Category Archives: News

MassWildlife makes proposals dealing with small game

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MassWildlife makes proposals dealing with small game

Recently, MA fisheries and Wildlife Board voted to proceed to public hearing with proposed changes to regulations around pheasant hunting and small game.  I tried to paraphrase them but I think I would just confuse the readers.  Therefore, I am passing on the proposed changes verbatim:

Extend opportunity to harvest pheasants/quail through December

A small portion of stocked pheasant/quail survive the regular season from mid-October through November. Following the shotgun deer season, extending the pheasant and quail season through the end of December provides an additional opportunity for enthusiastic and skilled game bird hunters to harvest remaining stocked pheasants/quail. Additionally, rabbit/hare/squirrel hunters would gain hunting opportunities from this season extension as well. Given the late-season nature of this proposed hunting opportunity, we anticipate relatively low participation rates and therefore minimal, if any, concerns or conflicts with other hunters, recreationalists, and/or landowners.

Expand allowable hunting implements on stocked WMAs, and standardize hunting implements (shotgun and archery only) for pheasant/quail

Current regulations unnecessarily restrict hunting implements on stocked Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs) to shotgun and archery for hunters pursuing species other than pheasant and quail. Many stocked WMAs are large or occur as multiple, disjunct parcels such that restricting implements unnecessarily hinders hunting for other game. This change is also critical since the proposed expansion of the pheasant/quail season occurs during the muzzleloader deer season. Expanding hunting implements would most benefit black bear hunters during the November season and hunters of other furbearers.

In addition, regulations would be amended to specify that pheasant/quail hunters may only use shotgun and archery equipment on both stocked WMAs and other stocked properties. Currently, shotguns and archery equipment are specified for pheasant/quail hunters on stocked WMAs, while on non-WMA stocked properties there are no existing implement restrictions.

Expand hunting hours for archery deer/waterfowl, etc., hunters on stocked WMAs, and standardize hunting hours for all pheasant/quail hunters

On pheasant-stocked WMAs, current regulations unnecessarily restrict hunters during archery deer, bear, fall turkey, waterfowl, etc., seasons from being able to hunt during some of the best time periods for hunting those species. Stocked WMAs can readily accommodate hunters who are not targeting pheasant and quail from 1⁄2 hour before sunrise to 1⁄2 hour after sunset, thereby standardizing hunting hours both on and off WMAs and simplifying regulations.

Additionally, pheasant/quail hunting hours would run from sunrise to sunset, regardless of whether hunting is occurring on a stocked WMA or any other property. Currently, hunting hours are not the same on stocked WMAs (sunrise to sunset) compared to other pheasant-stocked properties (1⁄2 hour before sunrise to 1⁄2 hour after sunset).

Simplification/expansion of gray squirrel, cottontail, and snowshoe hare seasons

cottontail picture provided by MassWildife

Regulations associated with the hunting of gray squirrel, cottontail, and snowshoe hare are unnecessarily complicated. The proposed simplified framework would include a statewide season for cottontail/hare starting mid-October (the Saturday after Columbus Day) and end the last day of February. The gray squirrel season would run from early September to February 28. Harvest of these small game species is minimal relative to population size, and any expansion in season would not be detrimental to long-term population health. These changes greatly simplify the regulations and provide additional opportunities in the early and late season for both new and experienced hunters.

Remove the black tailed jack rabbit season

Black tailed jack rabbits have been extirpated from Nantucket for decades. There is no reason to have an open season for an extirpated, non-native species.”

So, there you have it, direct from MassWildlife. The MA Fish & Wildlife Board agreed to pursue the recommendations and will shortly be setting up a public meeting date. The Board is asking some preliminary input from the various county sportsmen’s leagues and clubs.  At its February 2022 monthly meeting, the Berkshire County League of Sportsmen unanimously approved the proposals, as did the Cheshire Rod & Gun Club.

Desired hunting legislative proposals are gaining traction

 

Reliable sources report that the following legislative proposals will be reported out favorably from the Environment and Natural Resources Committee. Most of them have been covered in recent articles in this column:

 

1.Senator Gobi’s Bill S. 546 – An act to Reimburse the Inland Fish and Game Fund. This will reimburse MassWildlife for the free licenses made available to those aged 70 and older and could mean upwards of $2 million annually. – Reported out Favorably

  1. H. 991 – An act relative to the use of crossbows in hunting. Petitioned by Representative William “Smitty” Pignatelli and Representative Viera’s bill H. 1024 – Reported out Favorably
  2. S.552 – Senator Gobi’s bill on setbacks reducing from 500 to 250 feet for archery. Favorable Report
  3. Finally all the Sunday Hunting Bills were put in a study.

 

Hunters are encouraged to contact their representatives and politely ask them to support these bills.  Thanks to Rep. Smitty for his petition on the crossbow bill.

 

Hunting is still very popular here in the Berkshires

 

To hear some people, one would conclude that hardly anyone hunts around here anymore. The percentage/number of hunters in relation to the total state/county population are quite low.  One reason, they claim, is that the rewards for the efforts are hardly worth it.  Well, have you checked the price of meat lately, or what a roast duck meal will cost you in a restaurant?

 

Rarely are the other rewards that the hunter reaps ever mentioned.  Things like fresh air, physical exercise, the comradery of friends and family, and just being out there with mother nature and all of the beauty she has to offer.

 

Lest you be swayed by any misleading comments, please consider these statistics which were provided by MassWildlife to F&W Board Member Bob Durand.  Bob kindly passed them onto us:

 

According to MassWildlife’s Year 2020 license sales (last year provided), there were 5,510 hunting and sporting licenses sold in the Berkshires (A sporting license allows hunting and fishing).   My friends, that’s a lot of local hunters.

Ice Fishing Derbies

If you like to fish in NY, the Canaan Conservation Club will be holding its 23rd Annual Hard Water Fishing Derby on Queechy Lake on February 19.  It will run from 6:00 am to 1:00 pm.  You can register and pay online or by visiting its website https://canaanconservationclub.weebly.com.

The entrance fee is $15 for adults and $5 for youths aged 15 and under.  There will be prizes, raffles and more.  Remember, next weekend is free fishing weekend in the state of New York with no license required.

Also, don’t forget, the Cheshire Rod & Gun Club and the Adams Outdoor for Youth organizations have scheduled an ice fishing derby on Sunday, February 20 on the 1st and 2nd Hoosac Lakes in Cheshire, MA. It will run from sunrise until 4:00 pm with weigh-in at the Farnams Causeway.  The ticket holder with the heaviest fish wins an Eskimo Quickfish 3 Ice Shelter and an 8-inch K-Drill Auger.

Prizes and refreshments will be at 5:00 pm at the Cheshire R&G Club House.  Kids 14 and under free with adult ticket holder ($10 donation).

Go Fish MA!

MassWildlife encourages you to use the Go Fish MA! map to target fish on ice.  The detailed depth information from the map can help you decide where to go and where to set up on a pond.  You can even view waterbody depth in real time on your phone.  I tested it on a couple of locations where I ice fish on Stockbridge Bowl and it is spot on.

Take a boating safety course

A boating safety course is recommended for anyone who wishes to operate a boat. Young boaters aged 12–15 are required to complete a state-approved boating safety course to operate a motorboat without adult supervision. Boat Massachusetts is a free course 10-12 hours in length offered by the Massachusetts Environmental Police. Family participation is encouraged and has proven to be very rewarding.

There is such a course coming up at the Cheshire Rod & Gun Club on the following evenings: February 28, March 3, 7 and 9.  All classes must be attended. approved by the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators

For more information, click onto https://www.mass.gov/services-details/boating-safety.

Could Sunday bow hunting, revised setbacks be around the corner?

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Maybe, if the State Legislature approves it. One of the items that was included in Governor Charlie Baker’s recent recommendation was to include Sunday archery hunting.  Here is the exact verbiage:

 

Sunday Bow Hunting of Deer Section 57 of Chapter 131 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2020 Official Edition, is hereby amended by adding the following sentence:  This section shall not prohibit the Director, with the approval of the Fisheries and Wildlife Board, from authorizing the hunting of deer by bow and arrow on any Sunday, and shall not render unlawful the possession or carrying of a bow and arrow for the purpose of hunting deer, as authorized by the Director with the approval of the Fisheries and Wildlife Board.

 

In summary, this section would allow for bow hunting for deer on Sundays.

Another item included in the governor’s recommendations was to change the setback requirements (from occupied dwellings) from 500 feet to 250.  Exact verbiage:  Section 61 Decreased Hunting Setbacks Section 58 of said Chapter 131, as so appearing, is hereby amended by adding the following words: Provided that a person may hunt with a bow and arrow not less than 250 feet from any dwelling in use.

In summary, this section would reduce bow hunting setbacks from a dwelling from 500 feet to 250 feet to align with the setbacks in neighboring states.

 

Now the question is, will the Legislature approve them?

 

I am retired now and can hunt any day of the week except Sunday.  But there was a time when nothing angered me more than not being able to hunt on Sundays.  For many, December is a very busy time with projects to be wrapped up before year end, and working 6 days a week is a requirement. If a hunter wants to hunt on his only day off, (Sunday) he has to buy an expensive non-resident license and drive to a neighboring state – NY, VT or CT. That is not right.  Sunday hunting is the only remnant of the archaic and long-discontinued Sunday Blue Laws.

Friends would frequently tell me that Sunday is the only day that they can go hiking in the woods without fear of being shot.  My response has always been, well there are a lot of hunters where that is the only day that they can hunt. It always griped me that I could not go hunting or allow others to hunt on my own land on Sunday.   Hikers and bird watchers shouldn’t be there without permission, so what’s the problem?

In my opinion, the fear of being shot or killed in the woods is unfounded. Many don’t know or fail to accept the fact that hunting is one of the safest recreational activities in America.  The last survey that I saw based upon figures originated from the Centers for Disease Control are very telling.

The National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF), the trade association for the firearms industry, has compiled data that shows hunting ranks third in safety when compared to 28 other recreational pursuits, ranging from baseball to wrestling. Hunting with firearms has an injury rate of 0.05 percent, which equates to about 1 injury per 2,000 participants, a safety level bettered only by camping (.01 percent) and billiards (.02 percent).

Comprehensive hunter education classes that emphasize the basic rules of firearm safety and a culture of hunters helping fellow hunters practice safe firearms handling in the field are probably responsible for this good record.

To quote the NSSF, “To put hunting’s safety standing into perspective, compared to hunting, a person is . . . 11 times more likely to be injured playing volleyball, 19 times more likely to be injured snowboarding, 25 times more likely to be injured cheerleading or bicycle riding, 34 times more likely to be injured playing soccer or skateboarding, 105 more times likely to be injured playing tackle football.  Hunting is even safer than golf.

The number of hunters nationwide who went afield in a recent year was estimated at 16.3 million. Of that total, approximately 8,122 sustained injuries, or 50 per 100,000 participants. The vast majority of hunting accidents, more than 6,600, were tree stand-related.

I have the same issue with DFW Wildlife Management Areas (WMA).  Those properties were acquired using funds derived from hunting and fishing license sales and excise taxes on firearms and other sporting equipment. Unfortunately, everyone else can use those lands on Sundays except the hunters.  That also is not right!  Hikers have thousands of acres of land to hike on DCR lands which do prohibit Sunday hunting.

Another problem I have is the issue of setbacks (mandatory distances from an occupied dwelling one can hunt).  Current Massachusetts law prohibits a person from possessing a loaded firearm or hunting by any means on another person’s land within 500 feet of a dwelling in use, unless allowed.  That includes WMA’s.

These mandatory distances also apply to bowhunters.  Maybe I’m wrong, but I don’t even think William Tell could launch an arrow anywhere near 300 feet. Bow hunters traditionally use tree stands and fire their arrows downward at their prey. No way an arrow under those conditions could traverse much over a couple hundred feet, not even with a ricochet.  It would seem to me that a 250 feet setback should be sufficient.

The reduction of such a setback would enable hunters to hunt more land which hitherto could not be hunted.  That would be good news to the archers in the heavily populated eastern part of the state who cannot hunt certain towns due to the high housing density.  Towns incidentally which need to severely reduce their deer populations to prevent destruction of their young trees and shrubbery and possibly reduce the number of deer ticks.

Let’s hope the Legislature reacts positively to the Governor’s recommendations.

Ice Fishing Derbies

On February 12 the Great Barrington Fish & Game Club will be sponsoring an ice fishing derby on Mercer’s Pond.  It starts at 7:00 am and runs until 1:00 pm. Entrance fee is $15.00 for adults and children 12 and under $5.00.  The grand door prize for adults will be an ice auger, for the children it will be a bicycle. Other prizes include heaviest fish overall.  Tickets must be purchased at the clubhouse prior to the derby.  No exceptions.  There will be a spaghetti and meatball dinner following the derby.

On February 13, the Cheshire Volunteer Fire Department’s 5th Annual Ice Fishing Derby will take place on the North Basin only of Cheshire Lake.  Registration will take place from 6:00 am to12:00 pm, with derby hours from 7:00 am to 4:00 pm.  All fish must be weighed in by 4:00 pm and prizes will be awarded at 4:30 pm at the Bass Water Grill.

The registration fee is $15.00 for adults and youths 12 and under free with the purchase of an adult ticket. The entry fee also enters you into thousands of dollars-worth of raffle prizes to be drawn throughout the day.   Prizes will be awarded for the three largest fish of any specie for both adult and youth age groups.  The grand prize, which was donated by Bedard Bros Auto Sales, is a Milwaukee 2804-22 Drill with 2 batteries, charger, and hard case and Eskimo 8” Pistol Bit Auger.

The second-place prize, donated by Harry’s Auto Sales, is a Jet Sled filled with a full set of 5 Heritage Tip-Ups, bait bucket, bait net, chipper/skimmer. Third prize, donated by Eskimo, is an Eskimo QuickFish 2 Ice Fishing Shanty.

But wait!  There’s more!  The largest bass of the day wins a full set of 5 Jack Trap tip-ups donated by Colin Haas and Laina Main. Also, a full set of prizes for the youth group donated by JCB Bait.  Trophies were donated by NEBASSIN NY/MA as part of their FHF Tournament Series.

Gosh it’s so nice to be able to write about ice fishing derbies again. With the combination of iffy ice conditions and the Covid scare in prior years, they just weren’t being held.

The last time I checked (Stockbridge Bowl last Wednesday) there was at least 14 inches of hard ice.  If you are able, round up the kids and get out there and enjoy the day.  Don’t forget to bring gramps and grandma, too.

Ice fishing, winter hiking and snowshoeing can be fun, but stay safe

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MassWildlife advises us to stay safe this winter by taking a few moments to review these ice safety tips:

  • 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. Continue to check ice conditions frequently as you venture out onto the ice.
  • Ice formed over flowing water and currents is often more dangerous. 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 that can create deceptively dangerous thin spots.
  • 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.
  • Carry ice picks and rope with you on the ice. In case of emergency, drive the nails into the ice and pull yourself to safety while kicking.
  • Wear your life jacket. If you fall in, a life jacket will keep you at the surface and can provide insulation against the effects of cold water.

 

The following ice thickness guidelines 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. Bring a tape measure to check ice thickness at regular intervals.

If the ice thickness is 2 inches or less, stay off; 4 inches usually is safe for ice fishing; 5 inches safe for snowmobile or ATV; 8-12 inches ok for car or small pickup and 12 to 15 inches should be safe for a medium truck.

If you fall in: 

  • Don’t panic: Call for help if there are people nearby.
  • Don’t remove winter clothing: Air trapped in your clothes can provide warmth and help you float.
  • Turn the direction you came from: Ice you 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 a pet falls in:

Do not attempt to rescue the pet, go find help. Well-meaning pet owners can easily become victims themselves when trying to assist their pets. Remember to always keep pets leashed while walking on or near ice.

Now, as for winter snowshoeing or hiking

Berkshires knapsackers on the trail

The NY Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has provided some safety and education tips from which we all can benefit.

A well-packed emergency kit will help you manage any circumstance the outdoors throws your way. Include the following items in your emergency kit:

  • A whistle will help you attract the attention of nearby hikers or rescuers.
  • A signal mirror can reflect sunlight up to rescue aircraft, indicating your location if you are lost.
  • Bright colored clothes make it easier for rescuers to spot you. If you need to leave the trail for any reason, tying cloth to a tree at the edge of the trail can help you navigate your way back safely.
  • Duct tape is handy for fixing gear or making quick shelters.
  • A pocketknife or multitool can serve many purposes, both in an emergency and in general.
  • A space blanket provides warmth and protection from the elements and can be used to make an emergency shelter.
  • An emergency shelter is good to have on backcountry trips, too. This could be a tent or simply a tarp and rope.

Stay safe my friends.

Ice Fishing derby

NY ice fishers, please know that the Chatham Lions Club ice fishing derby is scheduled for Saturday, February 5 from 6:00am to 2:00pm on Queechy Lake in Canaan, NY.   Cash prizes for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place, 4 fish categories, $1,000 in raffle prize equipment and a 50/50 raffle, Entry fee is:  $15 for adults $5 for children 15 and younger.  To preregister send entry fee to Chatham Lions Club, PO Box 216, Chatham, NY 12037.  For more info contact Al Meier at 518-755-0330.

 

MA residents interested in entering this derby, shouldn’t forget to buy their 2022 non-resident NY fishing licenses.

Creel surveys on Lake Champlain to be conducted

Staying in NY ice fishing for a while, the NYDEC announced ice fishing creel surveys will be conducted for a second year on the New York waters of Lake Champlain from January through March 2022.

“Last year’s ice fishing creel surveys provided valuable data that will help DEC continue to manage Lake Champlain as one of New York’s top fishing destinations,” said DEC Commissioner Seggos. “Continuing that work this year will help us better understand what anglers are targeting and catching so we can evaluate and adjust our management practices as needed.”

The ice fishing survey is part of a larger, two-year effort to survey both ice and open water anglers. Data gathered during these surveys will serve as a baseline to help DEC Fisheries biologists better understand angler use and expectations, while also informing management actions on Lake Champlain.

The 2022 ice fishing survey will take place at four access points: Plattsburgh Boat Launch on Cumberland Bay; Willsboro Bay Boat Launch; Bulwagga Bay Campground; and South Bay Boat Launch. Anglers coming off the ice will be asked to participate by sharing information about their day of fishing and providing DEC creel clerks data such as target species, number caught, and size.

Such information will help DEC develop Lake Champlain management practices that benefit anglers and the fishery. As an incentive to participate, anglers will be entered into a drawing for several ice fishing gear prizes, including a jet sled, jigging rod, rechargeable aerator, and an insulated bait bucket.

Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation Banquet

 

The Bay State Chapter of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation will be holding a banquet on February 12 at 5:00 pm at the Stockbridge Sportsmen’s Club, 24 West Stockbridge Road, Stockbridge.  There are a dozen entrance fee scenarios, but a single ticket costs $90, or a couple ticket costs $140.00.  There will be great food and chances to win top notch firearms, premium trips, and exclusive gear. Seats and tickets are limited and you can reserve your tickets by registering online (www.rmef.org/Masssachusetts) or by calling Gary Johnston at (413)441-0361.  You might want to check on Friday to make sure it has not been cancelled due to covid.

 

Annual Pheasant Fundraising/Turkey Shoot and Dinner


The Lee Sportsmen’s Association (LSA) is tentatively holding its Annual Pheasant Fundraising Turkey Shoot and Dinner on Sunday, February 6.  The turkey shoot will run from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm. Prizes include NY strip steaks, turkeys, pork loins, and spiral hams.  Dinner is from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm.  The cost for adults is $15.00 and for children 12 and under $7.00.

Every year, MassWildlife stocks an average of 40,000 pheasants on Wildlife Management Areas and other lands open to the public.  LSA helps raise and release them.  They are stocked for recreational hunting and are paid for by revenues from license fees; however, the cost of raising them is the responsibility of LSA, and the caretakers are all club volunteers.

 

Sick of being housebound?  Check out these upcoming events.

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Many outdoor sports folks want to resume attending banquets, shows, derbies, etc., in spite of the Covid-19 variants that are still around. Sportsmen’s clubs especially want to get their banquets, dinners and derbies going again as they rely heavily on the income derived from them to run their programs, pay their real estate taxes, send kids to camp, etc. Yes, people still like to attend Zoom meetings such as the one listed below, but they prefer to actually get out of the house and attend some of them with their friends.  Event organizers are more than happy to accommodate them.  Today and in future columns, I will be listing upcoming events.  Grab your mask and attend some.

Wildlife tracking presentation

On Tuesday, January 18 from 6:00pm to 7:00pm, Richard Greene will speak at the Berkshire Environmental Action Team (BEAT) Pittsfield Green Drinks meeting via Zoom. He will talk about his experience with wildlife tracking and the many places this passion has taken him.

Greene has studied track and sign, as well as wildlife biology, with Keeping Track, Cybertracker, and Mass Audubon’s Field Naturalist Program. These interests have taken him throughout New England, Canada, and South Africa. Although he spends most of his time nowadays at his home in southern Berkshire County, he has also presented many talks on the use of trail cameras in wildlife study.

As part of the discussion, he will present a slide show and narrative from his collection of wintertime track and sign photos. And perhaps even give us some tips and techniques on how to notice and identify wildlife tracks and signs.

Click onto the BEAT website to register to join this event.

Incidentally, 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.

Green Drinks is an international forum where people who work in the environmental field meet for a drink and snacks at informal sessions. There will be a lively mix of people from non-profit organizations, academia, government, business, and the general public. Green Drinks is a great way of catching up with people you know and for making new contacts. These networking events are very simple and unstructured.   Due to COVID-19, they are virtual until further notice.  Registration is required to join this event. 

Marlborough Fly Fishing Show is back

 

The 2022 FlyFishing Show® will take place from Friday April 22 through Sunday April 24 at the Royal Plaza Trade Center,181 Boston Post Road, West Marlborough, MA.   The hours are:  Friday –  10am-6pm, Saturday – 9am-5:30pm and Sunday  9am-4:30pm.

More than 10 demonstrations or audio/visual presentations each hour together with wall-to-wall displays of the newest fly rods, reels, lines, boots, waders, clothing and flies during the three-day mid-winter run.

In addition to tackle, lodges and exotic destinations, show visitors can view continuous fly-tying demonstrations, how-to-do-it seminars and presentations ranging from fly fishing for trout in Yellowstone National Park to Surf Fishing for Striped Bass on Martha’s Vineyard.

Seminars include Introduction to Spey fishing by Tim Flagler, salt water fishing by Jeff Currier, Nymph Fishing Secret Weapons by Jason Randall, Catching Difficult Trout by Ed Engle and much, much more.

Casting demonstrations are scheduled by Gary Borger, Alan Caolo, Sheila Hassan and others.

Featured fly tiers include Borger, Caolo, Flagler, Engle, Joe Cordiero, Bob Clouser and others.

The world premier of the 2022 Fly Fishing Film Festival is Friday at 6:30 pm. Tickets are $10 in advance or $15 at the door.  Cash-only at the Box Office, ATM available.

The FlyFishing Show® admission is $15 for one day, $25 for two days and $35 for three days.  Children under age 5 are free as are Boy and Girl Scouts under 16 in uniform.  Children under 12 are $5.  Active military with an ID are $10.

For a complete list of fly-fishing films, classes, seminars, door prizes, demonstrations and more, visit www.flyfishingshow.com/marlborough-ma/ or phone (814) 443-3638.

Whitetails Unlimited Banquet

The Knox Trail Chapter of Whitetails Unlimited (WTU) will be holding a banquet on Saturday, January 29 at the Knox Trail Inn, Rte.  23, in East Otis, MA.  Tickets cost $50 for a single and $30 for a spouse, with the ticket order deadline being on January 20.  There will be games and raffles.  The social hour begins at 12:00 pm and the dinner at 1:30 pm.  Wow! There’s going to be some terrific prizes, too many to mention here.  Its best to check them out online at whitetailsunlimited.com.  Contact Bill Bailey at 413-244-2304 for tickets.  First come first served.  Tickets will not be sold at the door.

WTU’s purpose is to raise funds in support of educational programs, wildlife habitat enhancement and acquisition, and the preservation of shooting sports and hunting tradition for future generations.  To date, over $109.9 million has been expended on program services that enhance and foster its mission.

I can tell you from personal knowledge, that the Knox Trail Chapter has provided lots of enjoyable, memorable days for many Berkshire County kids over the years.  All the funds they raise don’t go somewhere else.

Incidentally, depending on ice conditions, Knox Trail WTU has scheduled an ice fishing derby on February 5 at Laurel Lake.  For more information such as start and weigh in times, entry cost, etc., contact Bill at the above phone number.

Fishing and Hunting Swap Meet

The Cheshire Rod & Gun Club (CR&G) will be holding its second annual Fishing and Hunting Swap Meet on Saturday, February 5 at its clubhouse at 310 Curran Road, Cheshire.  The hours are from 8:00am to 1:00pm.  Open to the public, the admission cost is $3.00 for adults and kids 12 and under free.

It is an opportunity to buy, sell or trade new and used fishing and hunting gear.  No guns, ammunition, household items; unsold items must be removed.

I mention this event somewhat early as time is required to buy table space. Table space is still available at $30, which includes admission for one.  To reserve a table, contact Jeff Kruszyna at (413)743-4168.

Staying with the Cheshire Rod & Gun Club, they and the Adams Outdoor For Youth organization have scheduled an ice fishing derby on Sunday, February 20 on the 1st and 2nd Hoosac Lakes in Cheshire, MA. It will run from sunrise until 4:00 pm with weigh-in at the Farnams Causeway.  The ticket holder with the heaviest fish wins an Eskimo Quickfish 3 Ice Shelter and an 8-inch K-Drill Auger.

Prizes and refreshments will be at 5:00 pm at the Cheshire R&G Club House.  Kids 14 and under free with adult ticket holder ($10 donation).  If cancelled it will only be because of lack of ice.

Important notice for deer hunters:

 

Recently, MassWildlife issued the following notice.  If you were fortunate enough to get a deer on December 30 or 31, it may apply to you: “MassWildlife is aware of a technical issue that prevented hunters from reporting deer online at the end of the 2021 primitive firearms season. If you harvested a deer on 12/30 or 12/31 and were unable to report online using the MassFishHunt system, we still need to collect your harvest report. Gathering this information is important for managing deer populations throughout the state”.

 

To submit this information, you can either:  Try to use the MassFishHunt form online to enter your harvest report (or) call (508) 389-6300 during regular business hours (M–F, 9am–4pm) and one of its staff members will take your information over the phone. If you get a voicemail, please leave your full name, customer ID, and a phone number for them to call you back.

 

If you already reported your harvest in person at a check station or contacted them about this issue, no further action is needed.

 

MassWildlife apologizes for the inconvenience and appreciates your cooperation. They hope you all had a safe, successful hunting season.

 

Hey!  If any of you ever lived through a “conversion” at work, then you know what MassWildlife is going through right now.  Be patient my friends, they’ll work it out.

 

Cotton bleaching company fined for acid spill that killed more than 270,000 fish in nearby river

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Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Baker-Polito Administration announced recently that Barnhardt Manufacturing Company, a North-Carolina-based cotton bleaching company, has agreed to pay nearly $1.5 million to settle allegations that it spilled dozens of gallons of concentrated sulfuric acid from its Colrain, MA facility into the North River, killing more than 270,000 fish, including thousands of state-listed rare species. Colrain is located in nearby Franklyn County.

 

“The sulfuric acid spill caused by this company was devastating for the Colrain community and left long-lasting damage to the North River,” AG Healey said. “(The) settlements will hold Barnhardt accountable for harming this rich ecosystem and will provide significant funding to restore nearby natural resources and fisheries.”

 

Between approximately 53 and 60 gallons of concentrated sulfuric acid were allegedly sprayed out of an outdoor above-ground storage tank at Barnhardt’s Colrain facility directly onto the ground. The AG’s Office alleges that Barnhardt knew the storage tank had a leak and neglected to repair it. Dozens of gallons of acid allegedly flowed into a nearby brook and down a three mile stretch of the North River, a pristine river and popular recreational fishery that feeds into the Deerfield River. Apparently, the acid dissolved nearly everything in its path, killing more than 270,000 fish and damaging more than 14 acres of protected wetland resource areas and over 12 acres of designated habitat of two state-listed rare species—the Longnose Sucker fish and the Ocellated Darner dragonfly.

 

Barnhardt also allegedly discharged wastewater from its facility in excess of permitted limits on numerous occasions, improperly operated and maintained its wastewater treatment facility, and mismanaged hazardous waste oil. EPA’s administrative settlement alleges, among other things, that the company failed to maintain its sulfuric acid tank in violation of the General Duty Clause of the Clean Air Act, which requires users of extremely hazardous substances to take steps to prevent and mitigate accidental releases

 

Under the terms of the settlement with the AG’s Office, Barnhardt is required to comply with state regulations to protect water quality and natural resources at and around its facility and undertake additional training, planning, and operations to prevent future releases. Barnhardt will also pay up to $500,000 in penalties, including $200,000 to the Commonwealth’s Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Fund. Barnhardt will also fund the replacement and/or enhancement of one or more culverts located in the Deerfield River watershed in Colrain, at a cost of $300,000. Additionally, Barnhardt will pay the state more than $360,000 to fund environmental restoration projects in the Colrain area, to compensate for the harm to natural resources and fisheries, and to reimburse the costs of assessing natural resource damages.

 

EPA’s settlement requires a civil penalty payment of approximately $305,000 to the U.S. Treasury and work to ensure that chemical hazards at the plant are identified and addressed.

 

 

“This appalling situation was entirely preventable, and we trust that the settlement and improvements at the facility will prevent similar events in the future while helping to restore these local fisheries and natural resources.” said MA Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Kathleen Theoharides.

 

MA Dept of Fish & Game Commissioner Ron Amidon thanked the Deerfield River Chapter of Trout Unlimited, local anglers, and the many fishing guides who serve as ‘eyes and ears’ on the river and first reported the fish kill that led to this action,”  “We are very pleased that the Attorney General’s Office negotiated a settlement that provides $292,000 to the Division of Fisheries and Wildlife for fisheries and rare species restoration, and $300,000 to the Town of Colrain for culvert improvements that will further benefit cold water fish and native wildlife. We look forward to working with the local partners on efforts that will benefit trout and other wildlife in the North River and greater Deerfield River watershed.”

 

“EPA’s case complements the Commonwealth’s by addressing the root cause of the spill,” says EPA Acting Regional Administrator Deb Szaro. “It’s critical that companies handling hazardous chemicals identify hazards and ensure that their facilities are designed and maintained safely. Carefully following the Clean Air Act’s chemical accident prevention provisions helps prevent releases from occurring in the first place.”

 

Ice thickness

 

Around this time of year, when ice is starting to form on our lakes, the urge to get out and do some ice fishing or skating is strong.  Patience, my friends, patience. We shouldn’t think about going out onto the ice until there is at least 4 inches of new, strong ice.  The MassWildlife web site (https://www.mass.gov/service-details/ice-strength-and-safety) lists everything you need to know about ice thickness and strength.

 

Rarely discussed but equally dangerous are the mud flats which are exposed when the lakes are severely lowered in the fall.  Walking in some exposed shallow coves and mud flats could cause you to sink in the mud so deeply that is nearly impossible to pull yourself out.

 

In a recent Berkshire County League of Sportsmen meeting, local angler Dan Miraglia related how he was fortunate enough to be nearby to pull someone out of the mud using sticks and branches a couple of years back.  He believes that the woman would never have gotten out on her own.  Her boots are still stuck in the mud there

 

He strongly suggests that municipalities should post warning signs advising the public to stay out of them.  At this time of year they may be frozen a little on the surface, but once you break through and sink into the mud, you are in trouble.

 

Certified gun safety course

 

Pete’s Gun Shop in Adams is holding a one day all inclusive, live fire class on Sunday, January 16, 2022, at the Cheshire Rod & Gun Club at 8:30 AM. It is an NRA and Massachusetts State Police Certified License-To-Carry (LTC) Safety Course. It consists of classroom instruction followed by live firing.

 

It is a hands-on live fire class where you spend time at the range and get to shoot. You are also given an NRA Basic Pistol Safety Textbook which is included in the class cost.

 

It will qualify MA residents and non-residents alike for the MA LTC or FID Card.  You will 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 should pre-register by calling or stopping in at Pete’s Gun Shop at 413-743-0780 ASAP, as space is limited and it fills up very quickly.   A non-refundable deposit is required to reserve your seat at the time of registration. They do accept credit cards in person or by phone.

 

Bunnies want your used Christmas trees

Photo by Mark Thorne

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

 

No shotgun deer harvest figures available yet

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So far, there have been no figures released by MassWildlife regarding the statewide or district harvests totals.  Those figures have been transferred to MassWildlife’s new system and more than likely we will have to wait a while.  The new system undoubtedly will have a few bugs to be ironed out.

 

Readers may recall that the new licensing system was started on December 1. In his December report to the Berkshire County League of Sportsmen, Western District Supervisor Andrew Madden said the roll out was not without problems and complications, but much of them had been worked out pretty quickly. He advises us to be patient with it.  If we have some kind of emergency situation and can’t report a harvest, or if we need to print something and can’t, call his office and his staff will do its best to help.  Madden believes it will be a really good product once they get the glitches worked out.

 

As for local deer harvest numbers, his general impression was the numbers were pretty good at most of the WD check stations compared to past year.

 

Madden noted that MassWildlife did some Covid-19 sampling tests at the various stations, per request of the US Department of Agriculture (USDA).  He will try to stay on top of it and let us know the results when made available.

 

A fight to the death

So far, this Primitive Firearms deer hunting season has been rather comfortable, weather wise.  Not like some years with cold winds blowing snow or sleet in my face, down my boots and plugging up the scope on my gun. This year has been downright pleasurable.

Sometimes, while sitting on my deer stand (a stump) for long periods of time without any deer even thinking of coming my way, my mind tends to wander.  Let me tell you about my most recent wandering.

I vividly remember an occurrence while deer hunting on Beartown Mountain about 40 years ago.  I was walking down a logging road to where my truck was parked after a long unsuccessful day of hunting.  From where I was walking, I could look across a ravine and brook and see Beartown Mountain Road.  There, I could see a hunter using a drag rope, dragging a deer down that road to his vehicle which was parked next to mine.  As I followed the wood road down and got closer to the other hunter, something just didn’t seem right.  Yes, he was dragging a deer alright, for I could see the large antlers – but something wasn’t right.

It wasn’t until I reached the road and we both converged that I could see what was awry.  He was dragging the heads of two huge bucks with intertwined antlers.  He came across the two dead bucks in the woods and decided to remove their heads in order to mount them.  What an interesting mount that would be.

It was evident that one of the bucks was dead longer than the other for the flesh was not as red.    I can’t remember the number of points on each deer, but the sizes and thickness of the broad beams and antlers were tremendous.  They had to be the two largest bucks on that mountain, and they fought to their deaths for the right to breed with the does.  I couldn’t help but think how long the one deer lived after the other one died, and how they both must have suffered.  Probably some puny little 6 pointer got to breed all those does. Sometimes the old adage of “survival of the fittest” doesn’t always hold true.

I didn’t get the other hunter’s name but wish I had.  I would love to see how that mount came out.

I have never forgotten that sight after all these years, and probably never will.

Nice BNRC articles

The Berkshire Natural Resource Council’s (BNRC) mission is to protect and preserve the natural beauty and ecological integrity of the Berkshires for public benefit and enjoyment. They preserve or keep land so we can all have access to it, enjoy it, find peace and serenity in it. They keep land so we can all experience the beauty that the Berkshire mountains have to offer.”

If you are a donor to the BNRC, you probably look forward to reading their periodic report entitled the Land keeper’s Report.  In this fall’s issue, there are two especially nice articles.  One is an article entitled “Hunting, Land Protection, and the Berkshires.”

 

In bold letters it begins the article thusly: “For nearly a century, hunters have had an enormous role in North American conservation – and the formation and support of BNRC.  The article highlights Rich Montone, a bowhunter and BNRC’s Development Director. “There’s no healthier meat than venison, says Rich, “high in protein, low in fat, obviously free of preservatives or growth hormones.  Two deer will feed my family for half a year or more and it’s a good way to help conserve what’s special about this region.”

 

MassWildlife relies on conservation funding created by the sale of hunting, freshwater fishing, and trapping licenses – and the sale of related permits – to conserve land in the Berkshires and throughout the Commonwealth.  Such funding has enabled BNRC and MassWildlife to collaborate on many Berkshire conservation projects, such as Alford Springs in Alford and Steadman Pond in Monterey/Tyringham.

 

The article then went on and explained the training and licensing process to legally hunt in Massachusetts.

 

“Some hikers worry about being in the woods during hunting season.” wrote DFW Western District Supervisor Andrew Madden. “Hunting is a very safe activity and accidents are extremely rare.  Even so, it is a good idea to wear blaze orange during hunting seasons, and to have your dogs in blaze orange, too.”

 

The article ends in these words: “The conservation ethic of hunters, and the funds created through legal hunting, have made an enormous difference for BNRC’s ability to protect the natural beauty and ecological integrity of the Berkshires.  We wish hunters an enjoyable, safe and fruitful hunt this fall, and thank them for their part in making the Berkshires outdoors free for everybody to enjoy.”

 

It’s no secret that hunters rarely have anything positive written about them. What a nice change to read this article, ey?  Thank you for that BNRC.

 

The other article was the announcement of the BNRC’s acquisition and protection of some 360 acres of forest and waterfront on Round Pond (Housatonic) from the Long Pond Road Nominee Trust. That property complements the recent transactions on Tom Ball Mountain in West Stockbridge and weave together over 1,000 acres of conservation land.

 

To complete this project, BNRC partnered with the MA Department of Fish & Game who purchased a conservation restriction over the acreage. These steadfast partnerships allow BNRC to leverage their donations and secure tracts of land that might otherwise be out of reach.

 

We are asked to be patient until BNRC can open the reserve, have off-street parking and marked trails.

 

And now, comes yet more good news. In last Tuesday’s, (December 14)  Eagle “Big slice of Monterey now preserved”  by Heather Bellow, it mentioned that 180 or so acres surrounding the Bidwell House  are about to be protected from development after the non-profit gave the land to the Monterey Preservation Land Trust and the BNRC to be jointly held.   According to the article, the land is close to the Appalachian Trail Corridor and more than 12,000 acres at Beartown State Forest. The Bidwell land also connects to 797 acres of other conservation property held by the Monterey Trust and BNRC.

 

It would not have been possible without the donation of $300,000 to the Monterey Land Trust by Louis and Joyce Scheffey, in an effort to preserve the Bidwell property. Be sure to read that Berkshire Eagle article.

 

Long time, and now retired, BNRC Director George Wislocki, once described what they do as “God’s Work”.   No argument here.

 

If you happen to have a few extra bucks lying around, that is a good place to donate it.  Who knows, maybe you’ll earn some extra points at the Pearly Gate.

Shotgun Deer Hunting Season ends today

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 The season started with a nice coating of snow which made locating and tracking deer much easier.  Local hunters took advantage of the snow and checked in nearly 500 deer after the first week of hunting.

 

Some 119 deer were checked in at the DFW Western District Headquarters in Dalton, 45 at B & D Variety in Huntington, 121 at Ernie’s Auto Sales in North Adams, 60 at the Lee Sportsmen’s Association, 122 at the Mill River General Store and 32 at Papa’s Healthy Food in Otis.

 

Michael Winters of Cheshire got a 6-point buck in Egremont which weighed 201 lbs.  Eli Pease, DFW Technician, said that it had 4 points on the left side of his head and 2 on the right.  He said that it was an old buck, perhaps 6 ½ to 7 years old. Steve Ray of Pittsfield got a nice 189 lbs, 9-point buck in Pittsfield.  Dan Kruszyna of Cheshire got an 8-point 190 lbs buck in Cheshire.

 

The beginning of the second week of shotgun deer hunting started off with rain.  During that week, hunters are not required to physically check their deer at a checking station, but have the option of checking them in on-line through MassFishHunt. Therefore, unless hunters chose to physically check in locally, I have no way of finding out about them, not until the figures are released by MassWildlife in Westborough.

 

As of last Saturday, District Supervisor Andrew Madden felt that the deer tally was comparable with other recent years. Last year, close to 1,000 deer were harvested in the two-week shotgun season for Zones 1 through 4.

Bear hunting tally

The last of the three seasons of bear hunting also ends today.  Bear hunters were not required to physically check in their bears at checking stations, but could do so on-line.  Some lucky hunters chose to physically check them in and as of last Saturday, 5 bears were recorded with 3 of them being checked in at the Mill River General Store and 2 of them checked in at Papa’s in Otis.  Nate Buckhout, DFW Western District biologist, weighed in one in Mill River that tipped the scales at 400 lbs.

We will have to wait for the final bear harvest figures to be released by MassWildlife.

Primitive Firearms deer hunting season opens Monday

 Hunters who didn’t get their deer during the Archery or Shotgun seasons have one more chance to connect.  Starting this Monday, the Primitive Firearms, (a/k/a Black Powder or Muzzleloader) deer hunting season begins and runs through December 31.  Deer may only be taken by a muzzleloader firearm or by bow and arrow.  A stamp is required to hunt this season.

Here’s hoping you have an enjoyable, successful and safe muzzleloader hunt.  Let people know where you are hunting, be careful, stay hydrated and keep your powder dry.

Other hunting seasons still open

Rabbit, hare, squirrel, coyote and fox hunting seasons resume this Monday.  In our zones, duck hunting resumed on December 6 and runs until December 25.

2022 Massachusetts Freshwater Fishing, Hunting and Trapping Laws

Commonly called “the abstracts”, they are out and available in the usual places. The booklet has a cover picture of a big old gobbler.

New for 2022:

  • License/Stamp/Permit Fee Increases.  I frequently covered the fee increase matter during this past year and you are encouraged to check the details on page 8 of these abstracts.
  • New Pheasant/Quail Permit.  A permit is now required for any person 15 years or older who hunts, takes, or possesses pheasants or bobwhite quail, unless they were harvested on a licensed commercial shooting preserve. (page 6 of the abstracts).
  • Seasonal bag limits for pheasant and quail have been eliminated.  Daily and possession bag limits have not changed (page 34 of abstracts).
  • Hunting hen pheasants will now be allowed statewide
  • Controlled Hunts were eliminated on the Martin Burns Wildlife Management Area in Newbury, MA.

Be sure to read DFW Director Mark S. Tisa’s comments on the future of conservation.  Perhaps in the future, I can print his comments verbatim in this column.

2022 Licenses

The 2022 hunting, fishing and sporting licenses, permits and stamps are now available.  Most of them can be bought online at mass.gov/massfishhunt with a computer, tablet or smartphone.  To purchase them in person, use mass.gov/fishhuntlicensemap to find a license vendor near you.  Of course, you can always buy them at our DFW District Headquarters in Dalton.

MassWildlife advises you to use care when purchasing them during December, as both 2020 and 2021 products are available.

Water chestnut pulling campaign

At the November meeting of the MA F&W Board, Western District Fisheries Biologist Leanda Fontaine Gagnon gave an excellent presentation about this past summer’s efforts on controlling water chestnuts on Three Mile Pond Wildlife Management Area (WMA)  in Sheffield.  The WMA has over 1,000 acres and the pond is within its boundaries. It is a 155-acre enhanced and enlarged great pond with a maximum depth is approximately 10 to 15 feet.  It is nutrient rich with a floating island possibly with endangered species.

 

Water chestnut, an invasive plant native to Asia and parts of Europe, was introduced to North America in the late 1800’s and spread to several states and to Canada.

Because it’s floating rosettes can be up to 2 feet in diameter, it can shade out the native plants.  Its 12 to 15 feet root system roots into shallow, nutrient rich lakes with muddy bottoms.  Each plant produces a round and spikey fruit.  When they drop off and float, they are spread by unsuspecting boaters and waterfowl.  And they spread from water body to water body.  Despite their being an annual plant, they do spread easily because of this fruit.  Each fruit is viable for up to 12 years. Requiring a long-term management project, it can be controlled if caught early.

It was first discovered at Three Mile Pond in 2011.  Some brief efforts at removal occurred in 2013, but upon revisiting the site in 2017 it was noticed that it had proliferated to another area of the pond. Extremely dense cover and large patches were noticed in the northwestern cove as well as in the northern cove near a brook inlet.

District personnel began hand pulling in late August and early Sept of 2017 and a more intensive effort was started in 2018 and continued annually.

They learned that pulling in late summer was too late.  Most of the plants had already matured fruit and started to drop off and move around in the water body. Green fruit are viable, the black ones typically don’t germinate.  They began plucking the plant in the first week of July, where the majority of the fruit had already emerged but the fruit had not matured enough to start dropping.

They hesitated doing drawdowns in Three Mile Pond due to the floating island and endangered species on it.  Seeds can be in the mud for 7 years, and could be viable for up to 12 years.  Also, they can exist in deeper sediment.

Crews of kayaks paddled out to infected areas, hand pulled and loaded them onto other water-craft which brought them to the boat ramp.  There they were offloaded onto pickup trucks which took them to a dump site about ¼ mile away (but still within the WMA) and where no hikers, animals or water sources would bring them back to the pond.

In 2017, with assistance from WD staff, Field Headquarters and Natural Heritage, they removed about 10 truckloads and spent 25 cumulative hours in this removal effort. Each year when they return, they discover less and less plants from the previous year. As early as 2019 there had been significant reduction and native vegetation really started to pop up.

They will continue annual monitoring and removal as they find them, knowing full well that the plants will continue through 2027.  Starting in 2028 they intend to start bi-annual harvesting.  They hope to implement this removal effort onto other MassWildlife properties such as Mill Pond/Smiley’s Pond in Egremont.   That water body also is nutrient rich and deemed to have a considerable water chestnut population, too. They hope to reach out for volunteers to help.

 

Is another deer disease heading our way?

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Today, I’m not writing about Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD), a contagious neurological disease that is fatal to cervids, including deer, elk, and moose. It attacks the brains of infected animals, causing them to exhibit abnormal behavior, become emaciated, and eventually die. Infected deer may spread the infectious agents through urine, feces, saliva, etc. for months before showing any clinical symptoms. Fortunately, no CWD infected deer have been found in Massachusetts yet, probably due to certain restrictions regarding the movement of deer and deer parts that have been put in place. For example, if you hunt deer outside of Massachusetts, it is illegal to import deer parts from states or Canadian provinces where CWD has been detected.  So far, it has been detected in 26 states (as close as NY and PA) and 4 Canadian provinces. It is legal to import deboned meat, clean skull caps, hides without the head, or a fixed taxidermy mount.

There is a whole section on the MassWildlife web site which addresses this disease.

No, today I am writing about another disease – Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease (EHD).

Recently, the New York’s Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has confirmed a large outbreak of EHD in its whitetail deer population. with reports of approximately 700 dead whitetails. The EHD outbreak has been confirmed in seven NY counties, some of them not too far away from Berkshire County such as Columbia County, Dutchess, Greene and Ulster counties. Wildlife officials are now also investigating suspected EHD cases in at least nine more counties, including Albany and Rensselaer Counties.

According to wildlife officials, EHD is not spread from deer to deer, but is transmitted by biting midges, sometimes referred to as “no-see-ums.”  They also believe that humans cannot be infected with EHD by deer or by bites from midges. This is a terrible disease affecting deer because once infected with it, they usually die within 36 hours. They have no immunity to the virus.  Officials believe that EHD outbreaks are most common in the late summer and early fall when midges are abundant, although initial cases this year in New York were detected in late July.  The DEC reports that the virus has been more widespread this year than during previous outbreaks.

The DEC reports that EHD does not have much long-term impact on whitetail populations, but deer mortality can be significant in small regions. It is endemic in the southern states, which report annual outbreaks, so some southern deer have developed immunity.

According to the DEC, the virus was first confirmed in New York deer in 2007 in Albany, Rensselaer, and Niagara counties. Another EHD outbreak in Rockland County occurred in 2011. In 2020, a large EHD outbreak occurred in the lower Hudson Valley, centered in Putnam and Orange counties, with an estimated 1,500 deer deaths.

The DEC is asking all New Yorkers to report sick or dead deer to the DEC. Signs of EHD virus in deer include fever, hemorrhage in muscles or organs, and swelling of the head, neck, tongue, and lips. A deer infected with EHD may appear lame or dehydrated, and EHD-infected deer often go to water sources and die nearby. Dead deer are not a source of EHD infection for other deer, animals, or humans.

Hemorrhagic disease can cause very high mortality rates and is considered the most important viral disease of white-tailed deer in the United States. There is currently no treatment for hemorrhagic disease in wildlife populations. And, while characterized as infrequent in the North, outbreaks that do occur are known to be severe and capable of high mortality.

EHD is transmitted by biting flies or midges in the group called Culicoides. The midges are found near mud, which is their preferred breeding habitat. Outbreaks usually occur when deer congregate in wet areas at the driest part of late summer and early fall – when seasonal midge activity is also at its peak. They end when the first hard frosts take their toll on the midges and the virus dies with the insects.

Martin Feehan, Deer & Moose Biologist from Massachusetts Division of Fisheries & Wildlife (DFW) recently addressed this subject:  “MassWildlife conducts routine surveillance for diseases that could spread to wildlife in Massachusetts, and we work with our regional partners to ensure we are aware of any outbreaks. Our surveillance efforts include passive monitoring for EHD, however, there has never been a case within the state”.

 

“We have been in regular communication this summer with our counterparts at the New York’s DEC about the 2021 EHD outbreak. The outbreak in New York is more extensive than they have had in the past and includes counties adjacent to Massachusetts. It is unlikely that we will have cases at this point in the fall as temperatures continue to drop, however, there is an increasing probability of EHD cases occurring in future years. The distribution of EHD outbreaks has moved northward as summer temperatures have increased due to climate change. We encourage community members and in particular hunters to report deer to regional DFW offices that appear symptomatic. (As noted above) the most common signs are swelling of the face or neck, weakness, respiratory distress, fever, and excessive salivation. Infected deer will often be found near water sources. EHD cannot be spread to humans and does not cause population level effects for deer, but occasionally will have localized impacts around severe outbreaks.”

This time of year, bow hunters are out scouting potential areas in which to hunt and hikers are taking advantage of the cooler weather to traipse the trails and view the lovely fall foliage.  As Martin wrote, if you see signs of sick or dead deer that are suspected of having EHD or CRD, report them to your Regional DFW office.

To date, there is no evidence that humans can contract the disease by consuming venison that has been infected with EHD or CRD.

Woodcock Hunting Season

Next Friday, October 1, the Woodcock (a/k/a Timberdoodle) Hunting season opens and runs through November 22. Waterfowl stamps are not required for hunting woodcock nor is the use of non-toxic shot. You must register with the Harvest Information Program (HIP).  The daily limit is 3 and the possession limit is 9.  Shotguns capable of holding more than 3 shells may not be used unless plugged with a one-piece fill which limits the gun’s total capacity to 3 shells and which cannot be removed without disassembling the gun.  Remember, a reasonable effort is required to retrieve all migratory birds killed or crippled.

Watch out for moose

MassWildlife urges drivers to use caution because it’s mating season for moose.  During September and October, moose become more active and cross roads more frequently.   They will step out onto a roadway without showing concern for oncoming traffic. At night, their dark body is difficult to see, and their eyes are much higher and generally not reflected back from headlights. Due to their weight and leg length, the body will often come through the windshield and onto the driver, making collisions extremely dangerous.

Don’t just expect to see them in remote areas.  Last year a moose was spotted in a back yard of a residence located on Elm Street in Pittsfield.  Recently, a 700lb bull moose was wandering in traffic through downtown Worcester, MA. After receiving reports that the moose was involved in a minor car accident, the Massachusetts Environmental Police successfully immobilized him.  DFW staff relocated the moose to a nearby forested area and monitored him until the effects of the immobilizing drugs wore off. While moose sightings aren’t usually cause for alarm, that moose was near busy roadways, and was moved for both the safety of the public and the moose.

Also, don’t forget, whitetail deer get romantically involved, too, which usually occurs from late October to early December.  Please watch out for them, too, as they can also do serious damage to your automobile if you hit one.

A new view of prescribed fire

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Isn’t it ironic, the western states of our country are burning up with hundreds of fires and thousands of firefighters struggling to put them out, while here in MA, MassWildlife started 17 of them on purpose across the Commonwealth.  The purpose was to improve wildlife habitat.

Over 560 acres within MassWildlife’s Wildlife Management Areas have received fire management thus far statewide. As part of a pilot project approved by the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs, MassWildlife was able to utilize a new tool this year to monitor and inform its habitat management. Unmanned Aircraft Systems (also known as UAS or drone technology) provide high-resolution imagery which allows them to monitor habitat conditions before, during, and after prescribed fire events. The multi-rotor UAV used looks similar to a helicopter with multiple rotors, allowing for easy take-off and landing.

UAS technology improves their situational awareness during a prescribed fire by using real-time videography and thermal imagery to understand where smoke, fire, and hot spots occur. The imagery produces very high-resolution georeferenced maps and photos of vegetation and landscape patterns. After a fire, MassWildlife is able to use the images to evaluate fire effects and revegetation to improve fire management practices and manage important habitat for wildlife over time. MassWildlife considers itself fortunate to partner with the skilled licensed UAS pilots with the MassDOT Aeronautics Program to capture unique aerial views of prescribed fire and other pilot sites across Massachusetts where different habitat management and monitoring activities are taking place. This gives them the ability to quickly note changes in vegetation over time and document progress toward MassWildlife’s desired habitat management goals. They have a video clip which shows a prescribed fire conducted by MassWildlife in collaboration with their partners within DCR Fire District 9 and Montague Center Fire Department at Montague Plains Wildlife Management Area this spring.

When appropriately timed and carried out, prescribed fires produce spectacular results in a variety of habitats; removing thatch or leaf litter, removing hazardous fuels, promoting warm season grasses and herbs and eliminating woody encroachment or undesirable plants. These improvements provide critical habitat for many targeted wildlife and fire-adapted plants.

It has been a busy and successful spring prescribed fire season for MassWildlife and they wish to thank their skilled prescribed burn crew, as well as their many fire management partners including Mass DCR Bureau of Forest Fire Control, the National Park Service Cape Cod National Seashore, US Fish and Wildlife Service, local Fire Departments and many other dedicated prescribed fire volunteers.

While they have taken a short summer hiatus from burning to catch up on monitoring, reporting, and other important tasks, MassWildlife has many prescribed burns planned for late summer and fall.

Isn’t it interesting how history repeats itself.  The idea of controlled burns is nothing new, in fact it is widely believed that the native Americans of Massachusetts used to do the same thing, years ago, long before the European settlers “discovered” these lands.  The prescribed burning at Montague Plains and dozens of other conservation areas across New England is based on the belief that, for thousands of years, Native Americans cleared forests and used fire to improve habitat for the plants and animals they relied upon.

 

However; new research published in a January 2020 article in the journal Nature Sustainability, (“Native people did not use fire to shape New England’s landscape”) tests this human-centric view of the past using interdisciplinary, retrospective science. The data they collected suggest, in New England, this assumption is erroneous.

 

In the field of paleo-ecology, researchers take advantage of the fact that, over time, the bottoms of lakes and ponds fill up with mud. Using hand-driven devices, scientists can collect a cylindrical core of the sediment and then use radiocarbon dating to determine the age of the mud at different depths. According to the Journal, over the last century, scientists have collected sediment cores from hundreds of lakes around the world, enabling them to reconstruct past environments and ecosystems.  They have analyzed the mud in some study ponds, and found the obvious signature of forest clearance by 17th-century European colonists. Pollen from forest species declined, while pollen from agricultural and weedy species, like ragweed, increased abruptly. They believe this evidence clearly shows New England’s open land habitats owe their existence to Colonial European deforestation and agriculture, especially sheep and cattle grazing, hay production, and orchard and vegetable cultivation in the 18th and 19th centuries.

The Journal article goes on to say, “This retrospective research should cause some conservationists to reconsider both their rationale and tools for land management. If the goal is to emulate the conditions that existed prior to the arrival of Europeans, land managers should allow New England forests to mature with minimal human disturbance. If the goal is also to maintain biodiverse open land habitats, like Montague Plains, within the largely forested landscape, managers should apply the Colonial-era agricultural approaches that created them nearly 400 years ago. Those tools would include mowing, grazing and cutting woody vegetation – but not burning.”  “Sediment tells the story”, they say.

Personally, I’m a strong believer in open biodiverse land habitats and don’t particularly care how they achieve them…………as long as they don’t let those controlled burns get out of hand!

Martin Feehan is the new deer and moose biologist for the Massachusetts DFW

Martin began his new job in May 2021.  It includes overseeing the biological data collection, abundance estimation, and management of deer and moose within the Commonwealth.  His primary focuses for the coming years include expanding deer hunting access in suburban communities throughout central and Eastern Massachusetts, maintaining deer populations within goals for Western zones, and screening for emerging diseases.

 

Feehan is from Milwaukee, Wisconsin and graduated with a bachelor’s of science degree from University of Wisconsin – Madison in 2014, with majors in evolutionary biology, wildlife ecology, and an environmental studies certificate from the Nelson Institute.  A significant portion of time during this period was spent working at Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources deer check stations, screening for Chronic Wasting Disease.  Following graduation, Feehan worked for the USGS on Piping Plover in Montana and grizzly bear research for University of Alberta just outside of Jasper National Park.  Since 2016, Feehan has been a PhD student at Cornell University in New York with his research focusing on urban deer population ecology at Fort Drum.  This has included intensive deer capture of 500+ deer and trail camera surveys with more than 1 million photos.  Feehan’s specialties include applying quantitative methods to improve urban deer management, ungulate disease surveillance, and stakeholder engagement for expanding hunting access.

 

He will likely be visiting and doing presentations at some county sportsmen’s leagues, but probably won’t be able to attend as many as he’d like this year, as he is still getting up to speed in this position.  We must consider that there was also a gap of over 6 months without a deer biologist after his predecessor, David Stainbrook, moved on to a different job. So, some of the general management tasks must be prioritized this year.

 

Regarding this year’s antlerless deer permits (ADP), Martin said that the allocations have not changed from last year.  This had been the plan already as the Division has moved to a 3-year cycle of maintaining ADP allocations the same, before altering so that there would be more stability and time to track changes in the herd.

 

Incidentally, he reported that there was a new record number of ADP applicants (40,829) for antlerless permits in 2021.  This was an increase of 1.9% over 2020.

 

Check the MassWildlife web page to see the numbers of permits per hunting zones along with the odds of getting one.  While there, you might click onto Massfishhunt to see if you have been selected to receive one.

 

Fishing Derby

The Berkshire Hatchery Foundation in Hartsville-New Marlborough is scheduled to have a youth fishing derby next Saturday, August 14, from 9:00 to 10:30 am at its Lower Pond at the Berkshire National Fish Hatchery, 240 Hatchery Road, Hartsville, MA.  Children aged 13 and under must be accompanied by an adult.   These fishing derbies will run once a month through September.  The following of any State guidelines regarding social distancing, face masks etc., is required.

 

New proposal for MassWildlife funding appears to be more acceptable

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As most outdoor sportsmen and women are aware, MassWildlife is proposing changes to hunting, freshwater fishing, and trapping license fees. The existing fee schedule has been in effect for the last 25 years and it is no secret that fees must increase or the MassWildlife will go broke in a few years. A little over a week ago, MassWildlife released a new license fee proposal, which incorporates public input on the original February proposal. In the new proposal, most license fee increases will be phased in over five years, and the proposed increases for hunting permits and stamps are lower than originally proposed.

 

The current proposal incorporates public feedback gathered through six information sessions held in February and March, as well as phone calls, emails, letters, and a webform. Although many folks expressed an understanding of the need to raise fees, there was a strong desire to see the proposed increases for license fees phased in over time, and to lower the proposed increases for the costs of hunting permits and stamps. In response, MassWildlife and the Department of Fish and Game worked with the Baker-Polito Administration to revise the original fee proposal.

Recognizing that all Massachusetts residents benefit from MassWildlife’s work to conserve wildlife, protect open space, and preserve clean water and air, the Baker-Polito Administration will work to diversify MassWildlife’s funding and reduce the burden on the fee-paying sporting community. This change will make it possible to maintain MassWildlife’s programming and services with lower fees than originally proposed.

Public hearings will be held on June 22, 23, and 24 on Zoom to provide the public an opportunity to comment on the new proposed changes.  Stakeholders can provide public comment by speaking at one of the hearings or providing written comment through July 8 using a convenient feedback form available on the MassWildlife web site or by mail to: MassWildlife Re: License Fee, 1 Rabbit Hill Road, Westborough, MA 01581.

Phasing in the license fee increases over a 5-year period certainly makes the change more palatable than the original proposal.  You may recall that the original proposal for the permits and stamps were to jump immediately from $5.00 to $20.00.  With this new proposal, the fee increase would only be $10.00, at least for the next 5 years.   Instead of an immediate drastic $20.00 pheasant permit fee, it would start at $4.00 in 2022 and would gradually increase to $20 in year 2026.

The Massachusetts Conservation Alliance, a group comprised of the various county leagues of sportsmen and other sportsmen’s clubs from across the state really did a yeoman’s job in unifying 100,000 or so sports folks to put pressure on MassWildlife to come up with a more realistic schedule of fee increases.  Co-chaired by Joe Alfonso and Paul Johnson, they actually came up with their own recommended fee schedule which MassWildlife seriously considered before making its final recommendations.  (Outdoor sportswriter David Willette of North Adams has an excellent article about the MCA in the June, 2021 issue of the Northwoods Sporting Journal.)  Massachusetts outdoorsmen and women will be hearing more about the MCA in the future as more and more clubs and leagues join it’s ranks in order to have a little more political clout on Beacon Hill.

It is especially gratifying to hear that the Baker-Polito Administration will work to diversify funding in some way.  Hopefully, they can do something about funding the free licenses for 70+ older folks.  Sen. Anne Gobi (D-Spencer), co-chair of the Massachusetts Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus and past chair of the Joint Committee on Environment, Natural Resources, and Agriculture, has filed a bill in the 192nd session of the General Court aimed at addressing lost revenue that the state is failing to reimburse to MassWildlife.  An Act to Reimburse the Inland Fisheries and Game Fund (SD. 1453) would target the more than $1 million per year the agency forfeits each year by providing free hunting and fishing licenses to residents aged over 70 that is not currently being reimbursed by the state.  You may want to call your local legislators and ask them to support this legislation.

Trout Stockings

 

Last week, subject to last minute change, the following local waters were scheduled to be stocked by Massachusetts DFW: Ashfield Pond in Ashfield, Deerfield River in Buckland, Charlemont and Florida; Westfield River-East (C&R) in Chesterfield, North Pond in Florida, Laurel Lake in Lee and Lenox, Richmond Pond in Richmond, Onota Lake in Pittsfield, Goose Pond in Lee and Tyringham, Pontoosuc Lake in Lanesborough and Pittsfield, Stockbridge Bowl in Stockbridge, Housatonic River (C&R) in Lee and Stockbridge, Lake Buel in Monterey and Otis Reservoir in Otis and Tolland.

 

Deb Lipa, MassWildlife Western District Clerk, said that she believes they finished the stocking trips last week, but couldn’t verify that.  She suggested that anglers keep checking the stocking report online to see if there are any further deliveries next week.

Deb does a lot of extra work for us to ensure that this column has the latest stocking reports.  Many, many thanks Deb!

 

Don’t forget, next weekend is free fishing weekend in MA, so round up the family, get out there and catch a few of these trout.

 

Leigh Perkins remembered

 

Leigh H. Perkins, who transformed Orvis from a niche fishing tackle business into a global sporting emporium and lifestyle brand, selling everything from graphite fly rods and Gore-Tex rainwear to linen dresses and engraved drinking glasses, died May 7 at his home in Monticello, Fla. He was 93.  He bought Orvis in 1965 for $400,000, taking over a company that C.F. Orvis had founded in Manchester, VT in 1856.  By the time Leigh retired as President and CEO in 1992, Orvis had grown from 20 employees to more than 700, and from annual sales of $500,000 to more than $90 million. The company currently operates more than 80 retail stores in the United States and Britain, with sales driven by online shopping and catalogues that Leigh sent to millions of homes each year.  After his retirement, his son Leigh H. “Perk” Perkins Jr. became CEO, with his younger son David helping run the company.  Now, his grandson Simon Perkins leads the company.

 

Leigh Sr. started a fly-fishing school and a wing-shooting program. The classes were among the first of their kind in the United States, offering formal training in activities that were often considered upper crust.

 

He was also one of the first executives to start dedicating corporate earnings to conservation, donating 5 percent of pretax profits to conservation organizations beginning in the 1980s.  He wanted to protect these places to be able to connect and share with others, but he also saw it as good business — investing in the landscape and the habitat.

 

An online tribute published on the company’s website said Perkins was a lifelong outdoorsman who hunted or fished more than 250 days a year into his 90s, and who had a reverence for nature and conservation.

 

He certainly left a wonderful legacy.

 

The above information was gleaned from Leigh’s obituary written by Brian Gallagher, Senior Staff Editor at The New York Times.

 

Correction

In last week’s column, I erroneously listed the name of an angler whose picture was shown holding a 10 lb. brown trout.  I listed him as being Mark Lucier when, in fact, his name is Mark Markham. My apologies!  This is especially embarrassing to me as Mark is a close personal friend with whom I have deer hunted and/or ice fished for several years.  He is a superb deer hunter and many times our ice fishing group has enjoyed his grilled venison meals while out on the ice.

Memorial Day

It’s that time again when we honor those who have fought, suffered and/or and died in defense of our country.  Let’s hope that as a nation we can set aside our differences and come together this weekend to remember them and their sacrifices.  They deserve nothing less.