Category Archives: News

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.

Can we reverse the trend of dwindling hunting and fishing participants?

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How many times have you said or heard the following: “Look around, do you see any young people here?”  I hear it in almost every organization in which I belong – rod and gun clubs, county leagues of sportsmen, watershed groups, veteran organizations, etc.  And I suspect the same comments are heard at meetings of garden clubs, hiking clubs, knitting clubs, etc.  Where are the young people?

Because of the lack of younger people taking up the leadership reins, some outdoor sportsmen’s clubs have been forced to shut down and sell off their assets or consolidate with others, such as in the case with the Lenox Sportsmen’s Club.  Members of the Dalton Rod & Gun Club, Lakewood Sportsmen’s Club and a couple archery clubs merged with it.  Lucky is the outdoor sports club that has one or two younger folks stepping up to take on officer or director duties.

A few years back, I did a quick tally of the various outdoor sportsmen’s clubs that existed here in the Berkshires in the 1950’s and 1960’s.  Using old newspaper articles written by former outdoor columnist Ted Giddings as my source, I stopped counting when I reached 20 local clubs that no longer exist.  Watershed groups such as the Housatonic River Watershed Association and the Friends of the Williams River had to shut down and transfer their treasuries due to lack of new, younger members taking the reins.

So where are the needed young people who will take over running these clubs that over the years built wonderful club houses, shooting and archery ranges, acquired property, etc. for future generations to use.  Well, I guess they are no longer interested in the hunting and fishing sports.

We can speculate as to the reasons why.

Some blame the parents, claiming they are too busy to take them hunting or fishing or because they themselves are no longer interested in such sports.  That could be true for I see more grandparents spending time taking kids fishing than the parents these days.

Perhaps it’s because kids have no time because they are tied up in school sports with competitions and/or practices now occurring on the weekends.

Perhaps they can’t put down their smartphones and devices and prefer to live in the virtual world instead of the real one where they can experience the sights, sounds and smells of mother nature.

Oh, they are missing so much – the thrill of a leaping wild speckled brook trout in a bubbly stream, the sound of yelping wild turkeys at the crack of dawn, the steaming cup of coffee sipped in the chilly early morning duck blind or the crackling sound of a campfire at the end of the day.

Many of us older folks relish the fond memories of hunting or fishing with now departed family members and friends.   Photo albums periodically refresh those memories. I can’t help but wonder what memories the youth of today will carry forward.  Will they be of computer games?

It’s not as though the youngsters are not given opportunities to experience these sports.  There are Archery-in-the-School programs, youth archery leagues, youth rifle leagues, youth fishing derbies, youth fishing clinics, after school fly fishing programs, Trout-in-the-Classroom programs (where students hatch and rear trout and then release them into local waters), youth trout stocking events, etc.  So why aren’t the kids continuing to participate in these sports?

As far as hunting goes, some speculate that the restrictive gun laws in Massachusetts have prevented or discouraged youths from taking up the sport of hunting. Others suggest that it’s the cost of obtaining the required FID card.  Still others feel that hunters and gun owners are being unfairly stigmatized by some in our society and shy away from the sport.

How sad it is that many parents and grandparents no longer can pass on their prized, heirloom hunting guns, fishing rods, extensive outdoor sporting libraries onto the next generation due to its lack of interest in such sports.  Hunting and fishing trips that some older folks thought would someday take place with their kids and grandkids will never take place.  How sad.

This dilemma is far reaching, not just with the family and clubs, but with state fish and wildlife agencies, too.

Recently, representatives from nearly 30 organizations gathered at MassWildlife’s Field Headquarters for an R3 Summit. (R3 is a national movement to Recruit, Retain, and Reactivate hunters, anglers, and shooting sports participants.) The gathering allowed partners to collaborate on ways to support and grow outdoor recreation in Massachusetts.

The R3 initiative is a response to ongoing state and national trends. According to MassWildlife statistics, participation in fishing and hunting peaked in Massachusetts in 1988. Since then, fishing has declined by 40% and hunting by 58%. These downward trends are occurring nationally as well, which has led to a movement to reconnect and introduce people to these outdoor pursuits and keep outdoor recreation relevant to future generations.

“Getting outside is critical to our well-being and improves our quality of life,” said Tom O’Shea, MA Department of Fish and Game Commissioner. “We are committed to working with partners to equitably connect more people with nature and to make the outdoors more welcoming and accessible to everyone.”

Historically, hunters were one of the first conservation groups in the U.S. to recognize the importance of protecting open space for wildlife species. Most state fish and wildlife agencies, like MassWildlife, are heavily dependent on the revenue from hunting and fishing licenses and dedicated federal funds to support their state’s conservation programs. Therefore, declines in hunting and fishing participation have a direct impact on conservation funding at a time when habitat and species conservation are more important than ever. Though numbers may be dwindling, hunters and anglers remain the backbone of numerous management and conservation efforts across the country through advocacy, funding, species management, and volunteer time.

“No single organization can provide all the resources needed to recruit, retain, and reactivate anglers, hunters, and shooting sports participants,” said Mark Tisa, Director of MassWildlife. “Building and maintaining strong partnerships brings a diversity of perspectives and builds more capacity to provide expanded R3 programming here in the Commonwealth.”

Summit participants heard from state and national speakers about outdoor recreation participation trends, best practices for R3 efforts, and ways to improve educational programs that teach people how to hunt and fish. They also had the chance to collaborate on participation barriers and opportunities specific to Massachusetts

“There are many groups here in Massachusetts working to teach and grow participation,” commented Keith Fritze, Massachusetts chapter president of the National Wild Turkey Federation. “The Summit allowed us to come together and think about how each of our organizations, each with our own areas of expertise, can combine efforts and work towards a common goal.”

MassWildlife has been working towards R3 goals for years—offering a variety of outdoor skills programs, improving resources to support new hunters and anglers, and expanding access to lands and waters open to hunting and fishing.

The Summit, along with the release of the Massachusetts R3 Plan, mark a new chapter and a renewed commitment to building a strong outdoor coalition through collaboration and partnership. I encourage you to read it.  To access the 18-page R3 Plan, click onto https//www.mass.gov/doc/masswildlife-r3/plan/download.

 

MassWildlife Director Mark Tisa had these words about the R3 Plan, “Everyone reading this message understands the importance of this R3 initiative and what it means for preserving the outdoor traditions so many of us grew up with. But we can’t do it alone. No single organization can provide all the resources needed to recruit, retain, and reactivate participants, and diversity in perspective is especially important if we hope to reach the broadest audience possible. To succeed, and I know we can, we must all step up as equal partners now to implement this plan, because each partner has unique expertise and resources to bring to the table. Ultimately, partnerships are the key to successful R3 programs, and we are counting on you. I look forward to intensifying our collective efforts to increase participation in hunting, fishing, and shooting sports in the Commonwealth.”

 

MassWildlife staff among wildland firefighters deployed to Quebec

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According to a MassWildlife news release, two members of the MassWildlife prescribed fire crew, Connor Fleming and Ben Mazzei, recently departed for Quebec, Canada to help battle some of the more than 70 wildfires that have continued to burn since the beginning of June. Fleming and Mazzei join 14 other wildland firefighters from the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR).

The crew will travel to Quebec, where they will be assigned to one of many ongoing fire incidents throughout the province. The 16 Massachusetts firefighters will be joined by four firefighters from Connecticut and one from Vermont. They will engage in direct fire suppression, working on the fire line for about 14 days—building fire breaks, securing fire perimeters, containing fires, and protecting structures.

Rising temperatures, drier conditions due to years of long droughts, and a lack of rain and snowfall, all caused by climate change, are fueling increased fire activity, making the fire season last longer and its effects more severe. The fires in Quebec are just the latest in a series of wildfires burning across Canada this year, including those in Nova Scotia, which resulted in major smoke impacts across the northeastern United States.

“These wildfires are continuing to rage, burning millions of acres of land and blowing smoke into Massachusetts that’s polluting our air,” said DCR Commissioner Brian Arrigo. “I’m proud that we are sending another crew of well-trained and dedicated firefighters to help our friends and partners in Quebec battle these intense blazes and stop further destruction of forests.”

“Fueled by climate change, wildfires are negatively impacting public health, forest health, carbon sequestration and biodiversity here in Massachusetts and throughout North America,” said Department of Fish & Game (DFG) Commissioner Tom O’Shea. “We are extremely grateful to the dedicated staff from DCR and DFG who have volunteered for this important and difficult assignment.”

Massachusetts, along with the other New England states and New York, established the Northeastern Forest Fire Protection Compact—also called the Northeast Compact—in 1949. The Compact provides a means for member states to cope with wildland fires that may become too intense for a single member state to control.

 

MassWildlife awarded $773K to address wildlife diseases

The funds came from a Zoonotic Disease Initiative grant funds from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. These funds will be used over a 3-year period to develop a wildlife health and public outreach program for Massachusetts and to research wildlife diseases and prevent their spread within the Northeast region.

Zoonotic diseases are defined as those that can be transmitted between wildlife and humans. This federal funding provides grants to states, Tribes, and territories to address wildlife disease outbreaks before they become pandemics. The highest priority for the initiative is to increase organizational readiness and ensure there is a network of partners across the nation who are prepared to respond to zoonotic disease outbreaks. Strengthening partner capacity for wildlife health monitoring will allow for the early detection of diseases.

“Recent disease issues like Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza in birds and white-nose syndrome in bats have highlighted the need for building capacity within MassWildlife and other groups in the region to respond quickly using the latest science and best practices,” said Mark S. Tisa, Director of MassWildlife. “This funding will help us formalize working relationships with our partners to conduct surveillance and improve public outreach.”

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s One Health approach to zoonotic diseases includes working closely with experts who specialize in public, animal, and ecosystem health to develop comprehensive plans and appropriate responses to zoonotic disease events. This funding will provide critical financial resources to agencies like MassWildlife who can help prevent and combat global pandemics before they start.

Grants awarded under the Zoonotic Disease Initiative will be used to establish and enhance the capabilities of Tribal, state, and territorial fish and wildlife agencies to effectively address health issues involving free-ranging terrestrial, avian, and aquatic wildlife. Authorized under the American Rescue Plan (2021, H.R. 1319, Section 6003.3), the Initiative will provide up to $9 million in funding to strengthen early detection, rapid response, and science-based management research to address wildlife disease outbreaks before they cross the barrier from animals to humans and become pandemics

Under the direction of MassWildlife, the new program will be guided by an interagency task force of subject area experts and cooperating partners, including the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries, Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Massachusetts Department of Agriculture, Cornell University, UMass-Amherst, University of New Hampshire, Tufts University, Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency, Wampanoag Tribe of Aquinnah, Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe, and USDA Wildlife Services.

Shad stocking underway

The following information was provided by MassWildlife Fisheries Biologist, Steven Mattocks.

shad picture provided by MassWildlife

American shad are fish that migrate from oceans to rivers every spring to spawn. They were once abundant in large Massachusetts rivers like the Taunton, but now only a small portion of their historical population remains. To help increase their numbers, MassWildlife, the Division of Marine Fisheries, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service have begun stocking larval shad.

Fish, like American shad, that spend portions of their lives in both the ocean and freshwater rivers, are known as diadromous fish. Special techniques are needed to restore these migratory fish so that they become connected to a certain freshwater location. Tiny shad, just a few hours old and still attached to their egg sacks, are stocked in the Taunton so that they can “imprint” on the unique characteristics of the river. This will aid in their navigation back to the Taunton when they return as adults after spending 3–5 years in the ocean. Approximately 2 million larval shad will be stocked in the Taunton River each year over the next for 5 years.

. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service began stocking in 2022. Monitoring will continue over the next several years to document population changes in response to the stocking effort. The goal of this partnership is to restore a strong, self-sustaining shad population, and to someday open the fishery to recreational harvest.

American shad are stocked in the Taunton River when they are only a few hours old.

Taunton River once teemed with river herring, shad, and other diadromous fish. However, during the industrial revolution these populations plummeted due to pollution, overfishing, and the construction of multiple dams that blocked passage of migratory fish. Today, water quality improvements and an increase in habitat quality and quantity through dam removal have allowed for the opportunity to bring back this historically important fishery.

This shad restoration effort is part of a larger conservation story for the Taunton. Recent dam removals on Mill River—a tributary of the Taunton—and water quality improvements have led to a rebound in the number of river herring in that system. The once diminished river herring population, which includes both alewife and blueback herring, is thriving and the Taunton and is now home to one of the largest river herring runs in the state. River herring numbers in the Mill River have increased from 1,000 fish in 2013 to over 31,000 fish in 2021.

MassWildlife, the Division of Marine Fisheries, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will continue this collaborative restoration and monitoring work in the Taunton with the goal of returning the American shad population closer to historical levels.

 

Interesting events sponsored by BEAT

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The Berkshire Environmental Action Team (BEAT) invites you to join them at their Berkshire Green Drinks gathering with geologist Mark Brandriss to read the stories written in the rocks and landscapes of western Massachusetts. You will be taking a quick trip through a billion years of geologic events that shaped the Berkshires as we see them today, what created the mountains, ridges, and valleys of the Berkshires.

The in-person gathering takes place on Wednesday, July 12 beginning at 5:15 pm with the presentation and Zoom meeting starting at 6:00 pm.

It will take place at The Barn at Williams Inn, 103 Spring St, Williamstown.  If the weather permits, the presentation will take place outdoors.

You must pre-register if you’d like to virtually attend this event: tinyurl.com/Berks-Green-Drinks-July2023.  RSVP for the in-person gathering: Berks-Green-Drinks-July2023.eventbrite.com.

Brandriss is a geologist who recently retired after teaching at Smith College for 22 years. His specialty is the study of magmas and igneous rocks in the Earth’s crust, based on fieldwork in Greenland, Scotland, Alaska, and South Africa. But like any geologist, he’s also interested in the geology of wherever he happens to be — in this case, Williamstown, where he has lived for 27 years with his wife, Rónadh Cox, Professor of Geosciences at Williams College.

Berkshire Green Drinks is an informal gathering on the second Wednesday of the month. A guest speaker talks for about 30 minutes beginning at 6 pm, and the presentation is followed by a discussion and Q&A. These nights are free and open to everyone with any environmental interest. The drinks aren’t green but the conversations are. Everyone is welcome and encouraged to join and bring along questions.

Can’t make that gathering?  Well on Saturday, July 15, from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm, you are invited to join BEAT for a guided naturalist walk in one of Pittsfield’s urban forests and conservation areas. You’ll observe some of the wonderful things you can find in nature during summer and talk about the area’s plants, animals, and natural history.

The guided walk will take place at Brattle Brook Park in Pittsfield. This conservation area exhibits a grassland-forest ecotone that provides quality habitat for wildlife. Walking conditions will be easy to moderate. The terrain will include forests with possible tree roots in the pathway and grassy meadows with some uneven terrain. Some areas might be a little soggy.

The number of participants is limited, so if you want to join them, email chelsey@thebeatnews.org. to RSVP.  She will answer any questions you may have about the walk.

 

Angling news from Connecticut

Quite a few local anglers fish in Connecticut, especially our flyfishing community.   Many like to flyfish the Housatonic River near Cornwall Bridge.  During the summer months when many of our local rivers get too warm to flyfish without stressing the trout, flyfishermen fish the Farmington River near Riverton, CT.  There the waters are much cooler thanks to the upstream bottom water releases of cold water from the dams of Colebrook Reservoir and Hogback Dam.  Every now and then, I like to take a peek at what’s going on, fishing wise in Connecticut. These are some of the items mentioned in the July 2023 CT Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) publication CT Fishin’ Tips.

“Rock Snot”, a descriptive name for a diatom (single cell algae) that makes a long stalk (billions combined make thick mats) is blooming (growing like crazy) in the West Branch of the  Farmington River in Riverton, CT.  Anglers fishing between Route 20 and the natural gas pipeline crossing are urged to clean and disinfect their waders after fishing in this section. Good methods are to completely dry for several days, freeze waders overnight, use a 10% bleach solution and then dry, or a highly concentrated salt solution and then dry. We don’t want anglers bringing this stuff into Massachusetts.

 

Other news from CT:

 

On May 27 of this year a Common Carp was caught which set a new CT state record.  Robert Jagiello caught one weighing 45 lbs 1 oz, 32 5/8 inches long with a girth of 26 1/4 inches out of Lake Lillinonah. (Lake Lillinonah is a manmade lake located in

picture provided by CT DEEP

Fairfield, Litchfield and New Haven counties of Western Connecticut.) This fish takes down the 2012 record held by Mike Hudak, which was 43 pounds 12 ounces taken from the Connecticut River.

Picture provided by CT DEEP

There was a new Bowfin Catch & Release CT state record set also.  Benjamin Florian caught and released a 28.25-inch Bowfin from Crow Point Cove in Wethersfield, CT. This fish takes down the 2022 record held by Adam Chrzanowski, which was 28.25 inches from Pecausett Pond, Portland., CT.

And out of salt water came a new state record Fluke caught by Bill Proulx. It weighed in at 15.3 pounds, 32 5/8 inches long with a girth of 26 1/4 inches. It surpasses the previous record caught by Michael Maffucci of 14lb 13.76 oz and 31.5 inches back in 2019.

Housatonic River film produced by local students

The Housatonic River Association (HVA) is thrilled to share a short film by students from Reid Middle School in Pittsfield, MA.  Entitled “The place beyond the mountains,” it highlights the history of the river, its uses, wildlife, and more. Students spent hours working on the film in an after-school program. HVA’s Alison Dixon, Berkshire Watershed Conservation Manager, also worked with students on the project.

Funded by The 21st Century Program, this lesson will be available for other schools across the country to use as a model for their own after-school programs.

 

Click onto the HVA website to see the film.

Silver haired local fly fishers have a high regard for Thom Smith

 

Say, did you read about Berkshire Eagle’s NatureWatch columnist Thom Smith’s recent retirement?  (Berkshire Eagle Weekender issue of Saturday & Sunday, July 1-2, 2023 “An eye for nature”).   After nearly 45 years of writing a column for the Eagle, he certainly has earned his retirement.  The question is, are we ready for his retirement?  After enjoying his weekly column all those years, it won’t be the same without it. I don’t know about you, but I have learned an awful lot about our local wildlife from his column.

 

I first met Thom in 1984 when he was Curator of the Berkshire Museum.  He was instrumental in establishing an exhibit at the Berkshire Museum entitled Fly Tying, Fly Fishing, the gentle sport.  Running from April 6 to May 13, 1984 it promoted flyfishing and conservation.  Some 96 amateur fly tyers submitted flies for the exhibit and Kathryn Beebe arranged and mounted them. Some 17 of the tyers were members of the Taconic Chapter of Trout Unlimited, led by the then Chapter President Jerry Zink.  Not everyone can boast having one of their flies exhibited in a museum.

 

Augmenting the flies was an exhibit promoting fly fishing and conservation. There were flyfishing films, presentations by famous flyfishing authors such as the late internationally known Helen Shaw who wrote two fly tying books (Fly-Tying: Materials, Tools, and Techniques and Flies for Fish and Fisherman: Wet Flies.  She was named “the First Lady of Fly Tying”)  her husband Hermann Kessler (writer and Art Director for Field & Stream magazine) and other notables such as Leon Chandler (VP of Cortland Line Co, past Trout Unlimited President, and Freshwater Hall of Fame recipient).

 

In the introduction to the exhibit, Kessler wrote, “Fly tying engrosses the mind, and involves the dexterity of fishing enthusiasts from all walks of life.  Gathering in clubs and classes to exchange information, fly tyers bridge economic and social boundaries to develop fanciful deceivers and aquatic insect likeness. The Berkshire Museum has brought together the work of women, men, and children, to prove the point that amateur fly tyers are all working toward their concept of ultimate perfections.  Their flies are presented here for your study, admiration, and enticement to go and do likewise.”

 

On behalf of the local fly tyers who are still around, many thanks to Thom, for establishing this “gentle sport” exhibit and bringing it to the attention of the public.  That exhibit has not been forgotten after all these years.

2023 antlerless (doe) permit numbers announced

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According to the MassWildlife web page, the number of 2023 antlerless deer hunting permits is the same as it was in 2022. Also, there have been no changes in the permit numbers in the individual wildlife management zones.  The allocated permits are as follows in the various zones.  Note, Zones 1 through 4 are the zones in our area:

 

Zone 1 – 800 allocations, Zone 2 – 400, Zone 3 – 2,050, Zone 4N – 800, Zone 4S – 600, Zone 5 – 1,950, Zone 6 – 400, Zone 7 – 3,000, Zone 8 – 3,100, Zone 9 – 7,200, Zones 10 and 11 – no cap, Zone 12 – 1,350, Zones 13 and 14 no cap.

 

It’s obvious that in zones 10, 11, 13 and 14, in the eastern part of the state with no caps on antlerless harvests, they are still having troubles getting the deer population down to targeted deer densities.

 

Deer hunters should be aware that the deadline for applying for an antlerless deer permit is July 16. All three Massachusetts deer hunting seasons—Archery, Shotgun and Primitive Arms, are ‘bucks only’ if you do not possess this permit for the zone in which you are hunting.

 

According to MassWildlife, Massachusetts deer management is built on the harvest of does to regulate the population. Any deer with at least one three-inch antler is classified as a buck and your Massachusetts hunting license contains two antlered deer tags. You may take as many bucks as you have tags for on the same day.

 

Antlerless deer tags are allocated by zone based on population goals in that zone. Most hunters apply for their permit when they purchase their Massachusetts hunting license, but you can also apply online by going to MassFishHunt or in person by going to one of the MassWildlife District Offices or the MassWildlife Field Headquarters in Westborough.

 

If you apply for an antlerless deer permit by the July 16 deadline, you still must check to see if you have been awarded the right to purchase the permit.

 

The award period begins August 1 at 8:00 am and ends on December 31. Your odds of obtaining a permit are the same regardless of when you check your permit status. You can check the status through MassFishHunt or by visiting a MassWildlife office or license agent location. There is no fee for the application, but those who are successful are required to pay a $10 fee.

 

At the June meeting of the Berkshire County League of Sportsmen, DFW Western District Supervisor Andrew Madden suggested that hunters verify that they already applied for an Antlerless Deer Permit before the July 16 deadline. I’m glad he did.  All along I thought that I had an application in because I applied for one when I bought my 2023 sporting license in December.  Well, it turned out that I didn’t have an application on file or it wasn’t recognized. I immediately reapplied.

 

Just to be on the safe side, hunters might want to verify that they have their applications in by checking their records through MassFishHunt.  Madden suggested that you contact the District Office in Dalton if you need assistance.

 

Basic Hunter Education|

 

Basic Hunter Education is mandatory for all first-time hunters. If you held a hunting license prior to 2007 or have successfully completed a Basic Hunter Education course from any jurisdiction, you already qualify to buy a Massachusetts hunting license.

 

If you are 18 years of age or older and you want to purchase your first-ever hunting license, you must complete a Basic Hunter Education course. Those wishing to obtain only a firearms license do not necessarily need Basic Hunter Education.

 

A Basic Hunter Education courses will be offered at the Worthington Rod and Gun Club on 458 Dingle Road (Route 112), Worthington on the following dates:

Monday, July 31, Tuesday, August 1, Thursday, August 3, and Friday, August 4.  All classes run from 5:30 to 9:00 pm and attendance at all 4 nights is required.

 

To enroll, call (508)389-7830.

 

Pittsfield Sportsmen’s Youth Derby

 

There were about 30 children who attended the Pittsfield Sportsmen’s Club kid’s fishing event last Saturday at the Reynolds Pond in Cheshire.  According to club spokesperson Sandra Bushey, everyone caught fish and had a wonderful time.  Only one of the five tagged fish was caught.  A girl named Isabella caught the tagged trout and won a fishing pole.  Several of the PSC directors volunteered and everyone that was there had a fun day.  Fortunately, it poured rain right after they finished at 1:00 p.m.

Isabella is on the left holding the bag. Picture provided by Sandra Bushey

 

Kid’s Fishing Derby

 

Bring your children aged 13 and under next Saturday, July 8 to the monthly Friends of the Berkshire National Fish Hatchery youth fishing derby at the Hatchery’s Lower Pool at 240 Hatchery Road, New Marlborough.

 

It runs from 9:00 to 10:30 am.  Watch them learn to fish and compete for prizes.  No child goes away empty handed.

 

Massachusetts Junior Duck Stamp Contest

Jasmine Wang from Lexington won Best of Show in the 2023 Massachusetts Junior Duck Stamp (JDS) Contest. Her colored pencil drawing of a black-bellied whistling duck was selected from 185 entries. Wang’s award-winning work will represent Massachusetts at the National JDS Contest.

Students from kindergarten through grade 12 from across the Commonwealth submitted original works of art depicting waterfowl in appropriate wetland habitat, demonstrating both artistic talent and a knowledge of the value of wetlands for wildlife. In March, MassWildlife held the judging, at which time the top winning artists were selected. Combinations of the top artworks are being exhibited throughout Massachusetts.

The Massachusetts JDS Program is sponsored by MassWildlife and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, with support from the Massachusetts Sportsmen’s Council. You can support the JDS Program and wetland conservation by purchasing Junior Duck Stamps featuring national winners from previous years. Stamps can be purchased at duckstamp.com.

To learn more about the Massachusetts JDS Program, and to access the traveling exhibit schedule, visit mass.gov/dfw/jds.

 

Picture not what it appeared to be

 

Last week I featured a picture of a big brown trout that Lawrence “Skip” Dean, of Becket, caught out of Lake Buel earlier this year.  He didn’t measure it but released it as soon as possible to fight another day.

 

If you looked closely at that picture, you probably saw blood on both of Skip’s hands and on the fish and thought, as I did, no way would that fish ever survive.  Most anglers know that it is a foregone conclusion that if your fish is bleeding, it will die shortly thereafter.

 

Well, Skip called me last week because he thought that some people would not believe that fish survived. It was not the fish’s blood on his hands, he said, it was his own.  While removing the lure from the fish’s mouth, it thrashed around and its sharp gill shield and teeth cut his hands.

He said that when he returned the fish to the water, he held the fish near its tail so that it would get reoriented.  After a while, the fish gave a sharp flip of its tail and shot off for deeper water.  It is probably lurching around in Lake Buel today albeit a little smarter.

 

Happy 4th of July

 

Here’s hoping you have a great holiday.  But after the hustle and bustle of the parades, picnics, visitors, and fireworks are over, you owe yourself a little peace and quiet.

 

In the Summer 2023 issue of Mass Audubon’s Explore magazine, there’s an article entitled Picturesque Ponds.  “Take a beat from your busy summer” it says, “to sit by a peaceful pond and ground yourself in nature.  Listen to the chirps of nearby birds or the kerplunk of a turtle jumping into the water.”  It goes on and lists a few favorite ponds that “will have you feeling calm and reconnected in no time.”

 

Pleasant Valley in Lenox being one of them listed.

 

“Walk on the newly constructed All Persons Trail at Pleasant Valley, which follows a scenic stretch of the Pike’s Pond shoreline.  Flanked by tall pines and other trees, this pond is a perfect place to get your water and forest fix.  Sit on the boardwalk bench to try and spot the bobbing heads and flat tails of beavers cruising the pond at dawn or dusk.”

 

Sounds nice, ey?

Sometimes fishing derbies matter – a lot

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Two important fishing derbies took place in our area on June 3 which you should know about.

 

Youth Outreach Derby

 

Some 20 youths and their families attended the Berkshire County League of Sportsmen’s Youth Outreach fishing event this year on Reynolds Pond in Cheshire.  This year’s group was from the Pediatric Palliative Care Program, part of Hospice Care in the Berkshires which is sponsored by the Department of Public Health.  It is a separate program from Hospice Care for kids who have life limiting health conditions.

According to Program Director June Green, the program is about giving the kids and their families a quality of life.  They provide nursing, social work, spiritual counselling, art, music and various therapy.  The siblings get to benefit from them as well because they do family events.  “Most of the kids get their medical care at Boston Children’s Hospital,” said Green.  “They have a nurse who comes to their homes and talks about what’s going on and discusses plans for doctor events. They have social workers who help connect the families to all of the resources that are available to them such as social security, mental disability services, fuel assistance, housing, anything to help the families. Also, to get them connected sometimes with charity”.

Simon Dembitzer, nurse for the pediatric care program said the kids along with their parents and grandparents were “super excited” to attend and learn how to fish.  Most never have been fishing before and it was a brand- new experience for them.

The League was more than happy to provide comfort to these kids that are medically challenged.  There was a wide variety of kids, some were in wheelchairs – and kids who look like any other kids but with conditions that may very well limit their lifespans.  Kids with seizure disorders, with cancer, and all kinds of different challenges.

photo taken by Gene Chague

Reynolds Pond was stocked and the kids were guaranteed that they would catch fish.  Fish cleaning service was also provided.

Each kid was given a fishing pole and equipment with which to fish and when the day was over, they were able to take them home. Their equipment was all set up by volunteers by the time they arrived and they were provided with the necessary bait. Each time a kid caught a fish, a volunteer would clean it and put it into a plastic zip lock bag to bring home to eat. Around noon time, a meal of burgers, dogs, chips, soda and desert was provided.

The Berkshire County League of Sportsmen sponsored the event with a significant grant from Whitetails Unlimited.  They provided the brook trout (which were raised in the Berkshire National Fish Hatchery), equipment, bait, and food. Volunteers from the Cheshire Rod & Gun Club, East Mountain Sportsmen’s Club, Adams Outdoor for Youth, B.A.S.S., Taconic TU, Berkshire Beagle Club and Pittsfield Sportsmen’s Club assisted.

I have to tell you that after leaving the event and driving to the next derby, I had to pull over for a few minutes to process what I had just seen. Seeing those kids and their parent’s happy faces, and knowing about the difficult hand that was dealt to them, really got to me. God bless them, their families and the sportsmen who provided them with such an enjoyable and memorable day.

Harry A. Bateman Memorial Jimmy Fund Fishing Derby

According to event organizer Stephen Bateman, about 300 registered fishermen attended the 31st Annual Harry A. Bateman Memorial Jimmy Fund Fishing Derby at the Onota Lake Pavilion.  They raised over $10,000 for the fight against cancer.

The event also drew city officials: Pete White, Peter Marchetti, Karen Kalinowski, Jon Krol along with calls from Berkshire County DA Tim Shugrue and from Governor Healy’s Office. This was all due to Mike Daley and his It’s Pittsfield Tonight Broadcast.

According to Bateman, in all the years of the fishing derby only 4 bowfins had previously been caught with the first being caught in 2010. This year, brother and sister team Quinton and Cloe Shuttleworth each caught one.

Photos provided by Steve Bateman

Food and beverages were provided by The Hot Dog Ranch, Market 32, Don Davis Heating & Plumbing, Integrity Distributors, Freihofer’s Baking Company, Premium Waters and Frito Lay. The Trophies were provided by Steve Ray of Berkshire Real Estate Associates and Jones Trophies. A special shout out to the City of Pittsfield Maintenance Dept, Eric Green and Dave Isby; Joshua Christman of Christman Charters, Mike & Tina Stewart from Berkshire Concrete Repair, Gable Electric, Pittsfield Cooperative Bank and IUE/CWA Local 255.

Members of “COBB” (crippled, old, busted bikers) from western M

Photo taken by Autumn Phoenix of Autumn Phoenix Photography.

assachusetts were on hand to help children who had never fished before and according to Bateman, they did a great job.

Here are the 2023 Winners as provided by Steve Bateman:

CHILDREN HEAVIEST GAME FISH CATEGORY

1ST. PLACE: JADEN VIRGILIO – LARGEMOUTH BASS- 3 LBS. 14 OZ.

2ND. PLACE: JUSTIN PROPER, JR. – SMALLMOUTH BASS- 2 LBS. 1 OZ.
3RD. PLACE: BRYER FARREL – RAINBOW TROUT – 1 LBS. 10 0Z.

CHILDREN HEAVIEST NON-GAME FISH CATEGORY

1ST. PLACE: QUINTON SHUTTLEWORTH – BOWFIN – 6 LBS – 4 OZ.
2ND. PLACE: CLOE SHUTTLEWORTH – BOWFIN -5 LBS. 4 OZ.
3RD. RAYCHELLE ERRICHETTO – BULL HEAD – 11 OZ.

ADULT HEAVIEST GAME FISH CATEGORY

1ST. PLACE: BRIAN BARDE – CHAIN PICKEREL- 4 LBS. 8 OZ.
2ND. PLACE: SHAUN HERFORTH – CHAIN PICKEREL – 3 LBS. 8OZ.
3RD. PLACE: SUE O’BRIEN – BASS- 3LBS. 5 OZ

SPECIAL HEAVIEST FISH 1ST. PLACE AWARDS

BASS:  MICKY BUCK -LARGEMOUTH BASS – 4 LBS. ADULT
PERCH/CRAPPIE: CASSIDY WOJNICKI AND ALICE CHRISTMAN – WHITE PERCH – 1 LB
CARP: MATT CLARK – COMMON CARP- 6 LBS. 13 OZ.
TROUT ADULT: JOHN GALVANI AND JUSTIN PROPER – TIGER TROUT 2 LBS.  7 OZ.

TROUT CHILDREN: DOMINIC CURTIN – RAINBOW TROUT 1 LBS. 11 OZ.
SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD: ERWIN O’HEARN

 

Congratulations to all!

 

Probably, most readers have had friends or relatives diagnosed with some form of cancer and probably those who are still around with us today have benefitted from the research conducted at the Dana Farber and other institutes.  Kudos to Steve Bateman and his team for putting on this event every year and raising the great amounts of money to help fund such research. Thanks also to the people and businesses that make the donations each year.  It’s a lot of work to put on this event every year and it’s not easy to ask for donations, but I’d be willing to bet that Steve would call it a labor of love.

Protection of freshwater lakes and watersheds

 

You are invited to join the 1st Annual Conference on the Protection of Freshwater Lakes and Watersheds of Western Massachusetts on Thursday June 22, at the Berkshire Innovation Center, 45 Woodlawn Avenue, Pittsfield. Beginning at 5:30 pm, you will learn about the steps that individuals, local organizations, towns, and cities in your community are taking to maintain the natural biodiversity of this region. They will address the fundamental importance of these freshwater ecosystems, and discuss the planning, stewardship, education, recreation, and regulation initiatives serving to protect these natural watersheds and infrastructures from threats such as invasive species, damming and water drawdowns, nutrient overload, and exploitation.

This conference is free and open to the public.

Meeting Agenda:

  • A Community’s Common Cause: The Waters That Unite Us, • Lee Hauge: President, LAPA West (Lakes and Ponds Association of Western Massachusetts)
  • Battling Eurasian Milfoil on Lake Onota, • Michael Riordan: President, LOPA (Lake Onota Preservation Association)
  • The Voice of the Sportsman: Dimensions of Fishing, Hunting, and other Outdoor Pursuits, • Andrew Madden: Western District Supervisor, Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife
  • Resource Management and Future Planning of Pittsfield’s Lakes and Open Spaces, • James McGrath: City of Pittsfield Park, Open Space, and Natural Resource Program Manager
  • Invaders on the Doorstep: Challenges and Best Practices to Mitigate the Spread of Invasive Species, • Doug Spoehr: Director, Invasive Species, LOPA (Lake Onota Preservation Association)
  • Process Water for Industry and the Risks of Pollutant Transfer, • Speaker TBA
  • “Measure the Spread” Pilot Program, • Panelist discussion

Most brown trout in the Deerfield River are wild, not stocked

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For the past four years, MassWildlife has been conducting extensive mark-recapture electrofishing surveys on the Deerfield River to assess the brown trout population. The surveys were focused on the upper section of the river from the Fife Brook Dam to the Route 2 bridge crossing in Charlemont. Results from this work show that over 80% of the brown trout in this section of the Deerfield River are wild. These wild trout were born in the Deerfield or a nearby tributary, not stocked as adults from the hatchery. Based on these findings, MassWildlife has decided that brown trout stocking is no longer necessary in this section of the river since there are many wild fish present.

“Fishing in the Deerfield River is better than ever, and anglers will not notice much of a change from the stocking adjustments,” says Adam Kautza, MassWildlife’s Coldwater Fishery Resource Project Leader. “We will continue to stock rainbow trout in this section of the river. Also, the typical allotment of hatchery-raised brown trout usually stocked upstream of the Route 2 bridge will still be stocked further downstream.” The combination of stocked trout and wild brown trout along with two catch-and-release only areas make the Deerfield a premier destination for all kinds of anglers.

Consistent with the last four years of the survey, MassWildlife biologists will continue to clip the adipose fin of all hatchery-raised brown trout released into the lower section of the Deerfield. “This will enable us to continue monitoring this area and we will know if any hatchery trout make the trip upstream,” says Kautza. “We will continue to monitor the trout population and reassess as needed.”

This survey, along with other fisheries research, allows MassWildlife to manage fish populations more effectively and to provide a variety of fishing opportunities to the public. This project was made possible by ongoing support from the Deerfield River Watershed Chapter of Trout Unlimited and the Greater Boston Chapter of Trout Unlimited. These groups were instrumental in getting this project started and provided physical and financial assistance along the way. “We commend MassWildlife for taking this huge step toward protecting and expanding the wild brown trout population in the upper Deerfield,” says Eric Halloran, president of the Deerfield River Watershed Chapter of Trout Unlimited. “We have known for years that this part of the Deerfield has a significant population of wild brown trout. We hope that through our working relationship with MassWildlife the wild trout population in the Deerfield Watershed will continue to expand.”

Proposed change in goose hunting season

A couple of months ago, it was mentioned in this column that certain waterfowl regulation changes were going to be recommended at a public hearing on April 26.  One of the proposed changes would have affected the goose hunters by listing the Berkshire Late Goose season from December 15 to January 30.  However; based upon the minutes of the April 2023 Fish & Game Board, they approved a different proposed season which would run from January 1 through February 15.

In response to my inquiry for reasons for the change, MassWildlife answered that they did so in response to public comments from hunters, both written and in person at the hearing, Hunters commented that the February portion of the season provides an important opportunity to hunt at a time, and in places, where there is little other activity or conflict with other users. Basically, the Board approved the dates that they felt gave the best opportunity for Berkshire goose hunters.

Ice fishermen expect cold temperatures at that time of year.  They need plenty of ice for safety reasons.  To counter the cold, they can walk around, chase the tip-ups, cook some warm grub on a hibachi, socialize with other ice fishermen, etc.

But hunkering down and staying still in a small goose blind in February? No, no, not for me.

Pittsfield Sportsmen’s Club youth fishing event

The PSC is sponsoring a kid’s fishing event at Reynolds Pond in Cheshire on Saturday June 17 from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm. It is for kids 12 and under and their parents don’t have to be club members.

There will be snacks for the kids and 5 prizes for kids who catch a tagged trout.

For more information, contact Sandra and Ed Bushey at (413) 443-9371.

Mass Firearm Law Seminar

 

The Lenox Sportsmen’s Club (LSC) is hosting an educational seminar for both License to Carry Firearms (LTC) holders and non-holders.  The Massachusetts Firearm Law Seminar is being held Tuesday, June 13 from 6:00 pm to 9:00 am at the Lenox Sportsmen’s Club, 258 New Lenox Road, Lenox, MA.

Taught by Jon Green, Director of Education & Training for the Massachusetts Gun Owners Action League (GOAL), this 3-hour long seminar reviews and explains both state and federal laws and regulations in simple-to-understand language. The seminar will clarify applicable Massachusetts General Laws (MGL) and Code of Massachusetts Regulations (CMR) regarding;

  • Firearm definitions
  • Firearm purchase and sale
  • Proper and legal firearm and ammunition possession, transport, and storage
  • Record-keeping requirements
  • Recommended best practices for firearm owners

The cost is $15.00 per person for Lenox Sportsmen’s Club members and their guests and $20.00 for non-members.

Light snacks and soft drinks will be provided. Every attendee will receive a complimentary copy of the Massachusetts Gun Owners Action League firearms law booklet.  A License to Carry Firearms (LTC) is not required to attend this seminar.

Pre-Registration is required for this event. People can register on the LSC website.

Hunter education course

Basic hunter education is mandatory for all first-time adult hunters. The Lenox Sportsmen’s Club has scheduled a Hunter Education course at its clubhouse with MassWildlife on August 20. These classes fill up quickly, so if you are interested in taking it, call MassWildlife at (508) 389-7830.

Summer wild turkey survey

Help MassWildlife with its annual summer wild turkey count. Every year from June 1 to August 31, wild turkey reports from the public help their biologists determine productivity, compare long-term reproductive success, and estimate fall harvest potential. Reports are welcome from all regions of Massachusetts, from the most rural communities to more densely-populated areas. The summer wild turkey survey is a fun way for people to connect with nature while contributing valuable data to MassWildlife biologists.

 

You are encouraged to report wild turkey sightings in your area.  Contribute to the annual wild turkey survey by reporting observations of hens (female turkeys), poults (newly-hatched turkeys), jakes (juvenile males), and toms (adult males). Click onto the MassWildlife web page to learn how to tell the difference between male and female turkeys.

Turkey sightings can now be submitted online using a form which can be downloaded.   The form has been updated for the 2023 to include a map that allows collection of more accurate location information. Users have the option to zoom to their location on the map or type in an address.

Carp Palooza

This year’s Carp Palooza event will take place on Onota Lake in Pittsfield on June 24. There will be cash prizes for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place, pending the number of entries.  Sign-up will take place at the boat ramp between 1:00 and 3:00 pm.  Fishing ends at 12:00 am.

 

Two person teams, $50 per team.  Awards will be given for the best combined weight, 2 carp.  Lunker Pool optional at $20 per team.  Championship belts will be awarded to the first-place team.  There will also be a 50/50 raffle.

 

For information on the event, contact Joshua Christman at (413) 770-7111.

 

 

A note from the Environmental Police

According to Lieutenant Tara Carlow of the Massachusetts Environmental Police, officers are patrolling by boat and ATV for violations as well as increasing their presence in the DCR parks as their campgrounds and day use areas become busier.  They can always reach out to us for violations or to chat.

Recently they were out with the trout stocking trucks on a couple of occasions and one officer was at the youth stocking event which was recently held at Onota Lake.

So, boaters and anglers take note.

An unforgettable Opening Day on the River”

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Recently, I have been in contact with an old friend, Bill Hollister, a native of Pittsfield, but who now lives in Valatie, NY.  He is a retired New York State Wildlife Biologist, an award-winning outdoor writer, and a member of the New York State Outdoorsman Hall of Fame.

 

He got thinking about an incident that occurred here in Pittsfield around 1950, when he was teenager, and wondered if readers would be interested in reading about it.  It is an article which may jog the memories of our silver haired readers.  It is probably more appropriate to run the story next spring, around trout stocking time, but since both Bill and I are in our 80’s, perhaps it’s best not to wait too long to run it.

 

The title of Bill’s story is “An unforgettable Opening Day on the River”

 

“As a teenager growing up in the Berkshires, there were many happy days.  In the springtime, many of those days were centered around the opening day of trout season.  Living within walking distance of a popular trout stream, the West Branch of the Housatonic River was a real asset.  The traditional opening day was the second Saturday in April. This was followed by the entire next week being out of school for spring vacation. This meant more pleasurable days on the river.

 

Like most opening days I was on the river well before dawn. I was on my way downstream, and had just passed the old swimming hole, a large deep pool, on a slight bend of the river. After passing this point, I looked across the river and was shocked to see a man lying face down in the river with young Teddy Hoffman, a friend from the neighborhood, holding the heel of the man’s boot, preventing him from being carried in the current into deeper waters.  I jumped off the bank into waist deep water, waded across the stream and tossed my fishing rod onto the riverbank. I then grabbed the man with both hands on his upper arm just below his shoulder, lifted his upper body out of the water, and dragged him up on shore.

 

As I did so, I yelled at some men nearby. “What the hell is wrong with you men? You see a man face down in this icy water and you just stand there watching? With a lack of action by anyone else present, I decided it was time for this 15-year-old to take charge. I yelled to two passing fishermen, “Run up to the house with the lights on and tell them to call the emergency ambulance. Pinky Danford lives there. He’s a Pittsfield city policeman. If he’s home, tell him to get down here. He’ll know just what to do.” Minutes later, Officer Danford came running down from his house clad only in slippers, his uniform trousers and a tee-shirt, not much protection against the 30 some degree temperature of that cold April day.

 

Upon reaching the stricken man, he began artificial respiration with the old back pressure arm- lift method.  After some time, the man gurgled some liquids from his mouth and appeared to be breathing slightly, though still unconscious.  Soon the Emergency Ambulance arrived and two burly men came running down the hill, one carrying a stretcher. They exchanged a few words with Officer Danford, then lifted the man onto a stretcher, and carried him to the ambulance and off to a local hospital.

 

I then left and hiked out to the highway, stopped to empty the still cold water from my hip boots then headed home.  Once there I told my parents of the morning happenings, changed into dry clothes, a pair of short, rubber boots, and headed back to the river,

 

A few days later, just as we were sitting down for dinner, my dad answered a phone call. The person calling said they live on Gale Avenue not far from the river. They were relatives of the man I pulled from the river. They said he had suffered a heart attack and collapsed into the river. He was currently in the hospital and doing very well, and was expected to be discharged soon. They thanked my dad profusely for my actions, and were extremely thankful to all who came to the aid of their relative.

 

Clearly, a number of people stepped up to help that day.  The Pittsfield Police Emergency Ambulance team, the two passing fishermen who ran up to the Danford residence to summon help, the two teenagers who had lent a helping hand, and definitely off- duty police officer Pinky Danford, whose quick and decisive action, along with the tireless application of CPR, saved the man’s life.

While there have been many memorable opening days of trout season, this day remains as my most unforgettable day on the river, knowing that perhaps the greatest reward for those who helped was just knowing that their actions had helped to save a man’s life.”

 

Wildlife Management Cleanup

A small but enthusiastic group participated in the DFW Western District Wildlife Management Area Cleanup which took place last weekend. Partnered with MassWildlife were the Housatonic Valley Association (HVA) and the Berkshire Environmental Action Team (BEAT) organizations. They picked up garbage and junk from the George Darey Wildlife Management Area in Lenox as well as certain areas along Roaring Brook Road.

Rain did not dampen their spirits and they managed to pick up a whole truckload of junk in a little over two hours of work.

Participants in the clean-up were Alison Dixon from HVA, paddlers Gary Aprea and Gloria Wesley, Taylor Woodward from BCC, Robin Perry, a volunteer from BEAT, and DFW staff members Heather Sadler, Andrew Madden, Leanda Fontaine Gagnon and Nate Buckhout. (You will notice that there were no people representing the various local outdoor sportsmen’s clubs. Must be they had the wrong date on their calendars).

Guido’s Fresh Marketplace provided tasty sandwiches, chips, etc. for all participants.

Results of the Stockbridge Sportsmen’s Club fishing derby

 

Last Sunday, it was rain free, but cold and windy with average temps in the mid 40’s to low 50’s and that wind made it feel colder.  They had 53 fishermen brave the elements and they caught some nice size fish.

 

Adult Winners ($100 dollars each):

Largest Trout:  James Trumps, South Lee:  1 lb. 12 oz, 15.5 inches long

Largest Pickerel: Peter Soules, Sheffield:   3 lbs. 12 oz, 25 inches long

Largest Bass:  Bill Navan, Lenox:  3 lbs. 10 oz, 17.5 inches long

Largest Bullhead:  Tina Lovern, Washington:  ½ lb. 10 inches long

 

Age 12 and under Winners (fishing tackle): 

Largest Trout:   Alice Christman, Pittsfield:  1 lb. 4 oz, 14.5 inches long

Largest Pickerel: Gabriel Christman, Pittsfield:  2.5 lbs., 21.5 inches long

Largest Bass (Rock):  Sadie Prew:  8 oz, 9 inches long

Largest Bullhead:  Mya Methe, Pittsfield: 12 oz, 11 inches long

According to Club spokesman Tim Minkler, everyone seemed to have fun and chef Bob Barrett warmed them all up with hot tasty food and drinks.

Kid’s Fishing Derby

Bring your children aged 13 and under next Saturday, June 10 to the monthly Friends of the Berkshire National Fish Hatchery youth fishing derby at the Hatchery’s Lower Pool at 240 Hatchery Road, New Marlborough.

It runs from 9:00 to 10:30 am.  Watch them learn to fish and compete for prizes.  No child goes away empty handed.

Correction

In last week’s column, I wrote about the dedication of a plaque noting the donation of land by the Weiss family to the Town of Lenox.  I mentioned a talk by Jim Brooks.  My mistake, the name given should have been Jim Brooke.  Please accept my apologies.