each retrieved animal or bird shall be retained or transferred to another until processed or used for food, fur, feathers, or taxidermy.
• The draft waste regulation does not apply to:
o Animals “unfit for consumption or use” – animals or birds and their parts that are damaged, destroyed, decayed, rotting, diseased, or infected.
o Defense of people or property (M.G.L. Ch. 131 Sec 37)
o Problem wildlife, such as Beaver Emergency Permitting (321 CMR 2.08) and Problem Animal Control (321 CMR 2.14)
o Certain animals listed in M.G.L. c. 131 Sec. 5: English sparrow, starling, crow, chipmunk, flying squirrel, red squirrel, porcupine, skunk, weasel, or woodchuck.
o Wounded or dead animals that cannot be retrieved after a reasonable effort has been made.
Change harvest reporting requirements for fox and coyote
• Fox and coyote shall be checked within 48 hours of harvest, consistent with deer, bear, and turkey requirements. Fox and coyote may be checked online or in person.
FAQS
Q: Have other states banned similar contests?
A: Yes. Since 2014, California, Arizona, Vermont, and New Mexico have banned coyote, predator, or furbearer contests. New York and Oregon are currently contemplating laws on this matter.
Q: Are hunting contests or coyote hunting regulations threatening the current coyote populations?
A: Coyote populations are stable, healthy, and abundant. MassWildlife estimates the statewide population of coyotes is between 9,500 and 11,500 animals. Over the past 10 years, the annual coyote harvest has ranged from 400 and 750—less than 10% of the statewide population. Due to the coyote’s unique reproductive biology, it would take an annual 70% harvest to reduce coyote populations. The current harvest from coyote hunting does not reduce the coyote population.
Q: Coyotes kill deer; shouldn’t coyote populations be controlled in order to maintain the deer population in the state?
A: With a historic high of 95,000 deer estimated in Massachusetts combined with recent record deer harvests, deer populations are thriving despite the presence of coyotes. Recent research shows that coyote predation on fawns and adult deer does not impact deer populations. Annually, biologists estimate that coyotes kill about 20–30% of fawns. Scientific studies have shown that fawn survival rates are similar with or without coyote predation. Coyotes rarely kill adult deer and in Massachusetts, adult doe survival rates are very high. High adult female survival translates into more fawns produced over a number of years, contributing to a flourishing statewide population.
Field Trials
Next weekend, the Berkshire Beagle Club will be conducting field trials on its lands located on Sleepy Hollow Road in Richmond. The trials start on Friday, August 2 at 2:30 pm with the Field Champions. On Saturday the two couple packs will run.
There will be an AKC Judges field trial seminar starting at 9:00 AM and a JR Fun Bench show at 6:00 pm. There will also be a cook out on Saturday evening.
On Sunday is the derby and all age. The club will be raffling off a TT15 mini collar each day and there will be T-shirt’s for sale.
For more information, contact John Demary at 413-684-2228.

Berkshire Beagle Club, still flourishing after all these years

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In the fall of 1979, the late Ted Giddings wrote this headline in his Berkshire Eagle outdoor sports column entitled Our Berkshires, “Beagle Club flourishing”. He wrote that the club, which was formed in 1932, “had experienced ups and downs but was in better shape than ever with a closed membership of 55.” Well, in the 40 years that have since elapsed, the club has experienced more ups and downs, but today it still survives, has 55 members and there is still a waiting list to join. The feeling remains that restricting membership to 55 is in the best interest of the club. Too many hunters with beagles would stress the bunnies.

Its amazing that the little club has been able to survive some 87 years now. To be sure, there have been many changes over the years. In the earlier days, there was no internal organization and the only likely beaglers were a handful of small game hunters who sought a way to keep their hunting dogs in training during the months of the year when hunting seasons were closed.

In fact, the first formal meeting of 7 members took place in a funeral parlor. That’s according to Gary Menin who wrote an excellent article about the Berkshire Beagle Club in a 1998 issue of the Massachusetts Wildlife Magazine entitled The Berkshire Beagle Club. He is the son of the late Anthony “Bucky” Menin, a BBC member in the early 1950’s and one-time chairman of the licensed field trials.

According to Gary Menin, there were insufficient funds to purchase any substantial real estate and the earlier trials took place wherever the group was allowed (Lands in West Pittsfield, Lee, Windsor, etc).

The club formed a corporation in June 1951 with the principal officers being: Earl Holt, Karl D. Henry, Robert Minkler, Wellington Nadeau, Elmer Jones, H.C. Huddleston and Harry C Ward. Another founding member was Paul Husky. According to Gary Menin, the group began to grow and, the membership realized that the use of random acreage for training grounds wasn’t sensible. Bunnies leave areas whenever the food supply becomes depleted through forest succession. The members learned how to entice the bunnies by building them shelters (such as brush piles) from weather and predators. Cutting trees and brush to make shelters results in young sprouts, an attractive food for the bunnies. However, most landowners were not always fond of tree cutting on their properties and prohibited it.

Menin noted that the beaglers saved their money and in 1954 were able to purchase 90 + acres in Richmond, MA. According to former Club Secretary David Norton of Pittsfield, they purchased a piece of land and it came with a “19th century mansion. He remembers it having a giant circular staircase. The members converted it into a clubhouse, but it proved too expensive to maintain and it was sold. The house was moved to a place on Rte. 295 in Richmond near the Hillside Orchard and restored. They subsequently purchased a second parcel on the other side of Sleepy Hollow Road. The current clubhouse was built by members in 1961 for $6,000. Some 72 of the club’s 90 acres were enclosed by fencing.

During Norton’s time, he remembers members: Harry Ward, Manual Lester, Mr. Mancivielano, Steve Strauss, George Hamilton, Ken Huddleston, Lambert “Mickey” McGinty, Thomas Dellert, Bill Danford, George Huddleston, Bucky Menin, Syl Lanoe, Carl Henry, Bob Kingsley, George Ripulsa, Ken Hanson, Arthur Giftos, Paul Mangin, Pete Barzie, Lorenzo Briggs, Robert Haunch, Walter Snook, Ed Tierney, Bob Minkler, Al Mazzeo, and others. (Names from the past, ey?) He said that Bucky Menin did more work at the beagle club than any other man.
Over time the membership grew considerably and it was inducted as a member of the American Kennel Club and became subject to the rules and privileges of the AKC. They began having “field trials” (competitive events between members of the BBC and other clubs recognized by the AKC). These AKC Sanctioned field trials continue to this day with three of them being held in 2018.

In the 1980’s or1990’s about 22 acres of land along Dublin Road were sold to the gas company so now there are 35 acres of land which contains the clubhouse on one side of Sleepy Hollow Road and 33 acres on the other side.

In its earlier days, to raise funds, Sunday turkey shoots were conducted. Wives did a lot of work such as cooking and baking pies for turkey dinners. Deb Kuni, Dave Norton’s daughter, remembers going to the club house with her parents on weekends when the wives were cooking. She said that she would sometimes be allowed to help with small chores like setting the tables. The women were all baking and cooking in the big kitchen, laughing and talking.” It was always so warm in there and smelled so good!”, Deb said, and she was torn between wanting to be inside with her mom or outside running the dogs with her dad.

Some days when there weren’t trials going on, Dave would let her go with him to run their dogs. She would shag rabbits and help him keep track of where they went. He showed her how to help the dogs to pick up the trail when the rabbit jumped under a brush pile or went down a hole.

Tim Minkler, son of co-founder Robert Minkler, remembers his late father taking him and his sister to Shadowbrook for 5:00 am Mass, listening to the Seminarians sing, and rushing out to the Beagle Club in time to set up for a Beagle trials on Sunday morning. He remembers that in front of the Club house was a well with an old fashion handle that you had to pump to get the water to flow. “Great fun for kids that were 5 and 6 years old.” He also remembers those pies as being a “big deal”. “I never knew there were so many versions of apple pie.” he said.

On a personal note, although not members, our family benefitted greatly from the BBC. In the 1940-1950’s, my first cousin William Kincaid was a member and big into the field trials, winning some of them and judging others. He bred his own dogs and frequently he would end up having too many pups or perhaps having one that for one reason or another, didn’t meet AKC 13 or 15-inch size specifications (or perhaps he wanted a male and not a female and he would give us those dogs). I can’t remember a time growing up when we didn’t have 2 or 3 great hunting dogs. It was a natural progression for me to eventually take up rabbit hunting and ultimately join the club.

There have been changes over the years. They began raising their own snowshoe hares and cottontail rabbits, gradually released them on club property as needed- the cottontails on one side of Sleepy Hollow Road and the hares on the other. Those bunnies in the rearing pens are treated like royalty – fed, watered, medicated, protected from predators, etc. In addition to the annual dues ($200) and hosting field trials, the club began having bunny hunts in Januarys to help offset its expenses. (No hunting allowed on club property). Sadly, there are no baked pies and turkey dinners anymore, but John Demary, Teddy Billis and others make mean venison and bear meals. During the field trials they and other volunteers prepare the meals.
It was necessary to raise the fencing to 8 feet to prevent deer from jumping over it. (The last thing that a beagler wants is to have his dogs take up chasing deer). To prevent bears, fisher cats, bob cats and other unwanted critters from preying on the bunnies, it was also necessary to put an electric fence along the top of the fence to keep them out. Owls and other raptors started to take their toll on the bunnies and steps had to be taken to protect them. Some perching trees had to be cut, special night blinking lights were installed and screening or other preventative measures were placed atop the rearing pens.
These days, the leaders and heavy lifters of the BBC are: Robert Jones, Jeff St John, Richard Kalisz, John Demary, Rob Kane, Tom King, Pat Barry, Tim Cahoon, Rodney Hicks, Al Costa, Berny Drysgola, and Ray Meandro. (My apologies to anyone that I may have missed). The club is in good hands.
Unfortunately, the amount of local rabbit hunting habitat has severely declined due to development or lands prohibiting hunting. The Berkshire Beagle Club is the only beagle club in the Berkshires where one can unhitch his dog and let it do its thing without fear of being preyed upon, hit crossing a road or getting lost. All persons of good and reputable character, who are really interested in the future of the purebred beagle, are eligible for membership in the Berkshire Beagle Club. Each person applying for membership must complete a membership application and be sponsored by a current member of the Club. The prospective member must also agree to carry his/her share of the maintenance workload.

Many thanks to: Gary Menin, Don Puntin, Dave Norton, Deb Kuni, Dan Barry, and Tim Minkler for providing information for this article.
Gun Course
The Lenox Sportsmen’s Club has announced that the next Mass State Compliant LTC and UTAH gun course will be held on Sunday, February 17, from 9:00 am to 1:30 pm at its clubhouse off of New Lenox Road in Lenox. The price list is as follows: $70.00 MA, $125.00 UT, $125.00 AZ, $125.00 CT and $125.00 FL. Stand-alone prices listed, combine any two for $150.00 – any additional state above two is $50. You must pre-register. For more information, contact Tom Nadolny at (413) 822-6451 or tnadolny1@gmail.com.

Statewide deer harvest in 2018 set a record

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According to figures provided by MassWildlife, the preliminary statewide deer harvest for 2018 was 14,513 – a new record high. That compares with the 2017 total of 13,220. The 2018 preliminary harvest figures by season are as follows:
• Youth Deer Hunt Day (Sept. 29): 138
• Paraplegic Deer Hunt (Nov. 1–3): 3
• Archery Season (Zones 1-9: Oct. 15–Nov. 24 and Zones 10-14: Oct 1-Nov. 24): 5,190
• Shotgun Season (Nov. 26–Dec. 8): 6,495
• Primitive Firearms Season (Dec. 10–Dec. 31): 2,687
Zone Adult Male Button Buck Female Total
1 304 14 85 403
2 438 6 97 541
3 462 28 180 670
4N 456 16 154 626
4S 299 11 68 378
5 487 31 186 704
6 111 2 34 147
7 410 46 248 704
8 595 40 250 885
9 786 115 557 1,458
10 1,220 238 1,193 2,651
11 1,773 299 1,292 3,364
12 181 17 101 299
13 354 120 426 900
14 297 123 363 783
Statewide 8,173 1,106 5,234 14,513

MassWildlife believes that deer density and hunter effort tend to be the most important factors influencing harvest from year to year. However, there were two important changes for the 2018 season that may have led to the record harvest. One factor was the opening of over 7,500 acres of Wachusett Reservoir Public Land resulting in a Zone 9 harvest increase from last year by about 300 deer. The other factor was the two-week extension to the archery season in Zones 10-14. That resulted in an increase of over 700 deer being taken during that period.
According to my unofficial figures, the deer harvest has been on an increase over the last several years as evidenced by the following figures which were provided yearly by MassWildlife. Total statewide harvest beginning in 2014 and ending with 2018 were as follows:11,165, 10,142, 12,233, 13,255 and this year’s 14,513. In our Western District WMZ 1 through WMZ 4, the figures were: 1,737, 1,887, 2,197, 2,318 and this year’s 2,618.
MassWildlife noted that while total harvest by zone can be informative, it doesn’t provide the complete picture. Thus, it is important to assess harvest data and monitor trends by Wildlife Management Zones. Total harvest is influenced by deer density and the number of antlerless deer permits that they allocate in each zone, as well as annual changes in hunter effort, harvest-rates, success-rates, weather, etc.
MassWildlife Deer Project Leader David P. Stainbrook will spend the next few months thoroughly analyzing the deer harvest and biological data as well as assessing deer population trends in each zone. The results and recommendations for the 2019 season will take place at the annual deer management review, (usually at the June Fish &Wildlife Board Meeting). A complete harvest summary will be posted on the MassWildlife website shortly after the annual deer review.
Turkey Regulation proposed changes
In my November 18, 2018 column, “MassWildlife proposes new turkey-hunting regulations”, I listed the proposed new regulations and the reasons for the changes which were presented to the F & W Board in November. Here is a condensed recap of the proposed changes.
• Increase the annual limit to three birds (2 bearded turkeys in the spring and 1 of either sex in the fall).
• Increase the daily bag limit to two per day during the spring season
• Expand the fall season (ARCHERY ONLY) to coincide with the archery deer season.
• Allow Youth Turkey permits issued to youth aged 12–14 for use in the fall turkey hunting seasons.

MassWildlife staff will be hosting two informational meetings in February to provide the public with an opportunity to give feedback. Turkey Biologist Dave Scarpitti will make a short presentation on the turkey hunting review and regulation proposals, followed by a Q&A session for the public to give feedback. The meeting dates are: Thursday, February 7 at 6 pm at MassWildlife Field Headquarters (1 Rabbit Hill Road, Westborough, MA 01581), and Wednesday, February 13 at 6:30 pm at the Palmer Public Library (1455 N. Main Street, Palmer, MA 01069).

If bad weather requires rescheduling or cancellation, they will post a notification.
Anyone unable to attend the informational meetings may comment on the changes by mail to: Turkey Season Feedback, MassWildlife Field Headquarters, 1 Rabbit Hill Road, Westborough, MA 01581. Public feedback will be considered by MassWildlife staff and provided to the Fisheries and Wildlife Board. Please note that if changes are endorsed by the Board, a formal public hearing and public comment period will be scheduled and publicized.
Culvert Replacement Municipal Assistance Grant Program

The MA Division of Ecological Restoration (DER), Massachusetts Department of Fish and Game, is seeking proposals from Massachusetts municipalities interested in replacing an undersized, perched, and/or degraded culvert located in an area of high ecological value. Total funding available in FY20 is anticipated to be $750,000. Additional funding from other sources may be available and further details, including eligible towns and projects, will be included when the Request for Response (RFR) is issued on February 20, 2019. The purpose of this funding is to encourage municipalities to replace culverts with better designed crossings that meet improved structural and environmental design standards and climate resiliency criteria.

Only projects that intend to meet the goals of the Massachusetts Stream Crossing Standards will be considered for funding. Incorporating these Standards into culvert design will improve river function and access for fish and wildlife, and will reduce hazards to public safety, such as flooding, culvert failure, and road washout. Massachusetts municipalities are eligible to apply for funding to support advancement of one culvert replacement project toward completion. Interested communities should view the full announcement, including eligibility and evaluation criteria, at https://www.mass.gov/how-to/culvert-replacement-municipal-assistance-grant-program.

The PRE-Request For Responses (RFR) period, January 23, 2019 to February 20, 2019, provides a preview of the RFR that DER will issue February 20, 2019. Applicants are strongly encouraged to contact Carrie Banks to discuss possible projects during this period. The RFR will be released at 3:00 PM on February 20, 2019. The application deadline is 5:00 PM, March 20, 2019.

Applicants are encouraged to attend a Grant Briefing to learn more about this funding opportunity. During Grant Briefings, DER Staff will explain the Culvert Replacement Municipal Assistance Grant Program, answer questions, and be available to meet one-on-one with municipalities to discuss proposed projects. A local Grant Briefing information is scheduled on February 4 from 1:00 to 2:30 PM at the Adams Town Hall, 8 Park Street, Adams. Attendees should RSVP to carrie.banks@mass.gov or 413-579-3015 in case of inclement weather and the briefings either need to be canceled or postponed. Check the Division of Ecological Restoration’s website (www.mass.gov/DER) for the most up-to-date information regarding grant briefings.

Bunny Hunt Results
Some 20 hunters signed up for the Berkshire Beagle Club bunny hunt and game dinner which was held on Saturday, January 26. Four cottontail rabbits were checked in and the largest one weighed 2.89 lbs. It was bagged by David Morris, of Lee, in front of Tom King’s (of Cheshire) dog Bomber. Only one snowshoe hare was checked in and it weighed 3.46 lbs. It was bagged by Pat McGrath of Dalton who shot it in front of Tony Cornwell’s (of Peru) dog Izzy.
A delectable meal of venison chili, bear chili, venison spaghetti, venison meat loaf and bear stew was prepared by members Dick Kalisz and Ted Billis. There was also a great raffle.
Upcoming Derbies

The 33rd Annual Jimmy Fund Ice Fishing Derby will be held on Sunday, February 10 at the Frank Controy Pavilion on Onota Lake from 6:00 AM to 2:00 PM. Admission is: Adults – $15, Kids – $5. Tickets are available at Onota Boat Livery (413)443-1366, Maces Marine (313)447-7512 or on the day of the derby at the Pavilion. There will be three divisions of trophies and prizes and plenty of good food. For more information, contact Leo Kruczkowski (413)822-2745 or Chico Gelinas (413)282-9486.
The Ashfield Rod & Gun Club’s Annual Youth Ice Fishing Derby will take place on Saturday, February 9 from 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM. Prizes will be awarded for all legally caught fish checked in at the The Ashfield Lake House. After the derby, a spaghetti dinner will be held at Sanderson Academy. There will be a $5 charge for adults, free for kids. Following the dinner, there will be a presentation given by Tom Ricardi on birds of prey. For additional derby information, contact Joe Miraglia at (413) 628-4400.

Rescued attempt for deer has sad ending

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On Thursday morning, January 17, The Western District Office of MassWildlife was called upon to rescue a 180-190 lbs buck that was stuck on the ice on Pontoosuc Lake. According to DFW Western District Supervisor Andrew Madden, the deer was splayed out on the ice, couldn’t get any grip and appeared to be injured. Although there was a lot of blood and the animal’s tail was missing, the DFW staff was hopeful that after assessing its injuries, perhaps they could treat and release it back into the wild.

They had to tranquilize it in order to free it from the ice. DFW Wildlife Biologist Nate Buckhout slowly and cautiously approached the deer with a tranquilizer gun. He tried not to startle the deer and keep it as stress-free as possible to avoid it from trying to get up and hurting itself more. The deer was alert and tried to get up but the ice was too slick

“Nate took a good shot getting the immobilizer into the deer. The drugs worked pretty quickly and all went pretty well,” Madden said. The buck was loaded onto a sled and dragged off by MassWildlife personnel to be assessed. At that time, it wasn’t known whether the deer would survive the wounds and traumatic event.

Thank goodness the ice was solid and they could get to the deer because, if not, they would have had to work with the fire departments on water rescue which can be risky.

After assessing the deer, MassWildlife personnel discovered more serious injuries and determined that they were far too serious for the deer to recover. Unfortunately, they had to euthanize it.

Madden felt that perhaps the deer was chased onto the ice by coyotes, fell down and couldn’t get up due to its being so slippery. On that day the ice was hard with no snow on which to grip.

Although it was not a happy ending, give credit to MassWildlife and all involved for their valiant efforts to try to save that deer.

Want to learn how to ice fish? Attend a Family Ice Fishing Festival
MassWildlife advises us to not let winter keep us indoors. Ice fishing provides anglers with the unique opportunity to fish on a lake or pond without a boat during the cold winter months. If you’re looking to learn how to ice fish, join MassWildlife’s Angler Education Program at an upcoming event this winter.
Two Family Ice Fishing Festivals are scheduled for the Western District this year. Both are free and open to the public with no pre-registration required.
February 2 in Pittsfield – A learn to ice fish event at Pontoosuc Lake (81 Narragansett Avenue) from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. (Park on the street around the park and walk onto the lake from there.)
February 9 in Chesterfield – A learn to ice fish event at Scout Pond – Tolgy Wood (the old Chesterfield Scout Reservation at Sugar Hill Road in Chesterfield) from 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Bring your ice fishing equipment, or borrow theirs; equipment and bait will be available on a first come, first served basis. These events are in cooperation with the Western Massachusetts Boy Scout Council. For more information contact Jim Lagacy at jim.lagacy@mass.gov or (508) 389-6309. PLEASE NOTE: Less than 6″ of safe ice, rain, or heavy snow will cancel the events.
Basic Hunter Education courses being offered
By state law, if you are 18 years of age or older and you want to purchase your first-ever hunting license, you must complete a Basic Hunter Education course. Hunters 12 to 17 years of age must adhere to the regulations which are specific to their age. While minors are not mandated to complete a Basic Hunter Education, it is a prerequisite for certain youth programs and it allows minors 15 to 17 years of age to hunt without direct supervision.
In a Basic Hunter Education course, students receive instruction in the safe handling and storage of hunting arms and ammunition, hunting laws and ethics, care and handling of game, and wildlife conservation. Courses are typically 15 hours in length and are offered in different formats to meet the public’s needs. Students under the age of 18 will need a parent or legal guardian’s permission to attend this course. All courses are free of charge and open to the public.
The Cheshire Rod & Gun Club will be conducting a 6 session Hunter Education Course at its clubhouse on 310 Curran Road, Cheshire. The sessions will run from 6:00 to 9:00pm on February 18, 22, 2 and March 1, 4 and 8.
A similar 6 session course will be held at the Pittsfield High School, 300 East Street, Pittsfield. The sessions will also run from 6:00 to 9:00pm on March 5, 7, 12, 14, 19 and 21.
If these courses are not convenient for you, Basic Hunting Instructor Wayne McLain plans to teach a course at the East Mountain Sportsmen’s Club in Williamstown sometime in April, but the dates have not been firmed up yet. As soon as the dates have been established, I’ll pass them on in this column.
To enroll in either course, call (508) 389-7830. Don’t wait! These courses fill up rapidly.
It may be more convenient for you to take the Basic Hunter Education course in another state. A government-issued Basic Hunter Education certificate from any U.S. State, Mexico, or Canada is accepted to meet the prerequisites for purchasing a Massachusetts hunting or sporting license. Many states near Massachusetts allow non-residents to attend their hunter education course offerings.
If you are using your certificate to becoming eligible for your first-ever hunting license and apply for a firearms license please be aware that your local police department will not accept an out-of-state certificate.
For more information, click onto http://www.mass.gov/service-details/basic-hunter-education-course-offerings.

On the Water TV show features Berkshire Waters

Rick O’Neill, of Pittsfield, was fortunate enough last May to get together with Chris Megan, Publisher of On the Water magazine/television show, and Dave Hadden of Old Town Kayaks to film a couple of days of smallmouth and trout fishing in the Southern Berkshires.

According to Rick, they had 2 tremendous days of fishing and filming that included drone and underwater footage. They caught tons of smallmouth bass ranging from 1 ½ lbs to 6 lbs on a pond in Great Barrington. Sorry, you will have to watch the program to see exactly where they caught them.

The show will be airing on Sunday, February 10 at 10:00 am on Channel 26 NBC Boston. While Rick hasn’t seen the final footage, he knows for a fact that they also took lots of film of local attractions and will be trying to promote all that we have to offer here in the Berkshires.

 

Its ice fishing time

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Now that the weather has finally turned cold, the ice on our lakes should now be safe to go ice fishing. Most ice fishermen that I know have been chomping at the bits waiting for this time. They already dug out their heavy clothes and ice fishing equipment. Their power augers are tuned up and ready to start drilling holes. Some folks probably rummaged through their freezers for deer burgers. All they have to do is purchase some hamburger rolls and live bait, grab a kid or two and head out onto the lake. Of course they already purchased their 2019 fishing or sporting licenses……..right?

I’m guessing that the ice thickness is somewhere between 6 and 12 inches thick, depending where you go. The higher up in elevation, the more ice on the lakes.

Actually, MassWildlife doesn’t want us to guess the ice thickness. They caution us to always consider ice to be potentially dangerous. One can’t judge ice conditions by appearance or thickness alone; many other factors like water depth, size of waterbody, water chemistry, currents, snow cover, age of ice, and local weather conditions impact ice strength.

New ice is stronger than old ice. Four inches of clear, newly formed ice may support one person on foot, while a foot or more of old, partially thawed ice may not. Ice doesn’t freeze uniformly. They caution you to continue checking ice conditions frequently while venturing out onto the ice.
Stay away from ice formed over flowing water. Avoid traveling onto ice-bound rivers and streams, as the currents make ice thickness unpredictable. Many lakes and ponds may contain spring holes and other areas of currents such as stream inlets that can create deceptively dangerous thin spots.
MassWildlife cautions that before heading out onto the ice, tell someone your plans, including where you are going and when you expect to return. Carry a cell phone in case of emergency and always carry ice picks and rope with you on the ice.
They suggest that you wear a life jacket because it will keep you at the surface and can provide insulation against the effects of cold water. (I suspect that for most of us wearing a life jacket is not practical. We are bundled up so much that we can’t fit the life jacket under or over our bulky clothes. Lately, ice fishing clothes manufactures are making parkas with flotations built inside them. That may be the way to go when you purchase your next parka).
The guidelines below are for clear, blue ice on lakes and ponds. White ice or snow ice is only about half as strong as new clear ice and can be very treacherous. Use an ice chisel, auger, or cordless drill to make a hole in the ice and determine its thickness and condition.
The general rule is that if there is 2 inches or less, stay off the ice. Four inches should support an individual on foot, 5 inches for snowmobiles or ATV’s and a foot or more for a small pick-up truck.
If you fall through the ice try not to panic. Call for help if there are people nearby. Don’t remove winter clothing as air trapped in your clothes can provide warmth and help you float. Turn in the direction from where you came because ice previously walked on should be the safest. Place your hands and arms on an unbroken surface and kick your legs. If you have ice picks or a pair of nails, use them to pull yourself up onto the ice while kicking. Lie flat and roll away. Once your torso is on firm ice, roll toward thicker ice to distribute your weight.
Find shelter and get warm: Change out of wet clothing and find warm, dry coverings. If you are in a remote area, get to or start a campfire. Otherwise, get to a car or house. Seek medical advice from your physician on medical attention.
If someone else falls in: Remember the phrase “Preach-Reach-Throw-Go.” Preach: Call 911 if you can. Shout to the victim to reassure them help is on the way. Reach: If you can safely reach them from shore, extend an object like a rope, jumper cables, tree branch, or ladder to them. Throw: Toss one end of a rope or something that will float to the victim. Go: If the situation is too dangerous for you to perform a rescue, call 911 or go to find help. Untrained rescuers can become victims themselves.
If your pet falls in, don’t attempt to rescue it. but rather go for help. You could become a victim yourself when trying to assist your pet. Always keep pets leashed while walking on or near ice.
For years the group that I ice fish with had a tongue-in-cheek rule that the oldest guy should go out on the ice first. What the heck, we would laugh, he had lived the longest life. Now that I am the oldest in the group, it doesn’t seem so humorous anymore. Lately, for one reason or another, I just haven’t been able to show up at the lake as early as the others. Darn! There’s usually someone out on the ice by the time I get there.
Firearm Course
The Lee Sportsmen’s Association (LSA) will be having a Multi-License Firearm Course next Saturday from 9:00am until 4:00pm for a proprietary LTC course that qualifies for licenses in Massachusetts, Connecticut, Florida, Utah, Arizona, etc. 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 pistol range, and much more.
Course fee is $180 for the entire course or take just the MA/CT segment for $150, with live fire. State license application fees and processing are not included. Participants will receive a course certificate, application forms, an informative student resource CD, and supporting documents. All firearms, ammunition, and eye and ear protection will be provided, including lunch as well.
To register, visit https://nrapistolinstructor.com/contact, and provide your full name including middle initial, date of birth, course date, course selection (Multi-License Firearm Course at Lee Sportsmen’s Association), address, telephone, and email contact information. Payment is due in cash at the course. Contact Robert McDermott at (413) 232-7700 or email robmcdermott@verizon.net.

Pheasant Fundraiser Dinner
The LSA will be having its Annual Turkey Shoot and Pheasant Fundraising Dinner next Sunday beginning at 1:00pm. Turkey shoots will be conducted from 1:00pm to 4:00pm. Prizes include: NY Strip steaks, turkeys, pork loins, and spiral hams. Dinner is served at 5:00pm. The cost is $15 per Adult and Children 12 and under are $7. For any questions or if you are interested in helping, contact John Polastri at (413) 822-8278.
Bunny Hunt
The Berkshire Beagle Club will be having its rabbit hunt next Saturday. It is advertised as a fun time with good food and raffle prizes, as well as prizes for largest hare and cottontail rabbit. Participants must the bring their game to the Beagle Clubhouse for the 5:00pm check-in. Hunting takes place on your own, away from clubhouse and grounds. The entrance fee is $20 which includes raffles and dinner. For more information, contact Hunt Chairman John Demary, at (413) 441-2253.
Incidentally, the club held its election of officers for 2019. Al Costa of Westfield, MA was elected President, Dick Kalisz of Adams as Vice President, Tim Cahoon of Pittsfield as Treasurer and Pat Barry of Pittsfield as Secretary.

Let’s go hunting!

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The Duck and Regular Canada Goose hunting seasons open tomorrow in the Berkshires. The daily bag limit for ducks is 6 with a possession limit of 18. For geese, the daily bag limit is 3 and possession limit is 9. (Remember, the 15 daily bag limit for geese only applies to the early goose hunting season which ended on September 21).

There is a myriad of regulations which apply to duck hunting. For example, note the daily bag limits: The daily bag may contain no more than 6 ducks, and no more than 4 of any species, not additionally restricted; only 2 black ducks, 4 mallards of which only 2 may be females, 3 wood ducks, etc. Waterfowl hunters need a HIP number, State and Federal stamps, must use non-toxic shot, etc., etc. Hunters really need to refer to the 2018-2019 Migratory Game Bird regulations.

The upland game (ring-necked pheasants, ruffed grouse and quail), cottontail rabbit and snowshoe hare hunting seasons open next Saturday, October 13.

About 40,000 ring-necked pheasants will be stocked in the Commonwealth this fall and we can assume that about 8,000 of them will be stocked in the Western District. To get a complete listing of the stocking locations, click onto the MassWildlife web site and then onto “Pheasant Stocked Areas”. Not only are the stocking locations listed but also the frequency of stocking.”
Also, a couple hundred additional pheasants, which were raised by the Lee Sportsmen’s Association during the year, will be stocked onto certain public lands.
Really, upland game and rabbit hunting is all about the dogs. How they point, retrieve or hold the scent is a source of pride to the hunter. Now’s our chance to see if all of the training, veterinarian expenses, license fees, dog food expenses, etc. of our bird dogs and beagles will pay off. Hopefully, we have been able to get them into top physical shape, just like us.

If they don’t perform to our expectations, that’s ok. They will still be our lovable best friends who simply adore us.

Hunters should refer to the Massachusetts Guide to Hunting, Fishing and Trapping laws to determine season dates, daily bags, season limits, etc. I would like to reiterate one regulation: No person shall hunt during the pheasant or quail season on Wildlife Management Areas (WMA) where pheasant or quail are stocked without wearing a blaze orange cap or hat except while night hunting for raccoons or opossums or while hunting waterfowl from within a blind.”
My recommendation is to wear blaze orange anywhere that you are hunting pheasants, grouse, woodcock or bunnies, not just on a WMA. Also, if hunting waterfowl from a blind, I would recommend wearing a blaze orange hat while going to or leaving the blinds.
I also recommend that non-hunters (hikers, bird watchers, mountain bikers, mushroom seekers, etc.) wear a blaze orange hat while on WMA lands and any forests or lands where hunting is permitted. Don’t forget that cottontail rabbit and snowshoe hare hunters are out there, too, and many of them hunt in our state forests.
Incidentally, the coyote hunting season also opens on October 13.
Here’s hoping you have a safe and enjoyable hunting season, and be mindful of the deer ticks.
Help MassWildlife by recording your wildlife observations while hunting

Massachusetts hunters spend a significant amount of time in the woods observing wildlife of all kinds. These observations can provide wildlife biologists with a tremendous amount of information to better understand wildlife distribution and abundance across the Commonwealth. If you are an archery deer hunter or a game bird hunter, MassWildlife asks that you consider keeping a hunting log on all the days you hunt this season.
If you complete and submit either an archery deer hunting log or a game bird hunting log before December 14, you will be entered into a drawing. Prizes include 1 stainless steel tabletop gas grill, donated by Cabela’s, 10 blaze orange MassWildlife caps, and 10 one-year subscriptions to Massachusetts Wildlife magazine. Winners will be randomly selected and notified in late December. If you complete both types of logs, your name will be entered twice.
Archery Deer Hunting Season Log: If you are an archery deer hunter in Massachusetts, keep a daily log of your hunting activities and observations of wildlife during the archery deer season.. Because archery hunters are usually very stealthy and camouflaged, you are uniquely suited to record valuable observations of wildlife including deer, wild turkey, black bear, coyote, and other species not commonly observed.
Game Bird Hunting Season Log: If you are a game bird hunter in Massachusetts, keep a daily log of your hunting activities and observations of game birds while hunting bobwhite quail, pheasant, woodcock, or grouse. These observations will provide MassWildlife biologists with information on game bird populations across the state and allow them to evaluate hunter efforts of various upland game bird species. MassWildlife seeks to maintain healthy game bird populations while ensuring quality hunting experiences for both wild and stocked birds across the Commonwealth.
Log Results From 2017
Archery deer hunters submitted 171 hunting logs resulting in over 9,000 hours of hunting time logged. Logs were received from hunters in every Wildlife Management Zone (WMZ); however, zones 9, 10 and 11 accounted for the most logged hours. Turkey, deer, and coyote were the most common species observed statewide. Bucks and does were observed in every WMZ, while turkeys were observed in zones 1-11; black bears were observed in 7 of the 15 zones.
Hunting logs were received from 42 gamebird hunters in 2017 resulting in 975 hours of recorded game bird hunting. Submitted hunting logs were received from WMZs 2-12 and Nantucket (WMZ 14).
Fall trout stocking has begun
Mass DFW has already stocked several of our local waters. To find out when and where the stockings occurred and the kinds of trout stocked, click onto the MassWildlife web site (www.mass.gov/service-details/trout-stocking-report).
There was some conjecture as to whether the East Branch of the Westfield River will be stocked this fall. According to Andrew Madden, DFW Western District Supervisor, barring any unforeseen event such as flooding or accessibility issues, fall stocking of the East Branch is planned.
Happy 50th Birthday to the American Museum of Fly Fishing

The AMFF, which is dedicated to preserving the rich heritage of fly fishing was established in 1968 in Manchester, Vermont, by a group of passionate and enthusiastic anglers who believed that the history of angling was an important part of American culture and tradition. The Museum was created to serve as an institution to research, preserve, and interpret the treasures of angling history.

Today, the Museum serves as a repository for and conservator to the world’s largest collection of angling and angling-related items, numbering in the thousands. Its collections and exhibits thoroughly document the evolution of fly fishing as a sport, art form, craft, and industry in the United States and abroad, dating as far back as the sixteenth century. Rods, reels, flies, tackle, art, photographs, manuscripts, and books (including its 7,000 volume Gardner L. Grant Library) form the Museum’s permanent collection.

The museum, which is located next to Orvis in Manchester, VT is one of my favorite places to visit. I always look forward to receiving their quarterly journal, entitled The American Fly Fisher which is provided to its members. Check them out on www.amff.org.

New Director of Fisheries and Wildlife

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Recently, the Massachusetts Fisheries and Wildlife Board unanimously voted to appoint Mark S. Tisa, Ph.D., M.B.A., to the position of Director of the Division of Fisheries and Wildlife (MassWildlife).
He started his career in 1987 with MassWildlife as the Project Leader of the Anadromous Fish Restoration Program, was promoted to Assistant Director of Fisheries in 1990, and then to Deputy Director in 2015. Director Tisa led a number of major initiatives over the years for the agency, including the Youth Pheasant and Young Adult Turkey hunt programs and the construction of the MassWildlife Field Headquarter’s 45,000-square-foot zero-net-energy building in Westborough. Upon the retirement of former Director Jack Buckley, he was appointed Acting Director, effective May 1, 2018.
“I’m honored, humbled, and thrilled to be appointed to lead MassWildlife, where I have worked for 31 years,” said Director Tisa. “We at MassWildlife care about all the Commonwealth’s wildlife and plants, including state-listed species, and I look forward to continuing to work with hunters, anglers, trappers, conservationists, and all Massachusetts citizens to carry forward MassWildlife’s tradition of conserving and helping everyone to enjoy all our treasured wildlife resources.”
Director Tisa grew up in Leominster, MA. He earned a B.S. in Biology from Springfield College, a M.S. in fisheries from the University of Tennessee, a Ph.D. in Fisheries and Wildlife Sciences from Virginia Tech, and an M.B.A. from Anna Maria College. He is an avid outdoorsman who enjoys fishing, hunting, shooting, and retriever training.
Update on Project Healing Waters

Readers may recall an article that I did in July, 2016 entitled Veterans helped by Healing Waters regarding a group that belonged to Project Healing Water Fly Fishing, Inc.(tm). The organization is dedicated to the physical and emotional rehabilitation of disabled active military service personnel and disabled veterans through fly fishing and associated activities including education and outings. My wife Jan and I were camping at the Indian Hollow Campground along the East Branch of the Westfield River in Chesterfield, MA. When we met them.

The Massachusetts/Rhode Island Council of Trout Unlimited (TU) rented the camping area for the weekend and delegates from both state’s TU chapters were there to conduct business and do a little fly fishing. Next to our campsite was a group of men which was made up of veterans and mentors participating in a therapeutic fishing trip as part of Project Healing Waters.

The idea behind Healing Waters is simple – to provide a therapeutic and fun outlet for physically or mentally disabled vets by teaching them the basics of fly fishing, casting, tying, and rod building, and then going out on fishing trips to ideal spots such as the Indian Hollow campground.
Nationwide, Healing Waters raises its own money with a budget of close to $3 million and administrative costs are kept low, in the 15 % range, reserving as much as possible to fund trips and provide gear for the vets who take part. The entire program is completely free to the Veterans. In addition to funding from Healing Waters, the group is sponsored by the non-profits TU and the New England Fly Tyers.
It is open to any veteran who has a disability, whether physical or mental. “ 95% of what we have here is post-traumatic stress,” said Bill Manser, Project Leader. With that in mind, counselors provide the therapeutic support for the group, joining Manser and the volunteer mentors who bring a variety of outdoor skills to the group, some of them being vets themselves.
Well, this past May Jan and I attended the TU event again, and once again camped near the Healing Water guys. This time there were 13 of them. I was curious about how the group was doing these days. Manser, who is in his 5th year as project leader, said exciting things are happening. As an adjunct to TU, they initiated a Veteran’s Service Partnership whereby veterans and their families get a free one-year membership. This applies to every chapter, including our own Taconic Chapter here in the Berkshires. This is different from Project Healing Waters which requires a DD-214 and some level of disability.
Another wonderful thing is that the Worcester Chapter of AMC, along with Enterprise Rental Car funds trips for them to stay at the Appalachian Mountain Club’s Medawisla Lodge and Cabins in Maine allowing them to fish the Roach River, some 14 ½ miles of catch and release fishing for landlocked salmon and wild brook trout during the 3rd week in September. The AMC’s focus is on maintaining streams with no dams, similar to TU’s focus.
The Catskill Fly-fishing Museum in Livingston Manor, NY provides housing, and the Adopt-a-Soldier Platoon program provides meals, private waters, and a one day fully paid for float trip on the East/West Branches of the Delaware River. The famed DeBruce Club, a deluxe private fly fishing club which is located in Livingston Manor, the heart of flyfishing in the Catskill, allows them to fish there.
Nothing is too elegant for these veterans and I was so happy to hear about this outpouring of kindness and support extended to them. Some of them are Viet Nam veterans who are still fighting dragons after nearly fifty years. Of the group that we saw at Indian Hollow this year, four of them were homeless, living in group homes. They need help, understanding and compassion to help them cope with their hurdles.
With funding available and the group thriving with the help of volunteer staff, Manser encourages more veterans to join so they can be helped. Veterans or volunteers interested in participating can reach Manser at (978)895-5261. Its home website is projecthealingwaters.org. Donations are always happily and gratefully accepted.
Please forgive me but I can’t help but repeat what was written in that previous column, “So how does fly fishing help? Perhaps it is as fly-fishing author Tom Meade wrote in his 1994 book entitled Essential Fly Fishing, “The rhythm of the rod carries your body, mind and spirit to the water. Whether you catch a fish or not, the water will always give you a little of its strength, some of its energy and much of its peace.”
Beagle Club
Robbie Kane, Berkshire Beagle Club spokesman, believes that next weekend’s field trials (August 3, 4, and 5) have the makings for their biggest and best August trials yet. The Field Trial for Champions trial on Friday evening is completely full, which makes the club able to donate $1,000 to the Northeast Regional Junior Beagle Program. There is an online dog auction for the Friday night trial going on the Facebook Group “Beaglers”. Half of the money raised goes towards the Club. They plan to have pizza Friday night for the participants and spectators.
Saturday’s 2-Couple Pack is also shaping up as well. That evening they will have their annual cookout. It should be a good time around the fires on both Friday and Saturday nights.
On Sunday is their derby and the All-Age Trial. They will be raffling off TT15 Mini Collars on both Saturday and Sunday for $10 a ticket. Spectators are welcome.

Questions arise over the handling of Pittsfield Lakes

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Recently, I have been receiving correspondence from sportsmen questioning why the water level on Pontoosuc Lake is so low that they are unable to launch their boats in the open water near the outlet channel. I didn’t know the answer. It was my understanding that per Order of Conditions, the lake had to be completely refilled by April 1, and I am unaware of any amendments or exclusions to that Order of Condition.

On April 2, I went to the lake outlet and found that the water level indeed appeared to be 2 feet below the dam overflow level and that water was being diverted around the dam in a pipe and into the outlet stream (one of the feeders to the Housatonic River). It looked as though the
refilling, a process which probably takes a couple of weeks to complete, had not even begun. It is my understanding that the lake is allowed to be raised or lowered no more than 3 inches per day to reduce adverse impacts on the outlet stream. While there, I took a picture of the outlet. (Picture quality not quite sufficient for this column).

Through e-mail and telephone calls, I tried to reach the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) regarding this matter. (I subsequently found out that I should have contacted the DCR because it is the permittee and operator for Pontoosuc Lake). I called the Pittsfield Conservation Agent (Rob Vanderkar) and we had a good conversation. He claimed he contacted the Department of Conservation & Recreation (DCR) on April 2 and requested that they begin
refilling the lake that very day. If they did so, it must have begun after I visited the dam and took pictures.

On March 4, the DCR Press Secretary responded to my inquiry with the following information:

“Every year, the DCR conducts a winter drawdown of approximately three feet of water from Pontoosuc Lake by opening the dam in the City of Pittsfield. Staff then elevate the water levels back to normal for the spring/summer season (typically April 1st).”

“However, the agency has not brought the water levels up to normal seasonal heights just yet due to the large amounts of ice currently present within the lake caused by a prolonged winter season, which has happened in past years. Elevating the water levels at this time would enable ice to drift to the shoreline and potentially damage the bank, property, and/or other structures that it may encounter.”

“DCR staff are currently allowing the ice to fully melt, water levels are slowly rising (approximately 15 inches from the spillway), and staff continue to monitor the issue. Water levels are expected to be at spring/summer heights later this week or early next week.”

I am no biologist, but I don’t think “winter drawdowns” cut it. Unless something changed in the regulations recently, drawdowns had to be completed by November 15 in order to allow the critters (amphibians, mammals, etc.) to relocate in order to survive the freezing temperatures.

The issue of severe and late lake drawdowns and refills has been a constant point of contention to the Berkshire County League of Sportsmen (BCLS), the umbrella organization for a dozen or so local sportsmen’s clubs and some 3,000 or more local sportsmen and women. Rarely has a monthly meeting taken place in the last couple of years when this subject, as well as the use of herbicides, did not come up. Some of the concerns are: too severe drawdowns, drawdowns conducted too late to allow the critters to make new winter homes, excessive or overuse or unnecessary uses of herbicides, and others.

Their concerns were piqued when it was learned that there was a drastic drawdown last winter on Onota Lake which left thousands of freshwater clams, mussels and a rare aquatic plant exposed on a sandbar to freeze. Even a muskrat had been left stranded in the low water and had to be trapped out by DFW. (Keep in mind that drawdowns are supposed to be completed before winter).

I have since learned from the DEP that Jim McGrath, Pittsfield’s Harbormaster, is the operator for Onota Lake and that MassDEP has and is providing guidance and recommendations to the Conservation Commission regarding permits.

Complicated, hey?

Nevertheless, someone should have been held accountable for the demise of the thousands of those bivalves. The freshwater mussels were identified by DFW aquatic biologists as common mussels, but they were estimated to be from 50 to 80 years old. A Comb Water Milfoil (as opposed to the invasive Eurasian Milfoil), was also exposed to freezing during that drawdown. It is listed in Massachusetts as “Endangered.”

The County League’s concerns have been frequently conveyed to the Western District DFW Supervisor Andrew Madden, but his hands are tied in these matters because the Conservation Commissions call the shots. (Although I am not sure if the Concom called the shot on the above referenced Onota Lake drawdown last fall). Isn’t it ironic that the very agency that has the best trained aquatic biologists and expertise to address these concerns, basically has no say? Yes, DFW advice and recommendations are sought by lake associations, conservation commissions and others but at the end of the day the recommendations are largely unheeded it is they who make the decisions and who, in the County League’s opinion, are the least qualified to make them. The County League hopes to change all that.

It is important that fishermen, conservationists and those who represent the critters also have a say in the management of these Massachusetts “Great Ponds”. It is up to them to become informed, attend the various meetings and work with the Conservation Commissions, lake associations, DEP, DCR, DFW and others to come up with sound lake management plans that all can live with, even the critters.

Incidentally, Dan Miraglia, of Pittsfield, has been the watch dog keeping the BCLS updated on lake matters. As a sign of appreciation, the League chose Dan to receive its Silvio O. Conte Sportsmen’s Appreciation Award this year.

Incidentally, the leadership of the BCLS asked me to announce that they still have tickets available for the Silvio Conte Memorial Banquet on April 21. At that banquet, Dan, along with George Wislocki, Karen Kruszyna, Tom Tyning and another guy will be recognized. While there, maybe we can ask Tom what the effects the constant drawdowns have on the turtle, crayfish and other amphibian populations.

Trout Stocking

The following water bodies were scheduled to be stocked with trout last week, subject to change: Green River – Alford, Egremont and Great Barrington; West Branch Westfield River – Becket, Chester, Middlefield and Huntington; East Branch Westfield River- Chesterfield, Cummington, Savoy, Huntington Russell and Windsor; Deerfield River – Buckland, Charlemont and Florida; Farmington River – Otis and Sandisfield; Konkapot River – Monterey, New Marlborough and Sheffield, Norwich Pond in Huntington, Windsor Lake in North Adams, Mansfield Pond in Great Barrington and Lake Buel in Monterey.

Coyote Contest

Eight coyotes were entered into Dave’s Sporting Goods Coyote Contest this year, and the winner was Carl Dolle of Clarksburg. He bagged the most with a total of 5 and he also bagged the largest coyote which weighed 41 lbs. Joe Trybus, of Lanesborough, MA won the random draw. Congratulations to both.

As you undoubtedly noticed the checked-in numbers were low this year. According to store owner, Dave (DJ) Benham, Jr., it was probably due to the poor weather conditions. It seemed like every time it snowed, it crusted over, keeping the hunters out of the woods. The hunters did not want the crust harming their dog’s paws.

Fishing Derby
The Berkshire Hatchery Foundation in Hartsville-New Marlborough is having this year’s first free children’s fishing derby next Saturday, April 14, from 9 to 10:30 AM at its lower pond. Children aged 12 and under must be accompanied by an adult.
Intro to Action Shooting 101 Class

Do you want to start shooting International Defensive Pistol Association (IDPA), or Steel Challenge this season but really don’t know where to start? On April 15 there will be an Action Shooter 101 class at Lee Sportsmen Association (LSA) from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM. The cost is $5 per person.

The training will begin with a mandatory 45-minute safety and procedures training session in the clubhouse. They will then move to the range for training on action shooting match firearm handling. Later you will be shooting a short, simulated match under the direct supervision of a safety officer. The instructor is LSA’s Paddy Sullivan a Master level shooter in IDPA, Steel Challenge and USPSA

You do not have to be a member of LSA to attend this class. This is a class for new shooters and you are absolutely welcome. But this is not a class for someone not familiar with the firearm you will use. You should have practiced and be very comfortable with loading, unloading, shooting and clearing jams prior to taking this class. You are encouraged to find some introduction to IDPA and Steel Challenge videos on YouTube prior to taking this class in order to be much better prepared and more comfortable.

On April 22, they will be having a 2-gun event. (2 Gun is similar to IDPA only you use a pistol and shotgun.)
There are certain rules with which you must abide. For information on them and to see the 2018 IDPA and Steel schedule, contact Shawn Sullivan at ssullee@icloud.com.

Beagle Club hunt
Looking for something to do next Saturday or Sunday? Maybe you want to hear some good music, sung only by beagles. Perhaps that type of music brings you back to the old days when lots of folks had beagles tied to dog houses in their back yards.
Well, I know just the place to once again hear that music, and that is the Berkshire Beagle Club on Sleepy Hollow Road in Richmond, MA. Next Saturday and Sunday, the club is having its spring field trials where some of the best beagles in the northeast compete at following the scents of snowshoe hares and/or cottontail bunnies. All of the dogs are AKC registered and many already possess championship ribbons won at other field trials.
When they strike a scent, they sure sing, some practically yodeling. For beagle lovers, it is truly music to their ears.
The club welcomes folks to come and just listen to the dogs and observe the judges. Every now and then, you will hear someone shout “Tally Ho!” to let the judges know that they spotted a bunny or dog on its scent.
There will be plenty of food to purchase there.

Hancock family members receive North American Hunting Award

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A journey that started sixty-five years ago for one Hancock man came to a pinnacle this past January when he and his two sons travelled to Las Vegas where they received North American hunting awards.
In 2014, Arthur Goodrich, now 82, was awarded the Super Ten of North American Big Game by the Grand Slam Club/Ovis. The award is given to hunters who legally harvested and registered 10 North American Big Game animals, one in each category. The categories are: moose, elk, big horn sheep, mountain goat, bear, cougar, bison antelope, caribou and deer.
Arthur Goodrich had been one of only two MA residents to have ever received the award. This year, his sons Dr. William (Bill) and George joined him as each were recognized for their own Super Ten. Arthur also added an additional award to his long list – a Platinum Award for a Kodiak Brown Bear that scored 26 11/16 in the Bonne & Crocket Club record book. George received a silver award for a Kodiak Brown Bear from the same hunt that scored 26 3/16 in the Bonne & Crocket Club record book.
Arthur, who was born and raised in Pittsfield, started hunting at age 15. He was taught to hunt by his father and neighbors. His first harvest for the Super Ten award was a White Tail Deer in Windsor, MA as a teen. His last was a Mountain Lion in Idaho in December 2012. After receiving the prestigious award, he continued hunting into his eighties, usually with his sons to aid them in their own journeys to the Super Ten. He has hunted in 10 states and 4 Canadian provinces.
“It is a sport and a challenge,” says Arthur who traveled to Reno, Nevada in January 2014 with his wife, children, and siblings to accept his award. “It was so exciting and I was so proud of him,” said his wife of 60 years, Elaine, of watching her husband receive the honor. When they travelled to Las Vegas in January, the honor was magnified. Hunting has always been a family affair and Arthur and Elaine were able to watch their sons achieve what their father did only a few years earlier.
The family’s hunts have taken them far away from their Hancock homes, hiking up to 10,000 feet to shoot a Mountain Goat in British Columbia to the varied temperatures of Alaska Range, AK hunting a Dall Sheep. Arthur says that his Dall Sheep is a highlight of his ten hunts. The Boone & Crocket Club recognized him in 2009 for having the 19th largest sheep on record, which scored 164-4/8 points in the 27th North American Big Game Awards.
Most of Bill and George’s hunts for their Super Ten were completed in the company of their father. When they hunted Antelope in Wyoming in 2012, they were even joined by a member of the third generation, Bill’s son Collin, who harvested his own Antelope as well.
Even though the Super Ten is considered a lifetime achievement award, the family has no intention of stopping, given their passion for the sport.
Fly Fishing Film Tour
On Thursday, March 1, the Taconic Chapter of Trout Unlimited is bringing the 2018 premier of the Fly Fishing Film Tour to Great Barrington, MA at the Barrington Brewery, Crissy’s Barn. You are invited to see some amazing footage of fly fishing around the world. This is their third film tour. Last year it was a big hit, with amazing sights. Door prizes and raffles will be held, including a 9 foot, 5-weight fly rod which was built by local angler Allen Gray.

Doors open at 6:30 and the show starts at 7 PM and runs to about 9 PM. Tickets cost $12 in advance and $15 at the door. Click onto https://flyfilmtour.com/buy-tickets/ to buy your tickets. Tickets are available locally in advance from any TU Board Members. For information please contact William Travis at traviswdt547@gmail.com or 413/822-7934.

Basic Hunter Education Course
There will be a basic hunter education course held at the East Mountain Sportsman Club, 312 Henderson Road, Williamstown on April 9, 13, 16, 20, 23 and 27. All 6 dates meet from 6 to 9 PM. You must attend all class dates and times to successfully complete the course.

If you are interested in this course and wish to enroll, call (508) 389-7830 immediately; students are enrolled first-come, first-served, and courses do fill quickly.

Beagle Club Rabbit Hunt Results
Berkshire Beagle Club spokesman John Demary reported that 17 hunters participated in its annual Rabbit Hunt which was held on February 10. The running was not great, with only one Snowshoe Hare being taken. Jordan Goerlach, of Hinsdale Mass, took that hare which weighed 2.95 lb. He got it in front of his beagle Marley. Dick Kalisz won $100 in the 50/50 raffle.

According to Demary, those who didn’t have any luck had a wonderful consolation prize: Venison Meat Sauce, Venison Meat balls & Spaghetti, Venison Chili, Chicken Broccoli Alfredo & Bear Stew, all prepared by BBC members Teddy Billis who did most of the cooking along with Tim O’Keefe, and Dick Kalisz.

Large bear
In January, the Berkshire Eagle received a photo from Mr. Richard M. Coty of Lee. The photo was of his grandson who harvested a 507.5-pound bear (live weight) this year. The picture was printed out in black and white and was completely useless for use in print. There was no phone number with which to reach the grandfather in order to follow up. I contacted the DFW Western District Supervisor, Andrew Madden, to see if he had any information about this large bear; however, there was no record of such a bear being shot in Massachusetts. So, with no other avenues to pursue, the story was dropped.

Last week, Richard called me and the required information was obtained. It turned out that the bear was shot in North Carolina by his grandson Andrew Michael Coty. I told Richard that the bear season has been closed for a couple of months now and it was too late to run the story. After ending our conversation and hanging up, I began to have second thoughts.

You see, Andrew is a sergeant in the US Army, 82nd Airborne Division stationed at Fort Bragg, NC. He has spent the last 5 years defending our country. The least we could do is show the picture of his bear of which he was so proud. It was also our chance to congratulate him and to thank him for his military service. The sports editor, Geoff Smith, agreed.

So, working with Andrew’s father Bill, who also lives in NC, we began the process of selecting the best picture and obtaining a little background information. Incidentally, upon Andrew’s discharge, he will pursue a career in the NC Highway Patrol. He was probably influenced by his uncle Dean Leitschuh who helped him get the bear out of the woods and who is a member of the NC Highway Patrol.