2018 black bear harvest was down 25% from previous year

At the January Meeting of the Berkshire County League of Sportsmen, DFW Western District Supervisor Andrew Madden presented the statewide 2018 preliminary black bear harvest report. He reported that during the three hunting seasons in 2018, a total of 201 bears were harvested. This represents a drop from the 270 bears taken in 2017 and the record 283 bears taken in 2016. A breakdown by season is as follows: First season (Sept. 4 – Sept. 22): 150 bears harvested, Second season (Nov. 5 – Nov. 24): 26, and the Shotgun season (Nov. 26 – Dec. 8): 25.  
He reported that the September and November seasons were virtually identical in 2017 (151 and 26). The big decrease in harvest in 2018 was during the Shotgun season. He speculated that bears were active very late in 2017, resulting in a high Shotgun season harvest, 91 bears taken. The lack of hard mast in 2018 saw bears enter their dens early which resulted in a corresponding reduction in the Shotgun season harvest, with only 25 bears taken.
Although these were preliminary figures, Madden does not expect the total to change significantly. There are a lot of bears out there and he expects that the 2019 harvest will climb back to the 270 range.
Sportsmen’s Clubs archery/shooting leagues gearing up for the new year
The Lee Sportsmen’s Association (LSA) in-house Winter Pistol League will commence Tuesday, January 15 at 6:30pm and continue every Tuesday for 10 weeks. It will feature both rim fire and center fire pistol matches, and rim fire rifle competitions. There will be 4 events in all. The cost will be $40.00 for one event and $5.00 for each event after that.
They will start at 6:30pm shooting the rim fire rifle match. Each shooter will shoot 30 rounds at a 50 ft. small bore rifle target. Shooters may lean against the front of the port and rest their elbows on the top of the port. Rifles may be equipped with scopes.
At 7:00pm, they will shoot an NRA gallery rim fire bullseye pistol match. Each shooter will shoot 10 rounds at a standard 50 ft. slow fire target, 10 rounds at a standard 50 ft. timed fire target, and 10 rounds at a standard rapid-fire target. The NRA gallery match is shot one-handed; however, they do allow a two-handed class for their league for those who would rather shoot two-handed.
There will be a combat match when the NRA gallery match is finished. Shooters will fire 25 rounds into a silhouette target at three different positions. The ammunition used will be any 9mm or larger.
For more information, please contact Larry Curtin at (413) 822-3764 or clcurtin9@hotmail.com.

The LSA will be having a Youth Archery League on Saturday mornings beginning January 12 through March 16. It is advertised as a safe, fun, and educational experience, where children ages 6 to 17 can learn and practice archery skills. The club provides everything the student needs, but if you would like to bring your own, that is OK, too.

The cost is $20 per participant and includes: indoor archery range use, bows, arrows, targets, weekly snacks, and t-shirts for new students. Session 1 for Ages 6-12 are from 9:00am to 10:30am and Session 2 for Ages 13-17 are from 10:30am to 12:00pm. Call or text Coach Doug Frank at (413) 822-0720 for more information, or if you wish to discuss placing a student in a different session for any reason.

The LSA is also having a Thursday Night Archery League. It runs from January 17 through March 7 and begins at 6:00pm. You will be shooting at foam 2D targets. There is a $20 fee. Contact Todd Bush at (413) 441-2094 for more information.

The Lenox Sportsmen’s Club (LSC) will be having its Bullseye League starting tomorrow night at 7:00pm and running 11 weeks until March 19. The shoots include .22 Caliber at 50 feet and Centerfire at 75 feet. The same Bullseye League also runs on Thursdays at 12:00 noon. That one started last Thursday.
The LSC Rifle League started this morning at 10:00 am with .22 Caliber rifle at 50 ft. & 75 ft
For more information contact Ray Scheufler- 413-443-3059 or E-mail rps94@msn.com.

The LSC Adult and Youth Archery Leagues start the first and second weeks in January. Its Youth Archery League started on January 12 from 9:00 to 10:30 am for youths 8 to 12 years old and from 10:30am to 12:00pm for 13 to 16-year olders. They are free and some equipment is available for beginners. Contact Mark Jester (413)499-8482. They also have a Club 3D Archery League on Mondays (contact Brian Vincent at (413)443-2098 for details) and a 2D Archery League on Wednesday – Friday and Saturdays (contact Jim Ferguson (413)499-0212.)
The LSC will be having a .22LR Rifle League this year. For those interested in participating, the league will run on Sundays starting at 10:00am. For more information contact Charles Kronick at 413-448-6065 or email chak219@yahoo.com.
The Stockbridge Sportsmen’s Club began its Youth Archery League yesterday. Although sign-up was yesterday you might still be able to enter it. The league will run for 10 Saturdays, starting on January 12. The club provides all equipment or you may bring your own. Non-members are welcome. You can download and mail a registration form along with a $40 fee. Anyone of interest and is able to assist should contact Mike Buffoni.

Coyote Derby
Dave’s Sporting Goods in Pittsfield is having its Coyote Derby again this year. It will run until the end of coyote hunting season which is March 8, 2019. Entrance fee is $10 and prizes will be awarded to the person who bags the most coyotes, the largest coyote and there will also be a random draw.
Marlborough FlyFishing Show

The 2019 Fly Fishing Show will take place from January 18 through 20 at the Royal Plaza Trade Center,181 Boston Post Road, West Marlborough, MA. The show’s newest edition features a tribute ceremony to the late fly-fishing icon Lefty Kreh on Saturday, plus more than 10 demonstrations or audio/visual presentations each hour together with wall-to-wall displays of the newest fly rods, reels, lines, boots, waders, clothing and flies during the three-day mid-winter run.
In addition to tackle, lodges and exotic destinations, show visitors can view continuous fly-tying demonstrations, how-to-do-it seminars and presentations ranging from the Rangeley Lakes in Western Maine to Surf Fishing for Striped Bass.
Seminars include Euro-nymphing, Tightline and Other Nymph Fishing Secret Weapons by Jason Randall to Catching Difficult Trout by Ed Engle. Casting demonstrations are scheduled by Gary Borger, George Daniel, Jeff Currier and Sheila Hassan among others.
Featured fly tiers include Borger, Alan Caolo, Tim Flagler, Joe Cordiero, Bob Clouser and Engle.
The northeastern premiere of the 2019 Fly Fishing Film Festival is Friday at 6:30. Tickets are $10 in advance or $15 at the door.
Scouts in uniform can earn credits toward a fly-fishing merit badge.
The FlyFishing Show® admission is $15 for one day, $25 for two days and $35 for three days. Children under age 5 are free as are Boy and Girl Scouts under 16 in uniform. Children under 12 are $5. Active military with an ID are $10.
For a complete list of fly-fishing films, classes, seminars, door prizes, demonstrations and the Scout Merit Badge program, visit flyfishingshow.com/marlborough-ma/ or phone (814) 443-3638.

Shotgun deer hunting season opens tomorrow, prompting another sleepless night

Well, here we go again. Tomorrow marks another opening day of shotgun deer hunting season and tonight marks another sleepless night. I’ll be so hyped up about the anticipated thrill and excitement of the hunt that sleep will be next to impossible. Some people count sheep while trying to get to sleep, tonight I’ll count deer.
Inevitably, I’ll be going over my list of things that must be brought tomorrow; gun, bullets, knife, drag rope, hunting license, a fully charged cell phone, etc. Boy, does that 4:00 am alarm come fast.
This year marks my 60th year of deer hunting (with the exception of those years away in school or serving Uncle Sam). While tossing and turning tonight, inevitably, some of those past deer hunts, which evoked vivid memories, will be relived.
I especially remember one year, nearly 25 years ago, when I decided to hunt land in West Stockbridge. Early that morning I left a note telling my wife Jan where I would be hunting. Unfortunately, I saw neither a deer nor fresh track there. Even though there was no snow on the ground, I should have been able to see ruffled leaves, hoof prints in the mud or something that would give an indication that there were deer in the area. Around noontime, I decided to call it a day and go home.
While nearing my street, I started thinking that deer hunting season comes only for a short period once a year. Why am I going home so early? I made a last-minute decision to hunt October Mountain for a couple of hours that afternoon. (I know! I know! I shouldn’t have done that).
I planned to take a stand no more than 100 yards or so down the hill, on the edge of a swamp. (For you old timers, it was behind the remnants of the old fire tower). I didn’t take my backpack for I had already consumed my lunch and coffee. I just carried some shells, the drag rope and knife. What the heck, I wasn’t going that far and could almost see my truck from there. Before reaching the stand, I spotted freshly disturbed leaves and hoofprints and decided to follow them. The leaves were a little crunchy and noisy, but the wind was in my favor so I thought I might be able to sneak up on the deer. After trailing it for about a half an hour, I spotted the deer.
It was standing still in some brush facing the other way. It was a fairly long but makeable shot and I got down on one knee to steady my aim. The only problem was that I couldn’t determine if it was a buck or doe and I didn’t have a doe permit. The size and location of the brush (around its head) was such that I couldn’t make the determination. Another concern was that the slug might deflect off of some of the brush and I would miss it.
I stayed on one knee with gun aimed for a long time, but the deer refused to move. I knew that as soon as I moved, the deer would bolt off. After a while, my legs and arms started aching from being locked in that position, and I couldn’t take it any longer. I dropped to my second knee and, sure enough, it spooked the deer and off it ran. I never did determine if it was a buck or doe.
Oh well, it was getting late (around 3:00 pm) and time to head back to the truck. I back-tracked the best that I could, but every time I tried to go back up the hill, I hit that swamp. Funny, I didn’t remember going through it while tracking that deer, but then again, I was so focused on the tracks that I didn’t pay much attention to the surroundings. I could see the hill that I came down from the truck, but I just couldn’t get across a brook in that swamp to get to it. I tried crossing it several times at different locations, but to no avail. By the time darkness set in, I realized that I was turned around (Not lost!). Great! I thought, my compass was with the backpack in the truck. Fortunately, it was a bright moonlit evening and I could see fairly well.
Even though I was hunting a mountain with which I was somewhat familiar, my heart started pounding indicating panic, whether I liked it or not. Guess what Gene, it told me, you are going to spend the night here.
Oh boy! If I wasn’t home by 8:00pm, Jan would probably call the police, report me missing and tell them I was hunting in West Stockbridge! No way for me to call her for there were no cell phones at that time.
Well, I thought, if I am going to spend the night here, I might as well get out of this swamp, head up the hill behind me, find a big tree to shelter me from the wind and hunker down. Besides, I reasoned, when I get high enough on this hill, I might be able to look east across the swamp, see the tree line in the moon light and perhaps find my way out. It was bright enough out that I could take periodically short walks around the tree to warm up. (Forget a fire, my lighter which I always carry, was also in the backpack).
Every now and then while trudging up the hill, I looked back and tried to see if I could find a passage through that swamp and up the hill to the road. I was hoping a vehicle would drive by on that road and I could see its headlights. No luck.
About half way up my hill, I spotted something shining up ahead. As I neared it, it appeared to look like an automobile, reflecting the moonlight. Strange, I thought, how did someone get a vehicle up here, there are no roads.
As I closed in, the mystery was solved. It was my own truck! Talk about being happy! All that time, I was trying to go the wrong way. What if that deer was a buck and I shot it. I would still be dragging it.
This true event occurred when I was in my 50’s and I am ashamed to say that I made some major blunders. Let’s recap them: Hunting in an area where no one knew where I was; not taking mental notes of landmarks and such as I was trailing the deer; not carrying the compass in my pockets but rather attached to the backpack; not bringing the backpack with me which contained an extra shirt, fire starter, food, etc. Some would even argue that I shouldn’t have been hunting alone to begin with.
Deer hunters please remember

If you harvest a deer during the first week of shotgun deer hunting season, you must bring it to a physical check station to allow biologists to collet important data needed for deer management. During the second week and during the muzzleloader deer hunting season, deer harvested may be reported online. Reporting is required within 48 hours of harvest.

Firearms Safety Course
Pete’s Gun Shop will be having an NRA & Massachusetts State Police Certified Firearms Safety Course next Sunday December 2nd, at the Cheshire Rod & Gun Club in Cheshire, MA. This is to qualify MA residents and non-residents alike for the MA License -To-Carry or FID Card. This will be a hands-on LIVE FIRING, one day course.
Lunch will be provided as well as a give-back of a $10 gift certificate to Pete’s Gun Shop. The cost of $100 covers all ammo, safety gear, class materials, certificates, a hardcover NRA textbook and food. Sign-in is at 8:45am, class starts at 9:00am and it ends around 4:30pm Interested parties should pre-register by calling or stopping in at Pete’s Gun Shop at 413-743-0780, as space is limited.
The Massachusetts LTC is now recognized for concealed carry in 29 states including:
Arizona, Alaska, Alabama, Arkansas, Idaho, Iowa, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, New Hampshire, Nevada, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. Check with Pete’s periodically for new additions.
Residents of Vermont can get the MA Non-Resident LTC by taking this course, and if National Reciprocity passes, they can then take advantage of it.

More than 1,300 acres of Western District lands protected by MassWildlife in f/y 2018


In his October report to the Berkshire County League of Sportsmen, DFW Western District Supervisor Andrew Madden announced that MassWildlife completed 14 land protection projects totaling more than 1,300 acres in the Western District in Fiscal Year 2018. Lands were protected for wildlife habitat as well as for hunting, fishing, and wildlife dependent recreation.
Local DFW Land Agent Peter Milanesi had a busy and productive year. Some of the projects he worked on had been previously noted in this column earlier this year, such as the 57 acres in Otis, 170 acres in the Hinsdale/Peru area and 232 acres in Hancock.
In West Stockbridge, two parcels of land were acquired. One was 15 acres named the Maple Hill Wildlife Management Area (WMA). This was a gift by the Pachas family and consisted mainly of land along the Williams River, which is stocked annually by the DFW. The Berkshire Natural Resources Council was instrumental in helping DFW acquire the property by removing an old building on the property. At this time, there is no public access to the property but hopefully, sometime in the future public access can be acquired. It protects a section of river behind the Ida Lane area, downstream of downtown West Stockbridge
The second piece in West Stockbridge was a 2.5 acre which abuts the Maple Hill WMA
In Egremont, working with NRD Funds and with the help of the BNRC (removed another building) some 59 acres were preserved. Part of the Jug End Fen WMA, access is off of Route 23. Karner Brook flows through part of the land.
Two pieces of land totaling approximately 7+ acres along Notch Road in Cheshire were acquired. They abut the Chalet WMA.
DFW acquired a Conservation Easement on 26+ acres near the Plainfield/Cummington town lines thanks to a donation by the Franklin Land Trust.
Another piece of Plainfield property where DFW acquired a Conservation Easement was some 99.66 acres of land formerly known as the Guyette Farm. Once again, the Franklin Land Trust donated the easement. Situated on Gloyd and South Central Roads and named the Meadow Brook Wildlife Conservation Easement, it has full public access.
Also, working with the Franklin Land Trust and using Landscape Partnership monies some 466 acres of land in the Plainfield, Cummington and Ashfield areas were protected. The North Branch of the Swift River which flows through the land is not stocked, but it has a population of wild, native trout.
Incidentally, on November 3, from 10am to 12pm, the Franklin Land Trust will celebrate this newly conserved Swift River Wildlife Management Area at the Plainfield Town Hall, Plainfield, MA. It is free and open to the public.
Hear from Mass Wildlife’s John Scanlon and Brian Hawthorne about the role this important piece of land plays in the broader landscape and the special habitat found there. An optional walking tour of Swift River WMA will follow. Light refreshments will be served. Call 413-625-9151 to reserve your space.
About 87 acres of land was preserved in Worthington. Access off of West Street but there is no formal parking area. It is now part of the Fox Den WMA.
Lastly, a 102.73- acre parcel of land was purchased in South Lee along the Housatonic River behind the old Country Curtains, on both sides of the river. The access points are through the Windsock Industrial Park near the cul-de-sac on the western side, and on the eastern side from Meadow Street which connects with the existing Hop Brook WMA. The Housatonic River, which runs through this property is a premier trout Catch and Release area.
All new land has been added to the MassWildlife Land Viewer system and can be viewed at www.mass.gov\masswildlife.
Loon project showing signs of success

After 4 or 5 years of dragging a loon raft out onto Cleveland Reservoir, DFW Supervisor Madden reported that they had their first successful nesting pair of loons in Berkshire County. They were able to band the adults and the young ones.

They actually built the loon raft and “It was nice to have it actually work”, said Madden. They are now looking at some additional sites.

There is a program in the eastern part of the state where DFW got some loons from up in Maine and brought them down as chicks and put them out in the wild and they also are getting returns.

If there is a sound that epitomizes the remote northern lakes and ponds it is the call of the loon, especially during the quiet twilight hours. It truly is a call of the wild. Once you have heard its call, you will never forget it. Rarely will you hear its call from close proximity for it is a shy, elusive bird. If you hear one at all, it will usually be from a great distance.

An important part of my trips to northern Maine, and eastern Canada is hearing the sound of these birds echoing across the undisturbed, remote ponds in or near God’s country.

Unfortunately, these magnificent birds are susceptible to picking up and digesting fishermen’s lead sinkers, presumably mistaking them for pebbles for their craw, and many have died from lead poison because of it. Some years ago, Massachusetts established regulations banning the use of lead sinkers and jigs under a certain size.
Although it was an inconvenience for the fishermen because they had to divest themselves of the lead sinkers and use other materials such as tin, bismuth, steel, and tungsten-nickel alloy. But, I believe the rewards of having the loons in our midst again makes it all worthwhile.
Incidentally, if you are unfamiliar with the sound of loons, just google “loons”, then “loonsong”, sit back and enjoy their music.
Pistol shooters
Remember my column of July 1, 2018 (State title for Lenox) where I mentioned that the Lenox Sportsmen’s Club Pistol Shooting team took first place at the State finals? According to Team Captain David Cimini, that could be the first State title ever for the club and perhaps for a Berkshire team, at least in recent memory.
They scored 4,126 out of 4,500 possible points, beating the 2nd place Merrimac Valley Pistol League by 21 points.
The Lenox team shooters were: Team Captain – David Cimini, Co-Captain Ray Scheufler, Peter Kirchner, Tom Greenleaf, Gregg Proctor and James Denault. All are Pittsfield residents except for Proctor who resides in Hinsdale. The top shooter was Denault who scored 834 out of 900 possible points.
At that time, I mentioned that if I ever get a picture of these shooters holding their trophy I would run it. It took a while to get, but here it is. Congratulations gents! Might fine shooting!.
Fisheries & Wildlife Board Meeting
The October meeting of the Massachusetts Fisheries and Wildlife Board will be held this Tuesday, October 30, at 10:00 am at the Lenox Library, in the Welles Gallery, 18 Main Street, Lenox.

An estimated 150 Black Bears taken during the September Season

 

The September Back Bear hunting season, which began on September 4 ended on September 22. Preliminary results show that approximately 150 bears were harvested. Most of the bears were checked in on-line and there may still be some checking stations yet to report. Last year’s September total was 151.

There were some large bears taken during this season. For example, there was one checked in on-line estimated to weigh 450lbs, (non-dressed) taken in New Marlborough, one weighing 435lbs (dressed) that was checked into the Buckland check station, one which weighed in at 342lbs (dressed) taken in Lee and another one weighing 375lbs (dressed) taken in Otis.

The November bear hunting season opens on November 5 and runs through November 24. There are different regulations, such as the type of hunting implement, applicable to this hunt so be sure to check the Massachusetts Guide to Hunting Laws (abstracts).

Teddy Bears picnic

The Lenox Historical Society (LHS) will be having a Teddy Bears Picnic on Saturday October 6 from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm at the Museum of Lenox History (Academy Building) 65 Main Street, Lenox. Dale Abrams, Education & Volunteer Coordinator for Mass Audubon’s Berkshire Sanctuaries will be the guest speaker. His talk will be geared toward children and will address living with the bears in our midst – where and what their dens are like, how they will spend the winter, what is appropriate behavior if they see a bear, etc. The LHS wants kids (and adults) to learn about their environment, especially since there are so many encounters with bears in the Berkshires.

The LHS will have an exhibit of teddy bears in its museum.

The presentation will last about an hour in order to have enough time for kids to ask questions. Light refreshments will be served after the talk. The event is free and open to the public.

Woodcock hunting season opens this week
The season opens on Thursday, October 4 and runs through Saturday, November 24, excluding Sundays. The daily bag limit is 3 and the possession limit is 9. Woodcock (Timberdoodle) hunters are required to complete a Harvest Information Program (HIP) survey, but no State or Federal waterfowl stamps are required.
Non-toxic shot is not required for woodcock, snipe or rails; however, if you are planning to hunt other species at the same time, no lead shot may be in the hunter’s possession while hunting ducks, geese or coot.

DFW talk on Chronic Wasting Disease
On Thursday, October 4, the Berkshire County League of Sportsmen (BCLS) will be hosting a presentation by David Stainbrook, MassWildlife’s Deer and Moose Project Leader at the Cheshire Rod & Gun Club, 310 Curran Rd, Cheshire, MA. Beginning at 7:00 pm, he will be giving a presentation on the Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) which is a contagious neurological disease that is fatal to cervids, including deer, elk, and moose. The BCLS encourages you to attend this informative presentation which is free and open to the public.

Prior to Stainbrook’s presentation, beginning at 6:00 pm, the BCLS will conduct a short monthly meeting. The League is made up of delegates from the various Berkshire County sportsmen’s clubs, and the meetings include monthly reports by DFW Western District Supervisor Andrew Madden and MA Fish & Wildlife Board Member Stephen Sears. League and club delegate members discuss various subjects of interest to sportsmen. If you are a local outdoor sportsman who has never attended a BCLS meeting, you might want to come to that meeting and see what it’s all about. Who knows, you might want to represent your club at future meetings.
Dalton’s John Ballard takes 1st in trap shooting
Representing the Lee Sportsmen’s Club, John took 1st Place in a Registered Trap Shoot on September 1 and 2 in North Leominster, MA. He shot 195 out of 200 tries while competing against 150 others in the “C Class” category. No, he didn’t come home with a blue ribbon or trophy, but received a check in the mail.
John says that the Lee Sportsmen’s Club is always looking for new trap shooters. He and others teach trap shooting at the club on Saturday mornings. One caveat, don’t bother him on Saturdays during the goose hunting season.
According to Wikipedia, trapshooting is one of the three major disciplines of competitive clay pigeon shooting (shooting shotguns at clay targets). The other disciplines are skeet shooting and sporting clays. They are distinguished roughly as follows:
• In trap shooting, the targets are launched from a single “house” or machine, generally away from the shooter.
• In skeet shooting, targets are launched from two “houses” in somewhat “sideways” paths that intersect in front of the shooter.
• Sporting clays includes a more complex course, with many launch points.
There are variations within each group.
Trapshooting is practiced all over the world with certain variants. Olympic trap, also known as “International Trap”, “Bunker”, “ISSF Trap” and “Trench”; Double Trap is also an Olympic event. Other non-Olympic Trap include: Down-The-Line, also known as “DTL” and Nordic Trap. American Trap is the predominant version in the United States and Canada.
American Trap has two independent governing bodies. The Amateur Trapshooting Association (ATA) sanctions events throughout the United States and Canada, as well as the Pacific International Trapshooting Association (PITA) which sanctions events on the West Coast of North America.
Trapshooting was originally developed, in part, to augment bird hunting and to provide a method of practice for bird hunters. Use of targets was introduced as a replacement for live pigeons. Indeed, one of the names for the targets used in shooting games is clay pigeons. The layout of a modern trapshooting field differs from that of a skeet field and/or a sporting clays course.
Trapshooting has been a sport since the late 18th century when real birds were used; usually the passenger pigeon, which was extremely abundant at the time. Birds were placed under hats or in traps which were then released. Artificial birds were introduced around the time of the American Civil War. Glass balls (Bogardus) and subsequently “clay” targets were introduced in the later 1800s, gaining wide acceptance.

Field Trial
The Berkshire Beagle Club will be having a Small Pack Option Field Trial at its Richmond Club next weekend, October 6 and 7. The female beagles will run on Saturday and the males on Sunday. They will be having another TT15 Mini Collar raffle for $10 a ticket.
Beaglers come from all over the Northeast to participate in these trials and have wonderful remarks about the condition of the grounds, the numbers of the bunnies available and how the field trials are conducted and judged. The grounds cover some 80 plus acres with both cottontail and snowshoe hares inhabiting them.
In the Beagle Club’s August field trial week-end they had 173 entries over the three days but there were no local winners. Maybe this time one of own local dogs will win. In all fairness, they are competing against some of the best beagles in the Northeast.

Lenox Sportsmen’s Club Pistol Team claimed State title

Last month, the Lenox SC Pistol Team went on a shooting rampage and took 1st place in the Berkshire County pistol competitions which they have won for the last few years, and then competed in the State Finals and won that, too. According to Team Captain David Cimini, that could be the first State title ever for the club and perhaps for a Berkshire team, at least in recent memory.
They scored 4,126 out of 4,500 possible points, beating the 2nd place Merrimac Valley Pistol League by 21 points.
To get to the State finals, the 11 to 15- member pistol team had to win the Berkshire County title. Once that was accomplished, they qualified to represent Berkshire County at the State level.. They had to trim their number of shooters down to 6, selecting their top scorers. Eight teams competed at the State level, representing the different counties.
The rules state that teams must shoot .22 caliber pistols, using open or red dot sights, one handed, at a bull’s eye target at a 50- foot range. The scores entered can only be from the accumulation of the five top scorers. It is called a 900 match. Each shooter has 90 shots at 10 points apiece with a maximum score of 900 points.
The Lenox team shooters were: Team Captain – David Cimini, Co-Captain Ray Scheufler, Peter Kirchner, Tom Greenleaf, Gregg Proctor and James Denault. All are Pittsfield residents except for Proctor who resides in Hinsdale. The top shooter was Denault who scored 834 out of 900 possible points.
According to Cimini, there are some very good shooters at the eastern end of the state, many of them are in weekly leagues, similar to bowling leagues. The Lenox Club only shoots 10 or 12. One of those eastern teams usually takes the State title every year. “This year was our year”, he said, “We worked hard., we practiced hard and we really put a lot into it. And it paid off.” Over the years, they have placed anywhere from 2nd to 8th. Last year, Lenox finished 3rd.
I was hoping to get a picture of these sharpshooters holding the trophy and medals, but the awards are late and have not arrived yet. When they do arrive, I hope to include a picture in a future column.
Congratulations, gents! Mighty fine shooting, mighty fine!
Recent Massachusetts DFW activities now that trout stocking is over
Recently, they completed stocking Quabbin Reservoir with its annual allotment of 10,000 landlocked salmon raised at the Palmer Fish Hatchery. It will take about 3 years for these fish to reach the 15″ minimum size for harvest.

According to Western District supervisor Andrew Madden, they successfully banded bald eagle chicks at Richmond Pond and the Westfield River in Russell.

They are also continuing deployment of black bear GPS radio collars. They added 1 collared female this past spring.

Teachers are tutored on fly fishing

Ronald Wojcik, of Windsor, MA is a teacher at Taconic High School in Pittsfield, coaches the Hoosic Valley Girls’ Basketball Team and also is a superb fly fisherman. So, it makes perfect sense for him to start an after-school fly fishing club for the Taconic High students. About 12 years ago, he did just that and since then about 50 students have taken the course.

The course includes lessons in fly fishing and casting, fly tying (depending on interest), fly fishing equipment, entomology, species of trout, videos, etc. His availability to teach these subjects depends on his basketball coaching schedule for the Hoosic Valley Girls’ Basketball Team.

This past year, Ron had no students available to take his fly fishing course, in spite of sending e-mails and posting fliers about the course. The students were tied up in other sports or had after school jobs. When the teachers saw the flyers, they asked, “What about us? We would like to learn to fly fish, too.” Ron agreed and as a result, 4 Taconic teachers, and the Wahconah High School Girls’ Basketball Coach, Liz Kay, attended the fly fishing lesson. (Ironically, Liz’s team defeated Hoosic Valley in the play-offs last year, but Ron welcomed her anyway). The Taconic teachers were Kris Pearson, Patrice Lattrell and Ana Larkin. Amy Green is a health technician volunteer.

On the evening of June 19, Ron invited the teachers up to his house to learn to fly fish for trout in his private pond, a body of water of about ¾ acre. Also invited were 5 members of the Taconic Chapter of Trout Unlimited to do the one-on-one tutoring. They were Stephen Smith, William Travis, Marc Hoechstetter, Paul Knauth and me. After dining on pizza, we got down to the business of casting for and catching trout.

The teachers were a mix of novice anglers and those with some experience. The teacher that I was mentoring, Kris Pearson, had never fly fished before, and on her second cast, a large trout hammered her black wooly bugger fly and went deep to the bottom and put up a fierce fight.

You should see the excitement that ensued with Ron rushing over joining me with instructions. I think Kris was a little intimidated and tried to hand the rod over to me. But it was it was her fish to catch or lose. It was a brute, probably one of Ron’s rainbow trout that he stocked in the 6 to 10- inch range 4 or 5 years ago and now weighed around 5 lbs. After swimming around the pond, it finally got off. Liz immediately became sold on fly fishing and now wants to buy a starter fly fishing outfit.

About halfway through the fishing lesson, Ron’s wife Diane Wojcik brought down to the pond some freshly made and still warm cookies. Their labra-doodle dog, Hershey, checked on all of the lady fly fishers, too. And then they went back to fishing.

Ron made sure that all of the fish that were caught were resuscitated and swam away to fight another day.

So, did these teachers pass or fail? They passed with flying colors. By the end of the session, all of them were decent fly casters and all either caught trout or had them on. They appeared to be having a great time, as did the mentors.

There was no need to send them home with bad report cards. They can now advance to the next phase, that of catching fish out of our local lakes and rivers and enjoying all of the beautiful sights that our Berkshires have to offer. Also, they can go on summer vacation now!

Small fry are liberated into Windsor Brook

 

In January brook trout eggs were received from the Sunderland State Fish Hatchery and placed in an aquarium at Taconic High School in Pittsfield. This was part of the Trout-in-the- Classroom program which MassWildlife sponsors. The eggs hatched about two weeks later and they were raised by some 80 or so Taconic High School students from grades 9 through 12. They have been attended to by the students, under the watchful eyes of teachers Michelle Potash and Tonya Michaud. They were fed pellets and remained there until last Thursday when they were set free.

I had hoped to get pictures of the kids releasing them but due to transportation issues (funding to provide bussing to bring the kids to Windsor) and other issues, none of the kids were able to make it. It’s a shame that after all of the attention and care that the kids gave to raise these fish, they could not be there to watch their liberation. Thanks to the above-mentioned dedicated teachers, who took the time to drive the brook trout to the release location. And thanks to teacher Ron Wojcik who coordinated the release site and time.

Youngsters take note! The unnamed stream where they were released runs across property owned by Tom Garvey (Maybe we should name it Tom’s Brook?) One could not choose a better place to release these fish, for it is a cold, clean little brook that doesn’t dry up in the summer and is a tributary to nearby Windsor Brook in Windsor. All of the little fry (perhaps 1 ¼ inches in length) appeared happy in their new home. They immediately acclimated to the currents, and back currents so that they constantly faced into them. Care was taken to not put them in pools where larger trout were likely to live and, given the opportunity, would gobble them up.

Those fish are not forgotten once released, for Tom keeps a close eye on them and feeds them daily. He even covers the stream with wire mesh in order to keep the blue herons from getting at them and eating them up. (herons love small brook trout, they can’t get enough of them). Tom has been through this routine before for this marks the 4th year that they have been released on his property. He observes them until the fall when the fish by that time are perhaps 3 inches long. That is when they disappear up or downstream and find new territories in which to reside.

Trout Stockings

The following waters were scheduled to be stocked with bigger trout last week, subject to change. Please note that Onota Lake in Pittsfield and Windsor Pond in Windsor have also been stocked with tiger trout. In addition to those waters, the following waters have been stocked: Deerfield River in Buckland, Charlemont, and Florida; East Branch of the Westfield River in Chesterfield, Cummington, Savoy and Windsor; Littleville Reservoir in Chester and Huntington, Upper Highland Lake in Goshen, Housatonic River C&R in Lee and Stockbridge, Farmington River in Otis and Sandisfield and Laurel Lake in Lee.

Northern Pike Stocking

The DFW stocked more than 16,000 fingerling-sized northern pike into Cheshire Reservoir on Friday, April 27. These 4″ fish, which will take about 3 years to reach the 28″ minimum harvest size, were obtained from New Jersey DFW as part of a cooperative exchange program.
Northern Pike naturally reproduce in several waterbodies in the state. In the Berkshires, the natural reproduction is able to sustain the fishery in the Housatonic River (including Woods Pond) and in Pontoosuc, Onota, Buel, and Cheshire lakes.
MassWildlife also stocks some locations with sterile Tiger Muskellunge, which is a cross between a northern pike and muskellunge, and is a member of the esocid family. MassWildlife does not have a warm water hatchery in which to rear esocids but usually obtains a small number of 3–12 ” fish each year from the NJ DFW. They are stocked in selected Massachusetts waters with sufficient habitat to support them. It takes 5 or more years for them to attain the 28″ minimum legal length.
Training Range Safety Officers
The Lee Sportsmen’s Association will be conducting Range Safety Officer (RSO) Training on May 19 at 9 am. The minimum age to become a credentialed NRA RSO is 21, and one must provide a valid and current NRA membership number on the day of the course. After the instructor submits the training report, applicants will be able to complete credentialing process online (nrainstructors.org). The Cost of this course is $100, and the Cost of a 2-year credential for NRA members is $30 ($50 for non-NRA members). If you are not already an NRA member, and would like to become one prior to taking this course, it is recommended you call the NRA rather than join online.

Registration is required, and the registration form can be downloaded and printed from nrainstructors.org website, RSO Course Registration Form. Contact Rob McDermott for questions, concerns, and registration at 413-232-7700 or email robmcdermott@verizon.net

International Defensive Pistol Association

The IDPA will be having a Steel Action Shoot on Sunday, May 20 at the Lee Sportsmen’s Association. For information, contact Shawn Sullivan at ssullee@icloud.com.
Endangered Species Day

This year, Endangered Species Day is observed on May 18. The United States Congress appointed this day to recognize efforts in conserving rare species. Through the Massachusetts Endangered Species Act, Massachusetts also protects local native species that may or may not be federally protected. Over 425 endangered, threatened, or special concern animals and plants live in Massachusetts. Species from the majestic bald eagle to the unusual mountain cranberry need protection. Even though many, like the peregrine falcon, have come a long way, our native species still need help.
MassWildlife’s Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program implements the state’s Endangered Species Act. This happens through field surveys and research, regulations, habitat management, land protection, and education. But the Program needs you to help monitor rare species by telling MassWildlife when you see them. You can also help by donating directly to the Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program. Find out more by visiting mass.gov/supportnhesp.
Fishing Derbies

The Stockbridge Sportsmen’s Club is having its Spring Fishing Derby at the boat ramp on Stockbridge Bowl next Sunday, May 20 from dawn until 3:00pm. Prizes of $100 will go the heaviest trout, pickerel, bass and bullhead. There will be free lures for all kids 12 and under. Hot breakfast and lunch will be available. Pre-registration fee is $10 and post registration is $15. Tickets are available at the Minkler Insurance Agency, 31 Main Street, Stockbridge, (W)413-644-3590, (H)413-298-4630 or from any club member.

DFW Director Jack Buckley retires
After 30 years of service with the DFW (MassWildlife), Director Jack Buckley retired on April 30, 2018. Appointed as Director by the Fisheries and Wildlife Board in 2015, Buckley supported new outreach initiatives such as social media and agency re-branding; focused efforts on hunter and angler recruitment, retention, and reactivation; accelerated habitat management activities on MassWildlife lands; procured habitat management grant funding for private landowners and municipalities; and partnered with the Massachusetts Water Resources Agency for a pipeline to supply the McLaughlin Hatchery in Belchertown with gravity-fed water from Quabbin Reservoir. During this time, MassWildlife celebrated its 150th Anniversary, opened its new LEED Platinum certified Field Headquarters in Westborough for meetings and events to a wide variety of state agencies and conservation groups, and continued to protect and manage over 200,000 acres of important fish and wildlife habitat to benefit both wildlife and people.
The majority of Buckley’s career with MassWildlife was spent as Deputy Director of Administration and Personnel. He was responsible for personnel, fiscal, and budgetary management, legislative and external affairs, federal aid, information and education, licensing and permits, land acquisition, and the Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program. In 1998–2002, he also served as a Special Assistant to Secretary of Environmental Affairs Robert Durand for Forest Policy and Land Protection. Probably his most important contribution to the agency was his work on the Massachusetts Endangered Species Act (MESA) legislation, the creation of MassWildlife’s Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program, and his involvement with a lawsuit that went before the Massachusetts Supreme Court. The Court ultimately affirmed the agency’s authority and actions relative to enforcement of MESA.
Buckley was MassWildlife’s representative on the Public Access Board and the Pesticide Board. In addition, Buckley represented the Division on several committees of the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, including Legislative Affairs, Federal Budget, and International Affairs. He was the regional representative of the northeastern states to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) Technical Work Group.
Jack Buckley earned a Bachelor of Science and Master’s Degree in Fisheries Biology from the University of Massachusetts in Amherst where he studied the endangered shortnose sturgeon in the Connecticut River. He worked at the Massachusetts Cooperative Fishery Research Unit at the University of Massachusetts as a Research Assistant and was promoted to Project Leader. Buckley then performed a stint as first Chief of Fisheries Management in Washington D. C. where he was responsible for developing the fisheries management program for the District of Columbia. His work in advancing fish and wildlife conservation has been recognized on local, regional, and national levels. Buckley was honored by the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies with a Special Recognition Award in 2011 for his outstanding commitment to the work of the Association and with the Ernest Thompson Seton Award in 2013, honoring his leadership in scientific wildlife management as a CITES representative. The Massachusetts Sportsmen’s Council recently honored Buckley with a Lifetime Achievement Award.
The Fisheries and Wildlife Board has appointed previous Deputy Director Mark Tisa as Acting Director of the DFW.

Local youth turkey hunting results were low, but enthusiasm was high

 

The special mentored youth turkey hunting day took place on Saturday, April 28. The combined turkey harvest for the Lee and Stockbridge Sportsmen’s clubs was only 4 birds. Its hard to figure out why as the weather wasn’t bad, the mentors are eminently qualified, the kids are decent shots and there appears to be a lot of turkeys strutting their stuff out there. Maybe the toms detected an accent in the turkey calls this year and became leery. Well, that’s the way it goes…..no excuses were offered.

This year, I covered the Lee Sportsmen’s Association which had 9 participants in the program and two birds were taken. Alex Navin, while hunting with mentor Doug LaPlante managed to bag a 15 lbs. bird around 6:00am with one clean shot to the head. They called in 5 or 6 other gobblers, too. He is very pleased with his new 20-gauge Mossberg Shotgun.

Daniel Epe, who was mentored by Mark Bartini, heard at least 6 toms all around them. The trouble was that some were in back yards and obviously he couldn’t go there to hunt them. He had one bird interested in Mark’s call, but he got busted (bird detected them and took off).

A similar situation occurred to Will Loring who was mentored by Isaac Winters. They had a bunch of gobblers nearby but couldn’t call them in. One bird had the nerve to strut nearby, but it got away. Matt Ranzoni was mentoring Will’s brother Charlie Loring and he bagged a 17 lbs. bird. No luck for Taylor Salice, who was mentored by Josh Hurlihey, but she had a good time hunting never-the-less.

John Ranzoni mentored Hunter Briggs, and he took a shot but didn’t drop the bird.

After having a burger or two excellently prepared by Tom and Virginia Dubois, the youngsters learned how to dress out the birds. In addition to the meat, they were shown how to save the tail feathers, beards, spurs, other feathers, etc.

Meanwhile, the folks at the Stockbridge Sportsmen’s Club also bagged two birds. Some 18 youths went out turkey hunting this year. Thanks to information provided by spokesman Mike Buffoni, here is how they did:
Two youths got birds and Mike reported that at least 3 other youths had shots but missed. Every kid had great action and heard birds gobbling. Colby Carlson (Mike’s nephew) who was mentored by Brian Korte went on his first hunt ever and got a jake. Brady Donald also got a nice bird. Pretty sure it was his first also. “Very cool to see the excitement in these youth hunters” said Mike.

As usual they had a really nice lunch put on by Chef Peter Delgrande at the club. After eating, they also learned how to tend to the birds. Quite a few of the kids didn’t come for lunch and most were in shorts so they didn’t get a group photo this year. We did get a picture of young Colby Carlson with his turkey. The expression of joy and pride says it all, hey?
Few details came from North County except that Scott Krzanik of Adams, MA was mentoring his daughter Grace when she bagged an 18-pound bird with a 9 inch beard and 3/4″ spurs. She did this at 6:35 a.m. I believe I interviewed her back in 2016 when she got her first bird on youth day as well. Scott said that Matthew Tassone also got a nice tom North county.
According to Astrid Huseby, DFW Youth Turkey Hunt Coordinator, they don’t have exact numbers of how many youths participated. They do know that 270 youth ages 12-17 obtained the required permits/authorizations to hunt on the youth day, but not how many of those 270 actually went out hunting.
As for how many turkeys were harvested, they have a preliminary number of 52 birds reported online. More birds may have been harvested and taken to a check station that doesn’t use online reporting so they won’t have total numbers until the end of the season when all harvest reports are collected from check stations.

Free Fishing Days

In order to plan your fishing trips, here is a listing of free fishing days, where no freshwater license is needed: In Massachusetts, the dates are June 2 and 3. (You can also take advantage of free saltwater fishing on Father’s Day weekend – June 16 and 17). While you can fish for free on June 2-3, a license is required at all other times if you’re 15 or older. If you’re aged 15-17, your license is free.

In New York the free fishing days are June 23-24. They also have two additional free fishing dates in 2018 which are September 22 and November 11. In Vermont it is June 9. (Be sure to verify that date as I am receiving conflicting dates for Vermont). In New Hampshire the day is June 2; in Maine, the dates are June 2 and 3; the Connecticut Free Fishing date is May 12 and in Rhode Island they are May 6 and May 7. Now’s your chance to “test the waters” in our neighboring states free.

Pistol Shoots
The Cheshire Rod & Gun Club, 310 Curran Rd., Cheshire, MA, will be having outdoor pistol shoots this year. The monthly shoots take place on Saturdays starting at 10:00 am. The entry fee for the first shoot is $10.00 and $5.00 for the second shoot. The winners will split ½ the first shoot take and all of the second shoot take. On May 12, there will be “Wood Blocks Standin’ on a Log” centerfire. 5 shots at 5 blocks at 10, 15, 20 and 25 yards.

Rules: For Rimfire – .22 Caliber, Semi-Automatic Pistols or Revolvers. For Centerfire – Semi-Automatic Pistols or Revolvers, no caliber over .45, red dot scopes are allowed, 1 or 2- handed allowed.

Also, on Sunday, May 20, they will be having a Steel Action Shoot, and on Thursday, May 24 they will be having their first Thursday Night Steel Match.

For more information contact: Martha Lee (413) 212-4154, Evelyn Jones (413) 684-3391.

Trout Stocking

The following waters were scheduled to be stocked with trout last week: Hoosic River in Adams. Cheshire and Clarksburg; Greenwater Pond in Becket, West Branch of the Westfield River in Becket, Chester, Huntington and Middlefield; Westfield River Mainstem in Russell, Potash Brook in Blandford and Russell, Deerfield River in Buckland, Charlemont and Florida; Hudson Brook in Clarksburg, Pontoosuc Lake in Lanesborough and Big Pond in Otis.

Fishing Derby
The Berkshire Hatchery Foundation in Hartsville-New Marlborough is having its next free children’s fishing derby next Saturday, May 12, from 9 to 10:30 am at its lower pond. Children aged 12 and under must be accompanied by an adult.

Bass Fishing Tournament

The bass fishermen have started their 2018 tournaments and the first event was at the Congamond Lakes in Southwick, MA on April 29. The results are as follows: 1st place went to Ricky Terzak with 16.4 lbs. of bass. In 2nd place was Paul Procopio with 12.13 lbs. Dave Benham took 3rd with 12.4lbs, 4th place went to Bill Gates with 11 lbs. and in 5th place was Bill Pigott with 8.7 lbs. These are 5 fish totals weights. All were caught, weighed in and released.

The lunker (largemouth) bass was taken by Bill Gates, one weighing 4.1 lbs. Paul Procopio caught a 3.3 lbs. smallmouth. Both are currently leading in the Lunker of the Year contests.

Registration is open for the next tournament which takes place on May 13.

HVA to conduct Stream Assessments of the Konkapot and Williams Rivers

The Housatonic Valley Association (HVA) invites interested individuals to help form “Stream Teams” to complete Stream Assessments this spring and summer. “Stream Team” volunteers will walk, sometimes in the river, or paddle along an assigned segment of the river and record information along the way. All of the information collected will be compiled into a final Stream Assessment Report which will include conditions and use of the river sections plus possible recommendations for future projects. Assessments are to be completed from May to July and can be scheduled according to the volunteers’ availability.

HVA has scheduled a Stream Assessment volunteer training on Tuesday, May 15 from 5 to7pm in the Community Room of the Mason Library, Great Barrington. Registration is required, space is limited. They will also conduct an on-stream training practice review with date and time to be determined.

These surveys help HVA assess the health of the river and work with the community to improve that part of the watershed. All of the information collected will be compiled into a final Stream Assessment Report which will include conditions and use of the river sections, plus possible recommendations for future projects. These reports should be available in October 2018 on HVA’s website (hvatoday.org). Copies of the report, both digital or hard copy can be requested.

Funding for the Stream Assessments is provided by The Berkshire Environmental Endowment Fund, a fund of the Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation. The Green River and Southwest Branch of the Housatonic River Stream Assessments were completed in 2017. Copies of these reports and other previous reports are available at hvatoday.org or you can call and request a copy. If you are interested in participating in this project, call HVA at 413-298-7024 or email Alison at adixon@hvatoday.org.

The two Stream Assessments that are to be completed this year are the Williams and Konkapot Rivers. Both of these rivers are tributaries of the Housatonic River. The Williams River flows south and southeast through West Stockbridge and Great Barrington where it joins the Housatonic River while the Konkapot River begins in Monterey and continues south through New Marlborough and, after a dip into Canaan, Connecticut, flows into the Housatonic River in Sheffield.
“Stream Teams” for each of the rivers will be made up of small groups of 2 – 3 volunteers and the teams are typically assigned a 1 – 2 mile section of the river. HVA will train “Stream Team” volunteers on how to conduct the survey, what information to record, and safety protocols. Volunteers will be asked to record things of note such as: pipes that are seen, invasive plants or wildlife observations, and general river conditions and usage. Following the surveys, the “Stream Team” volunteers will come together to share their findings and discuss suitable recommendations. The information gathered will be compiled into final Stream Assessment reports – one for each of the tributaries.
Not all “Stream Team” members need to be involved in conducting a survey. If you have an interest or expertise in either the Williams or Konkapot Rivers, HVA welcomes your input. Trainings are expected to be scheduled in May. Surveys will be completed from May – July weather and water levels permitting. The final reports, which are expected to be compiled in late summer, will be submitted to the local municipalities and state government and should also be available to the public by October 2018. The assessment will be placed on the HVA website along with their past reports. Feel free to check out these past reports to help understand more about this program. Contact HVA at 413-298-7024 for more information about volunteering for a “Stream Team.”
Fisheries and Wildlife Board Meeting
The May meeting of the Fisheries and Wildlife Board will be held on Wednesday, May 16 at 1:00 p.m. at the Stationery Factory ,63 Flansburg Avenue, Dalton, MA.

Questions arise over the handling of Pittsfield Lakes

Recently, I have been receiving correspondence from sportsmen questioning why the water level on Pontoosuc Lake is so low that they are unable to launch their boats in the open water near the outlet channel. I didn’t know the answer. It was my understanding that per Order of Conditions, the lake had to be completely refilled by April 1, and I am unaware of any amendments or exclusions to that Order of Condition.

On April 2, I went to the lake outlet and found that the water level indeed appeared to be 2 feet below the dam overflow level and that water was being diverted around the dam in a pipe and into the outlet stream (one of the feeders to the Housatonic River). It looked as though the
refilling, a process which probably takes a couple of weeks to complete, had not even begun. It is my understanding that the lake is allowed to be raised or lowered no more than 3 inches per day to reduce adverse impacts on the outlet stream. While there, I took a picture of the outlet. (Picture quality not quite sufficient for this column).

Through e-mail and telephone calls, I tried to reach the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) regarding this matter. (I subsequently found out that I should have contacted the DCR because it is the permittee and operator for Pontoosuc Lake). I called the Pittsfield Conservation Agent (Rob Vanderkar) and we had a good conversation. He claimed he contacted the Department of Conservation & Recreation (DCR) on April 2 and requested that they begin
refilling the lake that very day. If they did so, it must have begun after I visited the dam and took pictures.

On March 4, the DCR Press Secretary responded to my inquiry with the following information:

“Every year, the DCR conducts a winter drawdown of approximately three feet of water from Pontoosuc Lake by opening the dam in the City of Pittsfield. Staff then elevate the water levels back to normal for the spring/summer season (typically April 1st).”

“However, the agency has not brought the water levels up to normal seasonal heights just yet due to the large amounts of ice currently present within the lake caused by a prolonged winter season, which has happened in past years. Elevating the water levels at this time would enable ice to drift to the shoreline and potentially damage the bank, property, and/or other structures that it may encounter.”

“DCR staff are currently allowing the ice to fully melt, water levels are slowly rising (approximately 15 inches from the spillway), and staff continue to monitor the issue. Water levels are expected to be at spring/summer heights later this week or early next week.”

I am no biologist, but I don’t think “winter drawdowns” cut it. Unless something changed in the regulations recently, drawdowns had to be completed by November 15 in order to allow the critters (amphibians, mammals, etc.) to relocate in order to survive the freezing temperatures.

The issue of severe and late lake drawdowns and refills has been a constant point of contention to the Berkshire County League of Sportsmen (BCLS), the umbrella organization for a dozen or so local sportsmen’s clubs and some 3,000 or more local sportsmen and women. Rarely has a monthly meeting taken place in the last couple of years when this subject, as well as the use of herbicides, did not come up. Some of the concerns are: too severe drawdowns, drawdowns conducted too late to allow the critters to make new winter homes, excessive or overuse or unnecessary uses of herbicides, and others.

Their concerns were piqued when it was learned that there was a drastic drawdown last winter on Onota Lake which left thousands of freshwater clams, mussels and a rare aquatic plant exposed on a sandbar to freeze. Even a muskrat had been left stranded in the low water and had to be trapped out by DFW. (Keep in mind that drawdowns are supposed to be completed before winter).

I have since learned from the DEP that Jim McGrath, Pittsfield’s Harbormaster, is the operator for Onota Lake and that MassDEP has and is providing guidance and recommendations to the Conservation Commission regarding permits.

Complicated, hey?

Nevertheless, someone should have been held accountable for the demise of the thousands of those bivalves. The freshwater mussels were identified by DFW aquatic biologists as common mussels, but they were estimated to be from 50 to 80 years old. A Comb Water Milfoil (as opposed to the invasive Eurasian Milfoil), was also exposed to freezing during that drawdown. It is listed in Massachusetts as “Endangered.”

The County League’s concerns have been frequently conveyed to the Western District DFW Supervisor Andrew Madden, but his hands are tied in these matters because the Conservation Commissions call the shots. (Although I am not sure if the Concom called the shot on the above referenced Onota Lake drawdown last fall). Isn’t it ironic that the very agency that has the best trained aquatic biologists and expertise to address these concerns, basically has no say? Yes, DFW advice and recommendations are sought by lake associations, conservation commissions and others but at the end of the day the recommendations are largely unheeded it is they who make the decisions and who, in the County League’s opinion, are the least qualified to make them. The County League hopes to change all that.

It is important that fishermen, conservationists and those who represent the critters also have a say in the management of these Massachusetts “Great Ponds”. It is up to them to become informed, attend the various meetings and work with the Conservation Commissions, lake associations, DEP, DCR, DFW and others to come up with sound lake management plans that all can live with, even the critters.

Incidentally, Dan Miraglia, of Pittsfield, has been the watch dog keeping the BCLS updated on lake matters. As a sign of appreciation, the League chose Dan to receive its Silvio O. Conte Sportsmen’s Appreciation Award this year.

Incidentally, the leadership of the BCLS asked me to announce that they still have tickets available for the Silvio Conte Memorial Banquet on April 21. At that banquet, Dan, along with George Wislocki, Karen Kruszyna, Tom Tyning and another guy will be recognized. While there, maybe we can ask Tom what the effects the constant drawdowns have on the turtle, crayfish and other amphibian populations.

Trout Stocking

The following water bodies were scheduled to be stocked with trout last week, subject to change: Green River – Alford, Egremont and Great Barrington; West Branch Westfield River – Becket, Chester, Middlefield and Huntington; East Branch Westfield River- Chesterfield, Cummington, Savoy, Huntington Russell and Windsor; Deerfield River – Buckland, Charlemont and Florida; Farmington River – Otis and Sandisfield; Konkapot River – Monterey, New Marlborough and Sheffield, Norwich Pond in Huntington, Windsor Lake in North Adams, Mansfield Pond in Great Barrington and Lake Buel in Monterey.

Coyote Contest

Eight coyotes were entered into Dave’s Sporting Goods Coyote Contest this year, and the winner was Carl Dolle of Clarksburg. He bagged the most with a total of 5 and he also bagged the largest coyote which weighed 41 lbs. Joe Trybus, of Lanesborough, MA won the random draw. Congratulations to both.

As you undoubtedly noticed the checked-in numbers were low this year. According to store owner, Dave (DJ) Benham, Jr., it was probably due to the poor weather conditions. It seemed like every time it snowed, it crusted over, keeping the hunters out of the woods. The hunters did not want the crust harming their dog’s paws.

Fishing Derby
The Berkshire Hatchery Foundation in Hartsville-New Marlborough is having this year’s first free children’s fishing derby next Saturday, April 14, from 9 to 10:30 AM at its lower pond. Children aged 12 and under must be accompanied by an adult.
Intro to Action Shooting 101 Class

Do you want to start shooting International Defensive Pistol Association (IDPA), or Steel Challenge this season but really don’t know where to start? On April 15 there will be an Action Shooter 101 class at Lee Sportsmen Association (LSA) from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM. The cost is $5 per person.

The training will begin with a mandatory 45-minute safety and procedures training session in the clubhouse. They will then move to the range for training on action shooting match firearm handling. Later you will be shooting a short, simulated match under the direct supervision of a safety officer. The instructor is LSA’s Paddy Sullivan a Master level shooter in IDPA, Steel Challenge and USPSA

You do not have to be a member of LSA to attend this class. This is a class for new shooters and you are absolutely welcome. But this is not a class for someone not familiar with the firearm you will use. You should have practiced and be very comfortable with loading, unloading, shooting and clearing jams prior to taking this class. You are encouraged to find some introduction to IDPA and Steel Challenge videos on YouTube prior to taking this class in order to be much better prepared and more comfortable.

On April 22, they will be having a 2-gun event. (2 Gun is similar to IDPA only you use a pistol and shotgun.)
There are certain rules with which you must abide. For information on them and to see the 2018 IDPA and Steel schedule, contact Shawn Sullivan at ssullee@icloud.com.

Beagle Club hunt
Looking for something to do next Saturday or Sunday? Maybe you want to hear some good music, sung only by beagles. Perhaps that type of music brings you back to the old days when lots of folks had beagles tied to dog houses in their back yards.
Well, I know just the place to once again hear that music, and that is the Berkshire Beagle Club on Sleepy Hollow Road in Richmond, MA. Next Saturday and Sunday, the club is having its spring field trials where some of the best beagles in the northeast compete at following the scents of snowshoe hares and/or cottontail bunnies. All of the dogs are AKC registered and many already possess championship ribbons won at other field trials.
When they strike a scent, they sure sing, some practically yodeling. For beagle lovers, it is truly music to their ears.
The club welcomes folks to come and just listen to the dogs and observe the judges. Every now and then, you will hear someone shout “Tally Ho!” to let the judges know that they spotted a bunny or dog on its scent.
There will be plenty of food to purchase there.

HALF A MILLION TROUT TO BE STOCKED

Close to 500,000 brook, brown, rainbow and tiger trout will be stocked this spring from MassWildlife’s five hatcheries located in Sandwich, Palmer, Belchertown, Sunderland, and Montague. According to DFW Western District Supervisor Andrew Madden, about 100,000 or so trout will be stocked in our area. These fish, coupled with the more than 65,000 fish stocked last fall, should provide some excellent fishing in the coming months.
Stocking was scheduled to begin in the southeastern area of the state during the first full week of March with the Western District stocking taking place any time now, subject to weather and water conditions. Anglers can get daily stocking updates at Mass.gov/Trout, or by contacting local district offices for the latest stocking information.

2018 spring trout stocking stats:
Most of the trout will be over 12 inches
More than 40% of the trout will be over 14 inches
More than 51,000 brook trout will be over 12 inches
More than 45,000 brown trout will be over 12 inches
More than 200,000 rainbow trout will be over 14 inches
More than 1,200 brown trout will be over 18 inches
More than 500 brook trout will be over 15 inches
More than 2,500 tiger trout will be over 14 inches

Madden noted that the DFW puts a lot emphasis in stocking big fish as opposed to stocking smaller fish to grow.

New Trout and Salmon Stamp in Connecticut

There are a considerable number of area anglers who flyfish in the Housatonic and Farmington Rivers in Connecticut. Please be aware that they will now require a Trout and Salmon Stamp. State officials say that 100% of the money invested in this stamp is guaranteed to go to support fisheries programs.

Anyone age 16 or older including everyone who is age 65 or older who chooses to do one or both of the following must purchase a trout and salmon stamp:

1. FISH in one of the following areas: Trout Park, Trout Management Area, Wild Trout Management Area or a Broodstock Atlantic Salmon Area.

2. HARVEST (keep) trout, Kokanee Salmon, or Atlantic Salmon anywhere in the state (except for places not stocked by the state).

The fee is $5.00 for age 18 and older and $3.00 for those 16-17. The stamp is good for the calendar year (expires on December 31). The Trout and Salmon Stamp will print on your fishing license as an additional privilege.

The trout and salmon stamp requirement will be effective once published on the eRegulations system by the Secretary of State’s office.

Incidentally, opening day of trout season in Connecticut is April 14.
Big Brown Trout caught out of Stockbridge Bowl

On Saturday morning, January 27, Linda and Andrew (Andy) Stephenson of Lenox were ice fishing on Stockbridge Bowl. Fishing for yellow perch, they were using small bait and small hooks. While Andy was making some coffee, Linda’s tip-up flag went up. She set the hook on the fish and began pulling it in. At first, it didn’t appear to be that big of a fish, but when it got near the hole, Linda caught sight of it and excitedly shouted that she had a really big fish on.
Andy saw she was fighting a pretty good fish so he hustled to grab a gaff and ran over to help her out. Before he could get to her with the gaff, Linda realized she had to do something immediately or lose the fish. She pulled the fish partially out of the hole and with her bare hand scooped it out. When she got the fish on the ice they discovered that it was a large brown trout. The small hook was half straightened out, so Linda would surely have lost that fish if she hadn’t done some quick thinking and taken immediate action.
The brown trout weighed 6.9 lbs on their unofficial scale and was 28 inches long. They were unfamiliar with how to qualify the fish for a state pin and didn’t get it properly weighed on certified scales or measured. If they had, it would have easily qualified for a State pin, perhaps the gold pin. Oh well, they took it home to eat. Some of it was cooked, but it was not as tasty as the perch so they brined and smoked the rest.
They are going to get a reproduction mount of the fish to hang up on the wall.
Linda is no stranger to hauling in large fish. In 2007, while she and Andy were on their honeymoon, she caught a 49 inch, 42 lbs King Salmon on the Kenai Peninsula in Alaska. Andy said that he is pretty used to being out-fished by Linda for she always seems to end up with the best catch of the day.

Young Adult Turkey Hunting Program
If you are thinking about enrolling a youngster into the Massachusetts Young Adult Turkey Hunting Program you had better get a move on it. The requirements to participate in the program are:
• Between the ages of 12 to 17
• Must have completed Basic Hunter Education before the day of the hunt.
• Must have completed the Youth Turkey Class.
• Participants who are at least 15 years old or older who wish to use a shotgun must have a Firearms Identification Card (FID).
The hunting program is a two-part workshop. It teaches young adults proper hunter safety and techniques. Hunters ages 12 to 17 will get to hunt wild turkey under supervision of an experienced adult hunter. MassWildlife, the Massachusetts State Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation (MA NWTF), and participating Sportsmen’s Clubs run the program. The workshop teaches young hunters specialized training and instruction for turkey hunting. This workshop is a dress rehearsal for the actual turkey hunt. This year the hunt occurs on Saturday, April 28.
The youth turkey permit for youth ages 12-14 is good not only for the youth day, but also for the regular spring season.
You do not need to be a member of a club to participant in the seminar and hunt, it is open to anyone.
Hunting mentors are adults with a current state hunting license and a turkey permit for the current year. Parents/guardians are encouraged to take part in the hunt if they can. Legal guardians can involve themselves as much as possible, even if that means sitting in during the workshop.
Young adults who took part in a pre-hunt workshop in a prior year, do not have to attend it again. They can take part in only the hunt. In this case, young adults must mail MassWildlife Field Headquarters to get their turkey permit for the current year.
Local participating clubs are: Lee Sportsmen’s Association, Stockbridge Sportsmen’s Club, Cheshire Rod & Gun Club, the East Mountain Sportsmen’s Club and the Worthington Rod & Gun Club.
For more information about the program, click onto: https://www.mass.gov/how-to/young-adult-turkey-hunt-program
Firearms Safety Course
Avid Sports, 1201 W Housatonic St, Pittsfield, will be holding its next Firearms Safety Course on Tuesday March 20 at 5:00 PM. This course allows you to apply for a pistol permit or F.I.D. card. Call 413-997-3600 or message them for more details.
Bowhunting Education Course

There will be a bowhunting education course at the Singletary Rod and Gun Club, 300 Sutton Avenue, Oxford, Massachusetts, on Saturday, April 28, from 8:00 AM to 4:30PM. For directions, click onto http://www.singletaryrodandgun.com/directions.html. If you are interested in this course and wish to enroll, call (508) 389-7830 immediately; students are enrolled first-come, first-served.

Youth Sportsmen’s Gala Event
The Lee Sportsmen’s Association and Ducks Unlimited will be having its 4th Annual Berkshires Youth Sportsmen’s Gala at the Country Club of Pittsfield, 639 South Street in Pittsfield on Saturday, April 7, from 6:00 to 10:00 PM. Doors open at 4 PM. There will be a general raffle, silent and live auctions, fantastic food music and fun. Ticket costs $100 and there are various sponsor packages.
For more information, contact Virginia Dubois at (413) 446 – 5404.

Correction
Readers may have been confused with last week’s column regarding who caught that 30.8 pound northern pike out of Lake Buel. The column headline listed (Matt) Ranzoni as having caught it but it was actually caught by Mike Scarpa of Lee. Matt helped by grabbing the big fish by its gills and pulling it out of the hole, but Mike Scarpa actually hooked and fought that fish and brought it to the hole. The photo was provided by Matt Ranzoni.
Sorry about that Mike. As a consolation, you can add a couple more pounds to that fish’s weight……nobody will object.

Will the next state record northern pike come out of Berkshire waters?
It almost did last weekend.
That’s when Matt Ranzoni and his two kids Gabe and Emma went ice fishing at Lake Buel with their cousin Mike Scarpa. They all reside in Lee. Matt and Mike fish for pike together all the time, but this day was special. Mike caught a 30.8 lb, 44-inch northern pike.
When the fish swam past the hole in the ice, the kids saw it and thought that it was an alligator. With a girth of 23 inches, it’s back was 3/4 the width of the 10-inch hole. Mike had to let the fish run about 8 times before tiring it out enough so that Matt could slide his hands under its gill to pull it out. They weighed it, took pictures and released it. It was a large female filled with eggs.
Although it was a huge fish, it was not the state record. That fish weighed 35 lbs and came out of Quacumquasit Pond in Brookfield, MA in 1988. This fish might have received a gold pin for being the largest northern pike caught in 2018, but Matt and Mike released it to fight another day and perhaps gain enough weight to become the new state record. Kevin Janis of Pittsfield caught one weighing 29 lbs 10 oz out of Cheshire Reservoir last year which will probably be the gold pin for that year.
So, what ‘s with these large northern pike that are being caught lately? 20+ lbs fish are regularly being caught out of Onota Lake, Pontoosuc Lake, Cheshire Reservoir, Lake Buel and even the Housatonic River. Matt believes that local fishermen are realizing that these fish are approaching state record size so they let them go to gain a few more pounds with the hopes of breaking the state record. He believes the state record will be broken in the near future and the fish will come out of Berkshire waters, thanks to the fishermen releasing the big ones.
Mike is doing a replica mount of the fish. According to Matt, he and the kids will never forget that family day of fishing. “It was a team effort”, he said.

Extended archery deer season proposed
A public hearing to extend the archery deer season in eastern Massachusetts will be held this Wednesday, March 7, at 7 PM at the Mass Wildlife Field Headquarters (1 Rabbit Hill Road, Westborough, MA). The proposal is to open the archery deer season two weeks early in Wildlife Management Zones 10-14.

The current archery deer season opens across the state six weeks before Thanksgiving and closes the Saturday after the holiday. The proposed change opens the archery deer season in WMZs 10-14 eight weeks before Thanksgiving. In WMZs 1-9, the archery deer season would remain the same, opening six weeks before Thanksgiving.

The proposed season change will increase hunting opportunities in a region where deer numbers are above management range goals. No changes were recommended for WMZs 1-9, as deer numbers in these zones are within management range goals.

Hunting seasons ending

On February 28, the cottontail rabbit, snowshoe hare and fox hunting seasons ended. That leaves the bobcat and coyote seasons still open, and they end this Thursday, March 8.

Coyote and fox pelts/carcasses must be checked/reported within 4 working days of the end of the season by either 1) checking them at an official check station, or 2) reporting them online and writing the harvest confirmation number on a tag of your own making, then attaching the tag to the carcass or pelt. Confirmation numbers must remain attached to all pelts/carcasses, with the specific confirmation number issued for each particular pelt or carcass, until the carcass is prepared for mounting by a taxidermist, or the pelt is sold or tanned.

I don’t know if anyone crow hunts anymore, but that season ends on April 9.

Basic Hunter/Trapping Education Courses
There will be a basic hunter education course held at the Worthington Rod & Gun Club, 458 Dingle Road, Worthington, MA on April 16, 17, 19 and 20. All dates meet from 5:30 to 9 PM.

A Trapper Education Course with Independent Study will be held at the Spencer Fish and Game Club, 155 Mechanic Street, Spencer, MA on April 25 and May 5 at the following times: April 25 6:30 to 9:30PM and on May 5 from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. This course is being offered in the Independent Study format which means that in addition to the 2 required in-class sessions, students will need to complete homework in between the 2 class sessions.

You must attend all class dates and times to successfully complete these courses. If you are interested in these courses and wish to enroll, call (508) 389-7830 immediately between 8 AM. and 4 PM, Monday through Friday. Students are enrolled first-come, first-served, and courses fill quickly.

Archery Shoot
On March 17 and 18, the Stockbridge Sportsmen’s Club Buckhorn Archers will be having a 450 Round Indoor Archery Shoot to benefit a scholarship fund (Aim for higher Education). Participants can choose from several different shooting times: Saturday, March 17 at 4:00 PM, Sunday, March 18 at 9:00 AM or 1:00 PM. The Youth Shoot will take place on Sunday at 11:00 AM. Registration fees are: Adult Classes $15 and Youth & Cub Classes are $5. (Youth ages 12 to 16 years, Cub 11 and under).
Classes of competition: Adult (men & women): Compound Freestyle, Bow-Hunter Compound, Traditional/Longbow or Recurve.
There will be a spaghetti dinner on the evening of March 17 at 6:00 PM. Cost: Adults $12 and 12 and under $8. On Sunday morning, March 18 from 7:30 to 11:00 AM there will be a pancake breakfast costing $8 for adults and $5 for youths.
For more information, contact John Mange at (518)794-7868 or John Davis at (413)446-9012.
Adult archery classes for beginners

The Lenox Sportsmen’s Club will be having adult archery lessons at its clubhouse at 258 New Lenox Rd, Lenox on Tuesdays, March 13, 20 and 27 from 6:30 to 8:00 PM.

The program, which is for beginners, will teach the basics of shooting the bow and recognize the challenges and rewards of archery. It is free of cost, but donations are always welcomed. They have all the equipment you will need. If interested, register ASAP at info@lenoxsportsmensclub.com.

Ham Shoots

Starting today and every Sunday until Easter, the Lenox Sportsmen’s Club is having its Easter Ham shoots or gift certificate. Targets go on sale at 12:30 PM and the first shoot is at 1:00 PM. The shoots will continue until 3:00PM. 22 Targets at $3.00 each. First Shoot is at 1:00 PM.
Kitchen opens at 12:00 PM. You are invited to join the fun and bring the family and friends. Don’t forget to bring your 22 LR because they have 22 shoots as well.

Also starting today and every Sunday until Easter, the Lee Sportsmen’s Association is having its Easter shoots. Winners take a choice of turkey, steak, spiral ham or pork loin. Also, there will be a Money Shoot. Doors open at noon and shoots run from 1:00 to 4:00PM. $2 per round for food and $3 per round for the Money Shoot. Food will be available. For more information, contact John Polastri at (413)822-8278.
Trap Shooting

Yesterday, the Lee Sportsmen’s Association commenced with its 2018 Saturday morning Trap Shooting Program. All levels of shooters are welcomed. Participants range from beginners to highly qualified shooters. If you are a beginner don’t worry, they have an expert who will be happy to get you started. The game of Trap revolves around the principle of 5 shooters standing side by side breaking clay targets launched from a single trap machine. The clay birds are all going-away shots. The trap oscillates, making each shot slightly different and unpredictable. You might want to give it a try.

For further information please call John Ballard @ 413-684-3467 or email address drinkarustynail@yahoo.com

Venison & Polenta Dinner
On Friday, March 16, the Berkshire County Sheriff’s Association will be having its 1st Annual Venison & Polenta Dinner at the Cheshire Rod & Gun Club, 310 Curran Rd., Cheshire. Doors open at 5:00 and dinner at 6:00 PM. Donation is $20.
There will be a 50/50 raffle. Proceeds go to supporting charitable donations made by the Deputy Sheriff’s Association including: youth and school athletic teams, booster clubs, charitable golf tournaments, camp sponsorships at Boys & Girls Club, Gladys Allen Brigham Center, Special Olympics, Toys for Tots, Shriner’s Hospital for Children, Unico and others.
For tickets contact Captain Tom Morton at (413)652-7786.
Take down the bird feeders
MassWildlife reminds us that with temperatures warming up, black bears may be active and searching for food. If you live in an area where bears have been spotted, it’s time to take down your bird feeders. Unfortunately for some, the reminder came too late. For more information about living with bears, click onto mass.gov/bears.