Rescued attempt for deer has sad ending

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On Thursday morning, January 17, The Western District Office of MassWildlife was called upon to rescue a 180-190 lbs buck that was stuck on the ice on Pontoosuc Lake. According to DFW Western District Supervisor Andrew Madden, the deer was splayed out on the ice, couldn’t get any grip and appeared to be injured. Although there was a lot of blood and the animal’s tail was missing, the DFW staff was hopeful that after assessing its injuries, perhaps they could treat and release it back into the wild.

They had to tranquilize it in order to free it from the ice. DFW Wildlife Biologist Nate Buckhout slowly and cautiously approached the deer with a tranquilizer gun. He tried not to startle the deer and keep it as stress-free as possible to avoid it from trying to get up and hurting itself more. The deer was alert and tried to get up but the ice was too slick

“Nate took a good shot getting the immobilizer into the deer. The drugs worked pretty quickly and all went pretty well,” Madden said. The buck was loaded onto a sled and dragged off by MassWildlife personnel to be assessed. At that time, it wasn’t known whether the deer would survive the wounds and traumatic event.

Thank goodness the ice was solid and they could get to the deer because, if not, they would have had to work with the fire departments on water rescue which can be risky.

After assessing the deer, MassWildlife personnel discovered more serious injuries and determined that they were far too serious for the deer to recover. Unfortunately, they had to euthanize it.

Madden felt that perhaps the deer was chased onto the ice by coyotes, fell down and couldn’t get up due to its being so slippery. On that day the ice was hard with no snow on which to grip.

Although it was not a happy ending, give credit to MassWildlife and all involved for their valiant efforts to try to save that deer.

Want to learn how to ice fish? Attend a Family Ice Fishing Festival
MassWildlife advises us to not let winter keep us indoors. Ice fishing provides anglers with the unique opportunity to fish on a lake or pond without a boat during the cold winter months. If you’re looking to learn how to ice fish, join MassWildlife’s Angler Education Program at an upcoming event this winter.
Two Family Ice Fishing Festivals are scheduled for the Western District this year. Both are free and open to the public with no pre-registration required.
February 2 in Pittsfield – A learn to ice fish event at Pontoosuc Lake (81 Narragansett Avenue) from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. (Park on the street around the park and walk onto the lake from there.)
February 9 in Chesterfield – A learn to ice fish event at Scout Pond – Tolgy Wood (the old Chesterfield Scout Reservation at Sugar Hill Road in Chesterfield) from 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Bring your ice fishing equipment, or borrow theirs; equipment and bait will be available on a first come, first served basis. These events are in cooperation with the Western Massachusetts Boy Scout Council. For more information contact Jim Lagacy at jim.lagacy@mass.gov or (508) 389-6309. PLEASE NOTE: Less than 6″ of safe ice, rain, or heavy snow will cancel the events.
Basic Hunter Education courses being offered
By state law, if you are 18 years of age or older and you want to purchase your first-ever hunting license, you must complete a Basic Hunter Education course. Hunters 12 to 17 years of age must adhere to the regulations which are specific to their age. While minors are not mandated to complete a Basic Hunter Education, it is a prerequisite for certain youth programs and it allows minors 15 to 17 years of age to hunt without direct supervision.
In a Basic Hunter Education course, students receive instruction in the safe handling and storage of hunting arms and ammunition, hunting laws and ethics, care and handling of game, and wildlife conservation. Courses are typically 15 hours in length and are offered in different formats to meet the public’s needs. Students under the age of 18 will need a parent or legal guardian’s permission to attend this course. All courses are free of charge and open to the public.
The Cheshire Rod & Gun Club will be conducting a 6 session Hunter Education Course at its clubhouse on 310 Curran Road, Cheshire. The sessions will run from 6:00 to 9:00pm on February 18, 22, 2 and March 1, 4 and 8.
A similar 6 session course will be held at the Pittsfield High School, 300 East Street, Pittsfield. The sessions will also run from 6:00 to 9:00pm on March 5, 7, 12, 14, 19 and 21.
If these courses are not convenient for you, Basic Hunting Instructor Wayne McLain plans to teach a course at the East Mountain Sportsmen’s Club in Williamstown sometime in April, but the dates have not been firmed up yet. As soon as the dates have been established, I’ll pass them on in this column.
To enroll in either course, call (508) 389-7830. Don’t wait! These courses fill up rapidly.
It may be more convenient for you to take the Basic Hunter Education course in another state. A government-issued Basic Hunter Education certificate from any U.S. State, Mexico, or Canada is accepted to meet the prerequisites for purchasing a Massachusetts hunting or sporting license. Many states near Massachusetts allow non-residents to attend their hunter education course offerings.
If you are using your certificate to becoming eligible for your first-ever hunting license and apply for a firearms license please be aware that your local police department will not accept an out-of-state certificate.
For more information, click onto http://www.mass.gov/service-details/basic-hunter-education-course-offerings.

On the Water TV show features Berkshire Waters

Rick O’Neill, of Pittsfield, was fortunate enough last May to get together with Chris Megan, Publisher of On the Water magazine/television show, and Dave Hadden of Old Town Kayaks to film a couple of days of smallmouth and trout fishing in the Southern Berkshires.

According to Rick, they had 2 tremendous days of fishing and filming that included drone and underwater footage. They caught tons of smallmouth bass ranging from 1 ½ lbs to 6 lbs on a pond in Great Barrington. Sorry, you will have to watch the program to see exactly where they caught them.

The show will be airing on Sunday, February 10 at 10:00 am on Channel 26 NBC Boston. While Rick hasn’t seen the final footage, he knows for a fact that they also took lots of film of local attractions and will be trying to promote all that we have to offer here in the Berkshires.

 

Its ice fishing time

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Now that the weather has finally turned cold, the ice on our lakes should now be safe to go ice fishing. Most ice fishermen that I know have been chomping at the bits waiting for this time. They already dug out their heavy clothes and ice fishing equipment. Their power augers are tuned up and ready to start drilling holes. Some folks probably rummaged through their freezers for deer burgers. All they have to do is purchase some hamburger rolls and live bait, grab a kid or two and head out onto the lake. Of course they already purchased their 2019 fishing or sporting licenses……..right?

I’m guessing that the ice thickness is somewhere between 6 and 12 inches thick, depending where you go. The higher up in elevation, the more ice on the lakes.

Actually, MassWildlife doesn’t want us to guess the ice thickness. They caution us to always consider ice to be potentially dangerous. One can’t judge ice conditions by appearance or thickness alone; many other factors like water depth, size of waterbody, water chemistry, currents, snow cover, age of ice, and local weather conditions impact ice strength.

New ice is stronger than old ice. Four inches of clear, newly formed ice may support one person on foot, while a foot or more of old, partially thawed ice may not. Ice doesn’t freeze uniformly. They caution you to continue checking ice conditions frequently while venturing out onto the ice.
Stay away from ice formed over flowing water. Avoid traveling onto ice-bound rivers and streams, as the currents make ice thickness unpredictable. Many lakes and ponds may contain spring holes and other areas of currents such as stream inlets that can create deceptively dangerous thin spots.
MassWildlife cautions that before heading out onto the ice, tell someone your plans, including where you are going and when you expect to return. Carry a cell phone in case of emergency and always carry ice picks and rope with you on the ice.
They suggest that you wear a life jacket because it will keep you at the surface and can provide insulation against the effects of cold water. (I suspect that for most of us wearing a life jacket is not practical. We are bundled up so much that we can’t fit the life jacket under or over our bulky clothes. Lately, ice fishing clothes manufactures are making parkas with flotations built inside them. That may be the way to go when you purchase your next parka).
The guidelines below are for clear, blue ice on lakes and ponds. White ice or snow ice is only about half as strong as new clear ice and can be very treacherous. Use an ice chisel, auger, or cordless drill to make a hole in the ice and determine its thickness and condition.
The general rule is that if there is 2 inches or less, stay off the ice. Four inches should support an individual on foot, 5 inches for snowmobiles or ATV’s and a foot or more for a small pick-up truck.
If you fall through the ice try not to panic. Call for help if there are people nearby. Don’t remove winter clothing as air trapped in your clothes can provide warmth and help you float. Turn in the direction from where you came because ice previously walked on should be the safest. Place your hands and arms on an unbroken surface and kick your legs. If you have ice picks or a pair of nails, use them to pull yourself up onto the ice while kicking. Lie flat and roll away. Once your torso is on firm ice, roll toward thicker ice to distribute your weight.
Find shelter and get warm: Change out of wet clothing and find warm, dry coverings. If you are in a remote area, get to or start a campfire. Otherwise, get to a car or house. Seek medical advice from your physician on medical attention.
If someone else falls in: Remember the phrase “Preach-Reach-Throw-Go.” Preach: Call 911 if you can. Shout to the victim to reassure them help is on the way. Reach: If you can safely reach them from shore, extend an object like a rope, jumper cables, tree branch, or ladder to them. Throw: Toss one end of a rope or something that will float to the victim. Go: If the situation is too dangerous for you to perform a rescue, call 911 or go to find help. Untrained rescuers can become victims themselves.
If your pet falls in, don’t attempt to rescue it. but rather go for help. You could become a victim yourself when trying to assist your pet. Always keep pets leashed while walking on or near ice.
For years the group that I ice fish with had a tongue-in-cheek rule that the oldest guy should go out on the ice first. What the heck, we would laugh, he had lived the longest life. Now that I am the oldest in the group, it doesn’t seem so humorous anymore. Lately, for one reason or another, I just haven’t been able to show up at the lake as early as the others. Darn! There’s usually someone out on the ice by the time I get there.
Firearm Course
The Lee Sportsmen’s Association (LSA) will be having a Multi-License Firearm Course next Saturday from 9:00am until 4:00pm for a proprietary LTC course that qualifies for licenses in Massachusetts, Connecticut, Florida, Utah, Arizona, etc. This comprehensive one-day course includes information for federal and state firearm laws, operation and safe handling of firearms, shooting fundamentals, care and cleaning, concealed carry methods, a live fire session on the pistol range, and much more.
Course fee is $180 for the entire course or take just the MA/CT segment for $150, with live fire. State license application fees and processing are not included. Participants will receive a course certificate, application forms, an informative student resource CD, and supporting documents. All firearms, ammunition, and eye and ear protection will be provided, including lunch as well.
To register, visit https://nrapistolinstructor.com/contact, and provide your full name including middle initial, date of birth, course date, course selection (Multi-License Firearm Course at Lee Sportsmen’s Association), address, telephone, and email contact information. Payment is due in cash at the course. Contact Robert McDermott at (413) 232-7700 or email robmcdermott@verizon.net.

Pheasant Fundraiser Dinner
The LSA will be having its Annual Turkey Shoot and Pheasant Fundraising Dinner next Sunday beginning at 1:00pm. Turkey shoots will be conducted from 1:00pm to 4:00pm. Prizes include: NY Strip steaks, turkeys, pork loins, and spiral hams. Dinner is served at 5:00pm. The cost is $15 per Adult and Children 12 and under are $7. For any questions or if you are interested in helping, contact John Polastri at (413) 822-8278.
Bunny Hunt
The Berkshire Beagle Club will be having its rabbit hunt next Saturday. It is advertised as a fun time with good food and raffle prizes, as well as prizes for largest hare and cottontail rabbit. Participants must the bring their game to the Beagle Clubhouse for the 5:00pm check-in. Hunting takes place on your own, away from clubhouse and grounds. The entrance fee is $20 which includes raffles and dinner. For more information, contact Hunt Chairman John Demary, at (413) 441-2253.
Incidentally, the club held its election of officers for 2019. Al Costa of Westfield, MA was elected President, Dick Kalisz of Adams as Vice President, Tim Cahoon of Pittsfield as Treasurer and Pat Barry of Pittsfield as Secretary.

2018 black bear harvest was down 25% from previous year

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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.

Armstrong youngsters have a great deer hunting season

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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.”

Good bye Gige

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By now, I suspect the entire outdoor sports and conservation communities know that George ‘Gige’ Darey has passed at the age of 90. A lot has been written about Gige this past week and undoubtedly there will be more to come.
Gige’s many accomplishments did not go unnoticed and he was the recipient of more plaques and awards than you can shake a stick at. Here are just a few: the Francis Sargent Award, Massachusetts Sportsmen’s Council (MSC) Special Recognition Awards in 1999 and 2000, he was inducted into the MSC Hall of Fame in 2001, was awarded the MSC Ray Gribbons Award in 2007, the MSC Lifetime Achievement Award in 2008, and he received the MSC Special Recognition award upon his retirement from the Mass Fish & Wildlife Board in 2017.
He was chosen the Berkshire County League of Sportsmen (BCLS) 1988 Sportsman of the Year. Berkshire Natural Resources Council (BNRC) George Wislocki and Tad Ames noted that Gige was one of the founders of Sportsmen for Land Preservation and helped raise over $300,000 over the period of 6 years, which was crucial for the survival of the BNRC. “He cemented a relationship of the BNRC with the sportsmen of Berkshire County”. In 1996, he was presented a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Environmental Stewardship Award. He was honored by the Fisheries and Wildlife Board in 2004 when the Housatonic Valley Wildlife Management Area in Lenox was renamed the George Darey Wildlife Management Area. He received awards from the Lenox Land Trust.
Two benches were dedicated in his and George Wislocki’s honor recognizing their work in regard to the purchase and sale agreement of a 94.8 acre meadow abutting Stockbridge Bowl from the Gould Family to the Town of Stockbridge in 1981.
One doesn’t pile up that many awards and citations for doing nothing. His accomplishments were recently recounted by Fish & Wildlife Board Vice President Mike Roche who served with Gige for some 32 years. “I have been following conservation issues all my life and served on the F&W Board with Gige Darey since 1986,” said Roche “No individual I know has ever had a greater positive impact or contributed more to the natural resources of Massachusetts in so many critical ways.”
Former DFW Director Wayne MacCallum said that the Board sets policy, regulatory authority and has to approve the hiring of every person appointed to the DFW. “George was absolutely incredible in terms of requiring that all appointments were made with the most qualified people. He was a strong advocate in support of professional natural resource management. Not only in Massachusetts, he is legendary throughout the country for the programs the MA DFW has instituted He is a fierce fighter for the environment. Much of what you see here (open space in the Berkshires) has to do with George Darey. Under George’s leadership, the DFW went from a hooks and bullets agency to an integrated agency incorporating the protection of many different species”. During his tenure on the F&W Board, he was appointed by eight different governors and worked with four MassWildlife Directors.”

Let’s look at what he accomplished while serving on that F&W Board for 38 years, 35 of which as its Chairman:
• In 1978, when Gige took his seat on the Board, there were 4,000 acres of land protected by DFW. Today over 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 and now the kill is over 3,000 a year
• There were no nesting bald eagles in 1978, since then 702 eagles have fledged and 68 nesting pairs last year.
• The pheasant program got to a point where it was sustainable
• Regulations required the switch from lead shot to steel shot for waterfowl were implemented
• The Piping Plover was an endangered species, now MA has most of the east coast piping plover population.
• Transferred the National Heritage Program from the DEM to MassWildlife in 1990 and implemented the non-game check-off on tax forms.
• 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
• Heavily involved in the establishment of the Mass Outdoor Heritage Foundation, a non-profit (501c3). The 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
• Established Deer Management Zones to improve opportunity for sportsmen
• Established the Wildlands Stamp where sportsmen self-imposed a $5 assessment to the sale of hunting and fishing licenses 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.
• Established a financial partnership with Ducks Unlimited for conservation efforts in Canada
• Established a Memorandum of Understanding with Environmental Police to increase resources and improve the outdoor education programs
• Promoted the Archery-in-the-Schools program
• Construction of the new DFW headquarters – one of the world’s finest and most environmentally progressive buildings
• Fought hard to keep the DFW Director’s position from becoming a political appointment and also keeping it in the hands of a professional
And, if I may add a few more:
• 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 which enhanced it. He accomplished the same for the Millers River.
• Conducted an Environmental battle with GE for clean-up of Housatonic River
• Was heavily involved with the ACEC designation on the Housatonic River
• Leveraging State and town funds, he was heavily involved with the Town of Lenox acquisition and conservation of the Post Farm, Parson’s Marsh and the Edith Wharton Park.
• He started the Outdoor Club at Wahconah School whereby allowing students to experience the wonders of the outdoors and outdoor sports.
I would say that qualified him for an award or two, ey?
He was a Board member of the Berkshire Natural Resources Council, Green Berkshires, Sportsmen for Land Preservation, a founding member of the Housatonic River Initiative, the Massachusetts Outdoor Heritage Foundation, the Lenox Land Trust, and was instrumental in forging forestland protection and management partnerships between MassWildlife and the Nature Conservancy, the Ruffed Grouse Society, the National Wild Turkey Federation, Green Berkshires and other conservation organizations. At one time, he was a Lenox Selectman and a member of the Lenox Conservation Commission.
Often referred to as the champion for all wildlife, from fish and big game, to the less heralded species greatly needing our understanding and protection, it is no wonder that the 818-acre Housatonic Valley Wildlife Management in Lenox bears his name.
In 2017 a party was held for Gige at the Stockbridge Sportsmen’s Club celebrating his career and accomplishments. Governor Charlie Baker and Lt Governor Karen Polito attended along with a long list of notables. Lt Governor Polito commented on Gige’s long service and mentioned that his services were all for free. (Other than travel expense reimbursement, F&W Board members are not paid). She thanked Gige for sharing so much of his time, energy and love for this Commonwealth. “Having Gige on this Board for 38 years, chairing it for 35 years absolutely mattered here in the Commonwealth”, she said.

Gige took some razzing from MA Environmental Secretary Beaton and Governor Baker for missing 5 of those Board meetings out of 400 over the course of 38 years. Twice as a pall bearer, once caused by an ice storm which prevented him from getting there, a health issue and one day to go bird hunting.
Governor Baker said that “George is a hero, not just because of the time he spent on the Board but the good work that was done. We all benefit tremendously from the coalitions that he built. We live in a difficult age where people draw very bright lines and have trouble viewing any other point of view but their own and are really not that experienced in coalition and finding common ground. One of the truly great things is that he found common ground all of the time, and he had a core set of principles. He understood that he was one player among many and he never forgot that. “
“He worked extremely hard to figure out where the common ground was and where the opportunity was to support the stuff that he cared so much about. Along the way he created a bunch of public and private institutions that stood the test of time and will be here for a very long time. The legacy is not just the history but it is also what is going to happen going forward because those institutions are in place and will continue to perform long after the rest of us have gone on to do other things. You are such a son of Massachusetts”, Governor Baker said, “and you have meant so much to the Commonwealth and so much to the people of the Commonwealth”.
Gige often commented on how much his partner Ginny Akabane meant to him and how lucky he was. Referring to his service on the Board, he said, “The ride that I have been on, I would not change one bit”. He said that he has enjoyed working with the outdoor sportsmen and was very proud to represent them.

Mike Roche, Vice Chairman of the MA F&W Board announced that the Board created an award in Gige’s name. “From this time forward there will be a Gige Darey award to be presented to a MassWildlife staff member who exemplifies the values, work ethics and standards that George created”.
Gige was an avid grouse and woodcock hunter. One day his hunting dog unexpectedly died. He told one of his friend Scott MacWilliams that he not only lost a great companion but also a way of life, for he had been hunting dogs since he was a young teenager. Scotty relayed that message to Mike Roche. At a fundraiser at the Lenox Sportsmen’s Club for the Massachusetts Heritage Foundation on March 9, 2013, Roche took the floor and said that he goes back a long way with Gige and relayed a story of how, when he was 6 years old, his father and Gige took him hunting with them after school and how Darey carried him out of the woods sound asleep.

Upon receiving MacWilliams’s call, he searched across the nation for an “old man’s” dog. “I was selfish”, said Roche,” because my world depends upon Gige going bird hunting, and now we are going to do something about that”. When word got out about this plan and the need to raise $3,000 to buy and ship the dog, people rushed to make contributions. Roche found the 3-year old Brittany Spaniel, named Éclair, in South Dakota and, “ like Gige”, he said,” her mother came from Brittany, France”.

The dog was then brought in the room and presented to Gige. “George”, said Roche, “Meet Éclair”.

Not only did they collect enough donations to get the dog but there was also enough left over to make a $6,000 contribution to the Massachusetts Heritage Foundation, which Gige helped to create.

He was arguably one of the most admired and respected persons in the Commonwealth. His accomplishments will probably never be matched, certainly not in our lifetimes. When it came to protecting the environment and defending the rights of outdoor sportsmen, Gige backed down from no one. I suspect a few past governors, politicians and bureaucrats would agree with that.
Anyone who personally knew Gige knew that he could be a rascal at times. Conspiring with his friends, he helped create a fictitious town in Massachusetts to demonstrate and protest the ignorance of the State bureaucracy in Boston of the rural portions of the commonwealth. The town was named Ripton, MA. It had its own, town government which applied for various grants and other official assistance – and the town was allotted funds in the state budget. Several checks were issued, and deposited into an escrow account, before the hoax was uncovered, the funds returned and the matter dropped.
In 1985, Representatives of the town of Ripton contacted the US Air Force and invited them to situate antennas for a post-nuclear war communication system in their town. Robbins Phillips, chairman of the Board of Selectmen of Ripton, stated that the antennas would make good nesting places for eagles. Each year, Gige would distribute a new Ripton calendar which highlighted days which he deemed to be most important. It was hilarious!
Former BCLS President, Mark Jester, notified the outdoor sporting community by email of Gige’s passing. He ended his message by writing, “There is a light out in the town of Ripton tonight. Rest easy my friend, we’ll take it from here”.
I suspect the critters who reside in our woods and waters appreciated what he did for them also. In fact, a black bear stopped by and entered his house one day when he wasn’t home. Éclair had to shoo it off. After the incident made statewide newspapers, Gige was in for another razzing, but he took it well.
On a personal note, I had known Gige just about my whole life. Actually, I heard the voices of his hounds before I heard his. He used to run foxes near the Kimball horse trails out behind our house many years ago. Gige’s maternal ancestors came from the Brittany area of France while my paternal ancestors came from the Alsace-Lorraine area. Whenever we met, I would always ask him, “Comment ca va?” (How are you?) To which he would reply in Breton “Ca va bien, merci, mon ami, et toi”? (I am fine, thanks, my friend, and you?) Depending on my mood I would usually answer, “Très bien” or “Comme ci comme ça” (very good or so-so). Gige was a member of the ROMEOs (Retired Old Men Eating Out) and he would frequently join us for our weekly luncheons.
Al Joyner, one of Gige’s many friends in Lenox, commented that “If you were one of the lucky people to be invited to Gige’s man-cave, you were in for a treat as he was an excellent harvester and user of Nature’s Bounty, such as apples and dandelions. His cider and homemade wines were second to none.”

Gige believed that it is important to know when to walk away, and he stepped down from the Board in 2016. “The only thing that improves with age” said Gige, “is whiskey”.

Perhaps one of the greatest tributes to Gige came from an October 12, 2002 Berkshire Eagle editorial which read: “A hundred years from now, if fish still swim in our rivers and deer still prance through our fields, if we can recognize the view from atop our favorite Berkshire heights, we will in large measure have George L. “Gige” Darey of Lenox to thank. For nearly a quarter-century now as Chairman of the State Fish & Wildlife Board and at the center of a network of conservative groups, Mr. Darey has devoted his time, energy and powers of persuasion to making sure we and our children will have woods to walk in and game to shoot.”

Au revoir, mon ami.

River rafting to study fish

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A raft donated by a group of Trout Unlimited members is helping MassWildlife biologists study trout and other fish in previously inaccessible areas.

This generous donation came from a group of Trout Unlimited (TU) members who have been working with MassWildlife and other scientists on studies of brown trout reproduction on the Deerfield River. The whitewater river raft is outfitted with a standing platform, booms, droppers, generator equipment, and livewell. “You run a reach of river with two people, one rower to navigate the river, the other biologist to stun and net the fish,” explains Adam Kautza, MassWildlife’s Coldwater Fisheries Project Leader. “After passing through a particular reach, we pull off to the side of the river, measure, weigh and gather other data from the netted fish, release them back in the water and then move on to the next river segment.”
MassWildlife biologists primarily use two different types of equipment to conduct fisheries surveys. For lakes, ponds and large, deeper rivers, a motorboat outfitted with a generator, booms, and “droppers” is the standard. In brooks, streams, and smaller rivers, a team of biologists navigate the streambed on foot carrying backpack shockers and electrical wands to temporarily stun and collect fish. But in rock-strewn fast-moving rivers like the Millers, Deerfield, and others, neither a motorboat nor backpack shockers are practical. As a result, numerous reaches of rivers are inaccessible and go unsurveyed.
MassWildlife biologists are already using the raft as part of a brown trout study that will answer an important question: Are wild-hatched brown trout surviving and successfully reproducing in the Deerfield River? The study will also give biologists an understanding of the abundance, growth rates and other important biological information on brown trout in the Deerfield River system. Multiple survey trips will be necessary over a large area of the river and the raft makes that coverage possible. In the future, the raft will be pressed into fish survey service on other rocky rivers such as the Hoosic, Westfield, and Millers Rivers.
The donation of the 12-foot raft, frame, and equipment such as oars, seating, anchors, etc. was donated by former fishing guide Jim Dowd, of Ashfield. MA, who is a member of the Deerfield River Watershed Chapter (DRWTU) . These donated items have a price-tag of about $3800.

Last May, at the Indian Hollow Campground in Chesterfield, the MA/RI Council of Trout Unlimited (of which the local Taconic Chapter is part) voted to spend up to $3,900 to help equip the raft with necessary shocking equipment, such as booms, paddles and related circuitry. The Greater Boston TU Chapter (GBTU) picked up the tab for a portion of the cost for a new frame. The raft will be used to study cold-water fisheries on colder rivers throughout Massachusetts. The TU logo will be affixed to the raft.

A variety of people, businesses, and groups were thanked for their contributions to MassWildlife’s new river raft. The raft’s custom-built standing platform was manufactured by Don Barnes, a Millers River TU member and president of Regal Vise, a family-owned business producing fly tying vises. The DRWTU and the GBTU chapters contributed fish tags, which will be used in the Deerfield River Brown Trout study. Kevin Parsons, President of the DRWTU chapter, Bill Pastuzek, President of the GBTU, MA/RI Council President Paul Beaulieu, Council Secretary/Treasurer Mike Vito and Gary Crago of the TU National Council were thanked by MassWildlife for making a key contribution to conservation, providing MassWildlife with the means to further its understanding of some of our most pristine rivers and the fish communities inhabiting them.
TU is a national non-profit organization with about 300,000 members and supporters dedicated to conserving, protecting and restoring North America’s coldwater fisheries and their watersheds. It is made up of some 400 chapters and 38 state councils. The MA/RI Council of TU is the umbrella organization for the 14 chapters in Massachusetts and Rhode Island totaling about 4,000 members. Members from all of those chapters contributed in some way to the Deerfield River project, either by funding or volunteering on Deerfield River trout surveys.
Guess who was the winner of TU National’s 2019 Gold Trout Award? DRWTU, who else? It also recently received $6,000 from TU National’s Embrace-A-Stream Program. Now it is eligible to compete for additional dollars through an online challenge grant. TU National and Orvis have teamed up to offer an additional $50,000. DRWTU hopes to qualify for at least a piece of that additional money.
Incidentally, at its Annual Meeting on November 19, the GBTU Chapter honored MassWildlife’s Adam Kautza, with its Conservation Advocate Award. The award recognized Kautza’s contributions to the understanding and preservation of coldwater fishery resources in Massachusetts. He was lauded for his efforts in working not only with GBTU but with the MA/RI Trout Unlimited Council and other Massachusetts Trout Unlimited Chapters. “Adam provided valuable assistance with the TU Brown Trout Spawning Study on the Deerfield River and has offered presentations and stream walks on the tributaries of the Neponset and Charles River,” said GBTU President Bill Pastuszek. “Through his outreach efforts, he has built stronger ties with the angler and conservation communities.”

Taconic TU honors Fran Marzotto

In order to recognize its deserving members, the Taconic Chapter of Trout Unlimited instituted its “Crooked Staff Award” about 35 years ago. Every year the Chapter selects one of its members to receive this coveted award. He or she is selected as the member who best represents the ideals of T.U. (conserving, protecting and restoring North America’s coldwater fisheries and their watersheds). This member holds the Crooked Staff for the following year when it is either passed on to another deserving member or is held, if none is deemed deserving.

On December 12, the Chapter honored Fran Marzotto of Pittsfield with this coveted award.

Fran grew up in West Stockbridge, spending his time in the outdoors, hunting, fishing, and playing baseball and hockey. At an early age, Fran tagged along with his father as they hunted for deer. He also fished with his dad and as he grew older, continuing to enjoy outdoor sports.
Fran graduated from Purdue University in 1977 and began his career at General Electric. Being a sportsman, he settled in the Berkshires where he could enjoy the 4 seasons and the sport that each season brought.
Three years ago, when Fran retired, he returned to a sport he had enjoyed before…fly fishing. He is now totally absorbed in fly fishing along with tying his own flies, as they both bring serenity to his life. He has fly fished in 16 states including Alaska, Colorado, Idaho, New Brunswick, Montana, Newfoundland, New Mexico, North Carolina, Tennessee, Washington, and Wyoming, as well as all of the Northeast states and has a trip planned to the Bahamas to fly fish for bonefish. Fran practices “catch and release”.
Fran’s wife Kay said he doesn’t only enjoy the sport he is into, but “becomes” it. At present his life is centered around fly fishing; no matter where they travel, he is always on the lookout for fly fishing streams. Good thing Kay is patient.
In addition to serving on Taconic TU’s Board and as its Secretary, Fran’s other conservation activities include participation in this year’s stream assessment of the Konkapot River with the Housatonic Valley Association. He also is a past member of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, serving on its Annual Fund-Raising Committee. Congratulations Fran!
George “Gige” Darey Passed
It is with a heavy heart that I report that “Gige” Darey passed beyond the ridge on Friday afternoon. I hope to devote the bulk of next week’s column to this extraordinary sportsman and his amazing career.
Here’s wishing you a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays.

 

2019 Message from the MassWildlife Director

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In the 2019 Massachusetts Fishing, Hunting and Trapping Laws (also known as The Abstracts) MassWildlife Director Mark Tisa included his annual message. Normally, the Director’s message is only read by those who purchase hunting, fishing or trapping licenses, but there is information contained in that message that I think the general public would like to know. It is as follows:
“I am honored and humbled to have been selected by the Fisheries and Wildlife Board to serve as the next Director of this great agency. MassWildlife is one of the finest wildlife agencies in the country and is on the leading edge of numerous conservation initiatives, such as the Biodiversity Initiative, young forests, natural heritage and endangered species, land acquisition and stewardship, R3 (Recruitment, Retention, and Reactivation of hunters and anglers), and climate change. We are a relatively small agency with approximately 170 employees but we have one of the most highly educated staffs in state government, with 12 doctoral degrees; one juris doctor; and 44 master’s, 69 baccalaureate, and seven associate degrees. Further, we are all very passionate about our work and committed to the mission of MassWildlife, which is “the conservation, management, protection, and perpetuation of the Commonwealth’s biological resources, including plants, insects, reptiles, amphibians, fish, birds, and mammals.”
MassWildlife is organized into the Fisheries, Wildlife, Natural Heritage and Endangered Species, Information and Education, Realty (including land stewardship), and Hunter Education sections, the five fish hatcheries, and the five wildlife districts. These entities all interface to professionally manage and conserve approximately 225,000 acres of publicly accessible land and over 400 state-listed species of plants and animals for the benefit of all the citizens of the Commonwealth.
Whether you are an angler, sporting dog enthusiast, hunter, hiker, camper, boater, or birder, your outdoor experience is enriched by our wildlife resources. Think for a moment about the sights and sounds of nature that you experience whenever you’re out-doors, from watching a mature buck browse or catching a glimpse of a coyote, black bear, or bobcat, to observing a butterfly fluttering through a field of flowers, or catching the unexpected rise and jump of a fish, to the call of loons and the honking of migrating geese and the reedy calls of spring peepers, these are what make our outdoor stories worth telling, and these experiences ultimately become an important part of our collective outdoor memory. So, regardless of how you choose to enjoy our wildlife resources, the social, recreational, educational, ecological, economic, aesthetic, and intrinsic values derived from our enjoyment provide incentives for all users to come together to conserve them. All user groups are important, and serve as key partners by diversifying and multiplying the value of our wildlife resources.
The stewardship of our wildlife resources and the lands that support them, however, does not come cheap. And while everyone who recreates outdoors gets to enjoy them, only a few help pay the costs to protect, manage, and restore them. Most people do not realize that MassWildlife’s programs are funded from the sale of fishing and hunting licenses, not general tax dollars.
As wildlife professionals, one of our greatest challenges is to continue to meet our public-trust responsibilities of conserving ALL wildlife in the face of declining hunting and fishing license sales; hunting licenses in particular. License sales have been the financial foundation of wildlife conservation in America since the early 1900s. This funding model, however, is no longer sufficient to meet our conservation needs in the twenty-first century. And this is not just a Massachusetts problem; it is a challenge across the country for all state fish and wildlife agencies as we try to meet our unfunded conservation needs. Congress directed all states to prepare a comprehensive State Wildlife Action Plan that specifically identifies the wildlife species in greatest need of conservation, the threats to those species, and the funding needed to address those conservation needs. Based on those conservation plans, it is estimated that the states will need more than $1 billion annually to conserve our species in greatest need of conservation.
As a result of this nationwide assessment of unfunded conservation needs, bipartisan legislation has been introduced in the U.S. House (H.R. 4647) by Representatives Jeff Fortenberry (R-Nebraska-1) and Debbie Dingell (D-Michigan-12) and in the Senate (S.3223) by Senators James Risch (R-Idaho) and Joe Manchin (D-West Virginia) to address this issue. This legislation is called the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act (RAWA) and it has gained strong bipartisan co-sponsorship and is garnering tremendous support from the outdoor-recreation community, the retail and manufacturing sector, the energy and automotive industries, private landowners, educational institutions, conservation organizations, sportsmen’s groups, federal and state fish and wildlife agencies, and from the public at large due to its innovative approach to solving America’s wildlife conservation crisis. In this proposed legislation, the monies to pay for conservation would not come from new taxes but instead from existing fees already paid to the federal government for mineral and gas exploration and extraction on federal lands. The funding would be apportioned to each of the states, which could mean an additional $14 million or more annually for Massachusetts to help conserve all the wildlife resources in our state.
So, if you enjoy getting outdoors to experience all the exceptional wildlife-dependent recreation Massachusetts has to offer, it is important for you to let our Massachusetts Congressional Delegation know that you support the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act legislation. I will be working with my fellow state fish and wildlife directors from around the country to help to advance what is arguably one of the most important pieces of wildlife conservation legislation since the Teddy Roosevelt era.
In addition to the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act, other priorities of mine include ensuring the financial stability of our agency moving forward; meeting our habitat-management goals for grasslands, shrublands, and young forests on MassWildlife-owned lands; increasing public understanding of the importance of active forest management on both public and private lands for maintaining the diversity of our wildlife resources; assessing the effects of climate change on critical wildlife habitat; R3, including developing programs for people who would like to learn to fish, hunt, and/or shoot; modernizing our fish hatchery infrastructure; continuing wildlife research with our partners at the University of Massachusetts Cooperative Research Unit to identify and use the best science available for wildlife conservation in our state; and working with our environmental partners like Mass Audubon, The Nature Conservancy, The Trustees, conservation commissions, land trusts and other private landowners, and others to advance conservation for all wildlife in Massachusetts. The more we can engage and serve broader constituencies, the more likely people will be to embrace a wildlife-conservation ethic and provide the all-important support for conservation funding of our wildlife species and their habitats. And finally, I leave you with this:
Wildlife-dependent recreation is also a critical economic driver in our state, generating some $2 billion in retail sales and more than $292 million in state and local tax revenues. Additionally, approximately 35,000 jobs are supported in the Commonwealth by these activities. In all, the total economic multiplier effect in Massachusetts for wildlife-watching, hunting, and angling is an estimated $3.6 billion annually. Our wildlife is more than worth our continued support and investment.” ….. MassWildlife Director Mark Tisa
The licenses are on sale

The 2019 MA Fishing, Hunting and Trapping licenses are on sale now. They can be purchased online through MassFishHunt, at a license vendor location, or at a MassWildlife office. Good news! No increase in the license fees again this year.

MassWildlife suggests you use care when purchasing licenses during December, as both 2018 and 2019 licenses are available.

Correction
I recently discovered that in my column of December 2, 2018 I had listed a lucky Lee hunter’s name as Matt Zamboni. My apologies, it should have been listed as Matt Ranzoni.

New regulations go into effect for Wildlife Management Areas

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The Division of Fisheries and Wildlife (MassWildlife) has a long tradition of welcoming dogs on its Wildlife Management Areas (WMA). Dogs are still welcome, but dog handlers must comply with new leash and waste disposal regulations. The new regulations, which take effect on all WMAs on January 11, 2019, require the following:
Dogs and other domestic animals must be on a physical leash/tether while on WMAs. Leashing dogs decreases conflicts with people and other dogs, resulting in a safer and more positive experience for everyone.
Dogs may be off-leash only when hunting or hunt-training with licensed hunters under existing regulations, or if they are participating in retriever or bird dog trial events that have been permitted by MassWildlife.
Dog feces in the WMA must be picked up by dog handlers and disposed of offsite. Licensed hunters engaged in hunting or hunt training, and those participating in sanctioned field trials are exempt from this requirement.
Dog feces in WMA parking areas and within 100 feet of the parking area must be picked up by ALL dog handlers and disposed of off the WMA.
MassWildlife protects and manages its WMAs to sustain wildlife abundance and to provide wildlife-related recreation such as hunting, fishing, and wildlife-watching. At the same time MassWildlife strives to provide a safe and enjoyable outdoor experience for all visitors.
Over the years, MassWildlife had received numerous complaints from WMA users about negative and unsafe encounters with unleashed dogs and issues with dog waste. The most common complaints included: dog attacks and bites on other dogs (both off- and on-leash) and people, and piles of accumulating dog waste: a nuisance and health concern for pets, people, and wildlife.
Other incidents and complaints from WMA users involved: user conflicts between loose dogs with hunters, birders, field trial dog participants, naturalists and hikers; observations of dogs harassing or chasing wildlife; dogs chasing or killing livestock on abutting property; chasing/harassing neighboring property owners and families; dogs spooking horses, resulting in injuries to riders or horses; dogs trampling through posted endangered species restoration projects or newly planted agricultural crops.
The new regulations were drafted after a staff review and presentation to the Fisheries and Wildlife Board. A public hearing was held in February 2018. After considering written and oral comments submitted during the public hearing process, amendments were made and the final regulation package was approved by the Fisheries and Wildlife Board March 14, 2018. The regulations will go into effect on January 11, 2019.
Though many municipalities have leash or animal control bylaws, they do not have legal standing on state lands; the new WMA regulations address this disparity. Enforcement of these regulations, as with all Wildlife Management Area Regulations, is carried out by the Massachusetts Environmental Police. State and municipal police departments also have authority to enforce Wildlife Management Area regulations.

Monitoring the Commonwealth’s lake trout
This fall, MassWildlife has been sampling the Quabbin and Wachusett Reservoirs in an ongoing effort to monitor lake trout populations. Each year, with the help of DCR, MassWildlife collects lake trout from the Quabbin Reservoir to examine population characteristics. For the past few years, MassWildlife has also been sampling for lake trout at the Wachusett Reservoir.
To capture lake trout, field crews set nets on spawning areas starting at sunset and check them about every 20 minutes. Captured fish are removed from the nets and placed in a livewell. Next, biologists record length, weight, and sex and implant a small Passive Integrated Tag (PIT) in the fish. Prior to release, the adipose fin is clipped to provide an external mark indicating that the fish has been captured before. Data collected provide biologists with an understanding of the current condition of lake trout populations. If fish are recaptured from previous tagging efforts, biologists can calculate individual growth rates.
Lake trout are long lived and slow growing and it is not uncommon for a tagged fish to be recaptured 10 years later. In fact, the longest recapture interval recorded was 24 years! When other species like landlocked salmon, smallmouth bass, rock bass, and white perch are captured, biologists record information including length, weight, and sex but do not implant PIT tags.
Lake trout typically spawn in late October and November when the surface water temperatures are around or below 50°F. The spawning grounds are typically shallow, rocky waters on windy shores of the Reservoirs; spawning occurs mostly after dusk. Night sampling on big waters can be cold and icy in November, but the information it provides biologists is well worth the effort. Sampling efforts like this are just one way that MassWildlife monitors the health of the fish resources of the Commonwealth.
In 2018, sampling crews at Quabbin Reservoir captured and released 163 lake trout despite the frigid temperatures and rain experienced throughout November. Of note was a 26-pound male lake trout that was first captured and tagged in 2014 and recaptured this year. On Wachusett Reservoir, crews captured and released 65 lake trout including two 18-pound fish. An article with details about the lake trout sampling effort will be appearing in the next issue of Massachusetts Wildlife magazine, which will be in mailboxes in January. In addition, a scientific article has been composed and is currently in the peer–review process with publication expected in 2019.
Reminder to gamebird and archery deer hunters

If you completed a MassWildlife log while hunting game birds or during archery deer season, it’s time to send them in. If you complete and submit either an archery deer hunting log or a game bird hunting log before December 14, 2018 you will be entered into a drawing. Prizes include 1 stainless steel tabletop gas grill, donated by Cabela’s, 10 blaze orange MassWildlife caps, and 10 one-year subscriptions to Massachusetts Wildlife magazine. Winners will be randomly selected and notified in late December. If you complete both types of logs, your name will be entered twice. You can email scanned logs to mass.wildlife@state.ma.us or mail completed forms to MassWildlife, Attn: Game bird hunting log / Archery deer hunting log, 1 Rabbit Hill Road, Westborough, MA 01581.
Information for the above three articles was obtained from MassWildlife’s November newsletter.

TU Holiday Party
The Taconic Chapter of Trout Unlimited is having its annual Holiday Party on Thursday, December 13 at the Crissey Farm @ Barrington Brewery, 420 Stockbridge Rd, Great Barrington. The party will be opened to the general public again this year. It will be a buffet dinner which costs $30 pp. Social Hour with hors d’oeuvres begins at 6:00 PM. The event features a door prize and donation bucket raffle. For more information Contact Henry Sweren at (413) 447-9429 or e-mail hsweren8@aol.com. Reservations must be made no later than tomorrow, December 10.
Incidentally, at its last meeting, the Taconic Chapter elected the following officers for the 2019 season: Henry Sweren of Lanesborough – President, John Burns of Cummington – VP, Fran Marzotto, of Pittsfield – Secretary and Bill Travis, of Pittsfield – Treasurer.
Primitive Firearms Deer Hunting Season opens tomorrow

Muzzleloader deer hunting

Shotgun deer hunting ended yesterday. If you haven’t gotten your deer yet, you still have an opportunity to get one during the Primitive Firearms deer hunting season. It opens tomorrow and runs through December 31. A Primitive Firearms stamp is required and there are special regulations governing this season. Archers can hunt during this season but must purchase the Primitive Firearms stamp. Here’s hoping you have a very enjoyable hunt trudging through our winter wonderland. Be careful and keep your powder dry.

Lenox youth’s arrow drops after-school buck

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Seventeen-year old Richard (Ricky) Armstrong III of Lenox had a memorable day of deer hunting on Monday, November 19. While archery hunting in Lenox after school, he dropped a 10- point, 215lbs buck. The deer was weighed by Ricky and his dad Richard Jr. on new scales purchased from Cabela’s. (During Archery Hunting season, deer can be checked in on-line without having to take them to official deer weighing/checking stations).
There is an interesting story as to how he was able to come across such a magnificent deer. On the previous Saturday afternoon his buddy, Luke Patella, saw the deer in his back yard. He told Ricky about it and sent a picture of it. On Sunday afternoon, Ricky walked and drove around looking for the tracks of the deer in the snow to find out where it crossed and where it might be. During the past summer, he knew where the deer usually bedded down in a nearby thick patch of woods.
On Monday afternoon, after school, he went after the big buck. He set up around 3:00 pm near one of the deer trails that comes out of the thick patch. He chose to hunt off of the ground rather than to use a tree stand. At about 3:15 two does and the buck came down the trail near him and when the buck was about 15 yards away, he let an arrow fly. He knew he hit the buck pretty good and expected it to run away, but it just stood there. Ricky reached back behind him to get another arrow out of the quiver and when he looked back, the deer took a couple of steps and fell over.
Based upon the picture that Luke had previously sent him, Ricky knew it was a big deer. But not that big!
Getting the deer out of the woods was not much of a problem according to his dad, Richard Jr., because there was snow on the ground. They were able to put it in a sled and drag it out fairly easily.
Ricky is going to have the deer head mounted by taxidermist Dave Berger of Wild Arts Taxidermy Studio in Berlin, CT. The “green” or rough score of the antlers was 167 3/8 total inches and the spread was 22 inches as determined by the Northeast Big Buck Club. The Pope and Young Club will also measure it. (The Pope & Young Club is recognized as the official repository for records on bow-harvested North American big game. The Northeast Big Buck Association also provides scoring and record-keeping services). Ricky will have to wait 60 days for the antlers to dry before getting the final official score.

His dad said that when Ricky got the deer he was shaking with excitement. He said that everyone who learned about it was excited about Ricky’s feat because of his age and the fact that there are not as many youths involved in the outdoors today as there once was. He said that fortunately he has three sons all into hunting and fishing.

Ricky III is at least a 4th generation family deer hunter. His great grandfather Richard, was a hunter, as were his grandfather (also known as Ricky) and his great uncle (Billy). I went to school with them and remember them as being avid outdoor sportsmen. Both of them have since passed over the ridge but I would bet that they would be very proud of young Ricky today. Ricky’s father, Richard Jr. is a hunter as is his uncle Harold – hunting is an age-old tradition in this family. (Incidentally, I went to school with young Ricky’s grandma Nancy, too, but I don’t think she hunts.)

Other big deer were harvested during the Archery season
The final archery deer hunting results have not yet been released, but we do know that other large deer have been harvested in the Berkshires. For example, Robert Zieba of North Adams took a 199lbs, 11-point buck in Savoy. It was weighed on a certified DFW scale. Brian Bishop of Adams took a 204lbs, 8-point buck in Adams, Michael Kinna of Egremont took a 200lbs, 7- point buck in Egremont, and Matt Zamboni of Lee took a 205lbs, 8-point buck in Lee.
Incidentally, Matt is having quite a year of hunting. During the bear hunting season, he took a 342lbs bear (dressed weight) in Otis. Let’s hope he has a large freezer.
Commonwealth to give River and Wetland Restoration Grants
Some $188,600 will be issued for river and wetland restoration projects in Falmouth, Northampton/Easthampton, North Adams, and Plymouth through the Department of Fish and Game’s Division of Ecological Restoration’s Priority Projects Program. The program provides projects with grant funding, project management, and contracted technical services for wetland and river restoration, urban river revitalization, and streamflow restoration projects that present the greatest benefit to the Commonwealth, ecologically, socially, and economically.
The five projects help local partners remove aging dams, restore a floodplain forest, rejuvenate historic wetlands on retired cranberry bogs, revitalize an urban river and leverage $3 million in federal and private funding. The projects will restore river habitat for river herring and eastern brook trout, wetland habitat for several rare plant and animal species, and increase municipal resilience to climate change.
“Removal of unwanted dams, upgrading undersized culverts and restoration of floodplain and wetland habitat benefits the environment and helps communities adapt to climate change,” said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Matthew Beaton. “We look forward to working with the communities receiving Priority Project funding to protect and restore these wetlands and rivers and increase biodiversity across the state.”
“These projects improve fish and wildlife habitat, increase resilience to severe weather events, and further protect public safety,” said Department of Fish and Game Commissioner Ronald Amidon. “They benefit a number of fish and wildlife species throughout the Commonwealth, including eastern brook trout, river herring, and waterfowl.”
Priority Projects are evaluated by DER on their ecological benefit, feasibility, contribution to climate readiness, opportunity for public education and recreation, available program resources, and partner support. They are chosen through a statewide, competitive process.
One of those grants is earmarked for the Hoosic River Flood Chute Naturalization Project in North Adams. The City of North Adams, The Hoosic River Revival, The Hoosic River Watershed Association, and state and federal agencies are working together to re-naturalize and revitalize the North and South Branches of the Hoosic River as the rivers flow through North Adams.
The project will improve public safety, reduce annual operating and maintenance costs while improving habitat, access, connectivity and climate resilience. This phase of the project includes the design and permitting of a flood management system within North Adams to replace the existing 2.5 mile concrete chute system, an aging structure that has outlived its design life.
The Hoosic River, one of the few remaining mainstem cold water fishery resources in the Commonwealth, supports a viable wild brook trout population on both branches of the Hoosic River upstream of the city. The funding will be used to build local capacity to advance the project, negotiation for land-sharing of the Phase 1 project area and community outreach around the goals of the project. The grant is matched 2:1 through private funders.

Shotgun deer hunting season opens tomorrow, prompting another sleepless night

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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.