Category Archives: News

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.  *****

 

Berkshire National Fish Hatchery, making a difference

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So, what’s happening at the Berkshire National Fish Hatchery (BNFH) in Hartsville, Ma these days?   Well, for starters, the hatchery is raising a few fingerling brook trout to be released in local waters and for its fishing derbies….. some 50,000 of them!   

It recently received 10,000 lake trout eggs of the Lake Champlain strain.  They will grow here in the Hatchery for a couple of years and then be transferred to the White River Hatchery in Vermont.  The date of transfer depends on when they can re-open that hatchery which, as you may recall, was devastated by Hurricane Irene.  There, they will be used as broodstock to produce eggs for all Vermont waters and will be used as a back-up egg source for the Great Lakes.

 In 2010, the Genoa National Fish Hatchery in Wisconsin shipped a batch of Klondike strain lake trout.  Now, approximately 20 inches in length, they will be kept for here for broodstock.  Later this year the BNFH is planning to receive another lot. It is necessary to vary the ages of  the lakers in order to have better genetic diversity and healthier fish. They will be maintained here providing eggs for 6 years and then be switched out for newer ones.

 Remember those lakers that were grown here and then sent to the Allegheny National Fish Hatchery in PA a couple of years ago?  Well, this year that hatchery produced approximately two million eggs from them.  Once hatched, the new fish will be kept there for about 1 1/2 years and then will be released into Lake Erie and Lake Ontario to restore populations.  The reason they spent a few years here in the BNFH was because lake trout require 6 years to produce eggs and the Allegheny hatchery was closed in 2007 due to disease issues and to do new construction.

So why are all of these lakers brought here in the Berkshires?  It’s because of the water.   It has been estimated that the hatchery aquifer goes a mile below the earth’s surface and the waters that come out of the ground have an average year round temperature of 46-47 degrees.  Brookies and lakers thrive in that cold water.

The USFWS has discontinued raising salmon for the Connecticut River Atlantic Salmon restoration program and consequently the last group of salmon will be stocked from the hatchery this spring (More to come on this subject in a later column).   Henry Bouchard, USFWS Project Leader for the BNFH and Manager of the Dwight D. Eisenhower National Fish Hatchery in Chittenden, VT, reported at the last Berkshire Hatchery Foundation meeting that the BNFH has been funded in the same amount as last year. This was possible partly because its excellent water, its involvement in the Great Lakes Initiative and because of the Berkshire Hatchery Foundation, a unique organization entirely supported by volunteers.

 The Foundation, made up of volunteers, is also busy these days.  Its Board is working on the 2013 trout stocking program which in 2012 provided fish for 25 public fishing events.  It is also excited about establishing a scholarship fund for aquaculture and environmental students in the Monument Mountain and/or Mount Everett High Schools. They are planning to present a scholarship to students graduating this June.  The size of the scholarship(s) will depend on how much the Foundation is able to raise. Donations to this fund can be sent to the Berkshire Hatchery, P.O. Box 84, Monterey, MA 01240, c/o George Emmons.

 So, as you can see, our little hatchery and the Foundation are making a difference,  in terms of propagating those lakers, providing trout for our young anglers and supporting students who may one day make a difference in the environmental or aquaculture field.   Certainly these are reasons for us to be proud of them. *****