Category Archives: Bear Hunting

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Youth pheasant hunt produced happy hunters

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.

Picture provided by Cheshire Rod & Gun Club

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.

 

Several sporting clubs across the state offer the Youth Pheasant Hunt Program which includes a seminar and a mentored hunt. You do not need to be a member of the club to participate in the seminar or the hunt. All participants must complete the seminar before the day of the hunt.

Registration is now closed for the 2022 youth pheasant program, but you might consider entering your youths into this program next year.

 

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). Note: A FID card is only required if using a shotgun.

According to Astrid Huseby, DFW Coordinator of the Youth Pheasant Program, some 60 students were registered for the program from 6 clubs statewide. The participating club in our area was the Lee Sportsmen’s Association which had 7 participants.  The Cheshire Rod & Gun Club ran its own program and had 3 youths participating.

According to Karen Kruszyna, Cheshire Rod & Gun Club spokesperson, the three boys who participated there were Wyatt Bellows, Jacob Trudeau and Tim Morgan, Jr.  They were treated to a pancake breakfast, safety talk/hunting plan and then out they went hunting.

They had a great time pheasant hunting behind the bird dog Beau which is owned by Rick Moffett, and as the picture shows they had great success.

Sorry, details of the Lee Sportsmen’s Association were not made available in time for this column.

I’ll bet that picture congers up wonderful memories to older upland game hunters, for one never forgets the experience of their first pheasant hunt.

Second Bear Hunting Season

The second bear hunting season opens on Monday, November 7 and runs until November 26.  The hunting implements that are allowed are rifles, muzzleloaders and archery.  No revolvers or shotguns are allowed.

This past September’s bear hunting season ended with a harvest of approximately 153 bears. This was substantially more than last year’s 112 and is on track for a good year for bear hunters.

New DFW Western District staff member hired

 

Colby Kellogg-Youndt was recently hired as a Wildlife Technician in the Western District. Colby is originally from upstate New York but is now living in Pittsfield. She is a graduate of St. Lawrence University and brings excellent experience from previous biological technician positions, including her most recent work with shorebirds on Cape Cod. Colby will be stocking fish and pheasants, maintaining Wildlife Management Areas, working check stations, collecting biological data, and providing field support for all MassWildlife programs. “The District is excited to add Colby to our excellent crew.” said District Supervisor Andrew Madden.

District Biologists and particularly District Technicians provide most of the on-the-ground conservation service that benefit hunters, anglers, and the general public.

 

Trout Spawning under way

 

MassWildlife stocked over 63,000 trout into Massachusetts waterbodies this fall. While fall stocking has concluded, hatchery staff are hard at work preparing fish for the year ahead.

 

Have you ever wondered from where all these trout come from?  Well, MassWildlife operates five fish hatcheries in the state, located in Sandwich, Belchertown, Montague, Sunderland, and Palmer. Each fall, hatchery staff manually spawn trout at Palmer and Sandwich hatcheries to produce more than 1.5 million fertile brook trout, brown trout, and tiger trout eggs.

Eggs from the female and milt from the male are combined, then water is added to activate the sperm. Spawning happens when hatchery staff carefully mix trout eggs and milt together. The process begins when eggs are gently squeezed from a female and collected in a bowl. Milt from a male is then squeezed into the same bowl and a small amount of water is added to activate the sperm. Male and female fish are quickly returned to the water to minimize stress.

 

The mixture is gently stirred to encourage fertilization. The eggs are placed in a bath containing a mixture of water and a special buffered iodine-based disinfectant. This process reduces the risk of disease and allows the eggs to absorb water and become fully formed and firm, a process called water hardening. The water-hardened eggs are then counted and placed in incubation troughs where they remain until they hatch. These million and a half eggs, coupled with rainbow trout eggs obtained through a cooperative program with the US Fish and Wildlife Service, will be reared at MassWildlife’s five hatcheries.

 

After incubating for about two months, the eggs hatch into fry. When they are about two inches long, the fry are moved from the indoor “hatch house” to outdoor rearing pools. The fish grow in these pools for 1.5–2.5 years until they reach stocking size. Depending on the species, trout are stocked when they are between 12–14 inches long.

 

Trout are stocked in hundreds of rivers, streams, lakes, and ponds throughout the Commonwealth every spring and fall.

 

Free Stream Smart Training

The Berkshire Clean, Cold, and Connected Partnership is hosting a workshop on how to implement Stream Smart Culvert Replacements to help conservation commissions, nonprofits, highways, and towns with navigating culvert replacements to ensure they are fish-friendly and flood resilient.

 

You are encouraged to join Housatonic Valley Association (HVA) to learn how to design, permit, build, and finance culvert replacement projects that address flood resilience and Aquatic Organism Passage (AOP).  Presentations will be targeting projects in the Housatonic, Hoosic, and Farmington watersheds that are within Berkshire County. Presentations include:

 

  • Stream Geomorphology Demo with Billie Li and Alison Dixon from Housatonic Valley Association
  • Field Reconnaissance and Location Prioritization with Erin Rogers from Trout Unlimited
  • How to Create Stream Smart Crossings with Carrie Banks from Massachusetts Division of Ecological Restoration
  • Legal Requirements for MassDOT Chapter 85 review and Conservation Commission Notices of Intent with Scott Jackson from University of Massachusetts Department of Environmental Conservation, and Mark Devylder from Mass DOT
  • Funding Opportunities with Holden Sparacino from Massachusetts Division of Ecological Restoration, and Carrieanne Petrik from Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs

 

Support for this training provided by the Massachusetts Natural Resources Damages Fund and the Massachusetts Division of Ecological Restoration.

 

The free workshop will be held at Berkshire Community College (BCC) in the Koussevitsky Arts Center on Thursday, December 1, from 7:45 AM – 12:15 PM. Participant space is limited, and pre-registration is necessary. (413) 298-7024.

 

Results of Berkshire Beagle Club field trial

 

According to club spokesman, Jeff St John, there were 95 total entries at the Jack Silvernail Memorial Field Trial which was held at the Berkshire Beagle Club last weekend.  Some 37 registered on Saturday and 58 on Sunday.

Picture provided by Berkshire Beagle Club

 

The winners on Saturday were: 13-inch males – Larry Mazza, of Warren, MA .and

15-inch males – Zinny Swanson of Brattleboro, VT (who is a club member).

 

The winners on Sunday were:  13-inch Females – Michael Hebert, Michael Santos of Fairhaven, MA and 15-inch Females – Scott John Howard Harrington of Cambridge, NY.

 

Next best qualifier honor went to Bubba Allen of Hadley, NY.

 

Congratulations to all.

 

Veterans Day

If you know or happen to see any veterans next week, you might want to give them a fist bump to show your appreciation of the sacrifices they made for our country.  Let them know that you do not consider them “losers” or “stupid” as a former US President once called them.

Black bears are killing chickens and damaging coops

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According to MassWildlife, that is becoming the number one source of human-bear conflicts in Massachusetts. They and the Environmental Police receive calls daily about bears breaking into chicken coops. Almost every bear in Massachusetts has learned this behavior. As backyard chicken farming has increased in popularity across the Bay State, conflict with black bears has also greatly increased.

picture provided by MassWildlife

The state’s bear population is estimated at over 4,500 animals. Common in central and western Massachusetts, black bears are expanding their range east to the Route 495 corridor. Bears will spend time in areas where human-associated foods like poultry feed, garbage, compost, livestock, and beehives are easy to find. Bears will revisit the same areas repeatedly if food is readily available. As the bear range expands eastward toward the most densely populated communities of Massachusetts, bear sightings are increasing in these areas and residents, especially those who keep backyard chickens, should take steps to prevent conflicts with bears.

MassWildlife feels that coops and chicken wire provide inadequate protection from black bears. Properly maintained electric fencing is the only way to protect chickens or other poultry from bears. Electric fencing is easy to set up and safe around kids and pets. Failure to use electric fencing will likely result in loss of birds and coop damage.

Tips from MassWildlife

  • Install electric fencing around coops to protect birds and coops regardless of flock numbers
  • Keep open, mowed areas on all sides around chicken coops, beehives, and livestock pens. Do not set up chicken coop or hives in abandoned areas or close to overgrown vegetation. Bears will climb trees to get into adjacent coops and use the brush as cover when approaching.
  • Do not place supplemental food nearby as a distraction. This can attract or habituate bears and is counterproductive.
  • Contact local bear hunters to hunt your property. Contact a MassWildlife District Office or a local sportsmen’s club for help connecting with bear hunters.
  • If you are (or anticipate) suffering property damage caused by a bear, contact the nearest MassWildlife District Office right away. MassWildlife biologists will provide you with advice that can lessen the problem.

 

Electric fencing tips

  • Keep the power on at all times (minimum of 6,000 volts).
  • Check and maintain chargers and batteries on a regular basis.
  • Teach bears to avoid electric fences. Place bacon strips, foil strips with peanut butters, or honey on the hot wires to deliver a shock to the bear’s nose. A bear will remember the shock and associate the fence with pain.
  • Remove vegetation on and near wires to prevent shorting out the fence.
  • Review the Electric Fencing Guide to Prevent Bear Damage and contact your MassWildlife District Office for advice on electric fence.

Large black bear taken in Lee

As of last Tuesday, some 95 bears were checked in either online or at check stations statewide

One of those bears was a big one taken last Monday in Lee by Travis Bailey also of Lee.  Based upon scales from Donovan’s Gravel in Lee, the boar weighed 620 lbs. field dressed (already gutted).  After it was skinned out, it measured 7 feet from nose to tail, with a space between its ears of 10 inches.

It took one shot from his .50 caliber muzzleloader at about 12 yards to bring it down. It was dead almost instantly. The first person he called was his mentor Jay Rhind of Interlaken and then his father James Bailey. James called his neighbor Mike Ford and soon the three of them arrived to help get that bear out of the woods.  Mike had an ATV with a winch.  They had to use weight on the front of the quad and had to actually winch from tree to tree just to pull it out of the woods.  The quad could barely drag it. Travis shot the bear at 6:00 pm and they didn’t get it out of the woods, a distance of about 100 yards, until almost 11:00 pm.

One of the reasons that he didn’t take the time to drive it somewhere to a certified scale was to make sure the meat was removed quickly due to the warm weather.  Travis is incredibly respectful of animals and he hunts specifically for the food that is derived from them. The time it would have taken with the warm temperature outside to get it measured for some kind of State record was so much time that the meat would spoil and he felt that he couldn’t possibly in his heart and in his morals disrespect that animal by waiting any longer to start processing it for meat.

The picture was taken after the bear was skinned and meat removed.   Travis is saving the pelt and head for making a large rug and the meat will be consumed. The skull is going to be removed and sent in to be measured for points.  He believes the size of the skull will also confirm the size of the bear. The taxidermist, Justin Gladu, will be taking care of the requirements for the point system.

Travis never hunted for bear before and it was his first time out. He said he has been given such great guidance by the “tribe” of hunters locally and the people who contacted him through this experience.  “They were so supportive, they told me all the right things to do and all the things not to do”.  “It’s good to know that I have that support and it is just so great”.

A bonus pike

 

Rachel Kanter of Lenox had recently graduated from college and was getting ready to start her first job in New York City. She was raised in the Berkshires and requested a fishing trip before the summer was over.  Her dad, Herb Kanter, had heard great things about Spencer Cookson at Berkshire Bass in Sheffield, and booked an outing.

 

According to Herb, from start to finish Spencer gave them a great experience and he can’t say enough about him. He took them out on the Housatonic River and was working nonstop to get them into fish.  They had plenty of action catching large and smallmouth bass.

picture of Rachel provided by Herb Kanter

 

They were about to call it a day when Rachel hooked into a monster 35-inch pike.   Herb’s not sure who was happier, Rachel, him or their guide.

 

Herb has lived in the Berkshires for 34 years and usually flyfishes the streams for trout. He had no idea the Housatonic held fish like this.  “The time on the water with my daughter was priceless”, he said “and that pike was quite a bonus.”

 

According to Cookson, Rachel caught the pike on a War Eagle Spinnerbait and played it well.  Because they weren’t using steel leaders, only 8 lbs. test braided line, the fear was there that the fish would cut the line with its sharp teeth or gill plates.  But it didn’t.

 

After taking the picture, the fish was harmlessly released to fight another day.

 

Cookson owns and operates Berkshire Bass, a well- stocked fishing equipment store in addition to the guide service at 105 Main Street Sheffield.

 

Black bear, early goose hunting seasons starting

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The Early Canada Goose hunting season (statewide) began Friday, September 2 and runs through September 24.  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 11.

There are many regulations regarding goose hunting and rather than to list many of them out like I did last year, your attention is directed to the  2022 – 2023 SEASON DATES & BAG LIMIT provided at https://www.mass.gov/doc/2022-2023-migratory-game-bird-regulation.

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 6 and runs through September 24. 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 like I have done in previous years, 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.

 

Surplus Antlerless Deer Permits go on sale in September

 

Unlimited surplus Antlerless Deer Permits (ADP) will be available for zones 10, 11, 13, &14 starting Sept. 27.  A limited number of ADPs for zones 3, 9, & 12 will go on sale on a first come, first served basis on Sept. 28.  They will cost $10 and you will need a hunting license in order to purchase one. The easiest way to buy a license or a surplus permit is online through MassFishHunt. In-person sales are also available at select license vendor locations and MassWildlife offices.

I hope you noticed that Zone 3 here in the Berkshires will have surplus permits, some 351 of them.  I believe this is the first time that they will be made available.

Governor Baker appoints four new members to the F&W Board

Some of the following information was gleaned from the July 18, 2022 Minutes of the Fish & Wildlife Board which were approved at the August 23, 2022 Board Meeting.

In my column of July 3 entitled (Steve Sears elected as Acting Chairman of the MA Fish & Wildlife Board), I noted that Steve Sears of Dalton was elected Acting Chairman of the Board, Bob Durand was elected Acting Vice Chair and Ernest Foster was elected Acting Secretary.

In the July Board Meeting, Acting Chair Sears thanked the former Board members, Mike Roche, who had served on the Board for 35 years; Joe Larson, who had served for 22 years; Brandi Van Roo, who served on the Board for 17 years; and Bonnie Booth, a member for 13 years. Sears said that the members had performed a lot of service as volunteers for MassWildlife and the Commonwealth. He said that he was humbled as the Acting Chair and would work hard in the position

DFW Director Tisa introduced the new Board members, who he said clearly bring passion and commitment to their roles on the Board. They are:  Emma Ellsworth, Mathew Sisk, John Organ and Sasha Dyer.

Ellsworth said that she was both overwhelmed and honored to join the Board. She talked about taking a walk with retired Habitat Program Leader John Scanlon in a recent burn site where she saw “lots and lots” of blueberries. Ms. Ellsworth said she loves to see the results of MassWildlife’s habitat work and is looking forward to supporting the effort.

I had the opportunity to correspond with Ellsworth and she told me that she is an avid outdoorswoman, having grown up canoeing, camping and hiking in Montague. In the last ten years her husband has introduced her to the hunting and fishing sports and is now an addict. In addition to having a pair of bird dogs, last year she shot her first elk and the year before her first deer. “I would be lying if I didn’t admit that half my time fly fishing is spent trying to untangle myself from my line. But I am learning.” she wrote.  (Join the crowd of newcomers).

 

“Across the board, in the ten years since I first held a shot gun and fly rod, I have been embraced by the sporting community and find patient mentors on the sporting clays course, wading the swift river, and in the bird fields. I am eager to have the opportunity to give back to this community and to the Massachusetts forests. I am the Executive Director of Mount Grace Land Conservation Trust and am passionate about the protection and stewardship of the unique and stunning natural resources of our commonwealth and backyard.” she wrote.

 

Sisk had been Deputy Commissioner of DCR.  He is well regarded here in the Berkshires for while in office, he helped get gates reopened and roads fixed at Pittsfield State Forest, Beartown State Forest and October Mountain State Forest. He stated that his appointment to the Board is a lifelong dream come true.

Organ said that he’s humbled and honored to be a Board member. He said that he has worked in various capacities with MassWildlife for many decades and has nothing but respect for the hard work of the its staff.

Dyer said that as a lifelong hunter she had always heard her father speak with respect for the Board, and she was very glad and honored to be a member.

Director Tisa said that he looks forward to working with them and thanked them for agreeing to do the job. He reported that over the next five months through the end of the calendar year, his staff will be offering a comprehensive review of programs and district reports to bring the new members up to speed.

Wear your life jackets, it’s the law

 

MassWildlife cautions us that all canoe or kayak occupants must wear a U.S. Coast Guard approved Personal Flotation Device (PFD) from September 15 to May 15, and that includes waterfowl hunters.

Nice way to end a first day in class

Eight year-old Michael (Mikey) Hubbard of Pittsfield had a busy day last Tuesday.  It was his first day of class in 3rd grade and to celebrate it he went bass fishing with his dad Jason Hubbard later at Plunkett Lake in Hinsdale.  Fishing with a 5-inch rubber worm from shore, he hooked into a big fish. He successfully landed what turned out to be a 21-inch, 4.4lbs largemouth bass.

No, he didn’t release it back into the lake.  Once cleaned, it will be released into his mom’s (Rachel Soules Hubbard‘s) frying or baking pan.

Thanks to Steve Bateman for bringing this catch to our attention.

Fishing Derby

Where did the summer go?  The Berkshire Hatchery Foundation in Hartsville-New Marlborough is scheduled to have its last Youth Fishing Derby of this year next Saturday, September 10, 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.

 

Here’s wishing you all an enjoyable Labor Day weekend.

 

MassWildlife winter bear studies yield interesting results

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MassWildlife Black Bear and Furbearer Biologist Dave Wattles informs us that every winter, MassWildlife biologists visit the dens of female black bears (sows), that have been previously fitted with radio tracking collars. Sows may be in their dens alone, with newborn cubs, or with yearling cubs born the previous winter. Biologists assess the condition of the bears, count the newborn cubs, and confirm the survival of the yearlings. These valuable data on survival and reproduction help biologists model whether black bear populations are growing, declining, or remaining stable.

Winter dens can be a hollow tree or log, rock crevice, or a ground nest under fallen trees or brush. Once they locate a den, biologists immobilize the sow and gather information such as body condition, weight, and sex of cubs. They also evaluate collars for proper fit and function and replace them when needed. This past winter, biologists visited 27 dens. Discoveries included one sow with no cubs, four two-year-old females wearing yearling collars, 10 females with yearlings, and 11 females with newborn cubs. Sows ranged in age from two to 16 years old.

Black bear cubs are born small, blind, and helpless. To give the mother a chance to bond with her cubs and for the cubs to grow, MassWildlife waits until the end of February before visiting dens of sows with newborns. The eleven females averaged 2.54 cubs, with one sow having 4 cubs.

photo provided by MassWildlife

Biologists are finding that the female bears they study in more suburban areas are very large, with weights averaging more than 250 pounds, compared to bears in more rural, forested areas averaging closer to 150 pounds.  A second big takeaway from this winter’s research was how close to people bears will den. They had bear dens 10 yards off the back parking lot of a fire department, under a building on piling foundations, on the edge of a backyard, and in the middle of a construction yard. These bears had plenty of options to den in more remote locations but chose not to, indicating bears are finding supplemental food sources in suburban areas, such as unsecured garbage, bird feeders, and open compost. Biologists warn that human food sources are harmful to bears’ natural diets and put communities at added risk of unwanted conflicts.

Wild duck populations are declining

In a recent NY Dept of Environmental Conservation (DEC) newsletter entitled, Banding Together to Explain Declines in Eastern Mallards, it states that over the past 20 years, mallard populations in New York and the Northeast United States have declined significantly, leading to reduced bag limits starting in 2018. To understand what factors may be contributing to the decline, DEC, Pennsylvania Game Commission, Ducks Unlimited, SUNY Brockport, and the University of Saskatchewan partnered with 22 state, federal, and non-governmental organizations to start one of the largest telemetry projects ever conducted in North America. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a participant.

Over the next 4 years, states and provinces in the Atlantic Flyway will be putting out over 1,100 GPS transmitters on female mallards to learn more about habitat use and migration timing and how these factors affect breeding success and survival. In the first year, DEC and partners deployed over 300 transmitters. Each transmitter can send tens of thousands of locations for two or three years. This project will give biologists and researchers a glimpse of what drives mallard populations and will help better inform mallard management in the Atlantic Flyway for years to come.

You can follow along by visiting the project website ( ATLANTIC FLYWAY WATERFOWL TRACKING STUDIES – Home (weebly.com)). It includes an interactive map that is updated periodically so you can follow these birds through migration in near real-time.

Mallards are commonly found in wetlands and urban ponds in the Atlantic Flyway in the northeast US, but there has been a puzzling population level decline of 1% annually since 1998. In contrast, in Eastern Canada mallard populations are stable. Determining the drivers behind these different trajectories is the impetus for this project.

Some 273 mallards were already banded and deployed with 6 of them from Massachusetts.

Black ducks experienced a population decline of 50% in the 1950s -1980s and never recovered. Researchers still haven’t determined the mechanism behind the lack of recovery. Some 150 black ducks

photo provided by NY DEC

were already banded and deployed of which 8 of them were from Massachusetts.

Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza detected in Massachusetts

The Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources has confirmed that HPAI has been detected in wild birds in multiple locations in Massachusetts and appears to be prevalent in at least some species of the wild bird population.  (Please note, I am not implying that HPAI is causing the decrease in numbers of the ducks noted above).

According to the MDAR, this means all domestic poultry in Massachusetts may be at risk of exposure to the virus, which can be fatal for birds like chickens and turkeys.

Avian flu, also known as bird flu, is a common influenza strain that can spread from birds to humans through saliva, naval secretion and feces. The avian flu is not common among humans, but is very contagious among birds.

Earlier this month, the owners of Pumpkin Wall Farm in Derry, New Hampshire, said about 80 of their birds were euthanized by state workers after five turkeys at the animal sanctuary suddenly died of the avian flu. Wild ducks carrying the virus landed in their pond and infected the flock, which meant the rest of the farm’s chickens, ducks, geese and turkeys then had to be put down.

The MDAR said waterbirds including shorebirds and waterfowl, especially dabbling ducks like Mallards, are most likely to carry the HPAI virus.

People who own chickens, turkeys and guinea fowl, and game birds like pheasants, are advised to keep waterbirds away from their domestic birds.  Owners of domestic birds are also advised to ensure that good biosecurity is being used to protect the animals, as owners and visitors may accidentally expose their birds to HPAI through contaminated shoes, clothing or equipment.

The MDAR said sick or dead domestic birds — chickens, turkeys, gamebirds, domestic ducks, etc. — should be reported to the department’s Division of Animal Health at 617-626-1795 or through an online reporting form that can be obtained at www.mass.gov/forms/poultry-disease-reporting-forms.  Sick or dead wild birds should also be reported to the Massachusetts Department of Fish and Game’s Division of Fisheries and Wildlife (MassWildlife) by calling 508-389-6300 or by emailing Mass.Wildlife@mass.gov.

Public hearing coming up on Migratory Game Bird Hunting Season

The Division of Fisheries and Wildlife will hold a public hearing on Tuesday, April 19, 2022, at 10:00 am, regarding the 2022-2023 Migratory Game Bird Hunting Seasons via a Zoom video webinar with the Hearing Officer, MassWildlife staff, and Board members.  The public is invited to join via computer or phone line. Instructions for how to join are listed on the MassWildlife web site.

The proposed regulatory amendments are posted on that web site so that interested persons can review them and provide written comments prior to the hearing and oral comments during the public-comment portion of the virtual hearing. The F&W Board must vote to approve the 2022-2023 migratory bird seasons at the close of the hearing. Therefore, there will be no written comment period after this public hearing.

Trout stocking

The following waters were scheduled to be stocked last week.  The schedule was subject to change: Deerfield River in Buckland, Charlemont, and Florida; the Green River in Alford, Egremont and Great Barrington; Konkapot River in Monterey and New Marlborough, Hoosic River in Cheshire and Adams, Farmington River in Otis, Sandisfield and Tolland; Housatonic River (C&R) in Stockbridge and Lee, Greenwater Pond in Becket, Mansfield Pond in Great Barrington, Laurel Lake, Goose Pond, Lake Garfield in Monterey, Big Pond in Otis, Windsor Lake in North Adams and Onota Lake.

Hunter Safety Courses

I have been receiving calls inquiring when the next hunter safety course will be held in the Berkshires.  None are listed at this time on the MassWildlife web site.   The closest class that I could find that wasn’t already filled was at the Worthington Rod & Gun Club, 458 Dingle Road (Rte. 112) in Worthington.  It is a 4-day course – April 18, 19, 21 and 22 from 5:30 to 9:00 pm each night.  To enroll, call (508)389-7820 and press 0 for an attendant.

Hungry bears are emerging

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MassWildlife officials are once again reminding the public that March is the month when hungry bears emerge from their winter dens and seek out food. If you live in Western Massachusetts, it’s time to take down your bird feeders. Natural foods such as acorns and other nuts are usually available on the ground, but last year’s fall hard mast crop was meager.

Bears will often ignore seasonally available natural foods including skunk cabbage in favor of an easy meal at a backyard bird feeder. Other species including wild turkeys and coyotes may also frequent bird feeders leading to a variety of nuisance issues.

MassWildlife advises property owners to avoid these problems by being proactive and remove bird feeders and other potential food sources including garbage or open compost. If you enjoy watching birds in your yard, MassWildlife suggests adding a water feature, growing native plants, shrubs, and trees to attract birds. Individuals should also secure bee hives, chickens, and livestock. Properly maintained electric fencing is the only way to protect chickens or bee hives from bears. Taking these actions may prevent the unnatural feeding of bears and other kinds of neighborhood wildlife.

There are at least 4,500 black bears in Massachusetts with approximately 2,000 of them living here in the Berkshires, and their range is expanding eastward. We must take action by educating ourselves and our neighbors about proactive measures to avoid conflicts with bears.

 

I should practice what I preach!  My wife Jan and I enjoy feeding and watching the many birds visiting our feeders, and have been hesitant in taking them down because of the crazy spring weather this year.  One day its springlike and the next day we are blasted with snowstorms and cold wintry weather.  To lessen the possibility of bears raiding and in many cases destroying our suet feeders and holders, we have been bringing them into the house every night and putting them back out early each morning.  Being retired and home a lot, we figured the bears wouldn’t dare bother our feeders in the daytime.

 

Well, one day last week, when Jan and I got home from a walk, we discovered our two suet bird feeders gone and a wrought iron holder was severely bent.  That bear knew we were gone and grabbed the feeders and ran off.  Normally, when our feeders are attacked, the bears just take them a short distance and clean them out, leaving the metal container for us to refill. This bear must have run off with both feeders in its mouth because we could not find them anywhere.  Now that must have been a sight.

 

While looking for the containers, we discovered older bear tracks in the snow which went past 4 of our ground-floor windows.  The foxy critter was casing the joint, waiting for the opportune time to rob us.

 

There was a nasty winter storm the next day and the poor birds looked hungry, so we decided to set out new feeders again, this time frequently checking on them. Sure enough, the bear came back and took one of the two suet feeders without us seeing it.  I figured it would come back after the other feeder so I put my bass boat air horn next to the door.  The loud, sharp, elephant-like sound should scare it away.

 

Sure enough, back again she came for the other feeder, in broad daylight, with two 1 1/2 year old cubs. When the sow was getting ready to climb the steps onto our deck close to our kitchen door,   I quickly opened the door, shouted and pressed the air horn.  The sound that came out was a hissy, soft squawk, no louder than a peep.  Face-to-fact, about 6 feet apart, the both of us were surprised.

3 bears at my house

 

The two young bears quickly ran off, but the sow just froze and looked up at me as if to say “That’s all you got?” It finally slowly meandered off only after Jan and I were shouting and waving our arms.

 

The following day, a fourth, larger bear (probably 2 ½ years old) showed up at our doorstep. As soon as we opened our door, it took off like a flash.  There was no need to make noise.

 

That’s it with bird feeders for us this year. We feel sorry for the birds, but actually we are kind of sad for the bears, too.  They are really hungry this time of year and are only trying to survive.

 

What is it with me and bears?  I have had at least 7 close encounters with them over the years.  If you have read this column for any length of time, you read about an encounter with a grizzly in Alberta and a black bear incident in upper Quebec.  Both times, fishing partner, Attorney Mike Shepard of Dalton was with me and kiddingly, I blamed him for attracting them with his curly white hair.

 

No, it must be me who is attracting them.  Maybe I smell like skunk cabbage or my deodorant is too musky.  I ‘ll buy new deodorant today, and oh yes, buy a new air horn, too.

 

Improving and protecting wildlife habitat in the Commonwealth

 

MassWildlife, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS), and the Massachusetts Forest Alliance have once again partnered to provide private landowners in Massachusetts technical and financial assistance offered through the Massachusetts Collaborative for Private Forestland – Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP). The RCPP is a partner-driven federal program that leverages collective resources to find solutions to address natural resource challenges on private forest land with a specific focus on.

This collaboration furthers the goals and statutory responsibility of MassWildlife to conserve Massachusetts’ fish and wildlife and the habitats that sustains them. The RCPP will provide up to $1.5 million in NRCS funding through August 2023 to plan and enable practices that benefit rare and declining habitats on private lands that can help vulnerable species (like New England cottontail and eastern box turtle) and expand on existing habitat projects on public lands.

Eligible landowners must possess forestland in Massachusetts that is at least 10 acres in size. Applications will be ranked in accordance with the species to benefit, extent of habitat, and location as it relates to mapped habitat features as well as Environmental Justice communities. More information about this and other RCPPs, along with more detailed eligibility requirements can be found from the NRCS RCPP website.

The Collaborative RCPP complements other state and federal habitat management funding sources currently available in Massachusetts including: (1) MassWildlife Habitat Management Grant Program: Provides state funds to private and municipal landowners to support habitat management that benefits both game and non-game species while promoting public access for outdoor recreation and (2) NRCS Programs: Funding provided by the Environmental Quality Incentive Program and the Wetland Reserve Easement Program supports habitat management and protection throughout MA.

These programs also include funding dedicated to the New England Cottontail Conservation Initiative and the Northeast Turtle Project for private landowners within identified focal areas.

Over the past seven years these programs have provided a combined $5M to support habitat enhancement on more than 200 sites across the Commonwealth.

 

Conducting targeted management on private and municipal lands is an important element of habitat and wildlife conservation. Over 75% percent of all forestland in Massachusetts is privately owned; another 8% is held by municipalities. These lands are important for providing homes for rare and common wildlife as well as for providing outdoor recreation opportunities including hunting, hiking, and birding.

 

BEAT Activities

 

Jane Winn, Executive Director of the Berkshire Environmental Action Team (BEAT) wishes to thank everyone who attended its March Pittsfield Green Drinks event, where Mass Audubon teacher naturalist Zach Adams talked about some of the great features you can find at Berkshire wildlife sanctuaries. If you missed it but would still like to see the presentation, the recording is posted on BEAT’s Youtube channel.

 

Incidentally, BEAT is starting again with its weekly invasive hardy kiwi cut and pull at Burbank Park in Pittsfield. If you’d like to volunteer to help them continue their efforts to eradicate this destructive and problematic vine, let them know. Everyone is welcome regardless of age or experience, and they always appreciate the help.

Shotgun Deer Hunting Season ends today

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 The season started with a nice coating of snow which made locating and tracking deer much easier.  Local hunters took advantage of the snow and checked in nearly 500 deer after the first week of hunting.

 

Some 119 deer were checked in at the DFW Western District Headquarters in Dalton, 45 at B & D Variety in Huntington, 121 at Ernie’s Auto Sales in North Adams, 60 at the Lee Sportsmen’s Association, 122 at the Mill River General Store and 32 at Papa’s Healthy Food in Otis.

 

Michael Winters of Cheshire got a 6-point buck in Egremont which weighed 201 lbs.  Eli Pease, DFW Technician, said that it had 4 points on the left side of his head and 2 on the right.  He said that it was an old buck, perhaps 6 ½ to 7 years old. Steve Ray of Pittsfield got a nice 189 lbs, 9-point buck in Pittsfield.  Dan Kruszyna of Cheshire got an 8-point 190 lbs buck in Cheshire.

 

The beginning of the second week of shotgun deer hunting started off with rain.  During that week, hunters are not required to physically check their deer at a checking station, but have the option of checking them in on-line through MassFishHunt. Therefore, unless hunters chose to physically check in locally, I have no way of finding out about them, not until the figures are released by MassWildlife in Westborough.

 

As of last Saturday, District Supervisor Andrew Madden felt that the deer tally was comparable with other recent years. Last year, close to 1,000 deer were harvested in the two-week shotgun season for Zones 1 through 4.

Bear hunting tally

The last of the three seasons of bear hunting also ends today.  Bear hunters were not required to physically check in their bears at checking stations, but could do so on-line.  Some lucky hunters chose to physically check them in and as of last Saturday, 5 bears were recorded with 3 of them being checked in at the Mill River General Store and 2 of them checked in at Papa’s in Otis.  Nate Buckhout, DFW Western District biologist, weighed in one in Mill River that tipped the scales at 400 lbs.

We will have to wait for the final bear harvest figures to be released by MassWildlife.

Primitive Firearms deer hunting season opens Monday

 Hunters who didn’t get their deer during the Archery or Shotgun seasons have one more chance to connect.  Starting this Monday, the Primitive Firearms, (a/k/a Black Powder or Muzzleloader) deer hunting season begins and runs through December 31.  Deer may only be taken by a muzzleloader firearm or by bow and arrow.  A stamp is required to hunt this season.

Here’s hoping you have an enjoyable, successful and safe muzzleloader hunt.  Let people know where you are hunting, be careful, stay hydrated and keep your powder dry.

Other hunting seasons still open

Rabbit, hare, squirrel, coyote and fox hunting seasons resume this Monday.  In our zones, duck hunting resumed on December 6 and runs until December 25.

2022 Massachusetts Freshwater Fishing, Hunting and Trapping Laws

Commonly called “the abstracts”, they are out and available in the usual places. The booklet has a cover picture of a big old gobbler.

New for 2022:

  • License/Stamp/Permit Fee Increases.  I frequently covered the fee increase matter during this past year and you are encouraged to check the details on page 8 of these abstracts.
  • New Pheasant/Quail Permit.  A permit is now required for any person 15 years or older who hunts, takes, or possesses pheasants or bobwhite quail, unless they were harvested on a licensed commercial shooting preserve. (page 6 of the abstracts).
  • Seasonal bag limits for pheasant and quail have been eliminated.  Daily and possession bag limits have not changed (page 34 of abstracts).
  • Hunting hen pheasants will now be allowed statewide
  • Controlled Hunts were eliminated on the Martin Burns Wildlife Management Area in Newbury, MA.

Be sure to read DFW Director Mark S. Tisa’s comments on the future of conservation.  Perhaps in the future, I can print his comments verbatim in this column.

2022 Licenses

The 2022 hunting, fishing and sporting licenses, permits and stamps are now available.  Most of them can be bought online at mass.gov/massfishhunt with a computer, tablet or smartphone.  To purchase them in person, use mass.gov/fishhuntlicensemap to find a license vendor near you.  Of course, you can always buy them at our DFW District Headquarters in Dalton.

MassWildlife advises you to use care when purchasing them during December, as both 2020 and 2021 products are available.

Water chestnut pulling campaign

At the November meeting of the MA F&W Board, Western District Fisheries Biologist Leanda Fontaine Gagnon gave an excellent presentation about this past summer’s efforts on controlling water chestnuts on Three Mile Pond Wildlife Management Area (WMA)  in Sheffield.  The WMA has over 1,000 acres and the pond is within its boundaries. It is a 155-acre enhanced and enlarged great pond with a maximum depth is approximately 10 to 15 feet.  It is nutrient rich with a floating island possibly with endangered species.

 

Water chestnut, an invasive plant native to Asia and parts of Europe, was introduced to North America in the late 1800’s and spread to several states and to Canada.

Because it’s floating rosettes can be up to 2 feet in diameter, it can shade out the native plants.  Its 12 to 15 feet root system roots into shallow, nutrient rich lakes with muddy bottoms.  Each plant produces a round and spikey fruit.  When they drop off and float, they are spread by unsuspecting boaters and waterfowl.  And they spread from water body to water body.  Despite their being an annual plant, they do spread easily because of this fruit.  Each fruit is viable for up to 12 years. Requiring a long-term management project, it can be controlled if caught early.

It was first discovered at Three Mile Pond in 2011.  Some brief efforts at removal occurred in 2013, but upon revisiting the site in 2017 it was noticed that it had proliferated to another area of the pond. Extremely dense cover and large patches were noticed in the northwestern cove as well as in the northern cove near a brook inlet.

District personnel began hand pulling in late August and early Sept of 2017 and a more intensive effort was started in 2018 and continued annually.

They learned that pulling in late summer was too late.  Most of the plants had already matured fruit and started to drop off and move around in the water body. Green fruit are viable, the black ones typically don’t germinate.  They began plucking the plant in the first week of July, where the majority of the fruit had already emerged but the fruit had not matured enough to start dropping.

They hesitated doing drawdowns in Three Mile Pond due to the floating island and endangered species on it.  Seeds can be in the mud for 7 years, and could be viable for up to 12 years.  Also, they can exist in deeper sediment.

Crews of kayaks paddled out to infected areas, hand pulled and loaded them onto other water-craft which brought them to the boat ramp.  There they were offloaded onto pickup trucks which took them to a dump site about ¼ mile away (but still within the WMA) and where no hikers, animals or water sources would bring them back to the pond.

In 2017, with assistance from WD staff, Field Headquarters and Natural Heritage, they removed about 10 truckloads and spent 25 cumulative hours in this removal effort. Each year when they return, they discover less and less plants from the previous year. As early as 2019 there had been significant reduction and native vegetation really started to pop up.

They will continue annual monitoring and removal as they find them, knowing full well that the plants will continue through 2027.  Starting in 2028 they intend to start bi-annual harvesting.  They hope to implement this removal effort onto other MassWildlife properties such as Mill Pond/Smiley’s Pond in Egremont.   That water body also is nutrient rich and deemed to have a considerable water chestnut population, too. They hope to reach out for volunteers to help.

 

Large black bear taken in Sheffield. Is it a state record?

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It was a pleasant afternoon on November 5 and after work, Mike DiGiovanni of Sheffield decided to go hunting for bear on a local farmland. He hunted out of a tree stand with a crossbow. (Due to a permanent disability, he had permit to hunt with a crossbow). After a while he saw a deer (doe) in the nearby field acting oddly and then ran off. Then Mike saw why. A bear approached the field, hugged the edge of it and headed right toward him. He held off his shot until the bear was about 10 yards away and let the bolt fly. The first bolt hit him high in the shoulder and the second shot was a lung shot and down he went.
He knew it was a decent sized boar, perhaps around 300 lbs, but it wasn’t until he climbed down from the tree stand and approached it that he realized how big it was. Mike described himself as being “dumbfounded”. Then came the realization of what to do now. He took a picture on his cell phone and sent it to his wife Molly saying, “I’m going to be home a little bit later than expected”.
Then, he called a couple friends while Molly called his brother-in-law for help. Mike also reached out to the farmer for an extra set of hands. The farmer had a 4-wheeler to help him get it out of the woods and into the field. Dragging a bear of this size is no small feat and the more help he could get, the better. It took 6 guys, the farmer’s 4- wheeler and a pick-up truck. Thank goodness it was only 10 feet from the field, said Mike, because if it was deeper in the woods, there was no way to get him out…..not without equipment. With permission from the farmer, they were able to drive a truck into the field to get to him.
Can you imagine what it was like lifting that bear onto Mike’s truck?
After getting the bear out of there, they weighed it at a gravel bed truck scale and the weight they came up with was 540 lbs. Roughly a day and a half after, they got it to the DFW Headquarters in Dalton and it weighed 535 lbs. on those scales. Perhaps the day delay could have made the 5 lbs. difference (drying out). Anyway, the official weight stands at 535 lbs. Mike has been bear hunting for 12 to 14 years and never got a bear this large.
One of the biologists at the DFW headquarters guessed it weighed around 640 to 650 lbs. live weight and estimated the age as being between 7 and 12 years old, but it could be older. They can’t know until a tooth is sent to the DFW labs for analysis.
Is it a state record? Not sure. Massachusetts doesn’t keep official state bear records; however, they do maintain a database of the largest bears on record. I am not aware if there has ever been a larger bear checked in with DFW so it is quite possible that it is the record. If the DFW wants to establish a state record for black bears, may I suggest that they start with this one.
Mike said that he lost some of the meat due to the weather, but will salvage as much as he can to eat. “It’s quite good”, he said, “if I didn’t like the meat, I would not shoot a bear.”
He is going to get a whole rug mount done by Kevins’s Taxidermy of Middlebury, CT. Incidentally, the taxidermist measured the hide from nose to the tail at 86 inches and girth at 65 inches. The unofficial Green Score skull came in at 21 ¼ inches. To make the Pope & Young record book, it has to be 18 inches; however, cross bow kills are not recognized.
The farmer was ecstatic over getting rid of that bear. Not only because he kept destroying his crops, but also once a week the boar was flipping dumpsters over on his property.
Mike met a couple of neighbors who live on the same street and they were very grateful that that bear is gone. They were intimidated by the size of it. Bears are opportunistic, wherever the food is, that is where they are going to be, whether it is at your house or somewhere in the woods. They are going to eat whatever they want and you are not going to stop them, said Mike. He has heard stories of bears taking livestock, goats, pigs and all sorts of animals (not to mention the deer fawns).
Mike was adamant that the names of the helpers be included in this column for without them, he could not have gotten the boar out of the woods. (They were: Jameason Russin, Tony Bleau, Kolby Bleau, Dave Ullrich and the farm owner Bob)
That feat was” something I’ll never forget”, said Mike.
A Patriotic Turkey Shoot

The Murphy-Leary American Post 298 and Adams-Budz VFW Post 8183 of Housatonic will be jointly sponsoring a Turkey Shoot at the Great Barrington Fish and Game Association Club, 338 Long Pond Road, Great Barrington on December 1 starting at 12:00 noon. The purpose of this event is to raise funds to help the organizations foster strong national security, provide help for disabled and needy veterans and their families and promote Americanism by educating our communities in patriotism.

Also, they sponsor and provide scholarships to civic programs such as the Boys/Girls State Program, Student Trooper Program and to local students. In addition, their fund-raising initiatives also allow them to offer academic and vocational scholarships to selected graduates from local High Schools.

The turkey shoot is billed as a great opportunity to come out and compete for a turkey, pork, steak, beef, or maybe a money prize as well as enjoy a barbecued hamburger, hot dog, fries, and refreshments. You don’t even have to shoot to win a prize. There are many people that will be there who will shoot for you.

You are invited to come out and have some fun with family and friends in one of the most picturesque locations in the Berkshires. In addition to having some old-time outdoor fun, you will be helping our Housatonic American Legion and VFW to raise money so that they may give back to the youth in our community.

MassWildlife’s Habitat Management Grant Program

Thirteen municipalities, conservation organizations, and private landowners were recently awarded a total of $341,396 for habitat management projects to improve habitat for rare or declining populations of wildlife. The grants will fund 13 wildlife habitat improvement projects totaling 698 acres in 14 communities across the state.
In its fifth year, MassWildlife’s Habitat Management Grant Program provides financial assistance to private and municipal landowners of conserved lands to improve and manage habitat for wildlife deemed in greatest conservation need and certain game species. The projects are also designed to complement ongoing habitat management efforts on state lands and expand opportunities for hunting, fishing, wildlife viewing, and other outdoor recreation.
“Fish and wildlife habitat management for both rare and common species and to enhance wildlife-related recreation opportunities is a top priority for MassWildlife,” said Dr. Mark Tisa, Director of the DFW. “Because 80% of Massachusetts is in private ownership, working with committed municipal and private landowners is a no-brainer. These grants help protect everyone’s investment in wildlife, habitat, and the enjoyment of outdoor activities such as fishing, hunting, or watching wildlife.”
Congratulations to the following local recipients of the 2019 MassWildlife Habitat Management Grants:
• Great Barrington: The Nature Conservancy was awarded $28,576 to create and improve old field and shrubland habitats at the Schenob Brook Preserve.
• Lenox: The Town of Lenox was awarded $26,810 to remove the invasive hardy kiwi plant at Kennedy Park and Mass Audubon’s Pleasant Valley Wildlife Sanctuary.
• South Lee: South Lee Associates was awarded $13,655 for efforts to control invasive species on Housatonic River properties.

It was a good year for DFW Land Acquisitions

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According to a report made by DFW Western District Supervisor Andrew Madden and Western District Fish & Wildlife Board Member Stephen Sears at the October Meeting of the Berkshire County League of Sportsmen, fiscal Year 2019 (July 2018-June 2019) was another good year for the MassWildlife/Department of Fish and Game Land Protection Program.

Statewide they protected more than 2,400 acres. They completed 15 projects in the Western District alone, accounting for 1,078 acres, which is almost half of the statewide total. The annual budget for land acquisition is approximately $5.5 million.

They both highly complimented DFW Western District Land Agent Peter Milanesi for the superb job that he does every year. The list of the Western District projects is as follows:

 

Town Acres Description
Otis 29 Abuts Long Mountain WMA on Stebbins Road.
Plainfield 1.57 Small Inholding at Swift River WMA
Windsor 18.4 Along the East Branch of the Westfield
Dalton 100 Abuts the Chalet WMA on three sides.
Sheffield 70 Guilder Hollow Road. Abuts Dolomite Ledges WMA
Chester 100 Builds on the Western side of Fox Den WMA
Worthington 13 Improves access to Fox Den WMA.
Middlefield 90 Abuts the Fox Den WMA. Protects upper portion of the Westfield watershed
Chester 55 Part of the Fox Den WMA.
West Stockbridge 26 Extensive Frontage along the Williams River
West Stockbridge 48 Wetlands along Williams River. Part of Maple Hill WMA
Cummington 86 Stage Road. Part of the Cummington WMA
Worthington 315 Part of Fox Den WMA along the Middle Branch of the Westfield River
Chester 75 Abuts the JJ Kelly WMA.
Worthington 51 Provides access to Fox Den WMA from the East

Do those land acquisitions make you happy? Well wait until you get out and enjoy them.

I hope you read the article in the October 21, 2019 issue of the Berkshire Eagle entitled “Study: Want to be happier? GET OUTDOORS”, written by Christopher Ingraham of the Washington Post. According to scientific studies, people who got in two to three hours in nature were about 20% more likely to report high overall satisfaction with their lives than those who spent no time outdoors at all. They were 60% more likely to report being in good health than their cooped-in counterparts.

So, what are you waiting for? Check out these new acquisitions!

2019 Youth Deer Hunt Day results
On September 28, 950 young adults participated in this year’s Youth Deer Hunt Day. The statewide preliminary harvest total was 77 deer reported through the online MassFishHunt system.

MassWildlife created the Youth Deer Hunt Day to allow young hunters to hunt deer with their own permit. The hunt occurs on a special one-day season before the state’s annual deer hunting seasons. Shotgun deer season regulations apply during the hunt. Licensed hunters who hunt other animals on this date must follow special restrictions.
Fifth Annual Berkshire Natural History Conference
Next Saturday, at the Clark Art Institute in Williamstown, Williams College will host the 5th Annual Berkshire Natural History Conference. It will run from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM. You are invited to celebrate the incredible diversity of Berkshire County.

The Conference brings together residents and visitors to celebrate the remarkable biological diversity of Berkshire County and the efforts to preserve, restore, and learn more about species, landscapes, and the myriad interactions among all of them. An impressive list of speakers, exhibitors, and displays will cover such wide-ranging topics as historic naturalists, native brook trout, unknown organisms, and local forests.
Birds, Bogs, Little Snakes, Trout, and Slime Mold Highlight This Year’s Conference
• Botanists/historians Maida Goodwin and Allison Bell retracing the steps of the remarkable, prolific, (and somewhat erratic) late 19th century naturalist Grace Greylock Niles.
• Evolutionary biology student Jenks Hehmeyer introduces the world of incredible organisms, including the Berkshires Giant Amoeba Slime Mold.
• Author Lauren Stephens illuminating Thoreau’s decision to spend the night atop Mt. Greylock.
• Dr. Ron Bassar detailing the plight of native brook trout in light of the Climate crisis.
• Biologist, Pete Hazelton will introduce MassWildlife’s new Citizen Science initiative – the use of the cell phone app, iNaturalist, to record everything on state Wildlife Management Areas.
• Other speakers introduce the incredible density of little snakes, local efforts to restore Cliff Swallows, how the new technology, Lidar, can tell a great story, and more. Ending the day is Williams College ecologist Hank Art on the changing landscape of Western New England.
You can also check out a wide array of displays by more than a dozen local and regional natural history organizations. Purchase new and historic books and join in a Silent Auction that helps support student attendees. A Natural History quiz, where participants can test their knowledge of the Taconic/Berkshire environment, is ever popular.
It is sponsored by the Hoffmann Bird Club, BCC, MCLA, Green Berkshires, BEAT, Mass Audubon’s Berkshire Sanctuaries, Hoosic River Watershed and others.

Pre-registration is required ($25 per person; $15 per students) at: www.berkshirecc.edu/bnhc. Contact Tom Tyning for details at ttyning@berkshirecc.edu
Community Conversation: Love/Hate Relationship with Mother Nature?

This Thursday evening beginning at 7:00 pm, the Lenox Land Trust will hold its Annual Meeting at the Lenox Community Center, 65 Walker Street, Lenox. They are featuring two noted local environmentalists to help homeowners understand their own properties as part of larger landscapes and habitat.

Fighting the Good Fight – Presenter Jess Toro, of Native Habitat Restoration, will offer advice and guidance on identifying and controlling those pesky, persistent Invasive Plants in our yards and neighborhoods: knotweed, bittersweet, and barberry, among the most common of the dirty dozen species.

Where the Wild Things Are– Tom Tyning, Professor of Environmental Science at Berkshire Community College, literally “wrote the book” (A Guide to Amphibians and Reptiles), highlighting the indispensable role of Vernal Pools to biodiversity. Discover and protect the Vernal Pools in your neighborhoods and woods – they’re an essential habitat for the life cycles of many species, including the protected Spotted and Jefferson Salamanders, and an incredible landscape feature – half land, half water.

(In 2017, the Berkshire County League of Sportsmen awarded Tom its Lifetime Achievement Award for his work in this area).

The program is open to the public — to any homeowner or property-owner in Lenox or elsewhere! And dessert is on them!

Help needed in planting trees and shrubs along the Housatonic riverbank

In Great Barrington, the Housatonic River access on Division Street has been improved and a new parking lot installed thanks to a great partnership with the property owners, Berkshire Natural Resources Council (BNRC) and funding from the Great Barrington Community Preservation Council.
The area was heavily infested with invasive plants which have been treated by Native Habitat Restoration. Now it’s time to plant.
On Tuesday, November 12 from 1:30 to 4:00 pm (Rain Date/Extra Date is November 20) you are invited to help plant native trees and shrubs along the riverbank. The Housatonic Valley Association will supply the tools, but if you have a favorite digging implement, bring it along.
The event is in partnership with BNRC.
If you think you can help, contact Alison Dixon at 413-298-7024 or adixon@hvatoday.org
Directions: Please note, the bridge on Division Street is closed so the access and parking area can only be accessed from Rte.183.
Dam Removals in Massachusetts

The Department of Environmental Restoration (DER) is presenting a six-part film series entitled River Run – A Story of Dam Removal in Massachusetts. It was created in partnership with UMASS Amherst’s Science Media Collaborative. Each short video highlights the efforts of DER and partners to advance river restoration projects across the Commonwealth. These films highlight the benefits, challenges, and local perspectives of dam removal across Massachusetts. One film addresses the Tel-Electric Dam on Mill Street in Pittsfield.

To see the films, click onto:
https://www.mass.gov/info-details/river-run-a-story-of-dam-removal-in-massachusetts.

Veteran’s Day

What are you going to do on Veteran’s Day? It is a day off from work/school so maybe you will watch a parade. Will you visit some veterans in nursing homes or assisted living facilities? They would love to see you.

Perhaps you’ll go hunting, preferring to spend some quiet time in a tree stand or a duck blind or just taking a break and sitting on a stump near a stone wall. Whatever you do, you might want to take a moment to remember and thank our living and deceased veterans for their service to our country.

Black bear hunting season opens Tuesday

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Can you believe it? Fall bear hunting season is opening already. Gosh, where does the time go. The first bear hunting season runs from Sept. 3 to Sept. 21, the second season from Nov. 4 to Nov. 23 and the Shotgun season runs from Dec. 2 to Dec. 14 (concurrent with the shotgun deer hunting season). Hunting is prohibited on Sundays.
The regulations are complicated, so here we go:
The Hunting hours begin ½ hour before sunrise and end ½ hour after sunset. (Except on WMAs stocked with pheasant or quail during the pheasant or quail season, hunting hours are sunrise to sunset.)
To hunt black bear in Massachusetts you must have the appropriate license and permit, which you can buy through MassFishHunt. Licenses required for Massachusetts residents are a hunting or sporting license and a bear permit. Non-residents need a big game license and a bear permit.
Bear hunters are allowed to take one bear per calendar year.
Hunting implements
Hunting implement First season Second season Shotgun season
Rifle* X X
Handgun* X
Muzzleloader* X X X
Archery X X X
Shotgun X

*Except on WMAs stocked with pheasant or quail during the pheasant or quail season.

The rifle caliber must be a.23 or larger. Handgun: .357 Magnum revolver with .357 Magnum cartridges only, or a revolver .40 caliber or larger. Muzzleloader: .44 to .775 caliber, fired from the shoulder, using a single projectile.

Archery Equipment: Bows must have a draw weight of at least 40lbs at 28 inches or at peak draw. Arrows must have a well sharpened steel broadhead blade not less than 7/8 inches in width. Expanding broadheads are legal. Poisoned arrows, explosive tips and bows drawn by mechanical means are prohibited. Crossbows may be used by certain permanently disabled persons by permit only.
Shotgun: Allowed only during the shotgun season, shotgun not larger than 10 gauge, including shotguns with a rifled bore, slugs only.
Hunter orange requirements
• First Season: None
• Second Season: A hunter orange hat is required on WMAs stocked with pheasant or quail during the pheasant or quail season.
• Shotgun Season: You must wear 500 square inches of hunter orange on your head, chest, and back.
It is illegal to use bait and dogs.
Special rules on Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs) stocked with pheasant or quail during the pheasant or quail season
• Hunting hours are sunrise to sunset
• Hunter orange hat is required
• Other rules apply – check the WMA regulations

Upon killing a bear, hunters must immediately fill out and attach to the carcass the “harvest tag” found on the bear permit. The bear must remain intact (other than field dressing), with the harvest tag attached, until it is reported and prepared for food or taxidermy.
Hunters must report their bear either online or at a check station within 48 hours of harvest. If reporting online, a confirmation number will be issued and must be written on the harvest tag, if reporting at a check station a metal seal will be attached to the carcass. Either the seal or the harvest tag must be attached to the bear until it is processed. When transporting the bear, some portion of the carcass must remain visible until it has been reported.
The statewide population of bears is estimated to be over 4,500 animals and is growing, so the hunters’ odds are pretty good at getting one.
Gray squirrel hunting season
Thursday, September 9 marks the opening of the Gray Squirrel hunting season in Zones 1 through 9. (Yes, there are quite a few local squirrel hunters who relish a good squirrel and dumplings meal). Rather than confuse the hunters with another set of hunting regulations, I refer you to the MassWildlife web page https://www.mass.gov/service-details/gray-squirrel-hunting-regulations. There you will find squirrel hunting regulations such as Hunting Hours, Required License, bag limits, type of hunting implements, hunter orange requirement, and more.
Non-resident hunters, take note
There are non-resident readers of this column from NY and elsewhere who are interested in hunting in Massachusetts but are a little confused about our hunting regulations. The following information comes from the 2019 Freshwater Fishing, Hunting and Trapping Laws. Non-Resident Hunters:
• Must have a valid Massachusetts non-resident hunting license in order to hunt.
• Must have successfully completed a Basic Hunter Education course or held a hunting license anywhere in North America prior to 2007 in order to purchase a Massachusetts hunting license. Non-resident adults and minors (ages 15–17) purchase the same class license, H5 or H6 (see below for explanations).
H5 – Non-resident (adult/minor) Hunting, Big Game (Deer, Bear, Turkey, and all other game species) $99.50.
H6 – Non-resident (adult/minor) Hunting, Small Game (All game species except deer, bear, and turkey) $65.50.
• Must obtain the same stamps and permits as residents which are the same for residents and non-residents. Non-resident migratory game bird hunters must complete a Massachusetts H.I.P. survey to hunt.
• May not purchase ammunition in Massachusetts (including materials used in black powder firearms).
• Must have their firearms unloaded and enclosed in a case while travelling into or through Massachusetts.
• No gun license (FID) is needed to possess or transport long guns.
• Should contact the Massachusetts Criminal History Systems Board (CHSB) Firearms Support Services, 200 Arlington St., Suite 2200, Chelsea, MA 02150, tel. (617) 660-4780 for information on handgun permits.
Culvert Replacements
The Baker-Polito Administration recently awarded $932,000 to support 16 statewide culvert replacement projects that improve municipal infrastructure, river health and resilience to climate change.
Grants of interest to local environmentalists and outdoor sportspersons are as follows:

Chester (Trout Unlimited), $30,000 – Trout Unlimited, the Town of Chester and other project partners will use the grant funds to construct a structure that meets improved stream crossing and engineering design standards. Replacing this undersized and failing culvert on Kinne Brook Road with larger, safer structures will allow full upstream and downstream movement of aquatic species, including native eastern brook trout, and reduce the risk of road damage and failure in flood conditions.
Clarksburg, $41,000 – The Town of Clarksburg will conduct field data collection and analysis, design and engineering, and permitting for a culvert replacement on Bear Swamp Brook. Upgrading the culvert allows coldwater species to access to critical coldwater streams, particularly important as the climate warms and stream temperature increases. The road also serves a primary emergency access route.
Cummington, $80,000 – The Town of Cummington will complete design and engineering tasks for the culvert replacement on the North Branch of the Swift River. Upgrading the culvert will enhance public safety, resiliency, and ecological conditions and maintain economic connectivity. The North Branch Swift River is a tributary to the Wild & Scenic Westfield River, a coldwater stream that provides critical habitat for state-listed fish only found in Massachusetts in the upper tributaries of the Westfield River.
Sheffield, $54,000 – The Town of Sheffield will conduct final engineering and design and permitting for a culvert replacement on Dry Brook. The current structure results in frequent roadway flooding and repair costs. Upgrading this culvert will improve Sheffield’s infrastructure and storm resilience, reduce maintenance costs, and improve passage for fish and wildlife, including the federally listed bog turtle.
Culverts are a critical yet hidden part of our infrastructure, yet so many are in disrepair,” said State Senator Adam Hinds (D-Pittsfield). “This funding will go a long way towards our continued work with local officials to address their needs.”
“I am grateful to Secretary Theoharides for making this announcement in Windsor and for recognizing the importance of partnership between the state and our small, rural communities,” said State Representative Paul Mark (D-Peru). “Rural towns often face tough situations and tough choices when it comes to budgeting. Every state investment we are able to help secure goes such a long way towards sustainability and the long-term health of our region. This grant will be put to good use and will help improve our environment for natural habitat and nature lovers.”

New Land Protected

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At the March meeting of the Berkshire County League of Sportsmen, DFW Western District Supervisor, Andrew Madden, reported that MassWildlife recently acquired 70 acres of land in the town of Sheffield on Guilder Hollow Road. The property abuts the Dolomite Ledges Wildlife Management Area and contains open fields, steep cliff sides, and excellent habitat for deer, bear, turkey and other game species. Boundary marking and parking access will be completed this spring.
This and all other DFW wildlife management areas are open to the public for hunting, fishing, trapping and other passive recreation such as bird watching, hiking, etc.

Black bears relocated from dangerous area

Well, we knew that sooner or later the black bear population would be spreading into eastern Massachusetts. To get there quicker, it appears that they are taking to the highways. Did you hear about the mama bear and her two cubs that denned up on a highway median strip along Route 2 in Templeton? The following information was obtained from the MassWildlife web site:

On the morning of March 14, MassWildlife, with the help of transportation and law enforcement officials, closed Rte. 2 in the Templeton area for a short period of time to successfully immobilize and relocate a GPS-collared female black bear with two cubs from a wintering den site in the highway median strip.
Based on the GPS-collar data, MassWildlife biologists know the adult female went into this den site for the winter in November. She gave birth to her cubs some time in mid to late January. MassWildlife officials chose to relocate the bear family to a safer and more suitable location in a nearby wooded area to reduce the risk of vehicle collision when the cubs grow large enough to travel with their mother. The exact relocation site is not being disclosed to protect the safety of the young cubs at this particularly vulnerable phase of their lives.
The adult female bear weighed 206 pounds; her two cubs (1 male and 1 female) each weighed a hefty 8+ pounds. The adult female is one of over thirty bears involved in a MassWildlife research project comparing differences between suburban-dwelling bears and bears residing in more rural areas. MassWildlife biologists are gathering data by collaring bears with radio telemetry and GPS-collars in the Berkshires, Connecticut River Valley, and Worcester County.
MassWildlife officials are reminding the public that March is the month when hungry bears emerge from their winter dens and seek out food. Natural foods such as acorns and other nuts are usually available on the ground, but last year’s fall hard mast crop was meager. Other seasonally available natural foods eaten by bears, such as skunk cabbage, are mostly ignored when there is an easy and more filling meal at backyard bird feeders, chicken coops, beehives, garbage cans, and dumpsters.

To prevent conflicts between people and bears, MassWildlife urges homeowners and food-related business in northern Middlesex County, Worcester County, western Massachusetts, or other areas where bears have been seen, to take down bird feeders and secure dumpsters and other waste containers. Beekeepers and poultry owners are advised to set up electric fencing as protection against marauding bears. For more information about black bears in Massachusetts and watch a video titled “Don’t Feed Bears, Keep Them Wild” visit mass.gov/bears.

Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation

From time to time, I am asked why this column promotes the local annual Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation (RMEF) banquets. They note that we don’t have any elk around here, and there aren’t that many local sportsmen who go out west to hunt elk.

Well, there are a surprising number of elk hunters in our area, but let’s consider the following: Just in the year 2018, the RMEF carried out 179 habitat enhancement projects benefitting 134,699 acres in 27 states and permanently protected 13,431 acres in 8 states. Since inception in 1984, the RMEF protected or enhanced 7.4 million acres, roughly 3 ½ times the size of Yellowstone National Park.

During 2018 it opened/improved access to 26,566 acres in 5 states. Since inception, it opened or improved 1.2 million acres, roughly 2 ½ times the size of the Great Smokey Mountains National Park.

 

That same year volunteers in 500+ chapters across 49 states raised record revenue for local and nationwide conservation missions. (fence pulls, construction of wildlife water developments, are among a few). In just that year, it provided $715,617 in funding to assist with 39 elk research projects and studies in 14 states plus 7 projects with national implications.

Since inception the total value of its work is estimated to be $1.1 billion. It has assisted with successful elk reintroductions in Kentucky, Missouri, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia and Ontario, Canada.

The local RMEF banquets are always very well attended. I suspect that most people who attend them will never hunt elk, but never-the-less they do feel good about doing something to increase elk habitat and help assure their survival.

Remembering George “Gige” Darey

Well, it’s been about 3 months since George “Gige” Darey of Lenox passed away. Readers may recall that he served 38 years on the MA Fish & Wildlife Board, 35 of which as its chairman. I’m not sure that all the accolades bestowed onto him fully covered his accomplishments while serving on that board. So, let’s take a look back and consider some of what he accomplished while serving on that board as recapped by F&W Board Vice Chairman Mike Roche:
• In 1978, when Gige took his seat on the Board, there were 4,000 acres of land protected by DFW. Today there are over 200,000.
• The deer harvest was 3,107. Last year it was over 13,000.
• Wild turkey was an experiment in 1978. Now the kill is over 3,000 a year.
• There were no nesting bald eagles in 1978. Since then 702 eagles have fledged with 68 nesting pairs last year.
• The pheasant program got to a point where it became self-sustainable.
• Regulations requiring the switch from lead shot to steel shot for waterfowl hunters were implemented.
• The Piping Plover was an endangered species back then, but now MA has most of the east coast piping plover population.
• The National Heritage Program was transferred from the Department of Environmental Management to MassWildlife in 1990 and the non-game check-off on tax forms was implemented.
• Gige urged the implementation of the “Presumption of Openness”. Now all land purchased in the Commonwealth is presumed to be open to hunting and fishing.
• There has been no license fee increase in over 20 years.
• He was heavily involved in the establishment of the Mass Outdoor Heritage Foundation, a non-profit (501c3). Those funds are used for such projects as wild brook trout restoration, and other worthy projects.
• Unlike many other states that allows Sunday hunting, he was able to obtain compensatory hunting dates for migratory bird hunting in Massachusetts.
• The Deer Management Zone system was implemented to improve opportunity for sportsmen.
• The Wildlands Stamp was established where sportsmen self-imposed a $5 assessment to the sale of hunting and fishing licenses. These funds were to be dedicated exclusively to the protection of wildlife habitat open to hunting, fishing, and other wildlife related recreation and science-based management of wildlife and wildlife habitat.
• A financial partnership with Ducks Unlimited for conservation efforts in Canada was established.
• A Memorandum of Understanding with the Environmental Police was established to increase resources and improve the outdoor education programs.
• Gige promoted the Archery-in-the-Schools program.
• He was Board Chairman when construction of the new DFW headquarters took place– one of the world’s finest and most environmentally progressive buildings.
• He fought hard to keep the DFW Director’s position from becoming a political appointment and keeping it in the hands of fish and wildlife professionals.

And, if I may add a few more that Roche did not mention:
• He fought for and finally obtained the Trout Catch & Release Sections in the Housatonic River in Lee and Stockbridge, and while at it, got the trout stocking program established which enhanced it. He accomplished the same for the Millers River.
• He was heavily involved in the environmental battle with GE for clean-up of Housatonic River.
• Gige was heavily involved with the ACEC (Area of Critical Environmental Concern) designation on the Housatonic River.
• Leveraging State and town funds, he played an important role with the Town of Lenox acquisition and conservation of the Post Farm, Parson’s Marsh and the Edith Wharton Park.

He accomplished a lot during that time period, ey?