Category Archives: News

Archery deer, fall turkey hunting seasons open tomorrow

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Archery season opens tomorrow morning one half hour before sunrise (unless you hunt on a Wildlife Management Area which opens at sunrise) and it ends on November 30. Hunters are allowed to take two antlered deer and a doe if they have an antlerless permit. If they take all three during the archery season, they are done for the deer hunting season (including the shotgun and primitive arms seasons).

Also, the fall wild turkey hunting season opens tomorrow and runs until November 2. Be sure to check the regulations governing this sport.

New this fall, hunters and trappers have two options for checking in deer, turkey, bear, and most furbearers. As in the past, animals may be brought to a game check station, or they can use the online MassFishHunt system to report or check their game via computer. There are two exceptions to this process:
1. During the shotgun deer hunting season, all deer must be checked in at a deer check station in order for the DFW to collect biological data.
2. All bobcats and otters must be checked in at a furbearer check station because they are internationally regulated species.
Tagging and online reporting for bear, deer, and turkeys: are as follows:
Attach the paper tag from permit or license for bear, deer, or turkey to the carcass immediately upon harvesting the animal.
Log in to the MassFishHunt system to report them online within 48 hours of harvest. NOTE: Hunters must complete this checking/reporting process BEFORE processing game for consumption, or taxidermy.
After answering the online game checking questions, the system will assign a confirmation number for each individual animal reported. This number must be written on the tag attached to the carcass. The confirmation number written on the tag is the official seal issued by MassWildlife and takes the place of the traditional metal seals used at check stations.
The tag must remain attached to the animal until the game is skinned, butchered, or otherwise prepared for food purposes; or for mounting by a taxidermist.
Confirmation numbers are non-transferable to other animals and they cannot be used for any other game animals except the ones for which they were issued.
Deer hunters are reminded that during the shotgun season for deer, all deer must be checked in at a deer check station.
Hunters and trappers can report their furbearers (beaver, coyote, fisher, fox and mink) online also. Log in to the MassFishHunt system and follow the instructions on how to report the harvest of these animals.
Meat processors and taxidermists can only take into possession bear, beaver, coyote, deer, fisher, fox, mink, or wild turkey with either an official DFW metal or plastic seal affixed to the carcass or pelt or with a tag noting the assigned MassFishHunt confirmation number affixed to the carcass or furbearer pelt. It is illegal to accept any of the above game animals without a DFW official seal or confirmation number written on an attached tag. Bobcat and otters may not be accepted into possession unless tagged with an official plastic seal. *****
Flyfishing guide and author Marla Blair will be the guest speaker at the Taconic Chapter of Trout Unlimited meeting this Thursday evening, at the Bass Water Grill on Rte 8 in Cheshire. She will be discussing “The Hatch and body language for trout and choosing a pattern”. She will also demonstrate the tying of her iconic Jailbird emerger fly during social hour. Marla achieved international fame when she wrote the popular fishing book Practical Fly Fishing. The event is free and open to the public. Social hour starts at 5 PM, Marla’s presentation starts 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.
Staying with TU, congratulations go to the Mass/RI Council of TU for receiving national recognition in TU National’s quarterly publication of Trout. Magazine Members of the 13 Massachusetts and Rhode Island chapters received an appeal for help in replanting a portion of river bank at the Army Corps of Engineers (ACOE) Indian Hollow Campground. Located along the banks of the Westfield River in Chesterfield it was heavily damaged by Hurricane Sandy. Some 225 willow tubelings were secured and 85 volunteers from each chapter (including our local Taconic Chapter) planted them in about 2 hours. Their efforts have been praised by the ACOE and the Chesterfield Conservation Commission. Incidentally, Paul Knauth of Dalton is in his third term as Council Chairman. *****.
There will be a Multi-State Firearm License Course next Sunday at 1:00 PM at the Stockbridge Sportsmen’s Club. 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.*****
In last week’s column I erroneously listed the end of the coyote hunting season as being March 28, 2014. The correct date is March 8, 2014. I knew that and don’t know why I wrote otherwise. Freudian slip, I guess, or wishful thinking.

Another smoky, but enjoyable fishing trip to Montana

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Recently three local fishermen and I took a 10 day flyfishing trip to fish some famous rivers near Missoula, Montana. The other three flyfishermen were Allen Gray of Pittsfield, Paul Knauth of Hinsdale and Michael Shepard of Dalton.

Upon arrival, we learned that the rivers there were at a 30 year low water flow due to the drought and some of them had restricted fishing hours to avoid stressing the trout. The Bitterroot River had “hoot owl” restrictions, meaning that one could only fish it from midnight to 2:00 pm.

We stayed in a cottage along Rock Creek, which was still open, but running low. Each time we drove upstream to fish it, we passed nearby forest fires. We came across many firefighters, including the “Hot Shots”, specialized firemen brought in to fight the fires. The sights and sounds of helicopters carrying large containers of water to and from the fires were common.

One time, Allen was trying to fish a large pool in Rock Creek, but that was where the choppers were filling their buckets which disturbed the water and scared the fish. He related a sight where Paul was fishing a part of the river and directly uphill from him a chopper was dousing the fire with water. Temperatures were around 95 degrees that day and Paul was disappointed that some of the water didn’t fall on him to cool him off. The temperatures remained in or near the 90’s every day but amazingly, the water temperatures of the rivers we fished never got above 62 -64 degrees. I presume the combination of cool nights and cold springs feeding the rivers kept them cool.

The mountains there are so steep that the firemen could not climb them to reach the fires. Even if a chopper dropped them in, the slopes are so steep that they would just slide off the mountain. All they could do was build fire lines below and let the fire burn until they reached them or Rock Creek. Incidentally, we learned that some firemen who were fighting the fires at the nearby Lolo National Forest were from the Berkshires.

We traveled a long way to fish these rivers and we went out every day. Once, we were prevented from fishing one area on Rock Creek because the firemen feared that the fires would cause rock slides which could bury us.

On Labor Day, the hoot owl restrictions on the Bitterroot River were lifted, but then the Blackfoot River was completely shut down due to water temperatures and low flow. Fortunately, we had spent the three prior days fishing it. After that, we concentrated our fishing on the Clark Fork River and Rock Creek.

Don’t get me wrong, we had a wonderful time and caught lots of quality fish – rainbow, cutthroat and brown trout, some reaching near 18 inches. Of course the largest fish got away, at least mine did. One time, while Allen was reeling a decent sized rainbow trout, a large bull trout snatched it away from him. These are big trout which are endangered and it is illegal to fish for them.

But it’s not all about fishing. We saw some memorable sights: bald eagles, a herd of 24 bighorn sheep eating grass in someone’s sprinkled lawn, whitetail deer with their fawns frolicking near our cottage, mule deer, moose. the beautiful mountains, and more. One sight I will never forget occurred when Mike and I were returning to the cottage before dusk when we saw a doe teaching her fawn how to cross a shallow section of Rock Creek. The fawn appeared unsteady but its mom was very patient as they slowly crossed the river,

The towns of Rock Creek and Clinton are small and rural, about 15 miles south of Missoula. Imagine our surprise when Mike and I stopped at a watering hole and found that the bartender grew up in Dalton and lived in Lenox for a while. On another occasion, we met a couple in a fly shop and the woman was raised in Adams. Mike met another guy on the stream from Braintree whose good friend lives in Dalton. Amazing, eh? *****

Unfortunately, while in Montana, I learned that a close friend passed away – Gordon Leeman of Lee. I first met Gordy in the fall of 1963 when he was a game warden. A friend and I were on furlough from the service and we decided to go hunting without a license and during a time when the woods were closed due to a severe drought. Gordy and another warden nabbed us. The judge ultimately dismissed the case (long story).

In the 1980’s we both were members of the Taconic Chapter of Trout Unlimited and became friends. For the last dozen years or so, we also belonged to the ROMEO’s (Retired Old Men Eating Out) a group of older sportsmen who get together for lunch at a local diner once a week. He will be missed. *****

Before leaving for Montana, I neglected to mention that the early Canada goose hunting season opened on September 3 and runs to September 25. The daily bag is 7 and possession limit is 21. The regular goose season opens on October 14. The 2013-14 migratory regulations can be found on the following website: http://www.mass.gov/eea/docs/dfg/dfw/regulations/2013-14-waterfowl-abs. *****

People in kayaks and canoes must wear their life jackets or personal floatation devices (PFD’s) from September 15 to May 15 while boating. According to the Massachusetts Environmental Police, most boating fatalities in Massachusetts are due to boaters who fail to wear PFDs while in small craft in cold water or cold weather situations. Waterfowl hunters using canoes or kayaks are reminded that this law also applies to them.

Western District antlerless deer permits down 375 from last year

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Antlerless Deer Permit Allocations and Chances of Winning

2013 Antlerless Deer Permit Allocations and Applications by Wildlife Management Zone
WMZ Allocation Change in Allocation #Applicants Chance of Winning
1 400 -50 1,173 34%
2 175 -25 1,478 12%
3 1,100 -150 2,294 48%
4N 375 -25 2,114 18%
4S 275 -25 1,647 17%
5 1,250 -100 3,451 36%
6 450 0 946 48%
7 2,250 0 3,404 66%
8 2,800 0 4,374 64%
9 4,100 0 4,589 89%
10 11,000 1,200 3,769 100%
11 10,500 700 6,653 100%
12 650 75 1,358 48%
13 2,700 0 119 100%
14 2,700 0 77 100%
TOTAL 40,725 1,600 37,446

“Change in Allocation” is the difference in the number of available permits from the previous year’s allocations. “Chance of winning” is calculated allocation/# of applicants

By now, most deer hunters know if they won an antlerless deer permit and more than a few of them are disappointed that they didn’t get one. Such permits have been dropping steadily over the last few years. For example some 9,550 permits were issued in the Western District in 2004, 4,400 in 2008 and this year, the figure stands at 2,325. Some hunters who rely on venison as a supplement to their food diet are quite upset saying: Great, more deer meat for the coyotes and bears and less for human consumption.

According to David Satinbrook, MassWildlife Director of Deer & Moose Project, “Deer densities in the western zones are currently below or on the lower end of our goals. Female deer are the reproductive segment of the population, so we manage deer numbers through regulated female harvest using antlerless deer permits. We have been giving out a low number of antlerless permits in those zones to allow the deer population to rise. Trends have been on the rise over recent years, but appeared to be just very slowly increasing, so we dropped permits conservatively to make sure the trends in density are still going in the right direction toward our goals.”

I suggested that they could get the deer populations up where they should be quicker by extending the coyote hunting season and allowing the bear hunters to take more than one bear a season. I am no expert but I believe these predators are the main reason for the sharp drop in our deer population, and not hunting pressure.

Satinbrook disagrees. While these predators do take a lot of fawns in the summer months, he feels that the deer herd is in good shape and the harvest figures do not indicate that it is in serious trouble by predation. He feels that the main limiting factor is the habitat and not the predators. Nature does not allow for more animals than the land can support.

Valid point, and he certainly knows more about this subject than I. *****

The Stockbridge Sportsmen’s Club is hosting a Western Massachusetts Deer Camp on Saturday, September 21 at its club on Route 102, Stockbridge. Doors open at 5 PM, buffet dinner at 6:30 PM. There will be some awesome hunting, fishing and vacation packages in the raffle. They claim that 1 in 10 people will win a firearm. Tickets cost from $40 for an individual up to $250 for sponsors. Ticket deadline is Sept. 13 but if you purchase before Sept 1, you are entered for an early bird drawing. For information, contact Bill Bailey at (413)244-2304.*****

Twelve Massachusetts sportsmen’s clubs were recognized by the Massachusetts Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF) at the July meeting of the Mass. Fish & Wildlife Board. They were cited for their efforts in running the Youth Turkey Hunt program, teaching them how to safely hunt turkeys, getting youth mentors and actually taking the kids out on the hunts. They each received plaques from the NWTF and hearty thanks from the Board. Four of the clubs are in Berkshire County: Stockbridge Sportsmen’s Club, Lee Sportsmen’s Association, East Mountain Sportsmen’s Club and Cheshire Rod & Gun Club. The Board also received a plaque of appreciation from the NWTF for its support of the Youth Turkey Hunt Program since it began 5 years ago..

Fish & Wildlife Board to Administration: Pay our managers

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When F&W Board Chairman George (Gige) Darey,of Lenox, began the July Board Public Meeting, he was “loaded for bear (pardon the pun). “I am beyond ticked off.” said Darey.

His anger was caused by the recent news that Assistant Director of Wildlife Dr. Thomas O’Shea resigned to take a higher paying job with the Trustees of Reservation. This news was not taken well by the other Board members nor the public that was in attendance, especially Massachusetts Sportsmen’ Council President Mike Moss, who made some audible remarks.

Dr. O’Shea was a highly regarded wildlife biologist who was well known across the state including here in the Berkshires. He oversaw habitat projects, game populations, the new licensing and game check systems, and pheasant stocking programs, among other things. He came out to the Berkshires to make several presentations over the years. He was a bright young biologist, one that the F&W Board invested heavily in training. Quite possibly, he could have become a future director of the Division some day.

According to Darey, “The medium raise in the last 10 years for management positions has been the cost of living raises. This for the best science based fish and wildlife expertise in the country.” The Board hires the staff but does not have the power to adjust their salaries. “This Board is extremely frustrated and ashamed that it has to spend so much time on salaries just to maintain the quality of staff instead of dealing with other important issues.

Board member Dr. Joseph Larson also weighed in by saying that such matters have to be handled at a higher level. “The F&W Board does not have the power to change or to adjust salaries. That comes down from above. The (Fish and Game) Commissioner and Secretary (Environmental and Energy) need to be putting full time on issues like this. This agency has a serious problem, this has got to be handled by higher levels of the Administration.”

According to DFW Director Wayne MacCallum, “Massachusetts is the 3rd most expensive state to live in and the DFW headquarters is located in the eastern part. On top of that the DFW is not competitive with its sister agencies. The DFW managers have been stuck in the same positions since 2003 and all step increases were eliminated. The union employees; however, did get raises every year as well as cost of living (COL) raises. The average raise to a manager in the DFW has been equal to the COL. Managers not only have not kept up with the COL, but in those years with no raises at all, they have fallen below.

He went on and said, “The Assistant Director position deals with a lot of people: sportsmen, non-profits and citizens throughout the state. Nobody is looking to get rich (in DFW) because they won’t, but wildlife conservation is a huge motivation. The F&W Board has always supported the scientists and biologists. We have the best science based program in the country for deer.”

Until the position is filled, O’Shea’s workload will be handled by Division Director MacCallum and Rob Deblinger, Deputy Director of field operations.

Fish & Game Commissioner Mary Griffin (who was present at the Board Meeting) agreed with the characterization of the “huge loss” of Tom. “At first I became very angry and then very sad, not toward Tom but because we have basically been trying for the last 4 years to have his salary adjusted or a salary reclassification of his job”. She said that she was “incredibly frustrated” losing Tom who attended Harvard and Yale and who was very well liked. “We are facing compression issues, she said, and I am glad the Board is looking at it, for it needs to be addressed.”

There is a new campaign to inform the public about the importance of hunting, fishing, wildlife watching and boating to our economy. Sportsmen and women, environmentalists and conservationists are spending over $2 billion annually in Massachusetts. That’s a significant contribution to its economy.

Also over the last 7 years some 40,000 acres of land has been acquired and more placed under conservation easements, all managed by the same number of people. One would think that those biologists, scientists and managers who oversee our natural resources would be better treated. It’s about time the administration woke up, don’t you think? *****

Tom Tyning, naturalist, author, and professor at Berkshire Community College, has developed a great news website, Western Mass Naturalist. Tom is an expert on snakes and the new site has lots of information about all the snakes found in western Massachusetts, including: how to identify species of snakes, what they eat and how they eat it, common myths about snakes, etc. You are encouraged to check the website often and watch it grow to include other groups besides snakes.*****

The Berkshire Beagle Club in Richmond held field trials last weekend. A couple of our local dogs did very well. Applewynd Mash-Po-Tater finished 3rd at the bench show for 15″ male dogs beating out 17 other entries. He finished 2nd on Sunday’s small pack option (SPO) trial (15″ all age combined) and was awarded the 15″ high scoring all age hound. Bob and Kim Jones of Lee are his owners. Chika finished 2nd in the bench show (15″ female class) beating out 11 other entries and 3rd in the 15″ all age SPO trial which drew 23 entries. She is owned by James Larimore of Pittsfield.

Congratulations to these owners whose dogs were up against some of the best dogs in the Northeast. The field trial drew 133 entrants from most New England states, Pennsylvania and New York.

John Manikowski, a man of many talents

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Earlier this year, friend Craig Moffatt of Stockbridge and I were driving  to Becket to make the final salmon fry stockings into the Westfield River watershed, when we struck up a conversation about cooking fish and wild game.  I had some venison, rabbits and perch that I wanted to cook up.  Usually, I would just toss some butter into the frying pan and fry the stuff up.   This time I wanted to spend some time and cook it up right.   Craig mentioned a book entitled Wild Fish & Game Cookbook written by John Manikowski, and he later lent it to me.

 Upon opening the book, several things caught my attention.  The first was that it had some really unique recipes, like sautéed woodcock with oyster mushrooms, grilled wood duck with dried cherry sauce and grilled venison kabobs with Satay sauce.  This was a gourmet’s cookbook.

 The second thing was how the chapters were put together.   Interspersed among the various chapters were very interesting personal hunting or fishing stories about various trips the author and Moffatt had taken over the years to different parts of North America.   They were very well written and a joy to read.  There were also wonderful drawings and artwork, created by the author himself, interspersed throughout the book, including the outer hard cover. 

 The last thing that caught my attention was the fact that John Manikowski is a local fellow living in Mill River.   He is an outdoorsman, fisherman, wildlife artist, former partner in excellent restaurants specializing in game meals.  (Konkapot Kitchen Restaurant in Mill River, and the Charleston Restaurant in Hudson, a 4 star restaurant).  His illustrations have appeared in Field & Stream, Fly Rod & Reel and other outdoor magazines and newspapers.  Here I was reading a book filled with great recipes, great artwork, and great outdoor sports stories all prepared by a local author.  How cool is that? 

 I have not yet tried the recipes and refrain from evaluating them but I can say that I enjoyed everything about the book.  I loved his suggestions for side dishes and drinks to accompany the main courses.  If you can collect the recipe ingredients, this book is for you.  I believe the book printings are sold out but you can obtain some used books from Amazon.com.

 He then authored a second book and I borrowed that one also from Moffatt.   It is a soft -cover book entitled Fish, Grilled and Smoked.  It has 150 recipes in it.  I wondered how to obtain it so I clicked onto John’s web-site at johnmanikowski.com.    I was in for another surprise.  It turns out that he not only has written the cookbooks, but makes custom knives –  art knives, hunting and fishing knives, chef’s knives.   Though totally functional, his knives are painstakingly shaped works of art and are one of a kind.

 Some of his work is on display today at the United Church of New Marlborough, 243 Norfolk Road, Southfield, MA this weekend from 10AM to 6PM.  There will be carved knives, sculptures, drawings, magazine illustrations, etc., with the theme based mainly upon nature, streams, rivers and trees.   There might still be time to go there today and check them out. *****

 Free fishing days, no licenses required, are coming up:  In MA they are June 1 and 2, in NH it is June 1, in VT and ME it is June 6 and in NY the days are June 29 and 30. *****

Recently, Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) Secretary Rick Sullivan honored 22 energy and environmental education programs at the 19th Annual Secretary’s Awards for Excellence in Energy and Environmental Education.    The awards credited programs in the categories of energy conservation, environmental protection and recycling.   Winners were awarded $100 to $400 prizes. Paid for by the Massachusetts Environmental Trust, the awards are intended to fund further environmental education initiatives at the schools.     Congratulations to Morris Elementary School in Lenox, Grade 4, Teacher Julie Nelson for receiving an award.

Secretary Sullivan also recognized four U.S. Department of Education (USED) Green Ribbon Schools from Massachusetts. The award honors schools that are exemplary in reducing environmental impact and costs; improving the health and wellness of students and staff; and providing effective environmental and sustainability education.   One of the awardees was the Berkshire School. *****

The Pittsfield Conservation Commission has announced it and Lyon Aviation will sponsor a Fishing Derby for youths 14 and under next Saturday at Wild Acres.  Volunteer support is being provided by the Onota Fishing Club to assist with dressing fish, providing fishing tips and techniques, baiting, etc.  The derby runs from 8:00AM to 3:00PM.  Trophies will be awarded to those who catch a tagged fish.  Bait will be provided, and a limited amount of fishing poles will be available for use on a first come, first serve basis to those who do not own one.

 Michael Lyon, President of Lyon Aviation, said that he and his family participated regularly in fishing derbies and decided to “give back” to this event so that other children may continue to enjoy this time-honored tradition”.

Wild Acres is located off of South Mountain Road in Pittsfield.  For more information, contact Rebecca Tefft at 499-9370*****

The following local waters were scheduled to be stocked with trout last week:  Hoosic River in Clarksburg, Cheshire and Adams, Westfield River in Becket, Chester, Chesterfield, Cummington, Huntington, Middlefield, Savoy and Windsor; Deerfield River in Buckland, Charlemont and Florida; Ashfield Pond, Upper Highland Lake, Plunkett Lake, Laurel Lake, Lake Buel, Windsor Lake, Otis Reservoir, Pontoosuc Lake, Goose Pond and Windsor Pond .*****

More local open spaces are being protected

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In a March 13 press release, the Patrick-Murray Administration announced the awarding of two grants under a new Landscape Partnership Program.  The grant in our area is called the Long Mountain Conservation Project.  That program will allow the Department of Fish and Game to permanently protect a 906 acre parcel from Lyme Northern Timber Fund as a Wildlife Management Area (WMA).  The property was highly threatened by development but it will now remain a productive forest.  In addition, an abutting private landowner is donating a conservation easement on a 597 acre parcel to the Berkshire Natural Resources Council (BNRC).  Collectively, approximately 1,500 acres will be protected, which has important significance for landscape conservation, wildlife habitat, public access and climate change protection.

Then in his April report to the Berkshire County League of Sportsmen, DFW Western District   Manager Andrew Madden reported that the Division recently completed projects in Berkshire, Hampshire, and Hampden Counties as follows:  Windsor – 190-acres connecting the Moran WMA and the Savoy WMA.  This property includes wetlands, forests, and shrubland with extensive road frontage.  Chesterfield – 369-acres along the East Branch of the Westfield River.  This property protects one of the larger remaining parcels along the river and connects two previously protected areas in the lower Pork Barrel area.  Access can be gained from Wilkin Rd.  He also reported a 26-acre acquisition in Chester, which contains wetlands and access abutting the Hiram Fox WMA.

Lastly, in a recent town meeting, Lenox residents voted to grant a conservation easement giving an additional layer of protection on some 948 acres of land on Lenox Mountain that comprises the Town watershed area surrounding its reservoirs.  The CR will be held jointly by the Lenox Conservation Committee and the BNRC.  The purpose of the CR is to preserve the scenic and natural resources of the land while allowing for any future expansion of the town waterworks.  That means the entire Yokun Ridge will now be protected from possible development.  Other lands on that mountain are owned by the BNRC, Mass Audubon and Lenox Kennedy Park.  With the exception of the BNRC owned lands, no hunting or fishing will be allowed on that ridge but that’s ok, it never has been allowed.    At least future generations are assured of having Yokun Ridge for its scenic and natural resources value. *****

The Stockbridge Sportsmen’s Club (SSC) will be holding its annual Spring Fishing Derby next Saturday from dawn until 3:00 PM at the Stockbridge Bowl boat ramp.  There will be $100 prizes for the heaviest trout or salmon, pickerel, bass and bullhead.  Free lures for all kids 12 and under.  Pre-registration fee is $10 and post registration fee is $15.  Tickets are available at the Minkler Insurance Agency in Stockbridge (413)298-3741 or from any club member.

The Onota Fishing Club will be holding it’s annual trout derby next Sunday from 6:00 AM to 12:00 PM on Onota Lake.  Sign up will be at the Controy Pavillion.  Cash prizes will be awarded for heaviest trout and salmon and trophies will be awarded for children’s prizes.  There will be food and raffles.  There will also be a $10 all-you-can eat fish fry after the derby.  The fish fry is free with paid entry.  $10 for adults, $5 for children. 

This year the Onota Fishing Club will also be holding a tag sale at its derby event.  Anyone interested in donating any old fishing/camping/hunting equipment (no guns or ammo) can contact Chris Porter at 413-496-0105.  All proceeds from this raffle and derby benefit Pittsfield Little League.  A separate table will be set up for those that would like to sell their own items, with a small donation made to the events. 

Also next Sunday the SSC will be holding a firearms safety course 8:30 AM in its main hall.  The 5 hour classroom course meets requirements for FID/LTC.  The fee is $75 and is due at the course.  To register, call 413-232-7700 or e-mail robmcdermott@verizon.net.  Provide your legal name, middle initial and date of birth.

 Also next Saturday, the Lee IDPA (International Defensive Pistol Assn) will be holding matches at, the LSA.  New shooter orientation is at 11:30 AM, sign-in and stage review at 11:45 and start time is noon. The cost is $15.  Cold Range rules apply, 50 rounds, 3 magazines, holster, eyes & ears protection, concealment vest.  For scheduling information, click onto http://www.berkshireidpa.us.

 The Lee Sportsmen’s Association is starting up a new youth shotgun team formed through the SCTP (scholastic clay target program) for youth development through the shooting sports. Currently it has 5 athletes and 4 coaches.  The LSA Buckshots are training in trap, skeet, and soon, sporting clays.  Their first competition is Trap on June 8 in Burlington, MA.   If you know an athlete that would like to join, check out their website at http://www leesportsmen.com.  *****

 The following waters were scheduled to be stocked with trout last week:  Hoosic River in Clarksburg, Cheshire and Adams, Green River in Alford, Egremont and Great Barrington; Green River in Williamstown,  Deerfield River in Buckland, Charlemont and Florida; Williams River in West Stockbridge and Great Barrington, Housatonic River in Pittsfield (S/W), Lee and Stockbridge; Hop Brook in Lee and Tyringham, Hudson Brook in Clarksburg and North Adams, Buck and Clam Rivers in Sandisfield, Potash Brook in Blandford, Town Brook in Lanesborough, Westfield River in Russell, Greenwater Pond, Littleville Lake, Norwich Lake, Laurel Lake, York Lake, Windsor Lake, Windsor Pond, Onota Lake, Richmond Pond and Stockbridge Bowl.  The Deerfield, Littleville Lake and Laurel Lake stockings also included tiger trout.

Stockings of salmon fry into the Connecticut River Watershed are coming to an end

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If you have never experienced stocking Atlantic salmon fry into our local rivers and streams, you have one last chance.  The final salmon fry stockings will take place in our area as follows: West Branch Westfield River, in Becket on April 10; East Branch Westfield River, in Chesterfield on April 11; East Branch Westfield River, in Windsor on April 12; East Branch Westfield River in Cummington on April 26 and West Branch Westfield River in Chester on April 29.  No date has been set for the final school stockings.

If you wish to participate in the fry stocking click onto the MassWild website at http://www.mass.gov/dfwele/dfw/fisheries/anadromous/salmon_fry_stocking.htm.  There you will be able to find out times, contacts, meeting places, etc.

At a meeting of the Connecticut River Atlantic Salmon Commission last July, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) announced that it will no longer culture salmon for restoration efforts in the Connecticut River Basin. The agency has supported salmon restoration for 45 years, but current low return rates and the science supporting salmon restoration have caused the USFWS to focus its efforts on other anadromous fish in the basin. The salmon program has resulted in many significant ecological benefits, for the Connecticut River watershed and other anadromous fish species.

The USFWS will continue to work with state agencies represented on the Commission and other conservation interests to restore and sustain other fisheries in the river basin such as American shad, American eel, river herring, and shortnose sturgeon.

As a result of the Service’s decision, White River National Fish Hatchery, which has been closed since August 2011 due to flooding damage from Tropical Storm Irene, and Dwight D. Eisenhower National Fish Hatchery, both in Vermont, will no longer rear salmon. The Service is also evaluating the future role of the Richard Cronin National Salmon Station in Massachusetts. The agency will continue to support education and outreach programs that build awareness about Atlantic salmon.

The effort to restore the salmon fishery was spearheaded by the late Congressman Silvio O. Conte, who was referred to as the father of the return of the Atlantic Salmon to the Connecticut River.  For about 25 years, my wife Jan and I and several members of the Taconic Chapter of Trout Unlimited have participated in these stockings.  We are saddened to see the program end, but understand the reason for being discontinued.   Several local schools had salmon egg rearing programs and they will end after this spring’s salmon stocking, too.

MassWildlife will still be monitoring the Connecticut River salmon returns for the next 5 years. That’s how long it takes for them to grow up in our rivers, migrate out to the sea and then return up our rivers to their spawning grounds. 

Incidentally, did you know that Mass DFW stocks about 10,000 fingerling landlocked salmon in the Quabbin Reservoir every spring?   These salmon are raised in the Roger Reed Hatchery in Palmer, MA. *****

The recent drowning in the Glendale stretch of the Housatonic River is a sad reminder that Massachusetts boating regulations require that all persons aboard canoes and kayaks between September 15 and May 15 wear a Coast Guard-approved Personal Flotation Device (PFD) at all times.  In addition, children under 12 are required to wear PFDs in boats of all types throughout the year. *****

Over the winter you may recall that I listed some ice fishing derbies that benefited football programs, scholarship funds, etc.  Well recently I received the following: First, the Stockbridge Sportsman’s Club sponsored an “Aim for a Cure” Archery Benefit Shoot for Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation on March 16 and 17.  Archers came from all over for the weekend long event.  Saturday’s shooting was followed by dinner, live band, dancing, and a silent auction.  On Sunday morning there was a pancake breakfast, 3 more archery lines, and ended with a Chinese raffle.  This event raised over $6,000!    The club wishes to thank the many people and businesses who donated raffle prizes and their time to make this event successful.

Secondly, do you know Bill Drumm of Hinsdale?   He worked in local Archery/Gun shops and more than 20 years ago harvested a buck with his bow that qualified for Pope & Young recognition and is believed to be one of the first officially measured bucks in the Berkshires.  Well, he suffered a stroke this past November which led to complications including blindness in one eye and dialysis every other day at home.  He has been unemployed as a result of the stroke and has been denied disability.

His close friend and sports shop owner, Tom Philips, reports that a fund raiser will be held for Bill next Sunday from noon to 8 pm at the ITAM Lodge in Pittsfield.  There will be 6 bands, a 4-wheeler raffle, 50/50 raffle, Chinese raffle, great food and more. All proceeds raised will go directly to Bill to help defray his mounting medical expenses.  For more info contact Michelle Rachielle 413-281-2499, Lisa Duda 413-441-6077 or Tom Phillips 413-655-2505.

It is really nice that our local sportsmen, businesses and concerned citizens come together to help out at such times. *****

The following area waters were scheduled to be stocked with trout last week:  Hoosic River in Cheshire and Adams, Green River in Alford, Egremont and Great Barrington; Westfield River in Becket, Chester, Chesterfield, Cummington, Huntington, Middlefield, Savoy, Windsor and Worthington; Deerfield River in Buckland, Charlemont, and Florida; Williams River in West Stockbridge, and Great Barrington; Konkapot River in New Marlboro, Monterey and Sheffield; Farmington River in Otis and Sandisfield; Mansfield Lake in Great Barrington, Plunkett Reservoir in Hinsdale, Lake Garfield in Monterey, Windsor Lake in North Adams, and Onota Lake in Pittsfield.  Tight Lines!

 

 

 

 

George Darey, meet Eclair

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When F&G Board Chairman George “Gige” Darey (of Lenox) entered the Lenox Sportsmen’s Club last Saturday afternoon, he thought it was going to be a fund raiser for the National Archery in the School (NAIS) program as well as a plug for the Massachusetts Heritage Foundation, which helped to fund it.  There he saw 75 friends from the Berkshires and beyond including Lenox town officials, friends, local sportsmen and women,  Steve Williams former  head of USFWS and now  a national director of Wildlife Management Institute,  Walter Bickford and Dan Peters both past commissioners of F&G, Mary Griffin current Commissioner, Representative George Peterson, Deputy Whip of Mass House of Representatives, Bob Durand, former Mass Secretary of Environmental Affairs, Wayne MacCallum, Director of Mass Fish & Wildlife,  fellow F&G Board members and others.

 Berkshire County League of Sportsmen President Mark Jester began the program by explaining NAIS.  First developed in 2002,  it is a program which teaches kids the fundamentals of archery from grades 4 thru 12.   It is a two week program which is part of the school physical education programs.   Currently there are five NAIC programs in schools here in Berkshire County and it is hoped to expand to all local schools.

 He mentioned that NAIS has reached over 2,000,000 kids in over 11,000 schools in 47 states.  By 2017 over 9 ½ million kids will have participated in this program.  Statistics show that a large percentage will continue in outdoor activity.   In 31 states there are more than 100 schools participating in this program and with no accidents.

He then asked 7 young boys and girls to shoot at targets in the indoor range.  The attendees were amazed as these kids fired their volleys, all hitting the bulls eyes.   They took a couple more shots and the room was full with applause and words such as “Amazing! Wow! Unbelievable!

 DFW Director Wayne MacCallum spoke about how the Mass Heritage Foundation was established a number of years ago.  He, Darey and F&G Board member Mike Roche, of Orange, MA learned about the program in Kansas and brought it back to Massachusetts.  It is a non-profit (501c3).  The funds are used for such projects as wild brook trout restoration, and other worthy projects.

 Then the focus of the meeting shifted when Scott MacWilliams of Lee took the floor.  A month ago he was visiting Gige and his partner Ginny Akabane when he learned that their young bird dog passed away unexpectedly.  Gige told Scotty confidentially that he not only lost a great companion but also a way of life, for he had been hunting dogs since he was a young teenager.   This really affected Scotty and he called Andrew Madden, DFW Western District Manager about getting a dog for Gige.  Madden put him in touch with MacCallum, who put him in touch Mike Roche.   They all liked the idea.

Roche then took the floor and said that he goes back a long ways with Gige and relayed a story of how, when he was 6 years old, his father and Gige took him hunting with them after school and how Darey carried him out of the woods sound asleep.   Upon receiving MacWilliams’s call, he searched across the nation for an “old man’s” dog.  “I was selfish”, said Roche,” because my world depends upon Gige going bird hunting, and now we are going to do something about that”.   When word got out about the plan and the need to raise $3,000 to buy and ship the dog, people rushed to make contributions.  Roche found the 3 year old Brittany Spaniel, named Éclair, in South Dakota and, “ like Gige”, he said,” her mother came from Brittany, France”. 

 The dog was then brought in the room and presented to Gige.  “George”, said Roche, “Meet Éclair”.

 Following a huge round of applause, Gige looked at the floor and was silent for several seconds.  He was obviously overwhelmed and had been taken completely off guard.  “I really don’t know what to say.  I had no idea this would be happening.” said Darey.   He recounted how he grew up and spent his whole life hunting and fishing in this area and how the Lenox Sportsmen’s Club ended up being where it currently is. (Incidentally, it is across the railroad tracks from the 818 acre George L.Darey Housatonic Valley Wildlife Management Area).

Sequestration may definitely affect sportsmen, conservationists

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In his editorial in the most recent Massachusetts Wildlife magazine, DFW Director Wayne MacCallum commented on the Federal Aid in Fish and Wildlife Restoration Act, commonly referred as the Pittman-Robertson (PR) Act.  He reminded us how it was passed in 1950 for sport fish restoration and provided the states with the financial foundation to restore our fish and wildlife resources.  It was financed by establishing a dedicated funding stream supported by a 11% excise tax on bows, arrows, ammunition, firearms, fishing tackle and related equipment.  By law, the monies could only be used for fish and wildlife restoration by the state fish and wildlife agencies. It was strongly supported by hunters and anglers that buy equipment as well as the industries that manufacture such products.

Some state legislatures (including ours) tried to seize the funds to pay for state services, but have failed because any diversions would automatically result in the loss of the federally collected taxes.  But now, according to MacCallum, the use of these funds is being threatened at the Federal level.  It is called sequestration.  At first, sequestration didn’t immediately appear to threaten PR funding.  The Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Act of 1985 had specifically exempted payments to trust funds from excise taxes from sequestration. 

However, the Office of Management and Budget, on the advice of its lawyers and in consultation with the US Fish and Wildlife Service, interpreted the sequestration exemption for trust funds paid by excise taxes to mean that only the payments of the excise taxes into the wildlife and sport restoration trust funds are exempted from sequestration, but that the appropriations of funds out of these trust funds to implement the purposes for which the trust funds were created are not exempt. 

 According to MacCallum, about 50% of the Massachusetts DFW annual revenue is derived from these funds and their loss would seriously impact the stability of its long term wildlife conservation programs.  Sequestrating the spending of these trust funds to the states is a breach of faith and clearly violates the intent of the user-pay excise tax collection.  To quote MacCallum, “These funds have provided the fuel for the incredible engine that has driven the immensely successful fish and wildlife restoration and management efforts in this country, and it is a violation of public trust to threaten to cut off that fuel supply after sportsmen across the country have already filled the tank”.

 MacCallum does not offer advice as to what we can do about this.  Perhaps it is time to write to our new legislators, US Senators Cowen and Warren and US Representative Neal and ask them to oppose the sequestration of these funds.  This will be a good time to see what kind of legislators we have and whether they will honor the trust which we placed in them.  *****

 It was 25 years ago that the late Al Goerlach and a group of friends decided to put on a game supper to help support the football programs in Dalton and the Hilltowns.  Over the years, all proceeds have gone toward equipment and uniforms.  This Thursday evening at 6:00 pm, the game supper will take place again at the Dalton American Legion in Rte 9 in Dalton.  Tickets cost $15 and are available at the Dalton General Store or by contacting Mike Sondrini at (413)684-3524 or Matt Morrison at 684-5052.*****

The MassWildlife Basic Hunter Education Course is mandatory for first-time hunters or hunting license buyers in Massachusetts.  All courses are free of charge. Students must attend all dates listed.   The Worthington Rod & Gun Club on Dingell Road will be holding a course on April 16, 17, 18 and 19 from 5:30 to 9:00 pm.  As of this writing, it is not yet filled up.  To enroll, call (978) 772-0693. 

 Is hunting on the decline in Massachusetts?  Before answering, please click onto the MassWildlife hunter education web page, and you will see 33 basic courses being taught across the Commonwealth this spring.  Every single one is filled except the one that is being taught in Worthington.

 I am not sure of the maximum size of the classes but assuming that it is 25, then approximately 800 new hunters signed up to take the course and that is just for this spring.  They can’t keep up with the demand for the course and there are waiting lists.  And this is in a state with some of the most restrictive gun laws in the nation.   I don’t think the sport of hunting is declining at all.

 Keeping with MassWildlife hunter education courses, Mike Foley, Fran Tremblay and a few other instructors will be holding a Map and Compass course at the Lenox Sportsmen’s Club on New Lenox Road on Saturday, April 6.  It runs from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm.  Four hours of the course will be held indoors, and after lunch the field course will take place.

 I just learned that the course is already filled, but you might call Mass Wildlife @ 1-(978) 772-0693 to get on the waiting list in case someone cancels out.  *****