Category Archives: News

Three benefits of hunting that may surprise you

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The following announcement by MassWildlife noted that you might be surprised to know that hunting is: good for our forests, good for our climate, and helping to alleviate food insecurity in the Commonwealth.  Its nice to see something positive written about hunting for a change.

Common throughout Massachusetts, white-tailed deer are an important part of the ecosystem and a valuable natural resource. Deer densities vary from an ideal range of about 12–18 deer per square mile in most of central and western Massachusetts to more than 30–50 deer per square mile in areas of eastern Massachusetts and on the islands where hunting access is mostly restricted. In places with too many deer, forests can become degraded when deer eat too many tree saplings and seedlings. When forests are damaged by over-browsing, they can no longer provide vital habitat for other types of wildlife.

Forests naturally store a significant amount of carbon dioxide, which is crucial for slowing climate change. When deer prevent regeneration of certain tree species and the composition of the forest is altered, forests become less effective at capturing and storing carbon. Excessive deer browsing can impact forests in other ways including increasing the risk of wildfires. Small dead or dying trees and shrubs can serve as “ladder fuels” that provide a pathway for fire to spread from the ground to the canopy of a forest.

High deer densities are also compounding impacts from climate change on coastal erosion along the shorelines of Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard. When large numbers of deer walk on worn-down trails along cliff edges, weak points are created causing cliff sides to break off. Bedding sites along the beach can damage the vegetation that stabilizes sand and prevents it from being washed or blown away.

Historically, deer populations in Massachusetts were controlled by three main predators: mountain lions, wolves, and humans. Now that mountain lions and wolves are absent from the Commonwealth, regulated hunting provides the main check to the deer population. MassWildlife uses regulated hunting to manage deer abundance across the state. In areas open to hunting, regulated seasons and carefully allocated deer hunting permits are effective ways to maintain deer abundance at levels the landscape can support.

Licensed hunters serve a vital role in conserving Massachusetts forests while providing healthy food to their communities. Each year, harvested venison provides more than 1.8 million family meals to hunters across the Commonwealth with a lean, healthy source of protein and a low carbon footprint. MassWildlife’s new Hunters Share the Harvest Program provides an opportunity for hunters to donate wild game meat to Massachusetts residents in need. After a successful pilot in 2022, in which generous hunters donated more than 1,500 meals of venison, the program is expanding in 2023. The Program now has 3 participating meat processors in Hanover, Fall River, and Groton. Hunters can choose to donate a portion of their harvest, or their entire deer.

Incidentally, anyone can help financially support the program to help cover the processing and packaging costs for donated meat. A donation of $50 will provide about 75 servings of meat for families in need.

Click onto the MassWildlife web site to find out how to donate the venison and/or how to donate funds.

Hunting is a safe and highly regulated activity; all hunters must be properly trained and licensed. Revenue from hunting licenses is used to conserve all wildlife species and their habitats right here in Massachusetts.

 

Upcoming Fisheries and Wildlife Board Meeting 

The October monthly business meeting of the Fisheries and Wildlife Board will take place on Tuesday, October 24, at 11:00 a.m., at the Stationery Factory, 63 Flansburg Avenue, Dalton. Its too late for anyone wishing to be placed on the agenda to speak because notification to the Board must be made in writing 2 weeks prior to the meeting.  But it is nice to see these board meetings being held in different parts of the state again.  It’s a good opportunity to meet some of the Board members, DFW Director and staff, DFG Commissioner and EPOs and find out what they do.

For more detailed information, contact Susan Sacco at susan.sacco@mass.gov.

Beware of Potentially deadly Halloween stuff

Retired schoolteacher Carolyn Villanova of Pittsfield asked me to inform our readers that the material used in Halloween decorations to represent spider webs can be quite dangerous to birds and small animals.  People put it on their lawns and brush to look scary, but unfortunately, the critters could get tangled in it and can die as a result.  If you insist on using this stuff, please be sure to check it frequently.

Also, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service warns us to beware that painted pumpkins can be toxic to wildlife.  Critters will likely eat or nibble on your carved jack-o’-lanterns. Squirrels, raccoons, deer, moose, foxes, mice and insects might feast on the delicious orange porch snack you leave near your front door.

 

Painted pumpkins can make for an easier way to create a funny or creepy jack-o’-lantern. However; a painted pumpkin can potentially be toxic to wildlife if they eat it. If you choose to paint your pumpkin, please keep it indoors and away from any critters who might feast on its painted flesh. You can also explore nontoxic paint options made with natural ingredients when possible.

In recent years, social media users have posted various “tricks” to keep a carved pumpkin from rotting so quickly. Keep in mind that letting nature take its course is always an option. Carved pumpkins are eventually going to decompose one way or another.

Whitetails Unlimited Banquet

 

On Saturday, October 28, Whitetails Unlimited will be hosting the Jack William O’Brien Memorial Chapter Banquet at the Stockbridge Sportsmen’s Club, Rte. 102, Stockbridge.  Raffles and Social hour at 5:30 and dinner at 7:00 pm.  Tickets cost $55.00 each.  For tickets or information contact Bill Bailey at (413) 244-2304, WTU Headquarters at (920)743-6777, or go online at whitetailsunlimited.com.

 

Taconic Chapter of Trout Unlimited Elections

 

On October 12, at its annual meeting at the Stationery Factory in Dalton, the officers and board members of the Taconic TU Chapter were elected.  They are as follows:   President: Justin Adkins of Williamstown, VP Rosanne Mistretta of East Chatham, NY, Treasurer Bruce Collingwood of Pittsfield, and Secretary Fran Marzotto of Pittsfield. Elected as Board Members at large were Lindsay McGinnis of Adams, Bill Travis of Pittsfield, and Marc Hoechstetter of Cummington.

 

Staying with Trout Unlimited, Betsy Clark and Diane Holhubner reported that their Introduction to Fly Fishing for Women event which was held on September 9, was a “huge success.”  Fourteen women joined them in the event which taught them the basics of fly fishing and a chance to get experience on the river.  They hope to offer it again in the spring.

Its nice to see more women getting involved with Trout Unlimited and learning the gentle sport of fly fishing.

Jack Silvernail Field Trial Results

 

The annual Jack Silvernail Fall Sanctioned SPO Field Trial for registered beagles was held on October 7 and 8 at the 90-acre Berkshire Beagle Club in Richmond. Some 37 males and 48 females were entered.

 

On Saturday, October 7, thirteen-inch and fifteen-inch males ran and the winners were:

13” Males – Dog- OT’s SW Ole Dan, owned by John R. Harrington of East Bridge, NY.

15” Males – Dog – JNK’s Donald Trump, owned by Kevin Stanzel of Gloversville, NY.

 

On Sunday, October 8, thirteen-inch and fifteen-inch females ran and the winners were:

13” Females – Dog – Carreau’s Seaside Sawyer, owned by Gerard A. Carreau III of E. Freetown, MA.

15” Females – Dog – Jimmy’s Little Dolly 2, owned by Jimmy Papudopollos, Andrew Jacoby and Mark Jacoby of Corning, NY.

Jimmy’s Little Dolly2. l to r Judge Erick Harrington, owners Jimmy Papudopolos, Andrew Jacoby and judge Scott John Howard Harrington

 

Congratulations to all the winners.

 

Tri Club Skeet Tournament

 

Recently, the Tri Club Skeet Tournament took place.  The three sportsmen’s clubs which participate in the annual tournament are Sheffield, Stockbridge and Lee.  In the tournament, they shot two rounds at each club and took the ten highest scores from each club. The results were as follows (out of a possible score of 1,500):  Sheffield – 1,369, Stockbridge – 1,304 and Lee with 1,201.

 

Jim Warner was the high shooter for Sheffield with Ryan Shimmon and Bill Stanard tied for runner up.

 

Congratulations to the Sheffield club shooters, and to the others, keep “plugging” away.

 

Local MassWildlife firefighter returned from Montana

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Massachusetts Division of Fisheries & Wildlife (MassWildlife) Western District Stewardship Biologist Jacob Morris-Siegel of Dalton is a member of the MassWildlife Prescribed Firefighter Team. The 43-year older lives in Dalton and has worked in the Dalton office for 16 years.

Jacob Morris-Siegel. Picture provided by Jacob

On August 17 he volunteered to join 89 other members of the Massachusetts Interagency Wildfire Crew going out to Montana to fight their wildfires.  There were 2 people from MassWildlife and 17 from DCR, (mostly DCR forest fire control folks).  They were sent to western Montana to the Bowles Creek area which is 27 miles southwest of Philipsburg or about an hour south of Missoula, MT. It was a 14-day deployment with 2 travel days.

 

He said they stayed in tents at the fire camp which was set up outside of Philipsburg. When they got there the fire activity was very high but then they got rain and it reduced the fire intensity drastically.  For the most part he was not near an active flame at all because of the rain.

 

On the first day they were close to an active line where a burnout operation had recently been completed. Then they did contingency line construction for a couple of days, cutting brush.  After that, they were moved over to a spike camp on the other side of the fire where they were prepping for a burn out.  (A spike camp is a temporary or secondary campsite for the firefighting crew closer to the fire).  They hauled hoses up a mountain (His pack weighed over 60 lbs.) and then did some patrolling along the black doing mop-up of smoldering stuff along the line. (A black is the area already burned.) They patrolled the line putting out smoke and burning materials along it.

 

The rest of the week they ended up doing fire line construction (cutting brush before the fire hits it) and clean-up along roads. They were trying to reduce fuel like brush along the fire lines before the fire got there. They did line construction over half of the trip.

 

For a burnout they have a section of unburned fuel against the line, they burn that essentially trying to get the fire to burn away from the unburned stuff.  That’s generally how they fight most fires.

 

They worked in mountains and valleys, but they were never in a dangerous situation where they could be hurt. For a few days they were on the west side of the fire where it was very hilly with deep terrains, the other side was more gradual. They worked mainly with hand tools and they had to have a certain number of certified chainsaw people in the crew.

 

There was no fire backtrack and, thankfully, he didn’t see anyone suffer any injuries.  After the first couple of days the fire intensity went down with some smoke but nothing terrible.  He wasn’t worried about getting injured because he generally had an idea of what to do. Pretty much he just stuck with his crew.

 

Crew Members came from Cape Cod to the Berkshires.  He was the only person from the Berkshires.

Days were up to 16 hours long.  Sometimes it took an hour to get where they were assigned.  They went to their assigned areas, came back, ate dinner and went to bed.  They had a mess (meals) at the main camp and at the spike camp on the other side of the fire. The main camp had internet, showers, meals provided, medical tent, – everything you might need.

 

As far as animal survival, he didn’t know, for it all depended on how fast the fire was moving.  If its moving really fast, they can’t outrun it.  Regarding future erosion, he said that there will be some, but they are used to it out there.

 

“It wasn’t that exciting, but it was interesting and I learned a bunch.  You get out with a whole group of people for 2 weeks” he said.

 

Fall trout stocking ended last week

 

Unless there was an unexpected change, the following local waters were stocked with trout last week:  Deerfield River in Buckland, Charlemont and Florida; East Branch of the Westfield River in Cummington, Chesterfield and Huntington; Goose Pond, Laurel Lake, Lake Buel, Otis Reservoir, Onota Lake, Stockbridge Bowl and Windsor Pond in Windsor.

 

Many thanks to Deb Lipa, DFW Clerk out of the Dalton Office for taking the time and effort

to prepare the listings of trout stockings for us.

 

Pike stocking

Incidentally, MassWildlife also recently stocked over 2,000 northern pike into Lake Buel and Quaboag Pond. These yearlings averaged 12″ long and will take 2–3 years to reach the 28″ minimum harvest size.

MassWildlife does not have a warm water hatchery in which to rear pike (esocids) but usually it obtains a small number of 3–12″ fish each year from the New Jersey Division of Fisheries and Wildlife through a cooperative exchange program.

Learn To Hunt Programs

 

MassWildlife offers hunting classes and online resources that teach safety and skills to beginning and intermediate hunters.

 

Upcoming programs include:

Virtual Deer Hunting Q&A – Looking for advice about deer hunting? Get answers from a panel of experienced hunters at one of MassWildlife’s virtual mentoring sessions. These events are designed for new hunters. Feel free to join for a few minutes or for the entire session. Register to receive a link to the event. https://www.mass.gov/learn-to-hunt

 

  • Friday, Oct. 20, 12–1 p.m.
  • Thursday, Nov. 2, 6–7:30 p.m.
  • Tuesday, Dec. 5, 6–7:30 p.m.

 

A Small Game Hunting – On-line Class will be presented in January.

A presentation on snakes

 

Tom Tyning, an expert on amphibians and reptiles and an authority on New England’s natural history, will make a presentation entitled “Snakes Are More Interesting Than You Can Imagine.”  It will take place at the Berkshire Green Drinks event on Monday, October 16, in person and online via Zoom.

 

The in-person gathering begins at 5:00 PM at The Barn at Williams Inn, 103 Spring St, Williamstown. The presentation and Zoom meeting start at 6:00 PM. If the weather permits, the in-person gathering will take place outdoors.

 

The life histories, annual behaviors, and evolutionary story of snakes are incredible, fascinating, and remarkable. Tom will focus on our Berkshire/New England snake species, highlighting their diversity, survival complexity, conservation status, and overall natural history. Coupled with that, the remarkable reality of just how little is known about even common species will be covered.

 

Pre-registration is required to attend this event. Learn more and RSVP at: https://tinyurl.com/Oct2023-Berks-Green-Drinks

 

Tom knows his stuff.  He has been a Professor of Environmental Science at Berkshire Community College since 1999. Previously, he was a Field Biologist and Master Naturalist for the Massachusetts Audubon Society for 24 years. Tom also served for 15 years as an Adjunct Professor in the Environmental Studies Program at Antioch New England Graduate School, as well as Springfield College and MCLA. For 25 years, he wrote a weekly Nature column for the Springfield (MA) Union-News. As an authority on New England’s natural history, Tom’s main research interests are amphibians and reptiles. His book, A Guide To Amphibians and Reptiles, is published by Little, Brown and Co. As a member of several professional natural history societies, he served for fifteen years as Managing Editor of the scientific journal Herpetological Review.

 

Tom also received the Berkshire County League of Sportsmen 2017 Outstanding Achievement Award.

 

Brake for Wildlife

MassWildlife reminds motorists to be mindful of increased deer and moose activity, especially during early morning and evening hours. Moose, found in central and western parts of Massachusetts, breed in September and October. White-tailed deer breed from late October to early December.

Moose on the road are especially hazardous. The dark color and height of moose make them difficult to see in low light; moose eyes rarely shine like deer eyes because their eyes are above headlight level. In addition, long legs and heavy top bodies make moose very dangerous to motorists when struck. Observe road signs for moose and deer crossings and slow down. Do not swerve to avoid hitting a deer because it may lead to more risk and damage than hitting the deer. Moose are less likely to move from the road than deer, so stay alert and brake when you see a moose in or near the road.

Deer and moose/vehicle collisions should be reported to the Environmental Police at 1-800-632-8075.

Various hunting seasons are opening soon

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The Woodcock hunting season opens on October 2 and runs to November 22. The bag limit is 3 per day and the possession limit is 9. Because there tends to be some confusion with the woodcock regulations, here is the following:

  • All migratory game bird hunters must register with the Harvest Information Program (HIP) each calendar year. Licensed woodcock and waterfowl hunters must complete a HIP survey online at mass.gov/massfishhunt or anywhere hunting licenses are sold.
  • A woodcock is a migratory game bird so the following regulations apply: Migratory game birds may be hunted with shotguns no larger than 10 gauge, fired from the shoulder. Shotguns capable of holding more than 3 shells may not be used unless plugged with a one-piece filler which limits the gun’s total capacity to 3 shells and which cannot be removed without disassembling the gun.
  • The head and one fully-feathered wing must remain attached to each migratory game bird while it is transported to the hunter’s home or preservation facility.
  • Non-toxic shot is not required for hunting woodcock.
  • Waterfowl stamps are not required for hunting woodcock.

 

Please note:  The column next week will be about my flyfishing trip to the Catskills in early September.  I was hoping for a rematch with that “submarine like” big trout that I tangled with and lost to twice last spring.  (Sorry, no side bets). Therefore, I will touch upon the upcoming small game, upland game and waterfowl hunting in this column a little earlier than usual.

 

Pheasant hunting season opens on October 14 and runs to December 30.  Ruffed Grouse (partridge) season opens on October 14 and runs to November 25.

 

The fall wild turkey hunting season in Zones 1 – 9 opens on October 16 and runs to November 25.

 

Cottontail and snowshoe hare seasons open on October 14 and runs to February 29, 2024.

 

Coyote hunting opens on October 14 and runs to March 8, 2024.

 

Even though the Fish & Wildlife Board recently approved the early extension of archery deer hunting season, such a change will not go into effect until 2024.Therefore, for this year, the season still opens on October 16 in Zones 1 – 9 and ends on November 25.

 

Incidentally, if you use a tree stand, be extra careful.  It seems like every year we hear about a hunter who has fallen to his death or sustained serious injuries caused by falling out of a tree stand.

 

The specific regulations for all of the above hunting seasons are listed in the MA Hunting & Fishing Regulations, commonly referred to as the Excerpts.

Monday, October 9 begins the duck hunting season in the Berkshire Zone and it runs until November 25.  It reopens again on December 11 (after shotgun deer hunting season) and runs until December 30.  The new bag limit for mallards has been increased from 2 to 4 (only 2 can be females).

 

The regular goose hunting season in the Berkshire Zone (except Snow & Blue) runs from October 10 to November 25.  It reopens on December 11 and runs until December 14.  This year the bag limit has been increased from 1 to 3.  The late Canada goose hunting season opens on January 1, 2024 and runs until February 15 with a daily bag limit of 5.

 

It is important that you check the waterfowl regulations for there are a myriad of regulations.

 

All of the above hunting seasons are closed during shotgun deer season except for coyotes   No hunting of any bird or animal is allowed in Massachusetts on Sundays.

 

At the September meeting of the Berkshire County League of Sportsmen, Environmental Police Officer Kolis reminded hunters to abide by the allowed hunting hours. (The 2023 Sunrise-Sunset Table is displayed on page 51 of the MA Hunting & Fishing Regulations.) For example, if you enter the woods earlier than one half hour before sunrise during deer hunting season with a loaded shotgun or an arrow in your cocked bow, you are considered hunting and in violation of the law.  The same with the sunset rule if you are walking out of the woods after one-half hour after sunset with loaded hunting implements.

 

It is the hunters’ responsibility to exercise safe hunting procedures and set-back, tree stand, wanton waste, and other hunting regulations. It is the non-hunter’s responsibility to be cognizant of existing hunter harassment laws.

 

The woods are busy at this time of year so be careful. Bring along a fully charged cell phone as well as a tick protection spray.  The wearing of florescent vests and/or hat is also advisable for hikers and other non-hunters.  Keep your dogs restrained and put florescent colors on them, too.

 

Here’s wishing you hunters out there a safe, successful and enjoyable hunting season.

 

Fall trout stocking has begun in the Berkshires

The following waters were scheduled to be stocked with trout last week.  As usual, it was subject to change:

Deerfield River in Florida, Buckland and Charlemont; East Branch of the Westfield in Chesterfield and Chester, Littleville Reservoir in Huntington, Pontoosuc Lake, Laurel Lake, Goose Pond, Lake Buel, Otis Reservoir, Onota Lake, Richmond Pond, Stockbridge Bowl and Windsor Pond in Windsor.

The up-to-date report can be found at www.mass.gov/trout.

 

Federal funds blocked for schools with archery and hunting programs

The Biden administration’s Department of Education is withholding federal funding from hunting and archery programs in schools, citing a bipartisan law passed last year that tightened restrictions around gun purchases in the wake of a deadly school shooting in Texas.

The prohibition went into effect on June 25, 2022, and applies to all existing and future awards under all Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA). The Department is administering the bipartisan law as written by Congress.  It prohibits federal funds from going to programs that “provide to any person a dangerous weapon or training in the use of a dangerous weapon.”

Organizations like the National Archery in the Schools Program, which boasts 1.3 million students from nearly 9,000 schools, have expressed worries about the negative impact on children’s engagement and access to shooting sports, which can foster valuable skills and relationships. Tommy Floyd, President of the National Archery in the Schools Program, lamented the new restrictions. “It’s a negative for children.  As a former educator of 30-plus years, I was always trying to find a way to engage students. In many communities, it’s a shooting sport, and the skills from shooting sports, that help young people grow to be responsible adults. They also benefit from relationships with role models.”

Several schools here in the Berkshires that have successfully run Archery-in-the-School programs will be affected. Too bad, for it has generally been well received by the school administrators, parents and students.

Dynamic Forest Walk

 

The National Wild Turkey (NWTF) is a national conservation organization based around the wild turkey and preserving the hunting heritage.  In the New England region and Massachusetts specifically, it is focused on providing good nesting and brood rearing habitat for turkeys.  As part of its efforts, it is working with several other conservation partners to promote healthy and resilient forests in MA and the application of forest management to increase the diversity and structure of forests for wildlife, forest products and climate benefits.

 

Healthy forests are important for clean water, wildlife habitat, wood products, and providing climate benefits.

 

On October 8, the Tunxis Club in Tolland MA will be conducting a Dynamic Forests Walk from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm that will be led by foresters and biologists from NWTF, Dept. of Conservation & Recreation, Ruffed Grouse Society and others.  The goal is to show private landowners, Conservation Committee members, and the general public different examples of forest management projects and to explain the benefits of these practices for wildlife, clean water, and even carbon storage and sequestration.

 

You will have the chance to see several different forest treatments that were completed at various points in time over the last 20 years.  They will provide excellent opportunities to see how these woodlands have responded and how these projects complement the larger forest and the needs of wildlife.  It’s a great learning opportunity if you are curious about how forests are managed and how you can approach forest planning on your own woodlot or community forest.

The workshop is free but you are asked to RSVP by contacting Matt DiBona at  mdibona@nwtf.net or call/text 302-943-3239.

Fall trout stocking beginning any time now

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Depending on water conditions, MassWildlife plans to stock over 61,000 trout this fall. Approximately 25,000 rainbow trout over 14 inches, 31,600 rainbow trout over 12 inches, and 5,000 brown trout over 9 inches will be stocked. These fish, coupled with the nearly 470,000 trout that were stocked in the spring, should provide for some great fall fishing, according to MassWildlife. The fall stocking season will wrap up around mid-October.  Once stocking begins, visit mass.gov/Trout for a stocking report that is updated daily.

Dr. Eve Schlüter named MassWildlife Deputy Director

At its August meeting, the Fisheries and Wildlife Board unanimously voted to promote Schlüter to the position.

 

Dr. Everose Schlüter (Eve) has been promoted to Deputy Director of the Division of Fisheries and Wildlife (MassWildlife). Schlüter has been with the agency for 16 years and fills the vacancy left when Dr. Jon Regosin retired in March of 2023. This is the first time a woman has been appointed to the role of Deputy Director.

“I’m extremely excited to announce this well-earned promotion,” MassWildlife Director Mark Tisa said after the Fisheries and Wildlife Board approved the promotion. “During her 16 years with MassWildlife, Eve has proven to be an unwavering voice for conservation. Eve’s deep knowledge of science and leadership abilities will be valuable assets to the agency and to all of our constituents.”

Schlüter started working at MassWildlife in 2007 as a reviewer and then advanced to Chief of Regulatory Review in the agency’s Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program (NHESP). After a two-year stint as Assistant Director for the Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act Office in the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs, she returned to MassWildlife. Since 2019, Dr. Schlüter has been serving as Assistant Director of NHESP. While in this role, she oversaw all aspects of the program including research, habitat management, rare species restoration, data management, and regulatory reviews of proposed projects under the Massachusetts Endangered Species Act. Highlights from her time as Assistant Director include development of the expanded and upgraded BioMap online planning and conservation tool and representing MassWildlife at state and regional committees and working groups on topic ranging from the impacts of mosquito control and offshore wind projects to wildlife diversity and landscape-level conservation.

“I am grateful, humbled, and excited for this opportunity,” said Schlüter. “I look forward to working with Director Tisa and agency staff to continue advancing the conservation and resiliency of all Massachusetts wildlife and habitats, and to ensure that all Massachusetts residents have access to nature and outdoor recreational opportunities.”

Eve grew up in New Jersey. She received a Ph.D. in Biology and a Certificate in Community Environmental Studies from Tufts University in 2003. She lives with her family in Maynard.

Alice Christman is at it again

As her dad Josh Christman of Pittsfield relates to us, 9-year- old Alice Christman has been grinding in search of her pike this year. “On September 4, we got some live bait, filled up the cooler and took the boat out. Using live bait on a slip bobber, she cast out her line.”

“I was on the phone with a friend who had just called when her bobber went under and the (reel) drag screamed. I told her to set the hook like I taught her. She did it perfectly and fought the fish.  Even my buddy who was on the phone that I set down was cheering her on.”

“The pike erupted on the surface and she screamed. I hung off the boat with the net and told her if it runs let it run. (I) couldn’t be more proud of her. I scooped the fish in the net and pulled it up into the boat. I swear you could hear her cheer across the lake. She landed a 42 and a half inch pike weighing 13 pounds, just short of 14lbs.”

It was caught in Berkshire waters. Sorry, I do not disclose the locations of where such big fish are caught; otherwise, no one would tell me about them or show their pictures.

Alice is used to catching large fish.  In recent years she has won numerous bronze and gold pins which have been awarded by MassWildlife through its Freshwater Sportfishing Awards Program. In 2019, she was named Angler of the Year in the Youth Catch & Keep Category.

This fish will also be entered in the Youth Catch & Keep Category. But after this year, Alice is going to catch and release her fish.

According to Josh, the pike did not go to waste as a friend likes pike and filleted it up.

 

Habitat management grant opened September 1

 

Private and municipal landowners of conserved lands can apply for grant funding to support active habitat management projects that benefit wildlife and enhance outdoor recreation opportunities. MassWildlife’s Habitat Management Grant Program (MHMGP) provides financial assistance for projects that:

  1. improve habitat for game species (species that are hunted, fished, and trapped),
  2. manage for State Wildlife Action Plan species (Species of Greatest Conservation Need), with an emphasis on State Endangered, Threatened, and Special Concern species, and
  3. enhance habitat in ecological communities disproportionally susceptible to climate change.

Although MassWildlife and other conservation organizations have made unprecedented investments in land acquisition in Massachusetts, acquisition alone is not enough to guarantee the persistence of biological diversity. Investment in habitat restoration and management is urgently needed on public and private lands across the state. To address this need, MassWildlife and the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs have substantially increased their investment in habitat management on state wildlife lands and are committed to working with partners to promote these efforts on conserved lands across the state. Over the past 8 years, the MHMGP has awarded over $2.8M in funding to 40 different organizations and individuals for 105 habitat improvement projects.

Grant applications will be accepted starting September 1 and are due by October 31, 2023.  Visit the MHMGP webpage time to learn more about the application process and to see examples of funded projects. For general questions about the grant program, contact James Burnham, Program Coordinator.

Experts from across the state to give presentations focused on local biodiversity

Naturalists and scientists from across the state are coming together for the 14th Annual Berkshire Biodiversity Day, or BioBlitz, which is scheduled for September 23–24 at April Hill Education and Conservation Center, the headquarters for Greenagers, on 62 N Undermountain Rd, South Egremont, MA. This year’s program will feature presentations in addition to guided walks and demonstrations led by experts—all free and open to the public. The four slideshow presentations, which range in topics from spiders to fungi, will each last for approximately half an hour and be followed by a Q&A.

Charley Eiseman presents: “Backyard Leafminers” on Saturday, Sept. 23 at 7 PM

Charley Eiseman will speak about leafminers: insect larvae that spend at least part of their lives feeding between the thin, outer (epidermal) layers of leaves. In North America, they include over 2000 species of moths, flies, beetles, and sawflies, belonging to over 50 different families.

John Wheeler presents: “Local Mushrooms and Their Roles in the Ecosystem” on Saturday, Sept. 23 at 3:30 PM

He’ll go over the symbiotic relationship between plant roots and fungi (mycorrhizal fungi) and mushrooms that get their nutrients by digesting dead or decaying organic matter such as leaves, pine needles, and wood (saprobic fungi).

 

Joseph Warfel presents: “What is a Spider and What is Not” on Saturday, Sept. 23 at 1:30 PM

Joseph Warfel will give an overview of spiders and their relatives, including brief life histories of arachnids and their place in nature and the global ecosystem.

Aliza Fassler presents: “Meet the Native Bees of New England” on Sunday, Sept. 24 at 10 AM

In North America, there are approximately 4,000 species of wild bees that are critical for pollinating plants in our forests, gardens, and fields.

 

This year’s event is organized and sponsored by Berkshire Environmental Action Team (BEAT) and Nature Academy of the Berkshires. It’s co-sponsored by Greenagers, Hoffmann Bird Club, Greylock Federal Credit Union, and Panera.

To learn more about this 24-hour biological survey and the scheduled activities, visit www.berkshirebioblitz.org or email team@thebeatnews.org

New proposed gun control draws fire

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You have probably seen lawn signs, banners etc. all over the place with the message to stop Bill HD. 4420.  What’s that all about?  Well there is a proposed bill introduced into the MA House by Representative Michael S. Day of Stoneham and co-sponsored by 33 other state representatives, including Tricia Farley-Bouvier of Pittsfield, which is entitled An Act Modernizing Firearm Laws.

Because I am a hunter and gun owner and write this column, people have asked me to comment on the bill.  I can think of no better way to alienate many of my hunting and gun owner friends than do that, for it’s a no winner. My response has been, – Be careful what you ask for, for there are two opinions regarding this proposal.   I should note that the opinions expressed in this column are not necessarily the opinions of the Berkshire Eagle or my fellow hunters and gun owners.

The bill is huge with 241 sections, countless subsections and 140 pages.  Hey, I’m retired and I don’t have the time to properly research this proposed bill. Therefore, I have looked to the Gun Owner’s Action League (GOAL) and the Massachusetts Sportsmen’s Council, with their lawyers and experts to condense it and help me understand it.

GOAL has labeled HD 4420 The Lawful Citizens Imprisonment Act because it feels that passage of it will make thousands of legal gun owners lawbreakers. In its opinion, this bill would re-write Massachusetts gun-laws to implement the harshest gun-control in the country and severely infringe upon the rights of Massachusetts citizens. The gun laws are already so convoluted and complex that it is extremely difficult for the average citizen to comply with them,” said Jim Wallace, the executive director of GOAL I agree with this assessment.

I believe in the Second Amendment to the US Constitution which ensures my right to defend my family and home from those who would wish to do me harm and to ensure my right to own a gun to hunt.

My father lived through the Great Depression and the food rationing of WWII. One way of providing protein on our dinner table was to hunt, and he taught my brothers and me how to hunt and shoot a gun.  I developed a taste for venison and rabbits at an early age and still hunt them to this day. So, owning a shotgun or rifle is very important to me and the Second Amendment helps ensure that I can do that. I can’t imagine not being able to hunt.

There is no question that something must be done to eliminate the random and mass shootings which are taking place today. People shouldn’t have to worry if their kids are going to come home from school today or from a concert this weekend. After all, we are supposed to be a civilized country,

The question is how to eliminate this problem while still ensuring our Second Amendment rights. More restrictive gun laws do not, nor ever have resolved the problem, simply because the bad guys don’t abide by them……only the responsible, law-abiding individuals do.

A part of the bill states that junior shooters would not be allowed to possess, or use, semi-automatic rifles and shotguns. These types of firearms have been used in junior shooting sports since their invention. They offer much reduced recoil making it more comfortable to learn about and safely use firearms. Also, anyone under 15 would be banned from handling any handgun, semi-automatic rifle, or semi-automatic shotgun, all of which are in common use throughout the junior shooting sports world.  It would ban them from taking part in sanctioned shooting sports and training. A few weeks ago, I did an article on how hunting is declining and that there is a need to get youngsters out hunting because hunters are the greatest conservationists.  I believe parts of this bill will impede those efforts.

Legislators should realize that all semi-automatic guns are not the same.  The semi -automatic shotguns or rifles used by hunters are usually restricted to 3 or 5 shots.  For example, it is illegal to hunt waterfowl with a gun with the capacity to carry more than 3 shots. The bullets are usually contained in a magazine (tube inside the gun).  Contrast that with the semi -automatic with a high- capacity external bullet clip which carry lots of bullets.  That’s an important distinction, but the new proposed law lumps semi-automatics all together which if passed would make the lawful hunter a violator of the law.

However; allowing an 18-year older to be able to purchase a high capacity semi-automatic is something else.  These guns are not generally used for hunting, skeet, trap or target shooting. Delaying the purchase of such guns a couple more years to determine a youth’s moral character is, in my opinion, not necessarily a bad thing. I have a problem being in the woods around someone who possesses a large capacity semi-automatic gun which has the capability of firing off 40 shots a minute.

As noted, there are parts of the proposed gun law that I can live with if properly worded.  Bill 4420 would prohibit those under 21 years of age from buying or handling a semi-automatic gun.   If it’s a high capacity gun, then I agree, but not a sports rifle or shotgun. I for one don’t think an 18-year older should be able to purchase a high- capacity gun capable of firing 40 rounds a minute. If young folks want to use guns like that then may I respectfully suggest they enlist into the armed forces.

I also don’t want the law enforcement community, those charged with our safety, to be outgunned.

I don’t like an aspect of the bill which would require common carrier employees to possess a license to carry (LTC) in order to transport firearms. Potentially every employee in a common carrier facility would have to possess a LTC.  Their carrier facilities would have to have a storage area that meets the new definitions. UPS, FedEx, etc. would have to comply with storage and transportation requirements which would be next to impossible.  In GOAL’s opinion, this would essentially mean that interstate and intrastate commerce of lawful products would cease and eventually mean that all licensed retailers would go out of business, leaving no legal means of obtaining products in Massachusetts.

In the proposal, there is a section (56) which would update the minimum training curriculum required for a LTC to include injury prevention and harm reduction education, active shooter and emergency response training, applicable laws relating to the use of force, and de-escalation and disengagement tactics. It would require all applicants for a LTC to complete live firearm training and pass a uniform written exam created by the State Police and require local licensing authorities attend trainings on their licensing and reporting responsibilities.  Whoa!  We just want a gun for hunting or personal protection.  We’re not joining a SWAT team!

Police chiefs and mayors from across the state are opposed to this proposed regulation.  One is quoted as saying “Massachusetts has great firearms laws. Legislators should focus their efforts on the court system enforcing penalties for these gun laws.”  If you remove guns from folks who have lawful ownership, you are removing” a key deterrent against being victimized by criminals.

Another is quoted as saying, “Although I believe the intent of this legislation means well, in truth the language does nothing to address the issue of illegal guns and ghost guns being used in criminal activity by repeat violent criminal offenders.”

Even the Town of Cheshire sent a letter to State Representative Barrett of North Adams asking him to oppose this proposed legislation.

And, while we are on the subject, what about the “Mandatory Sentencing law which Massachusetts passed in 1974?  Certain offenses are supposed to carry mandatory minimum 1-year sentences for those convicted of illegally carrying a firearm. Why are they allowed to walk the streets shortly after being arrested for such offences.

I hope our legislators are seriously working on solving the gun violence and not simply trying to legislate hunting and gun ownership out of existence. I hope they take the time to read and fully understand its implications.

Now that I have offended fellow gun owners, legislators, and judges, perhaps its time to leave town for a while and do some fishing in the Catskills.

Wild & Scenic Gobble Mountain Hike

 

On Saturday, September 16, from 9:00am to 1:00 pm, there will be a Wild & Scenic Hike with Mammal Specialist John McDonald. Hike up to one of the lookouts along the ridge and enjoy the stories written in tracks and signs that animals leave behind. Hear about the work being done to connect the hill towns along the Highlands Footpath, which will eventually travel up and over Gobble Mountain in Chester, MA to the Keystone Arch Bridge Trail.

 

Registration required via email for meeting location: http://www.westfieldriverwildscenic.org.

Early goose, black bear hunting coming up

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The Early Canada Goose hunting season (statewide) began on Friday, September 1 and runs through September 22.  For Early Canada Goose season only, hunting hours are 1/2 hour before sunrise to 1/2 hour after sunset.  The daily bag limit is 15 and the possession limit is 45.  The reason for this early season and the large numbers of geese allowed to be taken is to reduce the large local resident population that is befouling our lawns and beaches.  The regular goose hunting season in the Berkshires opens on October 10 and runs through November 25.  It shuts down through the shotgun deer hunting season and then reopens December 11 through December 14.  The daily bag on that season is 3 and the possession limit is 9.

There are many regulations regarding goose hunting and rather than to list many of them out, I direct your attention to 2023 – 2024 SEASON DATES & BAG LIMIT provided at https://www.mass.gov/doc/2023-2024-migratory-game-bird-regulations.

I will note that a 15-goose harvest limit for one day and a 45-bird possessive limit is high. Please make sure the geese won’t go to waste (see wanton waste comments below) and that you or someone else consumes them.  The meat can be tough, so you might want to search out grandma’s old recipes or perhaps you can make goose jerky.

The early Black Bear hunting season opens statewide on September 5 and runs through September 23. Those hunting hours are 1/2 hour before sunrise to 1/2 hour after sunset.  There are no blaze orange requirements during this season.  Hunting implements allowed during this season are rifles, revolvers, muzzleloaders and archery equipment.  There are also many regulations governing bear hunting and instead of listing all of them out here, I direct your attention to pages 30 and 31 of the Massachusetts Fishing and Hunting laws (commonly referred to as the abstracts).

Please remember:  It is unlawful for hunters to intentionally, or knowingly leave a wounded or dead game animal in the field or the forest without making a reasonable effort to retrieve and use it. Each retrieved animal shall be retained or transferred to another until processed or used for food, pelt, feathers, or taxidermy. This does not apply to animals unfit for consumption or use—animals and their parts that are damaged, destroyed, decayed, rotting, diseased, or infected.

No hunting is allowed on Sundays in Massachusetts.

Here’s hoping you have safe and successful hunts.

Wear your life jackets, it’s the law

 

Although not mandatory until September 15, waterfowl hunters who navigate waters to get to their duck/goose blinds might be well advised to wear their Personal Floatation Devises (PFD’s).  MassWildlife cautions us that all canoe or kayak occupants must wear a U.S. Coast Guard approved PFD from September 15 to May 15, and that includes waterfowl hunters.

Archery deer hunting season opening date

I have been getting calls and messages inquiring as to whether the deer archery hunting season is opening on October 2 this year.  These inquiries were brought about by the recent public hearings regarding the extension of the archery deer hunting season two weeks in Wildlife Zones 1 – 9.

According to DFW Western District Supervisor Andrew Madden, if approved, the regulations would likely go into effect in 2024. There are still steps in the process including a review of comments and decision by the Fisheries and Wildlife Board. If approved by the Board, it would still need additional administrative approval within other branches of State government before it could be officially enacted. That process almost certainly won’t be completed before the season starts so hunters should plan on 2024, if the changes are approved.

He promised that MassWildlife will do its best to keep hunters posted about the process and a timeline if the proposed changes are approved.

 

EPO Lt. Tara Carlow honored

Congratulations to EPO Lt. Tara Carlow who was chosen to receive the Massachusetts 2022 CLECA (Conservation Law Enforcement Chiefs’ Association) Outstanding Officer of The Year Award in Conservation Law Enforcement and Public Safety. The award ceremony took place this past May 16 at MassWildlife Field Headquarters in Westborough.   As the Lieutenant for our region, she oversees 33 towns that are broken down into 6 smaller districts (4-6 towns each) with direct subordinates of 5 officers (only have 3 right now) and 1 sergeant covering those.  There is a Western Captain that oversees all of Massachusetts west of the Quabbin, but the position is currently vacant.

This hardly comes as a surprise to the delegates of the Berkshire County League of Sportsmen who are fortunate enough to have her presence at its monthly meetings.  She makes sure the League, and through its minutes, the area outdoor sports community is kept apprised of any new environmental laws, updates on EPO’s successes in apprehending outlaws, information on any upcoming Boating Safety Classes or ATV classes, and more.  It is so helpful to have Lt Carlow present at those meetings answering any legal questions that we may have.  I have been a delegate in the League for over 20 years now and we never had an EPO regularly attend.

At the risk of embarrassing Lt. Carlow, please allow me to cite some comments about her in a 3-page nomination by another officer, which says it all.  I have changed the term “the nominee” to “she” or “her”.

She is a shining star for all others in Massachusetts Environmental Police (MEP) in regards to attitude and sets a great example. She is continually asked by the Agency to handle more responsibilities, which were accepted with zero complaints; she fully realizes the breath of MEP‘s job and changes their schedule constantly to attend search and rescue, meetings, training, and large scale operations without a single complaint, and explained the reasons for same to their subordinates; she understand the mission statement, their role in carrying it out in a manner that everyone knows the nominees proud to be an EPO .

Whether it is a simple response to a citizens question, ensuring subordinate is carrying out tasking, or a complex multi facet investigation, she excelled at every challenge sent their way; she sets a great example to others in MEP by handling so many various patrol issues, proving self- initiation is often the best way to determine problem areas; she spent a specific amount of time assisting DCR, MassWildlife, and fishing and boating access and documenting numerous violations, and/or problems located on their respective properties. She excels at the hunting enforcement aspect of the job. Any complaint is looked into and she spends significant time ahead of each season researching previous problem areas and providing that information to the Board to allow them the best chance to be successful, multiple baiting cases were made from the intelligence. She continued to excel in making cases involving illegally taken bears; she spearheads one of the better PR programs across a Commonwealth ensuring subordinates are present to assist with their responsibilities; she ensures MEP is well represented, and has a positive and professional image among the region citizens.  If needed for one event on almost any topic she would be the first person I would choose to represent the Agency. She is constantly advising others of new material or technology that comes out involving the job, allowing MEP to better serve the public. The amount of knowledge on the laws on specific subjects. At this point (her) career is well above normal.

“She is exactly what a CLECA nominated officer should be, well rounded, a positive attitude, knowledgeable, self-reliant, professional, caring, and willing to assist subordinates to become their best. MEP is better for them being here.”

Fishing Derby

The Friends of the Berkshire Hatchery in Hartsville-New Marlborough is scheduled to have its last Youth Fishing Derby of this year next Saturday, September 9 from 9:00 to 10:30 am at its Lower Pond at the Berkshire National Fish Hatchery, 240 Hatchery Road, Hartsville, MA.  Children aged 13 and under must be accompanied by an adult.  No child goes away empty handed.

A good way to learn to pheasant hunt

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The Youth Pheasant Hunt is a great way for young adults (ages 12-17) to practice firearms safety, develop shooting skills, and join in a pheasant hunt with an experienced hunter in a friendly environment.

photo provided by masswildlife

 

The Massachusetts Youth Pheasant Hunt Program was developed by MassWildlife to provide an opportunity for Hunter Education graduates aged 12 to 17 to practice firearms safety, develop shooting skills, and participate in a special pheasant hunt under the guidance of an experienced adult hunter.

The program is divided into multiple parts:

  • Seminar and Range Practice: Participants get hands-on instruction in shotgun shooting fundamentals and firearm safety, learn upland hunting basics, and focus on how to have a safe and fun hunt.
  • Pheasant Hunt: Participants get to experience a real pheasant hunt under the supervision of an experienced hunter on 1 of the 6 Saturdays prior to the regular pheasant season. This year, the pheasant hunting season starts on October 14, 2023.

Requirements:

  • Be between the ages of 12 to 17
  • Have graduated from a Basic Hunter Education course (in any state) before the day of the hunt
  • Participants 15 to 17 years of age must have a hunting license, a pheasant/quail permit and a Firearms Identification Card (FID). Steps

Steps

  1. Make sure you meet all the requirements above
  2. Register for the Program by August 31, 2023
  3. Complete the Seminar and Range Practice

Please note, all other regular pheasant hunting regulations apply including bag limits, hunting implements, hunter orange requirements, etc. Be sure to review the pheasant hunting regulations.

The Lee Sportsmen’s Association, located at 565 Fairview Street, is a participating club.  The course will be taught by MassWildlife. The dates and times are as follows:

  1. August 26, from 9:00AM – 11:00AM, September 16, from 9:00AM – 11:00AM, and October 07, from 9:00AM – 12:00PM.

 

Massachusetts wildland firefighters sent out again

The Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) and the Department of Fish and Game (DFG) sent a crew of 19 firefighters – 17 from DCR and two from DFG – recently to Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest in western Montana to help battle the large fires that are burning across the state.

This is the third crew of wildland firefighters DCR has deployed to assist in fighting the wildfires raging across the country and neighboring regions this summer. In June, DCR deployed 11 firefighters to assist in fighting wildfires in Quebec, Canada, and in July, in partnership with DFG, the department deployed to the region another crew of 16 wildland firefighters that included two firefighters from DFG. Response efforts are now shifting to the western United States, with more than 80 large fires currently burning more than 534,000 acres in 14 states.

“As these wildfires continue to rage on across the country, burning thousands of acres of forest to the ground, DCR and DFG firefighters have stepped up again to help our partners in need fight these devastating blazes,” said DCR Commissioner Brian Arrigo. “DCR is proud of our dedicated and hardworking firefighters who will be on the frontlines in the Northern Rocky Mountain region over the next two weeks, working to stop further destruction of our natural resources.

 

Included in the group of 19 was Jacob Morris-Siegel from the Mass Division of Fisheries and Wildlife Western District Office located in Dalton.

 

Intro to Fly Fishing for women – taught by women

 

The Taconic Chapter of Trout Unlimited invites women to join Betsy Clark and Diane Holhubner. (both trained at the Wulff School of Fly Fishing) to learn about the basics of fly fishing and get a chance to get experience on the river. The free event occurs on September 9 from 8:30 to 11:00 am on the Hoosic River in Williamstown. No fishing experience is necessary. You will learn about the components of a flyfishing rod, learn about a couple of types of flyfishing flies, and how to do a roll cast.

 

You don’t need to bring anything, for they will provide the rods and tackle to use but they do suggest that you wear comfortable shoes that you don’t mind getting a little wet. If you have river shoes that would be great. A hat and sunglasses might make you feel more comfortable but they are not necessary. They will be on a gravel beach for this event. Bring your own water bottle, they will have herbal tea available as well.

 

This event is for anyone who identifies as a woman.

 

They will meet at the parking lot on Syndicate Road. It is a new lot which doesn’t show on google maps. They will then walk a short distance on a dirt trail down to the river. To register, click onto  https://bit.ly/45ORY2v

 

BEAT celebrates 20th anniversary

 

The Berkshire Environmental Action Team was established in 2003 when a vernal pool at Berkshire Community College was being threatened by the development of soccer fields on the campus. Over the past two decades, BEAT has taken on many fights and projects — often leading them and creating a path for environmental change and progress.

 

BEAT’s mission has remained the same: To protect the environment for wildlife in support of the natural world that sustains us all. But its vision and goals have continuously expanded and evolved. They see a world where communities work together to sustain their environmental health and economic vitality; all people recognize their interconnectedness to, and dependence on, the natural world; the air and water are clean; rivers and streams flow naturally; and there is plenty of interconnected, natural land where wildlife thrive. Its goal is to make all of this happen — and its newly renovated Environmental Leadership & Education Center is one of the first steps in reaching that goal.

 

You are invited to join the folks at BEAT on Saturday, September 2, from 1:00 to 3:00 PM, to see the renovations, hear about what’s to come, and meet BEAT’s staff and board.

 

Executive Director Jane Winn will lead an optional tour of the building at 1:15 PM, and a steam-table demonstration will start at 2:00 PM. They’ll also have finger foods and refreshments for guests.

 

It’s not necessary to RSVP in order to attend, but it would be greatly appreciated.

 

Email team@thebeatnews.org with any questions.

 

Berkshire communities to get culvert replacement grants

 

The Culvert Replacement Municipal Assistance (CRMA) Grant Program is one of the many resources the Healey-Driscoll administration utilizes to help municipalities replace undersized and deteriorating culverts with crossings that meet improved design standards. The grants target culverts whose replacement brings significant ecological and resilience benefits and helps municipalities deal with the increasing aging road infrastructure costs.

 

“With extreme weather becoming more frequent, projects like these are a climate-smart investment to help cities and towns adapt to climate change,” said Governor Maura Healey. “It is important that we upgrade culverts and small bridges to prevent flooding and reduce public safety risks.”

 

The MA Division of Ecological Restoration (DER) is awarding $811,000 in grants to 14 municipalities through the CRMA grant program. Nearly half of an estimated 25,000 small bridges and culverts in Massachusetts act as barriers to fish and wildlife because they are undersized or poorly positioned. Installing culverts that meet the Massachusetts Stream Crossing Standards allows rivers to flow unrestricted, improves access for fish and wildlife, and lowers the risk of flood damage.

 

Berkshire County Grants

Town of Egremont: $48,811awarded for Karner Brook Culvert Replacement

This award will fund design and engineering, permitting, and some construction for a culvert replacement project on Blunt Road to improve stream connectivity of a tributary to Karner Brook.

 

Town of Richmond:  $55,200 awarded for Sleepy Hollow Road Culvert Replacement

This award will fund the design and engineering for a culvert replacement project on Sleepy Hollow Road to improve stream connectivity of Cone Brook and two tributaries.

 

Town of Great Barrington:  $55,933 awarded for Housatonic River Tributary Culvert Replacement

This award will fund the design and engineering for a culvert replacement project on Brush Hill Road to improve stream connectivity of a tributary to the Housatonic River.

 

Berkshire Clean, Cold, Connected Restoration Partnership 

Housatonic Valley Association, awarded $199,899

This Partnership supports a network of organizations, agencies, and communities working for healthy aquatic systems and building climate resiliency in the Hoosic, Housatonic, and Farmington River watersheds.

Deer hunters still have a chance to obtain an antlerless deer permit

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By now Massachusetts deer hunters should know if they were selected to receive an antlerless deer permit (ADP), also known as a doe permit.  If not, they can simply click onto the MassFishHunt web page to find out.  Of course, they had to apply for the permit by July 16 to be eligible.

 

If selected, Massachusetts residents need to pay the $10.00 fee to purchase the permit.  The permit fee costs $15.00 for non-resident deer hunters.

 

It’s a lottery system, and not every hunter who wanted one in the wildlife management zone of their choice got one.  The difference between allocation and demand determines the odds of winning an ADP. The exceptions are those who applied for permits in Zones 10, 11, 13, and 14 where everyone who applied got one.  There are too many deer in those zones and MassWildlife is trying to reduce the herd to desirable numbers where there is sufficient food and habitat to sustain them.

There still is a chance to get a permit. Surplus ADPs will go on sale as follows:  A limited number of permits for Zones 3, 7, 9 and 12 will go on sale on a first-come, first-served basis starting 9:00 am on September 27. The limit is one ADP per zone per day until sold out.

 

Permits for Zones 10, 11, 13 and 14 will go on sale at 9:00 am on September 26. There is no season purchase limit for these zones and they are available throughout the 2023 deer season.

 

Hunters with a valid hunting or sporting license can buy Surplus ADPs even if they did not previously apply for a permit.

 

I live in Zone 3 and the deer in my neighborhood have become a real nuisance, especially where my vegetable garden is concerned.  I’ve always known they relish cabbages, beans, peas, carrots, corn, etc., so I put a 5-foot fence around those veggies.  It doesn’t matter.  They simply jump over it and devour the succulent plants.  What really gripes me now is that they are developing a taste for my other vegetables.  Never did I ever have to fence in my onions, leeks or potatoes, but now I do. When some of my neighbors told me that they had seen deer chomping away in those sections, I didn’t believe them until I saw the deer tracks.

 

For dessert, they like to raid my wife Jan’s raspberry patch.

 

What they don’t eat, the black bears do, especially our corn crop.  They seem to know exactly when to raid it, usually a day or so before it’s ripe enough to pick.

I haven’t even mentioned the wild turkeys that fly over the fencing into the garden and peck away at our tomatoes, or the bunnies and woodchucks that sneak in, the voles that attack the root veggies, or the crows that pull up the young corn and bean plants.  Like Rodney Dangerfield, we get no respect.

 

Ah, my father never had that problem.  Back in the 1950’s we never had bears or turkeys and rarely saw a deer track within a mile of our place because there were so few of them around.   I have to admit, since then MassWildlife has done a wonderful job of managing and increasing their numbers.  I just wish they would tell them to stay away from our gardens.

Nice event at the Hatchery

There was a nice turnout for the Berkshire National Fish Hatchery Kid’s Derby in Hartsville/New Marlborough last Saturday morning.  According to Dave Ziegler, the Friends of the Berkshire National Fish Hatchery Board Chairman and official fish measurer, over 45 youths participated in the free derby. Counting parents, grandparents, relatives and friends, about 100 people showed up.

Walter and Dan Stubbs

Members of the Berkshire Bass, Taconic Chapter of Trout Unlimited, MassWildlife Western District, US Fish & Wildlife Service, Lee Sportsmen’s Association, Berkshire County League of Sportsmen, and others were there to help teach the kids how to fish, remove the hooks from the fish, etc.  They kids had the option of keeping or releasing them.

Dave was kept busy measuring fish after fish with about 120 of them being measured in the 1 ½ hour derby span.

Catching the largest fish was 5-year old Walker Stubbs of Sandisfield.  He caught a brook trout measuring just over 14½ inches.  2nd place went to Lucy Siebert with a 14¼ inch trout. 3rd place went to Josh Bell with a trout just shy of 14¼ inches and 4th place went to Lilly Labeau with a 14-inch trout.  They won some neat fishing tackle.  Actually, all the kids went home with a prize

After the derby was over, people had a chance to tour the hatchery and check out its newly installed 270-gallon display fish tank, have a free snack, learn how to cast or tie a fly, and visit the various booths manned by the Friends of the Berkshire National Fish Hatchery, Lee Sportsmen’s Association, MassWildlife, Berkshire Bass, US Fish & Wildlife Service, Boy Scouts, and Taconic TU.

The open house was coordinated by Board member Dean Hutson.

Asteroid named for retired MassWildlife leader

The following article was taken from the MassWildlife August 2023 Newsletter:

 

In recognition of his 35 years of dedicated and effective conservation work, an asteroid measuring 2 to 5 kilometers in diameter was recently named after Dr. Thomas W. French, the founding leader and former Assistant Director of MassWildlife’s Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program (NHESP). Unlike comets, which are usually named after their discoverers, asteroids are named for mythological figures and geographical places—or for renowned scientists, explorers, poets, composers, novelists, and other prominent figures.

 

The Paris-based International Astronomical Union (IAU) officially named minor planet 1991 PN2 as “(20010) Tomfrench”. The IAU’s 15-member Working Group for Small Bodies Nomenclature (WGSBN) is the sole scientific organization with the authority to assign names to small solar system bodies like asteroids, comets, and satellites of minor planets.

Imelda B. Joson and Edwin L. Aguirre, both former editors of Sky & Telescope magazine, have known Dr. French for 16 years and proposed the naming to the IAU. The couple first met French in 2007 in Lowell, where they volunteered to monitor peregrine falcons.

“This is a completely unexpected and humbling honor,” said Dr. French. “I hope that recognizing me with this honor is a validation of how important it is for all of us to help conserve the health and natural diversity of our world.”

The naming of the asteroid recognizes Dr. French’s contributions to wildlife restoration, protection, and conservation. The citation, which was published in the IAU’s WGSBN Bulletin on July 3, 2023 reads:

Thomas W. French (b. 1950), a biologist and former assistant director of MassWildlife’s Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program, led the successful reintroduction of peregrine falcons and bald eagles in Massachusetts after their native populations were wiped out due to extensive use of the insecticide DDT from the 1940s to 1972.

“We are so happy that the international astronomical community has recognized Tom’s contributions to advancing our knowledge of the natural world as well as informing the public on the importance of preserving our planet’s biodiversity,” says Aguirre.

“Tom is a true gentleman scientist, and his experience, passion, dedication, knowledge and professionalism are exceptional,” added Joson. “We’re glad to know that a huge chunk of real estate bearing Tom’s name is now floating out there in space!”

Asteroids are small, rocky bodies left over from the birth of the solar system about 4.6 billion years ago. According to the WGSBN Bulletin, asteroid (20010) Tomfrench was discovered on August 2, 1991, by the European Southern Observatory in La Silla, Chile. Asteroid (20010) Tomfrench takes 3.9 years to complete one orbit around the Sun. It is currently about 480 million kilometers from Earth, shining very dimly in the constellation Taurus. One would need a fairly large telescope and sensitive CCD camera to record its faint, starlike image.

During his career with MassWildlife, Dr. French oversaw field research, habitat restoration and management, rare species restoration, permitting the possession of wildlife for research and education, data management, and regulatory reviews of proposed projects under the Massachusetts Endangered Species Act. He has published 78 technical papers in peer-reviewed journals, given hundreds of lectures to universities, state agencies, ornithological societies, and conferences, and received numerous professional awards.

What an amazing fishing trip that we almost made

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Readers may recall last year that I wrote about a flyfishing trip to Labrador where two local anglers, Mike Shepard and Craig Smith joined several anglers from the eastern part of the state and New Hampshire.  They were after the large brook trout that exist up there in the Eagle River system.  You may recall that I bemoaned the fact that I was scheduled to go too, having paid for the lodge, guides and air fare to get there.  But I had some health issues going on and was unable to go.  I wrote about the trip anyway with information about the wonderful catches provided by Mike and Craig.

The outfitter and airlines allowed me to defer my payments to be applied on a trip this year and  I excitedly began planning for the trip.  All I had to do was to get better.  Thanks to the good doctors and nurses at Berkshire Medical Center and Phelps Cancer Center in Pittsfield, I am still around and feeling better, albeit with additions to and deletions from my body parts and 45 pounds lighter.  This year I would be fishing with Mike Shepard of Dalton, Carl Racie and Mike Miller of Athol, Gary Hebert of Richmond, NH, Bill Waite of Westminster and former MA F&G Commissioner Ron Amadon of Templeton. We have previously fished together in Labrador and have become close friends.

But, as time neared, it became obvious that I was not yet strong enough to do the 2 1/2-miles treks into moose bogs, lichens etc. to get to some of the fishing spots (you may recall that last year, the muck was so strong that it pulled the felt bottoms off of Craig’s waders).  On top of that I have been nursing a couple of bum shoulders which prevented me from casting the heavier flyrods and fly lines required to catch those large fish. Sadly, I had to bow out……again! (One man out)

The rest of the guys continued their preparations.  Mike Shepard was tying up a bunch of large flies (green drakes) for all of the fellas.  He was to drive out to Greenfield, MA and join the others on their trip to Montreal, Canada.  After spending a night in a hotel there, they would fly out to Goose Bay where they would spend another night, and then hop onto a float plane which would fly them into a remote camp (Igloo Lodge) out of which they would fish.

Unfortunately, on the morning that Mike was to leave, he developed a serious cold.  He felt lousy and he did not want to give it to the others which would in turn ruin their week stay.  Mike drove out to Greenfield, delivered the flies that he had tied for them and came back home.  He spent the following week trying to recover from that cold. (Two men out).

After two days of traveling the group finally made it to Goose Bay, Labrador and were ready for the fly-in to the camp.  As soon as they arrived in Goose Bay, Bill Waite received an urgent call informing him of a medical emergency at home.  He turned around and caught the first flight out and returned home (Three men out).

That left Mike Miller, Carl, Gary and Ron to continue the travels to the camp.  The following is a narrative provided by Gary:

“A week before arrival we got a notice from the lodge that due to unseasonably high temperatures, the fishing had essentially shut down. Water temperature in both the lake and river were averaging 78 degrees F which was unheard of.  Trout need 60 degrees F or lower temp waters to thrive.  Only a few fish were caught in the last three weeks.

We flew into camp on our float plane to find a lot of sad faces and poor fishing reports. The bright spot was the camp had undergone some significant improvements under the new ownership of Craig and Steve Gillingham. The weather was forecasting cooler temperatures and some rain towards the end of our stay.  True to the report that we had been given, the fishing was terrible for the first couple days. We did manage a few dozen 1 – 2 lbs. fish in the river but that was not our goal.  We came for the world class 5-8 lbs. trophy Brook Trout.

Four anglers seated in the float plane. L to R: Ron Amidon. Carl Racie, Mike Miller and Gary Hebert. Photo provided.

 

To add to the frustration the river and Igloo Lake had an algae bloom that made the water pea green, and which made for very difficult wading. Fortunately, this year no one got baptized and no one, including me, broke any rods. That was a first. I’m usually good for at least one or two!!

 

After a couple days of poor fishing, we decided to head to Burton’s Pond, a remote pond that’s a 25-minute boat ride and a 2 1/2 mile hike through a bug infested swamp trail. The pond hadn’t been fished for several weeks due to the water temps but we were up for the challenge.  We lucked out and had the small camp Beaver float plane fly us in on our first attempt at Burton’s Pond.  We had gotten a tip from a group that fished Burton’s the day before that they had a little luck near a spring fed brook entering the pond.  After the float plane landed, we met our guides with their boats in the middle of the pond. The plane couldn’t get near the shore due to rocks and low water. The guides had to hike in to get the boats and meet us.

We headed directly to the spring and found the mother lode in a cool protected cove.  The fishing was incredible. We netted over 150 beautiful Brookies weighing 4-8 lbs., smashing the camp record.  It was an incredible day on the water.

Gary Hebert holding a sizeable brookie. Photo provided.

 

Two days later we went back but this time we had no available plane so the four old duffers hiked in and experienced another fantastic “Bonus” day. We were so elated that we practically jogged through the 2 1/2-mile swamp.

 

The camp has been a great steward of the local ponds and rivers especially during this crazy heat spell.  All trout were caught and quickly released using barbless hooks.  All fish were released from the net without being removed from the water or being handled. Only a couple of fish were permitted to be held quickly for a special photo.

 

The food has always been good at Igloo but this trip it was outstanding. The camp has added some additional support staff for the kitchen and for the facilities.

There were eight sports in camp. Two brothers from New Brunswick and a father and son from Minnesota. All of them were great guys.

 

All in all, the trip turned out nice.”

 

Gary described this trip as “From Bust to Bonus.”

 

Igloo Lake is already booking into 2025, but fortunately Mike Shepard, Craig Smith and I are already booked for 2024.   Gary, Mike Miller, Ron and Carl will be fishing in Iceland next year.

 

Public hearing to extend archery deer hunting season

 

MassWildlife is holding a hybrid public hearing on Tuesday, August 15, at 1:00 pm on proposed regulations that would extend the dates of the archery deer hunting season in Wildlife Management Zones 1–9 by two weeks.  The amendments would be to 321 CMR 3.02 Hunting of Particular Game in Massachusetts.

 

If approved, the archery deer season would begin statewide in all zones on the eighth Monday prior to Thanksgiving, and end on the first Saturday after Thanksgiving.  The public can attend the hearing and provide oral comments either in-person at the MassWildlife Field Headquarters (1 Rabbit Hill Road, Westborough) or via a Zoom video webinar. Click onto the MassWildlife web site to find out how to join the webinar meeting.

 

The full hearing notice, including the text of the proposed regulations, is available on MassWildlife’s Public Hearings page. Written comments will be accepted for 2 weeks after the hearing until Tuesday August 29, 2023 at 5 p.m.

 

To submit written comments email susan.sacco@mass.gov to the attention of the Fisheries and Wildlife Board, or mail comments to Chair, Fisheries and Wildlife Board, c/o Director of MassWildlife, Mass. Division of Fisheries and Wildlife, 1 Rabbit Hill Road, Westborough, MA 01581.

Do you like fishing?  Then join the crowd

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The following information was obtained from the Outdoor Foundation and the Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation Executive Summary of their 2023 Special Report on Fishing. I thought you might be interested in the findings.

Executive Summary

In a year marked by inflationary pressures, war in Ukraine and political instability, Americans found solace and companionship in a much-loved and time-tested pursuit: recreational fishing. Fishing promotes wellness, fosters bonds with family and friends, and forges a deep connection with nature. Whether fishing on lakes, rivers, streams, or seas; from shorelines, boats, or embankments; millions of Americans were united in 2022 by the love of fishing. For the thirteenth consecutive year, the Outdoor Foundation (OF) and the Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation (RBFF) partnered to produce the Special Report on Fishing to provide a comprehensive review of fishing participation trends, including detailed information on specific fishing categories and audiences.

Insights include motivations, barriers, and preferences of key groups. Special sections are dedicated to youth, Hispanic Americans, and females—populations we must engage, activate, and retain to ensure future growth.

Overall Fishing Participation Trends

In 2022, 18 percent of the American population ages 6 and up went fishing at least once, up from 17 percent in 2021. Over 54.5 million Americans fished in 2022—2.1 million more than the prior year. Fishing’s participation rate, 18 percent, and the number of anglers were just slightly below all-time records set in 2020. Both, however, were higher in 2022 than in preCOVID 2019.

Nearly 7 in 10 participants fished 1 to 11 times in 2022—less than once a month. Participation among more frequent anglers, those fishing once per month or more, has gradually declined since participation tracking began in 2007. 17 percent fished once a month or more, down from 21 percent a decade ago.

The “leaky bucket” analysis measures the annual churn of fishing participants—those joining or rejoining the activity compared to those quitting. Following modest declines in 2021, there was a net gain of 2.1 million fishing participants. Nearly 14.2 million new or returning anglers fished, while over 12 million left the sport.

Fishing participants were less diverse than the U.S. population. 78 percent of participants in 2022 were White, versus approximately 6 in 10 nationally. Large gaps remained for Hispanics (9 percent of fishing participants versus 19 percent of the U.S. population), Black anglers (8 percent versus 13 percent) and Asian participants (3 percent versus 6 percent)

Fishing by Category

Freshwater remained fishing’s most popular style. In 2022, 61 percent of participants reported they only freshwater fished, 71 percent of fishing outings were freshwater trips, and 78 percent of first-timers freshwater fished. 2.6 million more Americans participated in 2022 than in 2019, solidifying freshwater’s post-COVID gains.

Nearly 42 million Americans ages 6 and over freshwater fished in 2022, representing 7 in 10 total fishing participants. Freshwater’s national participation rate rose to 14 percent, up from 13 percent in 2021. Average outings per freshwater angler held steady at 15 percent, while total outings increased 2 percent to 634 million.

Saltwater fishing rebounded in 2022, growing 4 percent to 14.3 million participants. Participant numbers approached 2020’s record of 14.5 million, and easily exceeded the 13.2 million seen in pre-COVID 2019. Encouragingly, there were over 2 million more participants in 2022 than a decade prior. Eight percent of saltwater anglers in 2022 were first-timers, down from 11 percent in 2020. Among the 1.1 million saltwater first-timers, 700,000 were male and 400,000 were female.

A 2 percent increase in both fly fishing participant numbers and the national participation rate followed 4 percent declines in 2021. Fly fishing recorded 100,000 more participants in 2022—and 600,000 more than in 2019. Year over year, average outings fell from 12 to 11, and total outings declined from 87 million to 82 million. Compared to other categories, fly fishing had a high level of first-time participants in 2022. 12 percent of total participants were first-timers, versus 8 percent in saltwater and 6 percent in freshwater. Fly fishing had 900,000 first-timers in 2022, not far from saltwater’s 1.1 million even though saltwater had nearly twice the number of total participants.

Youth Participation

After 2020’s COVID bump, fishing’s national participation rate among children ages 6 to 12 dipped 1 percentage point in 2021, then another point in 2022. On the brighter side, participant numbers grew by 3 percent to 12.7 million child and adolescent participants, nearly 2.5 million higher than a decade ago. Male participation grew slightly, while female participation fell. As with younger children, fishing’s national participation rate among children ages 13 to 17 fell a percentage point in 2022. Actual participant numbers increased slightly to 4.9 million but remained above the 2019 level of 4.3 million. This represented an average annual increase of 6 percent in adolescent participation between 2019 and 2022.

Kaydance Soules holding a nice bass.

Adults with children in their households, particularly younger children, participated in fishing at much higher levels than adults without children. In 2022, 22 percent of U.S. households with children fished, while just 14 percent of households without children fished. These levels have remained stable since participation data collection began in 2007. Children consistently inspired participation growth. Over the past three years, the participation rate in households with children ages 6 to 12 and adolescents ages 13 to 17 reported annual growth averaging 6 percent and 5 percent, respectively. During the same period, participation in households with no children grew 3 percent.

Hispanic Participation

Fishing participation among Hispanics ages 6 and over has increased about 45 percent over the last decade. Participant numbers rose from 4.7 million in 2021 to 5.1 million in 2022. The participation rate jumped 6 percent year over year, up from 12.7 percent in 2021 to 13.4 percent in 2022.

Female Participation

Female fishing participation in 2022 approached its 2020 all-time high. Over the last decade, female participant numbers grew nearly 4 million, from 16 million in 2012 to 19.8 million in 2022. Females represented 36 percent of total anglers, 42 percent of first-time participants, and 46 percent of those considering fishing in 2022. 25 percent of participants were 55 or older, up from 19 percent a decade ago.

Profile of a Fishing Trip

Only 18 percent of anglers typically fished alone, reiterating that fishing remained a shared activity in 2022. Nearly 8 in 10 participants usually fished in groups of 2 to 5 anglers. Males were far more likely than females to fish alone, at 25 percent versus 8 percent, and females were more likely to fish in groups of 3 or more, at 53 percent to 35 percent. 3 in 4 participants ages 55 and older typically fished alone or with one companion.

Perceptions of Fishing

Fishing was generally seen as an easy, exciting, and intriguing way to spend times outdoors. Among first-time anglers, negative expectations of fishing—(that it’s only for “serious outdoor people,” was too time consuming, requires too much equipment, or was “not for someone like me”) were reported much less often than positive perceptions.

Future of Fishing

Data continues to underscore the critical importance of introducing fishing at a young age, as 86 percent of current fishing participants fished before the age of 12. Participation rates fall sharply after a child turns 18, making families with young children the key to growing future participation. By understanding the demographics, motivations and barriers of participants, the fishing industry can better reach America’s youngest citizens, nurture a new generation of fishing enthusiasts, and retain those new to the sport. Connecting youth to fishing will ensure that our nation’s waterways are protected, our communities are healthy, and our industry is thriving.

Sample Specification

During 2022, a total of 18,000 online interviews were carried out with a nationwide sample of individuals from U.S. proprietary online panels representative of the U.S. population of people ages six and older. Strict quotas associated with gender, age, income, region, and ethnicity were followed to ensure a balanced sample.

The 2022 participation survey sample size of 18,000 completed interviews provides a high degree of statistical accuracy. All surveys are subject to some level of standard error—that is, the degree to which the results might differ from those obtained by a complete census of every person in the U.S.

Now that we have learned all this information, I’m not sure what we can do with it – other than to dazzle our families and friends with our great knowledge.