Readers may remember the December 2, 2018 column titled Lenox Youth’s arrow drops after-school buck. The article was about 17-year old Richard (Ricky) Armstrong and how he dropped a 10-point, 215lbs buck while archery hunting on November 19.
Well, on December 24, his 13-year old brother Brendan, while hunting with his father Richard, brother Ricky and uncle Harold Armstrong, dropped the pictured 8-point 190lbs buck, using a muzzleloader firearm. His older brother Ricky drove the deer into them and Brendan made a 100-yard shot.
“It was kind of crazy”, said Brendan, “The deer came running like wicked fast but my dad yelled at it three times and got it to stop and I put the scope on it. When I shot, I couldn’t tell if I hit it real good.” (The smoke from the black powder blocked his view). “It ran, and we couldn’t really see it. When we found it, it had only run about 75 yards. I was shocked!”.
His dad had previously told him if his brother Ricky pushes anything good into him, make sure to put the crosshairs on its chest. That’s just what Brendan did. Brendan’s dad said that it was a 100-yard shot and he couldn’t have hit it any better. It went about 60-75 yards after being hit.” There was some snow and they trailed it and found it about 75 yards away. It was a long drag, but Uncle Harold caught up with them and helped drag it out of the woods. The couple of inches of snow really helped them drag it out.
You weren’t shaking or anything were you? I asked him. “I really didn’t have time to shake”, he said, “it came so fast that I was kind of ready. After I shot it, I was shaking a little.” The antler “green score” was roughly around 136 or 137 inches, a little less than young Ricky’s 167 3/8inch score. They intend to get that deer mounted also, just like Ricky is having his mounted. Brendan and I discussed how cool it will be to have two large mounted deer heads on the wall. I asked him if he had a nice den wall to put them in and he said that they will be hung on the wall on each side of the TV.
Brendan took the hunter safety course and at age 13 could hunt with the close supervision of his father. Only one gun between them can be used. Richard made note of the fact that his sons worked hard to get these deer. “They just didn’t walk down the road and choose one”, he said.
Sensing a serious outflow of cash, Brendan’s mom, Pam, asked her hubby, “Do we have to have this one mounted, too?” Actually, the deer has such a beautiful rack it looks like it came out of a magazine. They really should get it mounted. Rick feels that February and March will be costly months, when he gets the bills for mounting those deer. (Will they also need a larger freezer?) While Richard and I were discussing the deer, we both agreed that these two deer were bigger than anything either one of us ever shot in our lifetimes, and here these youngsters getting deer like that, especially Brendan getting his in his first year of hunting.
But wait, there’s more! In between the two huge bucks that Ricky and Brendan got, Nathan, the 16-year old brother, dropped a nice spike horn buck. Even though it was shotgun season, Nathan opted to use his muzzleloader firearm. All three deer were taken at undisclosed areas in Lenox. It may be the smaller of the three deer, but the venison from his buck will probably be the most tender.
So how about that? Have you ever heard of 3 sibling teenagers taking three bucks during one year’s hunting seasons? I haven’t. This is quite a testament of the skills taught to the youngsters by their dad. He must be so, so proud of his three sons.
In my previous article about the Armstrongs, I mentioned that Ricky (and now Nathan and Brendan) are fourth generation deer hunters, following in the footsteps of their great grandfather, Richard, their grandfather Ricky and great uncle Billy, their father Richard and uncle Harold. Dare I suggest that they are a deer hunting dynasty?
Lest anyone think otherwise, deer hunting is not just a man’s sport any more. Some 19 women participated in the 2018 MassWildlife’s Becoming an Outdoors Woman Deer Hunt during shotgun deer hunting season. As noted on the MassWildlife facebook page, everyone had a great day in the field, especially the mother-daughter duo of Martha Hill and Liann Graf pictured herein.
Deer hunting seasons are over
Deer hunting in Massachusetts ended on December 31, 2018. It will be a while before all of the harvest figures are accumulated and reported, but, if you followed this column during the season, you already know that some large, older deer have been taken.
The only game hunting seasons still open are cottontail rabbit and snowshoe hare hunting seasons which end on February 28, 2019. The furbearer hunting seasons end as follows: bobcat, coyote and fox on March 8; opossum and raccoon on January 31.
Wildlife Grants
The Baker-Polito Administration recently awarded over $300,000 to municipalities and organizations across the state for projects to improve wildlife habitat. The grants were provided through the Massachusetts Department of Fish and Game’s (DFG) Division of Fisheries and Wildlife’s (MassWildlife) Habitat Management Grant Program.
“Active habitat management is vitally important for many forms of wildlife, including birds, mammals, reptiles, and amphibians that often need less common habitats,” said DFG Commissioner Ron Amidon. “These grants will enhance habitat on municipal and privately-owned conservation land, and also improve recreational opportunities for sportsmen and women, birders, and other outdoor enthusiasts.”
Twelve wildlife habitat improvement projects, totaling 307 acres, will be funded. Western Massachusetts will receive 6 such grants as follows:
• Great Barrington – The Nature Conservancy has been awarded $39,325 to create and improve old field and shrubland habitats at the Schenob Brook Preserve.
• Lenox – The Berkshire Natural Resources Council will receive $34,100 to remove the invasive hardy kiwi plant at Parson Marsh Reserve.
• Plainfield – The Franklin Land Trust has been awarded $32,228 to increase young forest cover on Guyette Farm.
• South Lee – South Lee Associates will receive $12,350 to control invasive species on Housatonic River properties.
• Sheffield – The Sheffield Land Trust has been awarded $17,290 to improve the Ashley Falls Woods riparian corridor by conducting invasive species removal.
• Stockbridge – The Laurel Hill Association has been awarded $25,800 to treat invasive species at the Four Corners – Larrywaug Brook property.
“Preserving wildlife habitat and open spaces is vital to our environmental stewardship in the Commonwealth,” said State Senator Adam G. Hinds. “I am grateful these awards will sustain partnerships and projects across my district and will help residents and visitors in Great Barrington, Lee, Lenox, Plainfield, Sheffield and Stockbridge to enjoy these natural resources for generations to come.”
“Berkshire County is known for its accessibility to nature and the outdoors” said State Representative William “Smitty” Pignatelli. “My district is home to a great number of sportsmen, fishermen, and hikers just to name a few, and the Habitat Management Grant Program allows locals and visitors to enjoy the outdoors while helping communities promote the wellbeing of local wildlife. As Dean of the Berkshire delegation and House Chairman of the Joint Committee on the Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture, I’m very grateful to the Baker-Polito Administration and (Energy and Environmental Affairs) Secretary Matt Beaton for recognizing the responsibility we have to protect our natural habitats by making this funding available to our towns.”