Category Archives: News

Rene Wendell, local hunter, fisherman, trapper and taxidermist

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Last month, I wrote about 96 year old Rene Wendell of Pittsfield who, in the olden days, was a local trapper. You may recall that his grandfather got him got started skinning animals when he was a youngster, progressing from skinning mice and moles to larger critters. It is a must for a trapper to be able to skin animals.
Everything that he learned about taxidermy was learned from a book entitled “Home Taxidermy for Pleasure and Profit’ by Albert B. Farnum written in 1916. He still has that book. He also learned bit by bit on his own.
One day he shot a wood duck and brought to a taxidermist in Sheffield whose last name he believes was Shaw. He had a big room off of his house, loaded with all kinds of mounted birds and animals. Rene really respected him and couldn’t wait to go down there to see all of his mounts. He would always have a few question regarding procedures and visited him frequently, to the point that Shaw got tired of him. Seeing Shaw’s mounts is what got him interested in taxidermy.
He began mounting fish and animals for himself and, later on, for others. He stuffed the fish with Plaster of Paris. Now days they use plastic molds. When it came to mounting deer heads, he used to skin the heads, scrape the fat off, salt them and ship them off to San Francisco to have them tanned. In the meantime he made the head forms out of paper mache and ordered the artificial eyes. He has mounted just about every local legal game bird, freshwater fish and animal.
He has mounted many deer heads, prepared full mounts of bears, beaver, fox, coyote, bobcat and you name it, including the pictured moose which was shot by his son Bill in VT. He regrets the fact that he never got a whitefish or cisco to mount, but he has mounted just about every other freshwater fish around here – gold fish, tiger trout, tiger muskies, common carp, etc. He claims to have mounted the largest brown trout taken out of Onota Lake and a record pike taken out of Pontoosuc Lake.
He loves everything about our woods and waters. Besides the hunting, fishing and trapping, he enjoys the hobby of collecting various butterflies, moths and other insects, some of which have been exhibited in the Berkshire Museum. He also has an impressive collection of arrowheads and other Native-American artifacts. He even has a handsomely framed collection of old barbed wires.
I recognized Rene’s name but couldn’t remember where. I know his son, also named Rene, is a conservation ranger at Bartholomew Cobble in Sheffield.. But he is a younger man. Then it dawned on me. In the spring of 1968 I had caught a large pickerel ice fishing in Laurel Lake and wanted to mount it. At the time, I was working at the First Agricultural Bank and some friends there suggested that I contact a fellow employee (Agnes Wendell), whose husband mounted fish as a hobby. He did indeed mount the fish and did a wonderful job. Guess who it was….the one and same.
In the 10 years of writing this outdoor column, I have met some very interesting and memorable outdoorsmen, but Rene Wendell has to be one of the most impressive of them all. *****
Starting next Saturday, the Lee Sportsmen’s Association will be having trap shooting. The shoots will run from 9 AM to Noon on Saturdays during the month of March. Everyone is invited with instructions available to newcomers. Click onto leesportsmen.com for more detail. *****
Also next Saturday at 9 AM, the Stockbridge Sportsmen’s Club will be having a multi-state firearms course. This course is unique in that it qualifies you to apply for licenses in Massachusetts, Utah, New Hampshire and Maine. A Utah concealed firearm permit issued to a non-resident is honored in 32 states. If you apply for all 4 licenses, you will be legal in 36 states. The fee for the entire 5-hour course is $150 or you can take just the Utah segment for $100 or just the Massachusetts segment for $80. The fee is due in cash at the course. There is no exam but bring a pad and pen to take notes. Seating is limited and preregistration is required. Call or e-mail and provide your full legal name plus date of birth to Robert J. McDermott at (413)232-7700 or robmcdermott@verizon.net.*****

Questions/comments: Berkwoodsandwaters@roadrunner.com

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Successful anglers to be honored
In the Freshwater Sport Fishing Awards Programs, anglers receive bronze pins for catching fish of certain minimum weight requirements for 22 species. They must have their catch weighed at a certified weigh station and submit an affidavit and photo of their catch to the Sportfishing Awards Coordinator. Beginning in 2005, a youth category was added to recognize anglers 17 years and younger for their accomplishments.
Anglers who catch the largest fish in each category in a calendar year receive a gold pin and plaque commemorating their accomplishment. During 2013, Berkshire waters yielded four trophy fish
In the Adult Division, Richard Garhartt, of Berlin, NY, took the largest brown trout. It came out of Onota Lake in Pittsfield weighing11 lbs 4 oz. In the Youth Division, Nathan Luczynski, of Cheshire caught the largest bullhead out of Cheshire Lake weighing 6 lbs 1 oz. (You may recall seeing a picture of that fish and the 6 year older in my March 3, 2013 column). Tauri Adamczyk, of Taunton, MA caught the largest carp weighing 23 lb 2 oz out of Woods Pond (Housatonic River) in Lenox Dale/Lee. The largest northern pike, one weighing 21 lbs 4 oz was caught out of Lake Buel by Hunter Kempf, of Sullivan, NH.
It is interesting how so many out-of-area fishermen are focusing on our waters. I hope the Chamber of Commerce is paying attention.
Since 2002, the Angler of the Year Award has been given to the person who weighs in the largest number of species that meet minimum weight requirements for the previous calendar year. The award promotes awareness of the Commonwealth’s underutilized fish species and recognizes an angler’s ability to catch a wide variety of trophy species. Beginning in 2013, the Angler of the Year is now awarded in two categories: Youth and Adult.
The 2013 Adult Angler of the Year was Mark Mohan Jr., of Pembroke, MA. He caught 16 bronze pin fish. They were: 1 smallmouth bass, 2 bullhead, 1 crappie, 2 white perch, 1 yellow perch, 6 sunfish, 1 brown trout, and 2 rainbow trout.
The 2013 Youth Angler of the Year was Jake Souza of Berkley, MA. He was also Angler of the Year in 2012. Last year he caught 21 bronze pin fish. They were: 2 largemouth bass, 1 smallmouth bass, 2 bullhead, 1 white catfish, 1 crappie, 2 white perch, 2 yellow perch, 1 chain pickerel, 4 sunfish, 2 brown trout, 1 rainbow trout and 2 tiger trout.
None of the above fish were caught in Berkshire waters but rather down east or on Cape Cod. *****
Hard water anglers (ice fishermen) will be able to take advantage of an early February stocking of broodstock Atlantic salmon. Each district received a limited number of them ranging in size from 3-11 pounds from the Nashua National Fish Hatchery in Nashua, New Hampshire. Last week, DFW personnel stocked an undisclosed number in Windsor Pond in Windsor and Stockbridge Bowl. *****.
John Burns will be the guest speaker at the Taconic Chapter of Trout Unlimited’s monthly meeting at the Bass Water Grill in Cheshire this Thursday evening. He is a River Steward, botanist, and TU Crooked Staff winner. He has been involved in watershed associations in VT and MA., while also working with state fisheries in electro-sampling, stocking, shoreline surveys, and macro-invertebrate inventories. He will be presenting a watershed approach to fishing and conservation efforts focusing primarily on the Housatonic, Westfield, Deerfield, and Hoosic Rivers. The event is free and open to the public. Social hour starts at 5 PM, the presentation at 6 PM and dinner off of the menu (if you so choose) to follow at 7 PM. For more information, contact Ron Wojcik at (413) 684-4141 or rwojcik@bcn.net. *****

The Springfield Sportsmen’s Show is taking place on February 20-23, 2014 at the Big E, West Springfield, Massachusetts. The show includes the best of hunting, fishing, boating and adventure recreation that the outdoor world has to offer all bundled together in one great event. For those interested in purchasing 2014 MA hunting and fishing licenses, MassWildlife staff will be on hand to assist; however, those purchasing licenses must use a credit or debit card for the transaction. Cash or checks will not be accepted. Click onto http://www.osegsportsmens.com for more information. *****
There have been some big fish caught through the ice this winter. Usually, I show those caught by youngsters. Lest people think we old timers can’t catch big fish any more, take a look at the 18 lb, 40 ½ inch northern pike caught out of Pontoosuc Lake recently by grandpa Tom Tatro of Dalton.

Questions/comments: Berkwoodsandwaters@roadrunner.com. Phone/fax: (413)-637-1818.

Schedule of 2014 ice fishing derbies is now available

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The above is the schedule of upcoming ice fishing derbies this winter. The Lanesboro Voluntary Fire Dept. and Izaak Walton derbies have already taken place and the Stockbridge Sportsmen’s Club Echo Lake derby ends today at 1:30 PM. No information has been received as to whether Smitty’s is having a derby this winter. Our thanks go out again this year to Paula Dailey at the Onota Boat Livery in Pittsfield for compiling the 2014 schedule of ice fishing derbies and posting them on its web site Simply log onto Onotaboat.com to access that list.
While there, check out the leader board current standings in the Onota Boat Livery Ice Fishing Contest. If you are entered into that contest and catch fish smaller than a 20 lb 1 oz northern pike, a 5 lb largemouth bass, a 1 lb 10 oz perch, or a 5 lb 9 oz trout, throw it back, unless of course if you intend to eat or mount it. Actually, the leader board is updated frequently and you might want to check it before going out ice fishing. *****

This year the New England Fishing and Outdoor Expo will be held on four days at the DCU Center in Worcester, MA. The hours are as follows: Next Thursday from 3 to 8 PM, Friday from 12:30 to 9 PM, Saturday from 10 AM TO 7 PM and Sunday from 10AM to 5 PM. It is advertised as the region’s biggest, most talked-about annual fishing and outdoor sports show. Attendees can experience the latest innovations in fishing, hunting, boating and camping. They can try out the best gear, talk to top manufacturers and learn from world-class outdoor sporting professionals. Click onto http://www.newenglandfishingexpo.com for a listing of exhibits, guest speakers and more.

MassWildlife reports that they will have a booth at the Expo and will be selling hunting, fishing and sporting licenses. They will only make credit card sales (no cash or checks). Staff will be available to help people purchase their licenses.

Also, the MassWildlife Sportfishing Awards will not be presented at the DCU Center this year like they have in the past. Instead, the winners will be notified by mail, probably next week, if they won the gold pin and trophy. The awards will most likely be presented to the winners this summer in the new energy-neutral Westborough Field Headquarters building. I hope to announce the award winners in next week’s column. ****

Hey tree huggers (term of endearment), did you know that there are trees in our state that are very, very old? For example: there is a yellow birch that is 386 years old, a northern red oak that is 336, eastern hemlock 285, white ash 256, black birch 255, pignut hickory 253, American beech 252, pitch pine 229, red maple 228, sugar maple 225, white pine 198, shagbark hickory 197 and hop- hornbeam 183? According to an excellent article written by Joe Choiniere in the most recent issue of Massachusetts Wildlife magazine, they are located on Mt. Wachusett in Princetown/Westminister. Most of that issue is devoted to managing our forests. If you can get ahold of that issue, it is well worth the read. Better yet, get a subscription, 8 quarterly issues for only $10.

Karen Kruszyna, of Cheshire, last year recipient of the Berkshire County League of Sportsman Lifetime Achievement Award, made an excellent suggestion at a recent League meeting. She suggested that each sportsmen’s club check with the various town and school libraries and donate subscriptions to Massachusetts Wildlife if they are not already receiving it. I’m sure kids and adults alike will enjoy this publication. *****

The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation will have a prime rib and chicken marsala buffet dinner at the Stockbridge Sportsmen’s Club on Saturday February 15 at 5:00 pm. The cost for an individual supporting ticket is $70 which includes meal and membership in the RMEF. Couples tickets cost $105 and include two meals and one supporting membership. Many quality items will be offered through live and silent auctions, drawings and door prizes. Contact Gary Johnston at (413) 298-3623 or Howie Wilson at (413) 528-2497 for more information. Don’t delay for there is an early bird special (2 for 1) on the general raffle tickets if you purchase a ticket by February 8.

Questions/comments: Berkwoodsandwaters@roadrunner.com. Phone/fax: (413) 637-1818.).

Retired trapper reflects on olden days in the Berkshires

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I love listening to the old timers describe how it was in the old days, especially as they relate to the outdoor sports in the Berkshires. When I heard that 96 year old Renee Wendell, of Pittsfield, was once an avid trapper, I just had to meet him. I had never done a column about trapping and wanted to hear about it

Renee came from a family of outdoor sportsmen and any wild game that was shot was not wasted for his mother was an expert cook of wild game. He still talks about her cottontail rabbit and noodle meals she used to prepare. He also was fascinated with the outdoors, considering the woods his “outdoor playroom”.

His grandfather used to babysit him while his father and mother worked. To keep him occupied, gramps would pay him five cents for every mouse or mole that he trapped and skinned, a skill that became very useful to him in the future This went on for some time until he saw gramps throwing a pelt into their woodstove. That ended his mouse skinning career.

When he was ten or so, his dad bought him a trap in a hardware store. Shortly afterwards, Renee found a freshly dug hole in the woods in back of their house and he set up the trap, staking it well. He couldn’t sleep at all that night, wondering what he might find in the trap the following morning. He got up early and ran to the trap to check. Something had been trapped. He couldn’t make out what it was, for it was half in the hole and half out. He ran and got his father, who shot it. It was a skunk. He brought it home and while he was skinning it, someone offered him fifty cents for it. He sold it to him.

One day he was trapping muskrats and while coming out of a swamp near Pontoosuc Lake with 2 or 3 muskrats, a guy asked him what he was going to do with the meat. Use it for bait, he said. The man then and there offered him a couple of dollars for it. Turns out that he was from Louisiana and they ate muskrats down there. So Renee got the pelt and a couple of bucks.

He trapped raccoons for an Italian fellow who paid him two dollars each. One day he trapped a fox and when asked what he did with the meat, he told him he threw it out. Too bad, that fellow would have given him two dollars for it. Hey, what to heck, meat is meat.

He used to get $2.50 for a muskrat pelt, $10 to $20 for raccoons and a dollar an inch for a beaver pelt. A pelt measuring 30” by 36” would yield $65. Fur buyers used to come around buying up all of the pelts. Toward the end of the trapping season they would have two auctions in Sheffield. He enjoyed his hobby and made money doing it. He always made $300+ each year to help buy Christmas presents, pay taxes, etc. He was helping his family as well as the environment because “Animals weren’t getting managed. If you don’t harvest them, something else will. You can’t stockpile game.” he said.

Later on, when he worked a 2nd shift, he would get up early to check his traps. Over the years he had some interesting experiences. He recalls one early morning when he was trapping near Richmond Pond and he heard a fellow calling for help. He was ice fishing and the ice broke under him. Renee ran to a nearby cottage and they called for help. Rescuers arrived quickly and saved him. One time in Becket, he also broke through ice near a beaver lodge. They usually keep the waters open there and the ice was thin and covered with snow. Before he knew it, he was up to his neck in water and muck. What saved him was one little stick about ¼ inch thick and he grabbed hold of it and got out.

Fox were always a challenge because they could smell a trap under an inch of dirt and he had to treat his traps. He boiled them in tree bark and leaves and then waxed them with bees wax (fox aren’t afraid of bees). Then he would set the traps under an inch of wet leaves or moss.

Renee quit trapping when steel traps were banned. “Can you imagine carrying a bunch of box traps with you? And what do you do with them in the trap? Some of these new laws don’t make sense.”, he said.

I was fascinated listening to him but it turned out that he had much more to tell. That will be covered in a future article. *****

The Pittsfield Sportsmen’s Club will be holding its 4th Annual Hunt Raffle and Buffet Dinner at the ITAM in Pittsfield on Saturday evening, February 8. Doors open at 5PM and dinner at 6PM. Cost is $15 for adults and $8 for children under 10. The proceeds from the event benefit PSC Land Development. Tickets are limited. This is a serious raffle with a whitetail deer hunt in Illinois, a fishing charter on Lake Ontario, a drift boat fishing trip on the Salmon River and many more prizes. For more information, contact Travis Delratez (413)441-7979 or Ed Bushey (413)443-9371. *****

Still no schedule of ice fishing derbies occurring this winter. In the meantime, I will list those that are approaching within a week. Next Sunday, the Stockbridge Sportsmen’s Club will be holding its 37th Annual Raymond M. “Skip” Whalen Ice Fishing Derby from 7AM-1:30PM on Echo Lake in Stockbridge. Click onto its website Stockbridgesportsmensclub.org for the details.

Questions/comments: Berkwoodsandwaters@roadrunner.com. Phone/fax: (413)637-1818

Hooligan bears roving our neighborhoods

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On Thursday, January 9 at 3:30 PM, John and Linda Morse of the Beachwood area of Stockbridge heard a thumping on the side of their cottage Investigating through the large picture window, they observed not one, two or three but four young bears attacking their bird feeder which hung on the eave and a suet feeder which hung on a shepherds-hook pole in their yard. When John and Linda made loud noises, they “hightailed it through the woods with feeders in mouths”.

John believes they were yearlings and found it very strange they would be out of hibernation given the very cold temperatures being experienced this winter (it was 18 degrees that day). Rattlesnake Mountain is home to many Stockbridge bear sightings and he suspects these four wandered in from there, obviously quite hungry.

The food must have been so tasty that they returned for another helping last Sunday. This time the Morses saw them coming and removed their new bird feeder. They then called the police. The bears made a hasty get-away when the cops arrived, probably heading back to their secret den. Talk about a den of thieves!

With this on again–off again winter, they probably just can’t get a good winter’s sleep and decided to get up and grab a midwinter snack. Perhaps we all should bring in our bird feeders at night until Mother Nature decides where she is headed with this winter.
Incidentally, according to the January issue of the MassWildlife News, 147 black bears were harvested during the 2013 September and November bear hunting seasons. Licensed hunters in western and central Massachusetts took 120 of them in the early season, and 27 in the late season. Successful hunters took advantage of the online harvest reporting system which was available for the first time during the 2013 season. They checked 102 bears using the online system; 45 bears were checked in person at check stations.
Statewide bear harvests for the last 5 years beginning with the year 2009 were as follows: 169, 144, 131, 185 and 147. Western District stations for the same period reported: 61, 57, 45, 47 and 57. *****
The Harrison Brothers, trout fishing guides, will be the guest speakers at this Thursday’s Taconic Chapter Trout Unlimited meeting which will be held at the Bass Water Grill on Rte 8 in Cheshire. They had great experiences guiding in other parts of the world, but their loyalty remains here in western MA where they have guided year round since 2007. They grew up fishing rivers around the area and will share slides and stories about fishing the Deerfield and other rivers of western MA. The event is free and open to the public. Social hour starts at 5 PM, the presentation at 6 PM and dinner off of the menu (if you so choose) to follow at 7 PM. For more information, contact Ron Wojcik at (413)684-4141 or rwojcik@bcn.net. *****
According to Berkshire Beagle Club spokesman John Demary, the rabbit hunt last Saturday was an overall success considering the rainy conditions. There were no hares taken so they awarded prizes for the 2 largest cottontails. The winners were. Paul Viale of Lee, with one weighing 3.04 lbs, and Tim Cahoon of Pittsfield with one weighing 3.00 lbs. Twenty five people attended the dinner of venison pasta, venison stew, and venison Chili. *****
Next Sunday, the Lee Sportsmen’s Association (LSA) will be having a turkey, steak, spiral ham or pork shoot from 1:00 to 4:00 PM. Following that there will be a fund raiser dinner from 4:30 to 6:30 PM with roast moose, moose stew, and spaghetti and meat balls. The cost is $12/adult, $6/under 12. The money will be used for raising pheasants which will be stocked onto local public lands next fall. Contact John Polastri at (413)822-8278.
An NRA License-to-Carry course will be held at the LSA on January 27 and 31 from 5:30 to 9:30 PM. The course, with 2 mandatory sessions, costs $100 and preregistration is required. Successful completion qualifies one to apply for a MA LTC Class A or FID. Contact Larry Karlquist at 442-7807. *****

Congratulations to 11-year old Caleb Pollard of Lee for recently catching the above pictured 24 inch 5 lb chain pickerel out of Laurel Lake. He was ice fishing with his family when it hit and fought like the dickens, making 5 runs. He caught it using a shiner and 6 lb test leader. The fish would have qualified for a State Freshwater Sportfishing Award ( bronze pin) or perhaps even the gold pin but it was not weighed on a certified scale. That’s ok though for his dad Jeremia made a batch of tasty fish cakes using that and several other fish they caught that day.

Qestions/comments: Berkwoodsandwaters@roadrunner.com. Phone/fax: 4(13)637-1818.

Cozy winter hours spent in the man cave

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Ladies, if you haven’t seen your spouse/mate lately, you might find him in his man cave, his special room in the house. Now that the Christmas tree and decorations are put away and deer hunting season is over, he finally has time to clean his deer hunting guns and put them away until next fall. Perhaps he’s getting out another gun to hunt rabbits or coyotes. Maybe he is tinkering with his winter sports stuff such as his ice fishing equipment or snowshoes or maybe he is busy waterproofing his boots. These things are usually done in the man cave.
If he is a fly fisherman, he is probably in there quietly tying up a new batch of killer trout flies. The only time you will hear him is when he breaks the thread on a nearly completed fly. Block your ears, don’t listen. Or he might be oiling his fishing reels, changing the line or doing a myriad of things that must be completed before the spring fishing season begins. He is probably listing gadgets that need to be purchased – new reel, rod, line, lures, fly tying stuff, etc.
Somewhere in the rubble of his man cave, if you dare to go in, you will probably find him amidst an assortment of catalogs from Cabelas, LL Bean, etc, and copies of Field & Stream, Outdoor Life, MassWildlife News, etc. Perhaps he is quietly reading a book from his hunting and fishing book library located in there.. Be careful when you enter not to knock over the fishing rods which are stored behind the door nor step on the hunting dog. He is probably in there somewhere keeping him company, enjoying the smells of the gun cleaning oil, old pop tarts left over from last year’s ice fishing trips, mounted animals, fly tying material and such.
Pay no attention to any clucking sounds that emanate from there. He is just practicing his turkey calling for the upcoming spring turkey hunting season. And whatever you do, don’t touch anything, not a piece of paper …. nothing. There is a place for everything and he knows exactly where it is. Some people I know will not allow anyone into their man cave, especially when they are not there. In fact, some have suggested mounting a motion sensitive trail camera to photograph anyone who enters.
Aah, there is nothing like tinkering around in the man cave after dinner while the cold winter winds and snow are swirling outside the window. It’s a cozy place where one is surrounded by pictures and other memorabilia and where one can reflect on past feats and enjoy the anticipation of the upcoming year’s outdoor sports activities. *****
If you are a fly fisherman, you might want to attend The Fly Fishing Show next weekend at the Royal Plaza Trade Center in Marlborough, MA. Fly fishing isn’t part of the show, it is the show. There will be over 50 talks and demonstrations each day. While there, you might shop for the newest tackle, book your next dream trip, watch tying and casting demos and learn from the experts.
All the new rods, reels, fly tying materials, books, DVDs and latest equipment will be on display to test and purchase. There is a casting pond for casting demos and it is available to test your new rod. Some of the celebrity authors include Gary Borger, Jay “Fishy” Fullum, Bob Popovics, Dave Klausmeyer, Ben Furminsky and others, and they will be happy to autograph your books. Click onto flyfishingshow.com/Marlborough__MA.html for more details.

While there, you might want to take in the MA/RI Council of Trout Unlimited’s annual banquet on Saturday evening at the Best Western Plaza Hotel (adjacent to the show center). Social hour is at 5:30 pm, buffet dinner at 6:30 and then raffles and auctions. You can get tickets from Paul Knauth (413)441-8559. *****

The Onota Boat Livery is once again having its seasonal ice fishing contest. Entrants must sign up by January 26 and the contest ends on March 16. Participants must be at least 18 years old and purchase at least $25 worth of store merchandise. They may fish anywhere in the Berkshires and all fish caught must be through the ice and brought to the Livery for measuring. Contestants must have previously signed into the contest. The prizes are $50 store gift certificates for the largest pike, largemouth bass, trout, pickerel, perch, crappie, salmon, and new this year, smallmouth bass. Tiger muskies have been dropped from the list as their stockings have been discontinued. Check out the web site at Onotaboat.com for a listing of the derby rules. *****
To prevent needless killing of nice fish, may I suggest that you check the Onota Boat Livery leader’s board to see what the leader fish are, and bring a copy of the minimum weights which qualify for a State Sportfishing Award (page 18 of the Fish & Wildlife Guide). Bring along a scale, too. That way you know whether or not you caught a money/pin fish and if not, you can release it unharmed if you wish.
As of this column’s deadline, the Onota Boat Livery’s listing of upcoming ice fishing derbies is not available. Much of the derby information has not yet been provided by the derby organizers. I will list it as soon as completed. Incidentally, there is a new derby this year, a fund raiser being put on by the Lanesboro Volunteer Firemen’s Association on January 25 on Pontoosuc Lake. (If unsafe ice, it takes place on February 1). It will run from 6AM to 3:30PM. registration and weigh-in to take place behind the Narragansett Park. Entrance fee is $10 for adults, $5 for kids. For more information contact Jeff Dechaime at 443-2321. *****
Questions/comments: Berkwoodsandwaters@roadrunner.com. Phone/fax: (413)-637-1818.

Berkshire sportsmen/environmentalists lose a champion

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Local sportsmen and environmentalists were saddened to learn that George Hamilton, Jr. of Lenox passed away last Sunday. His obituary in the December 30, 2013 Berkshire Eagle lists many of his accomplishments. Here are a few more. He was a well known sportsman who had a passion for rabbit hunting with beagles and was a long time member of the Berkshire Beagle Club. He frequently took top prize in the rabbit hunts put on by that club and the Lenox Sportsmen’s Club. I heard that he and his wife Cecilia had a rabbit and wild mushroom recipe that one would die for.
He was also an expert turkey hunter and was one of the best turkey callers around. He and his son George “Gige” Hamilton III, gave area seminars on the art of calling in wild turkeys. The first time I met him was at one of these seminars. He was also a long time member of the Alford Brook Club; he helped to get the Taconic Chapter of Trout Unlimited established in its early days, he was a key member of the local Ducks Unlimited Chapter and was a teacher and served on the Advisory Board of Pleasant Valley Sanctuary. He was recognized by the Berkshire County League of Sportsmen which named him the 1999 Sportsman of the Year. He was nominated to receive that award by just about every outdoor sportsmen’s club in Berkshire County.
In the 1970’s, I was one of many who benefitted from the new Environmental Science program that he helped set up at Berkshire Community College. It definitely changed our ways of thinking about how we should treat our natural resources. When he retired from his teaching position there in 1995, BCC officially named his room after him in his honor. I could go on and on listing his many accomplishments.

He was a close personal friend and an esteemed member of the ROMEO’s (Retired Old Men Eating Out), a group of older sportsmen who get together weekly for lunch. Our condolences go to Cecelia and family. He will be missed. *****

In its December 19 meeting, the Taconic Chapter of Trout Unlimited presented John Burns of Framingham with its most prestigious award, the Crook Staff. This award is presented to the person who best exemplifies the ideals of TU, those being the conserving, protecting and restoring of North America’s coldwater fisheries and their watersheds In his own words, he was born “a naturalist like a fish out of water; in the suburbs of Boston.” He quickly learned his place through camping and fishing trips with his family and committed to escaping to the wilds of Vermont and western Mass when he had the chance. This came to fruition during his undergraduate studies at Middlebury College in Vermont, and later in graduate school at Antioch New England Graduate School in Keene, NH.

Having been at the YMCA Camp Becket in Becket, MA for over 30 years, Burns became familiar with all that the Berkshires had to offer and considered everything from Stratton Mountain to the CT border his backyard. While trying to settle in the area, he taught science, math and computers at The Academy at Charlemont. He has worked devoutly with Trout Unlimited in the four chapters which cover this region as well as the Deerfield River Watershed Association and many river studies with both the States of MA and VT. He is currently on the Board of Taconic TU and serves as the Vice Chair of Environmental Affairs for the MA/RI TU Council. He built a great web site for the Council and the resources are available to all of the chapters in both states. A botanist with New England Wild Flower Society, Burns’ conservation work in rare plants covers all over New England.

The similarities of Burns and Hamilton are interesting. Both were born near Boston, both were educators, both loved and could live off of the land, both commanding the respect of local sportsmen, both loved the flora and fauna that inhabited our earth. Let’s hope there will always be people like them. *****

Incidentally, the Berkshire Beagle Club on Sleepy Hollow Road, Richmond will be having its annual bunny hunt next Saturday. The entrance fee is $10 and includes a game dinner which follows the 4:00 PM check-in deadline. No Hunting is allowed on the club’s grounds. Prizes will be awarded for the largest hare and largest cottontail. To register contact: John Demary 413-441-2253 or 413-684-2228. *****
This year’s Cheshire Rod & Gun Club Truckload of Goodies Raffle winners were: First Prize – Truckload Winner – Marty Becker of Hinsdale, 2nd Prize – 10 lbs Roast Beef & 1 Liter Captn Morgan – Phil Hiser of Lee, 3rd Prize – 10 lbs Fresh Ham and 1 ltr Jack Daniels – Jim Loughman of Adams, 4th Prize – 20 lbs Turkey and 1 Ltr of Wild Turkey – Carol Fortier of Lanesboro, 5th Prize – 1/2 ltr of Kahula.- Carl Deluce of Pittsfield. Good time to pay them a visit

Questions/comments: Berkwoodsandwaters@roadrunner.com. Phone/fax: (13-637-1818).

Local State legislator listens to sportsmen’s concerns

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At the December 11 meeting of the Berkshire County League of Sportsmen’s State Representative Gailanne Cariddi (1st Berkshire District) showed up to hear the concerns of local outdoor sportsmen. She is on the Environmental, Natural Resources and Agriculture Committee.

Phil Hiser of Lee asked if anything can be done to speed up the process of firearms permits and renewals. He mentioned that he lives in a town where they are talking as long as 5 months for a permit. The letter of the law says they have 40 days to issue or deny it. Wayne McLain, of Williamstown, checked with reliable state sources and found out the average wait is 10 weeks.

BCLS President Mark Jester said that the Attorney General should come out to the Berkshires to explain why it takes so long for licenses to be issued/reissued. According to Jester, who quoted GOAL figures, there are instances statewide where it takes 6 months to a year to get licenses renewed. He stated that the Attorney General’s office was presented with 1,000 examples of licenses for lawful gun owners not having them renewed in a timely manner. On behalf of the sportsmen of Berkshire County he asked Representative Cariddi to look into it.

She stated that she has signed onto a bill that would extend the license period (if your license expired) for 180 days instead of the current 90 days.

Robert McCarthy of Williamstown commented that when people are picked up with gun violations they should get at least one year in jail. (The judicial system) harasses the legal gun owners who are just trying to get their licenses renewed so they can go hunting or target shooting, while armed criminals are running around in our streets. Whoever is responsible, DA’s office or the judges, should adhere to the strictest letter of the law

Jester mentioned another issue, the legalization of crossbows. He commented that 43 or 44 states that passed some form of crossbow legislation. “We are trying to find ways to keep the hunter in the woods and this is one more tool to provide that ability”, he said. Mass. law states, “Crossbows may be used only by persons who are permanently disabled in such a manner that the affliction prevents the person from using conventional archery equipment. The person must submit to MassWildlife a statement to this effect from a licensed physician and they will then be issued a free lifetime crossbow permit.

Michael Kruszyna, of Cheshire, commented that he had a rotator cuff operation during the year and his shoulder is still healing. He filled out an application for a crossbow permit, but the doctor wouldn’t sign it because his was not a permanent injury. He lost the whole archery hunting season this year because of it. .

There were other concerns expressed which will be covered in next week’s column. *****

The way things are going this winter, we may be out ice fishing shortly. Paula and Tom at the Onota Boat Livery are willing to assimilate the various ice fishing derby information. Here’s hoping the organizers of the derbies get together early to coordinate their schedules so that there aren’t 2 or 3 going on at the same date, thus drawing from one another. We need them all to be successful so that they can support the many worthy causes. *****

Tad Ames, President of the Berkshire Natural Resources Council reported that last week the Commonwealth of Massachusetts awarded a grant of $35,632 to cover half the cost of buying and conserving 65 acres on the Hoosac Range. BNRC needs to raise the other half of the money by December 31 so that they can close the deal in January. If you donate $100 or so, the property could remain open to walkers, wildlife and everyone who lives, works and visits there. As Tad so eloquently put it, our donations guarantee that “the sun will rise and set over the hills where nature rules.” *****
Having a problem coming up with a gift for that outdoor enthusiast? MassWildlife has a few suggestions: How about a 2-year subscription to Massachusetts Wildlife magazine ($10), eight full-color issues of the Commonwealth’s best wildlife publication. The magazine is packed with award-winning articles and photos on the environment, conservation, fishing, hunting, natural history and just about everything relating to the outdoors in Massachusetts. Or how about their other publications: Critters of Massachusetts, Field Guide to Dragonflies and Damselflies, Field Guide to the Animals of Vernal Pools, or the Field Guide to the Reptiles of Massachusetts, The Introduction to the Threatened Turtles of Massachusetts ($5), is a video available from the DFW’s Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program. Contact the DFW Western Regional Headquarters in Dalton to see how to purchase them.
Trout Unlimited has an Angler’s Guide to Trout Fishing in Massachusetts ($20). The only local place where you can get one before this Christmas is Matt Tannenbaum’s Bookstore in Lenox. *****

Sorry, as of December 18 MassWildlife has still not disclosed how our deer hunters have done so far this year. Even figures from the archery season, which ended on November 30 have not been released. Such figures cannot be obtained from our DFW district offices because they don’t have the figures either. They don’t get to see a lot of the deer taken by archers or primitive arms hunters because most of them are now being checked in on-line. About all I could find out about the shotgun deer season is that the opening day and first week figures were down but the second week figures were better. So much for the highly touted automated check-in system, eh? We will probably find out these figures next month, when our interests have shifted to ice fishing.

Happy holidays!

Questions/comments: Berkwoodsandwaters@roadrunner.com. Phone/fax: (413)637-1818

Black bear had a long journey

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This past September 17, Alan Bongini of Hinsdale bagged a 250 lb bear (dressed) in Hinsdale, MA which had an ear tag. He registered it on line and brought it to the DFW Western Regional Headquarters in Dalton. DFW personnel determined that the tag was not a Massachusetts one so they contacted the VT Fish & Game and learned that it was tagged in Stamford, VT in 2011.

Bongini was in touch with a VT biologist and was told the following: In 2011, an outfit from Spain wanted to put a wind farm near Stamford, VT, somewhere near the Molly Stark Trail. The VT Fish & Game people were not too pleased with the idea because the area where it was to be located was loaded with beech trees and where bears fed in order to get fattened for the winter hibernation. They captured 4 or 5 bears and put radio collars on all of them except a smaller bear which weighed around 100 lbs. It was too small for the collar and they put an ear tag on that bear instead. That’s the bear that Bongini shot.

A VT biologist contacted Alan and requested a map of Hinsdale where he shot the bear. Later on, he contacted Alan again and told him that the bear had traveled the farthest of any of their tagged bears. Depending on its course it could have traveled 50 or 60 miles. The biologist then sent pictures of the bear when they tagged it. A tooth was extracted and sent to the VT biologist to determine its age. Bongini will probably find out in the spring just how old that bear was.

The bear was skinned out by Clem Caryofiles of Pittsfield and Alan donated it to the Onota Fishing Club for its annual game dinner. There were four or five other bears and all kinds of game also donated by other hunters.

Todd Mancivalano, Director and President of The Onota Fishing Club, thanked Bongini and all who participated, donated and attended its annual game dinner which was held at The ITAM in Pittsfield on December 8. Over 240 people gorged themselves with all kinds of tasty game, expertly prepared by Chis Porter of Pittsfield and others. They had venison and bear meat prepared in several different ways (roasts, shish kebobs, sausages, etc), rabbit, wild boar, seafood, freshwater crappie, pheasant, game meat chili, fish chowder, polenta, etc. One of my favorites was the bear meat. Uum, Umm! I wonder if I had any of Bongini’s bear.

There were so many people there that the Club was able to donate $500 to the YMCA Youth Basketball program, pay out around $650 in its 50/50 raffle, plus another $500 in its own raffle. That didn’t even include the many other raffle items which were donated by local sport shops. *****

While on the subject of bears, the front cover of the 2014 Massachusetts Fish and Wildlife Guide has an excellent picture of one. In that guide, Wayne MacCallum, Director of the Division of Fisheries and Wildlife reported that there are some 4,000 bears in Massachusetts. In the 1970’s bears were only found in Northern Berkshire but now they live and raise their young as far east as central Massachusetts in both rural and some residential areas. Their range has expanded further into eastern Massachusetts causing people and communities to adjust their behavior to learn how to live with them. Black bears can be hunted in September and November in wildlife management zones 1 through 9.

Incidentally, the only changes in the fishing and wildlife regulations are: 1) No harvest ( catch and release only) of American shad in inland waters except the Connecticut River and its tributaries and the Merrimac River and its tributaries. 2) The American shad creel or bag limit on those two rivers and their tributaries has been reduced to 3 per day. These changes reflect the fact that shad numbers have declined in most of the species range and the population, though certainly not endangered is at a level where more conservation measures are warranted.

Good news! There will be no increase in the license fees for 2014. *****

If landowners gave you permission to hunt or fish on their lands, now would be a perfect time to thank them. Here are some suggestions: Send a personal note or card thanking them for the opportunity to use their land. Consider giving a small gift such as a gift certificate, a bottle of hooch, a gift basket, or a subscription to Massachusetts Wildlife magazine. In the case of a non-profit landowner, such as the Berkshire Natural Resources Council, make a donation or join their organization.
We shouldn’t take those landowner for granted. Perhaps you might want to visit them at the end of the season to express your appreciation in person; if possible, provide them with some of your fish and game harvest, share images, or a list of the wildlife you discovered on their property.
Offer to assist with tasks around the property that would be helpful, or identify, clean up, and properly dispose of any illegal dumping that has occurred.
If they have no objections, assist them in protecting the property by documenting and reporting suspicious or illegal activities to the Environmental Police. *****
Shotgun deer hunting season ended yesterday and the harvest results have not yet been disclosed by MassWildlife. Tomorrow marks the opening of the Primitive Firearms (black powder) deer hunting season and it runs through December 31. During that season deer may be brought to a game check station or hunters can report them on line at MassFishHunt. Happy hunting and keep your powder dry

Questions/comments: Berkwoodsandwaters@roadrunner.com. Phone/fax: (413)637-1818.

Getting kids to write- a real challenge

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Some high school principals and teachers are struggling to get kids to write – kids for whom reading and writing is of little interest; but outdoor skills are. For those kids who would rather be outdoors tramping through the woods than writing, The New England Outdoor Writer Association (NEOWA) may have the answer.

NEOWA is offering young people in our region the chance to be recognized for their writing in its Youth Outdoor Writing Contest. According to Ellie Horwitz, NEOWA Secretary, the contest was held for the first time in 2013 and was very successful in motivating students to learn, explore, and write about the many aspects of the great outdoors. The two young women who won last year’s contest are described by their teachers as having “blossomed” in both their confidence and continued motivation to write. Plus, it was found that the contest was a perfect opportunity for teachers and parents to connect with young people about the wonders and benefits of the outdoors.

Here are the particulars:
1. The contest is open to schools in New England and student entries must be submitted by school personnel. Individual students wishing to participate in the contest should contact a teacher or principal within their school in order to enter the contest.

2. Submissions from students in grades 6-8 will be entered in the Junior Division; grades 9-12 will be entered in the Senior Division. Junior and Senior State Level winners will each receive $125, and two New England-wide winners from the Junior and Senior levels will each receive an additional $150.

3. The written entries must be an outdoor-oriented topic and can include: hunting, fishing, boating, archery, shooting, field trials, sporting dogs, camping, woodcraft, skin diving, scuba diving, hiking, rock climbing, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, wildlife watching, natural history, conservation, ecology, and similar activities that add to the knowledge and enjoyment of nature and natural resources.

4. The written work should not exceed 500 words.

5. Teachers may have students write specifically for the contest or may use work submitted by the student as part of an assignment within the normal curriculum.

6. Teachers, principals, or other school administrators are encouraged to conduct a school-wide contest in order to gather entries for the NEOWA contest. School personnel may create a committee to assist with the judging within their school. Each school may select one school winner from each division—one from the Junior and one from the Senior division—to submit to the NEOWA state chairperson. Each school can acknowledge their own school winners at an award assembly or other recognition program.

The deadline for contest entries is February 15, 2014. Entries must be submitted in digital format via email to their NEOWA state chairperson. In Massachusetts, the chairman is Mike Roche at mikeroche3@msn.com. Additional information can also be found on NEOWA’s Web Site: http://www.neowa.org/youthwritingcontest.html. Also, outdoor writer Dave Willette of North Adams and I are both members of NEOWA and will be happy to assist in any way we can.

NEOWA is made up of dedicated outdoor writers concerned about natural resources, conservation and our outdoor heritage. It is the oldest regional outdoor writers organization in America and is a nonprofit, professional and educational organization.

Incidentally, local outdoorsmen and women may recall Horwitz. Before retiring from MassWildlife she was Chief of Information and Education and ran the Becoming an Outdoorswoman (BOW) program here in the Berkshires for many years. *****
The 2014 hunting, sporting, fishing, and trapping licenses should be available for sale at all license vendor locations, MassWildlife District offices, the West Boylston Field Headquarters, and on the internet at MassFishHunt.org. Anyone 15 or older needs a license in order to fish in freshwater or to hunt. Be careful, it is possible to purchase either a 2013 or a 2014 license this December. Be sure to select the correct year when buying a license. Minors 15-17 years of age may not purchase hunting or sporting licensees online, and must have certain documentation in their possession when making their license purchase at a MassWildlife District office or other license vendor location. Freshwater fishing licenses for minors ages 15-17 years of age are free and can be obtained online .*****
Dave’s Sporting Goods in Pittsfield is having its Coyote Derby again this year. It will run until the end of coyote hunting season which is March 8, 2014. Entrance fee is $10 and prizes will be awarded to the person who bags the most coyotes, the largest coyote and there will also be a random draw.

It is legal to hunt coyotes during the shotgun deer hunting season but special regulations apply while hunting them during that season: hunting hours begin ½ hour before sunrise and end ½ hour after sunset, manual or electronic calls and dogs are prohibited, rifles and handguns are prohibited, shotguns and muzzleloaders are permitted and hunters must wear a minimum of 500 square inches of hunter orange on their head, chest and back. Check the abstracts for more information. *****
MassWildlife reminds us that during the shotgun deer hunting season, Dec 2-14, deer hunters must bring their tagged deer to a check station within 48 hours of harvest. Hunters cannot check deer online during this time period. The information collected at the check stations provides valuable and needed information for the deer management program. Hunters trying to check a deer online will see a message that says “Sorry, there are no Harvest Reports available to you in this category.” As in past years, deer must be brought to a check station before processing it for the freezer or taxidermy. For a list of deer check stations, go to http://www.mass.gov/eea/agencies/dfg/dfw/hunting-fishing-wildlife-watching/hunting/checkstation-map.html.
Questions/comments: Berkwoodsandwaters@roadrunner.com. Phone/fax: (413)637-1818.