New proposed gun control draws fire

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You have probably seen lawn signs, banners etc. all over the place with the message to stop Bill HD. 4420.  What’s that all about?  Well there is a proposed bill introduced into the MA House by Representative Michael S. Day of Stoneham and co-sponsored by 33 other state representatives, including Tricia Farley-Bouvier of Pittsfield, which is entitled An Act Modernizing Firearm Laws.

Because I am a hunter and gun owner and write this column, people have asked me to comment on the bill.  I can think of no better way to alienate many of my hunting and gun owner friends than do that, for it’s a no winner. My response has been, – Be careful what you ask for, for there are two opinions regarding this proposal.   I should note that the opinions expressed in this column are not necessarily the opinions of the Berkshire Eagle or my fellow hunters and gun owners.

The bill is huge with 241 sections, countless subsections and 140 pages.  Hey, I’m retired and I don’t have the time to properly research this proposed bill. Therefore, I have looked to the Gun Owner’s Action League (GOAL) and the Massachusetts Sportsmen’s Council, with their lawyers and experts to condense it and help me understand it.

GOAL has labeled HD 4420 The Lawful Citizens Imprisonment Act because it feels that passage of it will make thousands of legal gun owners lawbreakers. In its opinion, this bill would re-write Massachusetts gun-laws to implement the harshest gun-control in the country and severely infringe upon the rights of Massachusetts citizens. The gun laws are already so convoluted and complex that it is extremely difficult for the average citizen to comply with them,” said Jim Wallace, the executive director of GOAL I agree with this assessment.

I believe in the Second Amendment to the US Constitution which ensures my right to defend my family and home from those who would wish to do me harm and to ensure my right to own a gun to hunt.

My father lived through the Great Depression and the food rationing of WWII. One way of providing protein on our dinner table was to hunt, and he taught my brothers and me how to hunt and shoot a gun.  I developed a taste for venison and rabbits at an early age and still hunt them to this day. So, owning a shotgun or rifle is very important to me and the Second Amendment helps ensure that I can do that. I can’t imagine not being able to hunt.

There is no question that something must be done to eliminate the random and mass shootings which are taking place today. People shouldn’t have to worry if their kids are going to come home from school today or from a concert this weekend. After all, we are supposed to be a civilized country,

The question is how to eliminate this problem while still ensuring our Second Amendment rights. More restrictive gun laws do not, nor ever have resolved the problem, simply because the bad guys don’t abide by them……only the responsible, law-abiding individuals do.

A part of the bill states that junior shooters would not be allowed to possess, or use, semi-automatic rifles and shotguns. These types of firearms have been used in junior shooting sports since their invention. They offer much reduced recoil making it more comfortable to learn about and safely use firearms. Also, anyone under 15 would be banned from handling any handgun, semi-automatic rifle, or semi-automatic shotgun, all of which are in common use throughout the junior shooting sports world.  It would ban them from taking part in sanctioned shooting sports and training. A few weeks ago, I did an article on how hunting is declining and that there is a need to get youngsters out hunting because hunters are the greatest conservationists.  I believe parts of this bill will impede those efforts.

Legislators should realize that all semi-automatic guns are not the same.  The semi -automatic shotguns or rifles used by hunters are usually restricted to 3 or 5 shots.  For example, it is illegal to hunt waterfowl with a gun with the capacity to carry more than 3 shots. The bullets are usually contained in a magazine (tube inside the gun).  Contrast that with the semi -automatic with a high- capacity external bullet clip which carry lots of bullets.  That’s an important distinction, but the new proposed law lumps semi-automatics all together which if passed would make the lawful hunter a violator of the law.

However; allowing an 18-year older to be able to purchase a high capacity semi-automatic is something else.  These guns are not generally used for hunting, skeet, trap or target shooting. Delaying the purchase of such guns a couple more years to determine a youth’s moral character is, in my opinion, not necessarily a bad thing. I have a problem being in the woods around someone who possesses a large capacity semi-automatic gun which has the capability of firing off 40 shots a minute.

As noted, there are parts of the proposed gun law that I can live with if properly worded.  Bill 4420 would prohibit those under 21 years of age from buying or handling a semi-automatic gun.   If it’s a high capacity gun, then I agree, but not a sports rifle or shotgun. I for one don’t think an 18-year older should be able to purchase a high- capacity gun capable of firing 40 rounds a minute. If young folks want to use guns like that then may I respectfully suggest they enlist into the armed forces.

I also don’t want the law enforcement community, those charged with our safety, to be outgunned.

I don’t like an aspect of the bill which would require common carrier employees to possess a license to carry (LTC) in order to transport firearms. Potentially every employee in a common carrier facility would have to possess a LTC.  Their carrier facilities would have to have a storage area that meets the new definitions. UPS, FedEx, etc. would have to comply with storage and transportation requirements which would be next to impossible.  In GOAL’s opinion, this would essentially mean that interstate and intrastate commerce of lawful products would cease and eventually mean that all licensed retailers would go out of business, leaving no legal means of obtaining products in Massachusetts.

In the proposal, there is a section (56) which would update the minimum training curriculum required for a LTC to include injury prevention and harm reduction education, active shooter and emergency response training, applicable laws relating to the use of force, and de-escalation and disengagement tactics. It would require all applicants for a LTC to complete live firearm training and pass a uniform written exam created by the State Police and require local licensing authorities attend trainings on their licensing and reporting responsibilities.  Whoa!  We just want a gun for hunting or personal protection.  We’re not joining a SWAT team!

Police chiefs and mayors from across the state are opposed to this proposed regulation.  One is quoted as saying “Massachusetts has great firearms laws. Legislators should focus their efforts on the court system enforcing penalties for these gun laws.”  If you remove guns from folks who have lawful ownership, you are removing” a key deterrent against being victimized by criminals.

Another is quoted as saying, “Although I believe the intent of this legislation means well, in truth the language does nothing to address the issue of illegal guns and ghost guns being used in criminal activity by repeat violent criminal offenders.”

Even the Town of Cheshire sent a letter to State Representative Barrett of North Adams asking him to oppose this proposed legislation.

And, while we are on the subject, what about the “Mandatory Sentencing law which Massachusetts passed in 1974?  Certain offenses are supposed to carry mandatory minimum 1-year sentences for those convicted of illegally carrying a firearm. Why are they allowed to walk the streets shortly after being arrested for such offences.

I hope our legislators are seriously working on solving the gun violence and not simply trying to legislate hunting and gun ownership out of existence. I hope they take the time to read and fully understand its implications.

Now that I have offended fellow gun owners, legislators, and judges, perhaps its time to leave town for a while and do some fishing in the Catskills.

Wild & Scenic Gobble Mountain Hike

 

On Saturday, September 16, from 9:00am to 1:00 pm, there will be a Wild & Scenic Hike with Mammal Specialist John McDonald. Hike up to one of the lookouts along the ridge and enjoy the stories written in tracks and signs that animals leave behind. Hear about the work being done to connect the hill towns along the Highlands Footpath, which will eventually travel up and over Gobble Mountain in Chester, MA to the Keystone Arch Bridge Trail.

 

Registration required via email for meeting location: http://www.westfieldriverwildscenic.org.

Early goose, black bear hunting coming up

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The Early Canada Goose hunting season (statewide) began on Friday, September 1 and runs through September 22.  For Early Canada Goose season only, hunting hours are 1/2 hour before sunrise to 1/2 hour after sunset.  The daily bag limit is 15 and the possession limit is 45.  The reason for this early season and the large numbers of geese allowed to be taken is to reduce the large local resident population that is befouling our lawns and beaches.  The regular goose hunting season in the Berkshires opens on October 10 and runs through November 25.  It shuts down through the shotgun deer hunting season and then reopens December 11 through December 14.  The daily bag on that season is 3 and the possession limit is 9.

There are many regulations regarding goose hunting and rather than to list many of them out, I direct your attention to 2023 – 2024 SEASON DATES & BAG LIMIT provided at https://www.mass.gov/doc/2023-2024-migratory-game-bird-regulations.

I will note that a 15-goose harvest limit for one day and a 45-bird possessive limit is high. Please make sure the geese won’t go to waste (see wanton waste comments below) and that you or someone else consumes them.  The meat can be tough, so you might want to search out grandma’s old recipes or perhaps you can make goose jerky.

The early Black Bear hunting season opens statewide on September 5 and runs through September 23. Those hunting hours are 1/2 hour before sunrise to 1/2 hour after sunset.  There are no blaze orange requirements during this season.  Hunting implements allowed during this season are rifles, revolvers, muzzleloaders and archery equipment.  There are also many regulations governing bear hunting and instead of listing all of them out here, I direct your attention to pages 30 and 31 of the Massachusetts Fishing and Hunting laws (commonly referred to as the abstracts).

Please remember:  It is unlawful for hunters to intentionally, or knowingly leave a wounded or dead game animal in the field or the forest without making a reasonable effort to retrieve and use it. Each retrieved animal shall be retained or transferred to another until processed or used for food, pelt, feathers, or taxidermy. This does not apply to animals unfit for consumption or use—animals and their parts that are damaged, destroyed, decayed, rotting, diseased, or infected.

No hunting is allowed on Sundays in Massachusetts.

Here’s hoping you have safe and successful hunts.

Wear your life jackets, it’s the law

 

Although not mandatory until September 15, waterfowl hunters who navigate waters to get to their duck/goose blinds might be well advised to wear their Personal Floatation Devises (PFD’s).  MassWildlife cautions us that all canoe or kayak occupants must wear a U.S. Coast Guard approved PFD from September 15 to May 15, and that includes waterfowl hunters.

Archery deer hunting season opening date

I have been getting calls and messages inquiring as to whether the deer archery hunting season is opening on October 2 this year.  These inquiries were brought about by the recent public hearings regarding the extension of the archery deer hunting season two weeks in Wildlife Zones 1 – 9.

According to DFW Western District Supervisor Andrew Madden, if approved, the regulations would likely go into effect in 2024. There are still steps in the process including a review of comments and decision by the Fisheries and Wildlife Board. If approved by the Board, it would still need additional administrative approval within other branches of State government before it could be officially enacted. That process almost certainly won’t be completed before the season starts so hunters should plan on 2024, if the changes are approved.

He promised that MassWildlife will do its best to keep hunters posted about the process and a timeline if the proposed changes are approved.

 

EPO Lt. Tara Carlow honored

Congratulations to EPO Lt. Tara Carlow who was chosen to receive the Massachusetts 2022 CLECA (Conservation Law Enforcement Chiefs’ Association) Outstanding Officer of The Year Award in Conservation Law Enforcement and Public Safety. The award ceremony took place this past May 16 at MassWildlife Field Headquarters in Westborough.   As the Lieutenant for our region, she oversees 33 towns that are broken down into 6 smaller districts (4-6 towns each) with direct subordinates of 5 officers (only have 3 right now) and 1 sergeant covering those.  There is a Western Captain that oversees all of Massachusetts west of the Quabbin, but the position is currently vacant.

This hardly comes as a surprise to the delegates of the Berkshire County League of Sportsmen who are fortunate enough to have her presence at its monthly meetings.  She makes sure the League, and through its minutes, the area outdoor sports community is kept apprised of any new environmental laws, updates on EPO’s successes in apprehending outlaws, information on any upcoming Boating Safety Classes or ATV classes, and more.  It is so helpful to have Lt Carlow present at those meetings answering any legal questions that we may have.  I have been a delegate in the League for over 20 years now and we never had an EPO regularly attend.

At the risk of embarrassing Lt. Carlow, please allow me to cite some comments about her in a 3-page nomination by another officer, which says it all.  I have changed the term “the nominee” to “she” or “her”.

She is a shining star for all others in Massachusetts Environmental Police (MEP) in regards to attitude and sets a great example. She is continually asked by the Agency to handle more responsibilities, which were accepted with zero complaints; she fully realizes the breath of MEP‘s job and changes their schedule constantly to attend search and rescue, meetings, training, and large scale operations without a single complaint, and explained the reasons for same to their subordinates; she understand the mission statement, their role in carrying it out in a manner that everyone knows the nominees proud to be an EPO .

Whether it is a simple response to a citizens question, ensuring subordinate is carrying out tasking, or a complex multi facet investigation, she excelled at every challenge sent their way; she sets a great example to others in MEP by handling so many various patrol issues, proving self- initiation is often the best way to determine problem areas; she spent a specific amount of time assisting DCR, MassWildlife, and fishing and boating access and documenting numerous violations, and/or problems located on their respective properties. She excels at the hunting enforcement aspect of the job. Any complaint is looked into and she spends significant time ahead of each season researching previous problem areas and providing that information to the Board to allow them the best chance to be successful, multiple baiting cases were made from the intelligence. She continued to excel in making cases involving illegally taken bears; she spearheads one of the better PR programs across a Commonwealth ensuring subordinates are present to assist with their responsibilities; she ensures MEP is well represented, and has a positive and professional image among the region citizens.  If needed for one event on almost any topic she would be the first person I would choose to represent the Agency. She is constantly advising others of new material or technology that comes out involving the job, allowing MEP to better serve the public. The amount of knowledge on the laws on specific subjects. At this point (her) career is well above normal.

“She is exactly what a CLECA nominated officer should be, well rounded, a positive attitude, knowledgeable, self-reliant, professional, caring, and willing to assist subordinates to become their best. MEP is better for them being here.”

Fishing Derby

The Friends of the Berkshire Hatchery in Hartsville-New Marlborough is scheduled to have its last Youth Fishing Derby of this year next Saturday, September 9 from 9:00 to 10:30 am at its Lower Pond at the Berkshire National Fish Hatchery, 240 Hatchery Road, Hartsville, MA.  Children aged 13 and under must be accompanied by an adult.  No child goes away empty handed.

A good way to learn to pheasant hunt

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The Youth Pheasant Hunt is a great way for young adults (ages 12-17) to practice firearms safety, develop shooting skills, and join in a pheasant hunt with an experienced hunter in a friendly environment.

photo provided by masswildlife

 

The Massachusetts Youth Pheasant Hunt Program was developed by MassWildlife to provide an opportunity for Hunter Education graduates aged 12 to 17 to practice firearms safety, develop shooting skills, and participate in a special pheasant hunt under the guidance of an experienced adult hunter.

The program is divided into multiple parts:

  • Seminar and Range Practice: Participants get hands-on instruction in shotgun shooting fundamentals and firearm safety, learn upland hunting basics, and focus on how to have a safe and fun hunt.
  • Pheasant Hunt: Participants get to experience a real pheasant hunt under the supervision of an experienced hunter on 1 of the 6 Saturdays prior to the regular pheasant season. This year, the pheasant hunting season starts on October 14, 2023.

Requirements:

  • Be between the ages of 12 to 17
  • Have graduated from a Basic Hunter Education course (in any state) before the day of the hunt
  • Participants 15 to 17 years of age must have a hunting license, a pheasant/quail permit and a Firearms Identification Card (FID). Steps

Steps

  1. Make sure you meet all the requirements above
  2. Register for the Program by August 31, 2023
  3. Complete the Seminar and Range Practice

Please note, all other regular pheasant hunting regulations apply including bag limits, hunting implements, hunter orange requirements, etc. Be sure to review the pheasant hunting regulations.

The Lee Sportsmen’s Association, located at 565 Fairview Street, is a participating club.  The course will be taught by MassWildlife. The dates and times are as follows:

  1. August 26, from 9:00AM – 11:00AM, September 16, from 9:00AM – 11:00AM, and October 07, from 9:00AM – 12:00PM.

 

Massachusetts wildland firefighters sent out again

The Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) and the Department of Fish and Game (DFG) sent a crew of 19 firefighters – 17 from DCR and two from DFG – recently to Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest in western Montana to help battle the large fires that are burning across the state.

This is the third crew of wildland firefighters DCR has deployed to assist in fighting the wildfires raging across the country and neighboring regions this summer. In June, DCR deployed 11 firefighters to assist in fighting wildfires in Quebec, Canada, and in July, in partnership with DFG, the department deployed to the region another crew of 16 wildland firefighters that included two firefighters from DFG. Response efforts are now shifting to the western United States, with more than 80 large fires currently burning more than 534,000 acres in 14 states.

“As these wildfires continue to rage on across the country, burning thousands of acres of forest to the ground, DCR and DFG firefighters have stepped up again to help our partners in need fight these devastating blazes,” said DCR Commissioner Brian Arrigo. “DCR is proud of our dedicated and hardworking firefighters who will be on the frontlines in the Northern Rocky Mountain region over the next two weeks, working to stop further destruction of our natural resources.

 

Included in the group of 19 was Jacob Morris-Siegel from the Mass Division of Fisheries and Wildlife Western District Office located in Dalton.

 

Intro to Fly Fishing for women – taught by women

 

The Taconic Chapter of Trout Unlimited invites women to join Betsy Clark and Diane Holhubner. (both trained at the Wulff School of Fly Fishing) to learn about the basics of fly fishing and get a chance to get experience on the river. The free event occurs on September 9 from 8:30 to 11:00 am on the Hoosic River in Williamstown. No fishing experience is necessary. You will learn about the components of a flyfishing rod, learn about a couple of types of flyfishing flies, and how to do a roll cast.

 

You don’t need to bring anything, for they will provide the rods and tackle to use but they do suggest that you wear comfortable shoes that you don’t mind getting a little wet. If you have river shoes that would be great. A hat and sunglasses might make you feel more comfortable but they are not necessary. They will be on a gravel beach for this event. Bring your own water bottle, they will have herbal tea available as well.

 

This event is for anyone who identifies as a woman.

 

They will meet at the parking lot on Syndicate Road. It is a new lot which doesn’t show on google maps. They will then walk a short distance on a dirt trail down to the river. To register, click onto  https://bit.ly/45ORY2v

 

BEAT celebrates 20th anniversary

 

The Berkshire Environmental Action Team was established in 2003 when a vernal pool at Berkshire Community College was being threatened by the development of soccer fields on the campus. Over the past two decades, BEAT has taken on many fights and projects — often leading them and creating a path for environmental change and progress.

 

BEAT’s mission has remained the same: To protect the environment for wildlife in support of the natural world that sustains us all. But its vision and goals have continuously expanded and evolved. They see a world where communities work together to sustain their environmental health and economic vitality; all people recognize their interconnectedness to, and dependence on, the natural world; the air and water are clean; rivers and streams flow naturally; and there is plenty of interconnected, natural land where wildlife thrive. Its goal is to make all of this happen — and its newly renovated Environmental Leadership & Education Center is one of the first steps in reaching that goal.

 

You are invited to join the folks at BEAT on Saturday, September 2, from 1:00 to 3:00 PM, to see the renovations, hear about what’s to come, and meet BEAT’s staff and board.

 

Executive Director Jane Winn will lead an optional tour of the building at 1:15 PM, and a steam-table demonstration will start at 2:00 PM. They’ll also have finger foods and refreshments for guests.

 

It’s not necessary to RSVP in order to attend, but it would be greatly appreciated.

 

Email team@thebeatnews.org with any questions.

 

Berkshire communities to get culvert replacement grants

 

The Culvert Replacement Municipal Assistance (CRMA) Grant Program is one of the many resources the Healey-Driscoll administration utilizes to help municipalities replace undersized and deteriorating culverts with crossings that meet improved design standards. The grants target culverts whose replacement brings significant ecological and resilience benefits and helps municipalities deal with the increasing aging road infrastructure costs.

 

“With extreme weather becoming more frequent, projects like these are a climate-smart investment to help cities and towns adapt to climate change,” said Governor Maura Healey. “It is important that we upgrade culverts and small bridges to prevent flooding and reduce public safety risks.”

 

The MA Division of Ecological Restoration (DER) is awarding $811,000 in grants to 14 municipalities through the CRMA grant program. Nearly half of an estimated 25,000 small bridges and culverts in Massachusetts act as barriers to fish and wildlife because they are undersized or poorly positioned. Installing culverts that meet the Massachusetts Stream Crossing Standards allows rivers to flow unrestricted, improves access for fish and wildlife, and lowers the risk of flood damage.

 

Berkshire County Grants

Town of Egremont: $48,811awarded for Karner Brook Culvert Replacement

This award will fund design and engineering, permitting, and some construction for a culvert replacement project on Blunt Road to improve stream connectivity of a tributary to Karner Brook.

 

Town of Richmond:  $55,200 awarded for Sleepy Hollow Road Culvert Replacement

This award will fund the design and engineering for a culvert replacement project on Sleepy Hollow Road to improve stream connectivity of Cone Brook and two tributaries.

 

Town of Great Barrington:  $55,933 awarded for Housatonic River Tributary Culvert Replacement

This award will fund the design and engineering for a culvert replacement project on Brush Hill Road to improve stream connectivity of a tributary to the Housatonic River.

 

Berkshire Clean, Cold, Connected Restoration Partnership 

Housatonic Valley Association, awarded $199,899

This Partnership supports a network of organizations, agencies, and communities working for healthy aquatic systems and building climate resiliency in the Hoosic, Housatonic, and Farmington River watersheds.

Deer hunters still have a chance to obtain an antlerless deer permit

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By now Massachusetts deer hunters should know if they were selected to receive an antlerless deer permit (ADP), also known as a doe permit.  If not, they can simply click onto the MassFishHunt web page to find out.  Of course, they had to apply for the permit by July 16 to be eligible.

 

If selected, Massachusetts residents need to pay the $10.00 fee to purchase the permit.  The permit fee costs $15.00 for non-resident deer hunters.

 

It’s a lottery system, and not every hunter who wanted one in the wildlife management zone of their choice got one.  The difference between allocation and demand determines the odds of winning an ADP. The exceptions are those who applied for permits in Zones 10, 11, 13, and 14 where everyone who applied got one.  There are too many deer in those zones and MassWildlife is trying to reduce the herd to desirable numbers where there is sufficient food and habitat to sustain them.

There still is a chance to get a permit. Surplus ADPs will go on sale as follows:  A limited number of permits for Zones 3, 7, 9 and 12 will go on sale on a first-come, first-served basis starting 9:00 am on September 27. The limit is one ADP per zone per day until sold out.

 

Permits for Zones 10, 11, 13 and 14 will go on sale at 9:00 am on September 26. There is no season purchase limit for these zones and they are available throughout the 2023 deer season.

 

Hunters with a valid hunting or sporting license can buy Surplus ADPs even if they did not previously apply for a permit.

 

I live in Zone 3 and the deer in my neighborhood have become a real nuisance, especially where my vegetable garden is concerned.  I’ve always known they relish cabbages, beans, peas, carrots, corn, etc., so I put a 5-foot fence around those veggies.  It doesn’t matter.  They simply jump over it and devour the succulent plants.  What really gripes me now is that they are developing a taste for my other vegetables.  Never did I ever have to fence in my onions, leeks or potatoes, but now I do. When some of my neighbors told me that they had seen deer chomping away in those sections, I didn’t believe them until I saw the deer tracks.

 

For dessert, they like to raid my wife Jan’s raspberry patch.

 

What they don’t eat, the black bears do, especially our corn crop.  They seem to know exactly when to raid it, usually a day or so before it’s ripe enough to pick.

I haven’t even mentioned the wild turkeys that fly over the fencing into the garden and peck away at our tomatoes, or the bunnies and woodchucks that sneak in, the voles that attack the root veggies, or the crows that pull up the young corn and bean plants.  Like Rodney Dangerfield, we get no respect.

 

Ah, my father never had that problem.  Back in the 1950’s we never had bears or turkeys and rarely saw a deer track within a mile of our place because there were so few of them around.   I have to admit, since then MassWildlife has done a wonderful job of managing and increasing their numbers.  I just wish they would tell them to stay away from our gardens.

Nice event at the Hatchery

There was a nice turnout for the Berkshire National Fish Hatchery Kid’s Derby in Hartsville/New Marlborough last Saturday morning.  According to Dave Ziegler, the Friends of the Berkshire National Fish Hatchery Board Chairman and official fish measurer, over 45 youths participated in the free derby. Counting parents, grandparents, relatives and friends, about 100 people showed up.

Walter and Dan Stubbs

Members of the Berkshire Bass, Taconic Chapter of Trout Unlimited, MassWildlife Western District, US Fish & Wildlife Service, Lee Sportsmen’s Association, Berkshire County League of Sportsmen, and others were there to help teach the kids how to fish, remove the hooks from the fish, etc.  They kids had the option of keeping or releasing them.

Dave was kept busy measuring fish after fish with about 120 of them being measured in the 1 ½ hour derby span.

Catching the largest fish was 5-year old Walker Stubbs of Sandisfield.  He caught a brook trout measuring just over 14½ inches.  2nd place went to Lucy Siebert with a 14¼ inch trout. 3rd place went to Josh Bell with a trout just shy of 14¼ inches and 4th place went to Lilly Labeau with a 14-inch trout.  They won some neat fishing tackle.  Actually, all the kids went home with a prize

After the derby was over, people had a chance to tour the hatchery and check out its newly installed 270-gallon display fish tank, have a free snack, learn how to cast or tie a fly, and visit the various booths manned by the Friends of the Berkshire National Fish Hatchery, Lee Sportsmen’s Association, MassWildlife, Berkshire Bass, US Fish & Wildlife Service, Boy Scouts, and Taconic TU.

The open house was coordinated by Board member Dean Hutson.

Asteroid named for retired MassWildlife leader

The following article was taken from the MassWildlife August 2023 Newsletter:

 

In recognition of his 35 years of dedicated and effective conservation work, an asteroid measuring 2 to 5 kilometers in diameter was recently named after Dr. Thomas W. French, the founding leader and former Assistant Director of MassWildlife’s Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program (NHESP). Unlike comets, which are usually named after their discoverers, asteroids are named for mythological figures and geographical places—or for renowned scientists, explorers, poets, composers, novelists, and other prominent figures.

 

The Paris-based International Astronomical Union (IAU) officially named minor planet 1991 PN2 as “(20010) Tomfrench”. The IAU’s 15-member Working Group for Small Bodies Nomenclature (WGSBN) is the sole scientific organization with the authority to assign names to small solar system bodies like asteroids, comets, and satellites of minor planets.

Imelda B. Joson and Edwin L. Aguirre, both former editors of Sky & Telescope magazine, have known Dr. French for 16 years and proposed the naming to the IAU. The couple first met French in 2007 in Lowell, where they volunteered to monitor peregrine falcons.

“This is a completely unexpected and humbling honor,” said Dr. French. “I hope that recognizing me with this honor is a validation of how important it is for all of us to help conserve the health and natural diversity of our world.”

The naming of the asteroid recognizes Dr. French’s contributions to wildlife restoration, protection, and conservation. The citation, which was published in the IAU’s WGSBN Bulletin on July 3, 2023 reads:

Thomas W. French (b. 1950), a biologist and former assistant director of MassWildlife’s Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program, led the successful reintroduction of peregrine falcons and bald eagles in Massachusetts after their native populations were wiped out due to extensive use of the insecticide DDT from the 1940s to 1972.

“We are so happy that the international astronomical community has recognized Tom’s contributions to advancing our knowledge of the natural world as well as informing the public on the importance of preserving our planet’s biodiversity,” says Aguirre.

“Tom is a true gentleman scientist, and his experience, passion, dedication, knowledge and professionalism are exceptional,” added Joson. “We’re glad to know that a huge chunk of real estate bearing Tom’s name is now floating out there in space!”

Asteroids are small, rocky bodies left over from the birth of the solar system about 4.6 billion years ago. According to the WGSBN Bulletin, asteroid (20010) Tomfrench was discovered on August 2, 1991, by the European Southern Observatory in La Silla, Chile. Asteroid (20010) Tomfrench takes 3.9 years to complete one orbit around the Sun. It is currently about 480 million kilometers from Earth, shining very dimly in the constellation Taurus. One would need a fairly large telescope and sensitive CCD camera to record its faint, starlike image.

During his career with MassWildlife, Dr. French oversaw field research, habitat restoration and management, rare species restoration, permitting the possession of wildlife for research and education, data management, and regulatory reviews of proposed projects under the Massachusetts Endangered Species Act. He has published 78 technical papers in peer-reviewed journals, given hundreds of lectures to universities, state agencies, ornithological societies, and conferences, and received numerous professional awards.

What an amazing fishing trip that we almost made

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Readers may recall last year that I wrote about a flyfishing trip to Labrador where two local anglers, Mike Shepard and Craig Smith joined several anglers from the eastern part of the state and New Hampshire.  They were after the large brook trout that exist up there in the Eagle River system.  You may recall that I bemoaned the fact that I was scheduled to go too, having paid for the lodge, guides and air fare to get there.  But I had some health issues going on and was unable to go.  I wrote about the trip anyway with information about the wonderful catches provided by Mike and Craig.

The outfitter and airlines allowed me to defer my payments to be applied on a trip this year and  I excitedly began planning for the trip.  All I had to do was to get better.  Thanks to the good doctors and nurses at Berkshire Medical Center and Phelps Cancer Center in Pittsfield, I am still around and feeling better, albeit with additions to and deletions from my body parts and 45 pounds lighter.  This year I would be fishing with Mike Shepard of Dalton, Carl Racie and Mike Miller of Athol, Gary Hebert of Richmond, NH, Bill Waite of Westminster and former MA F&G Commissioner Ron Amadon of Templeton. We have previously fished together in Labrador and have become close friends.

But, as time neared, it became obvious that I was not yet strong enough to do the 2 1/2-miles treks into moose bogs, lichens etc. to get to some of the fishing spots (you may recall that last year, the muck was so strong that it pulled the felt bottoms off of Craig’s waders).  On top of that I have been nursing a couple of bum shoulders which prevented me from casting the heavier flyrods and fly lines required to catch those large fish. Sadly, I had to bow out……again! (One man out)

The rest of the guys continued their preparations.  Mike Shepard was tying up a bunch of large flies (green drakes) for all of the fellas.  He was to drive out to Greenfield, MA and join the others on their trip to Montreal, Canada.  After spending a night in a hotel there, they would fly out to Goose Bay where they would spend another night, and then hop onto a float plane which would fly them into a remote camp (Igloo Lodge) out of which they would fish.

Unfortunately, on the morning that Mike was to leave, he developed a serious cold.  He felt lousy and he did not want to give it to the others which would in turn ruin their week stay.  Mike drove out to Greenfield, delivered the flies that he had tied for them and came back home.  He spent the following week trying to recover from that cold. (Two men out).

After two days of traveling the group finally made it to Goose Bay, Labrador and were ready for the fly-in to the camp.  As soon as they arrived in Goose Bay, Bill Waite received an urgent call informing him of a medical emergency at home.  He turned around and caught the first flight out and returned home (Three men out).

That left Mike Miller, Carl, Gary and Ron to continue the travels to the camp.  The following is a narrative provided by Gary:

“A week before arrival we got a notice from the lodge that due to unseasonably high temperatures, the fishing had essentially shut down. Water temperature in both the lake and river were averaging 78 degrees F which was unheard of.  Trout need 60 degrees F or lower temp waters to thrive.  Only a few fish were caught in the last three weeks.

We flew into camp on our float plane to find a lot of sad faces and poor fishing reports. The bright spot was the camp had undergone some significant improvements under the new ownership of Craig and Steve Gillingham. The weather was forecasting cooler temperatures and some rain towards the end of our stay.  True to the report that we had been given, the fishing was terrible for the first couple days. We did manage a few dozen 1 – 2 lbs. fish in the river but that was not our goal.  We came for the world class 5-8 lbs. trophy Brook Trout.

Four anglers seated in the float plane. L to R: Ron Amidon. Carl Racie, Mike Miller and Gary Hebert. Photo provided.

 

To add to the frustration the river and Igloo Lake had an algae bloom that made the water pea green, and which made for very difficult wading. Fortunately, this year no one got baptized and no one, including me, broke any rods. That was a first. I’m usually good for at least one or two!!

 

After a couple days of poor fishing, we decided to head to Burton’s Pond, a remote pond that’s a 25-minute boat ride and a 2 1/2 mile hike through a bug infested swamp trail. The pond hadn’t been fished for several weeks due to the water temps but we were up for the challenge.  We lucked out and had the small camp Beaver float plane fly us in on our first attempt at Burton’s Pond.  We had gotten a tip from a group that fished Burton’s the day before that they had a little luck near a spring fed brook entering the pond.  After the float plane landed, we met our guides with their boats in the middle of the pond. The plane couldn’t get near the shore due to rocks and low water. The guides had to hike in to get the boats and meet us.

We headed directly to the spring and found the mother lode in a cool protected cove.  The fishing was incredible. We netted over 150 beautiful Brookies weighing 4-8 lbs., smashing the camp record.  It was an incredible day on the water.

Gary Hebert holding a sizeable brookie. Photo provided.

 

Two days later we went back but this time we had no available plane so the four old duffers hiked in and experienced another fantastic “Bonus” day. We were so elated that we practically jogged through the 2 1/2-mile swamp.

 

The camp has been a great steward of the local ponds and rivers especially during this crazy heat spell.  All trout were caught and quickly released using barbless hooks.  All fish were released from the net without being removed from the water or being handled. Only a couple of fish were permitted to be held quickly for a special photo.

 

The food has always been good at Igloo but this trip it was outstanding. The camp has added some additional support staff for the kitchen and for the facilities.

There were eight sports in camp. Two brothers from New Brunswick and a father and son from Minnesota. All of them were great guys.

 

All in all, the trip turned out nice.”

 

Gary described this trip as “From Bust to Bonus.”

 

Igloo Lake is already booking into 2025, but fortunately Mike Shepard, Craig Smith and I are already booked for 2024.   Gary, Mike Miller, Ron and Carl will be fishing in Iceland next year.

 

Public hearing to extend archery deer hunting season

 

MassWildlife is holding a hybrid public hearing on Tuesday, August 15, at 1:00 pm on proposed regulations that would extend the dates of the archery deer hunting season in Wildlife Management Zones 1–9 by two weeks.  The amendments would be to 321 CMR 3.02 Hunting of Particular Game in Massachusetts.

 

If approved, the archery deer season would begin statewide in all zones on the eighth Monday prior to Thanksgiving, and end on the first Saturday after Thanksgiving.  The public can attend the hearing and provide oral comments either in-person at the MassWildlife Field Headquarters (1 Rabbit Hill Road, Westborough) or via a Zoom video webinar. Click onto the MassWildlife web site to find out how to join the webinar meeting.

 

The full hearing notice, including the text of the proposed regulations, is available on MassWildlife’s Public Hearings page. Written comments will be accepted for 2 weeks after the hearing until Tuesday August 29, 2023 at 5 p.m.

 

To submit written comments email susan.sacco@mass.gov to the attention of the Fisheries and Wildlife Board, or mail comments to Chair, Fisheries and Wildlife Board, c/o Director of MassWildlife, Mass. Division of Fisheries and Wildlife, 1 Rabbit Hill Road, Westborough, MA 01581.

Several events coming up for anglers

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If you are an angler or fish enthusiast, there are several events coming up this month which you may find interesting. They are listed chronologically:

“Massachusetts Wild Trout Fisheries”

 

On Wednesday, August 9 beginning at 6:00 pm, Adam Kautza, MassWildlife Coldwater Fisheries Project Leader, will make a presentation at the August Berkshire Green Drinks event in person and online via Zoom.

 

The in-person gathering begins at 5:00 PM at Shire Breu-Hous inside The Stationery Factory, 63 Flansburg Ave in Dalton.

 

After giving some background on the wild trout found here in Massachusetts, Adam will discuss the status and distribution of the state’s wild trout fisheries, how MassWildlife manages these resources, and talk about some of the work the agency has been doing with wild trout over the last few years.

 

Adam Kautza has been the MassWildlife Coldwater Fisheries Project Leader since 2017. His role with the agency includes developing applied research projects to answer wild trout management questions and monitoring their cold-water fishery resources statewide.

 

Pre-registration is required to attend this event. Learn more and RSVP at: https://tinyurl.com/Aug2023-Berks-Green-Drinks

 

 

Berkshire Green Drinks is sponsored and organized by the Berkshire Environmental Action Team (BEAT). For more information regarding Berkshire Green Drinks, contact Chelsey Simmons, chelsey@thebeatnews.org, (413) 464-9402.

 

Hoosic River Cleanup

On Thursday, August 10, beginning at 6:30 pm, the Taconic Chapter of Trout Unlimited is sponsoring a Hoosic River Cleanup with Mountain Warrior Conservation Society, HooRWA, and others in North County to pick up trash, tires, etc. in the North Adams stretch of the Hoosic River. They will meet at the trailhead at the bend in Harding Ave. (Across from Clear Sky). Some gloves and bags will be available, as well as a few grabbers but bring your own gloves and cleanup tools, boots that can get dirty are a huge plus, and whatever tick prevention you use.

No need to RSVP

 

Berkshire National Fish Hatchery events

On Saturday, August 12, two events will be taking place at the Berkshire National Fish Hatchery in Monterey/Hartsville.

Running from 9:00 to 10:30 am they will be having their monthly kids fishing derby.  Bring your children ages 13 and under so that they can learn to fish and compete for prizes. No child goes away empty handed.  Its free!

Following that, from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm they will have an Open House where visitors have an opportunity to explore the fascinating facility, take guided tours and learn about the amazing work they do to support local fish populations and their habitats.

Enjoy complimentary hotdogs, chips, and water during the Open House. It’s their way of saying thank you for your support.

They’re also thrilled to have the following organizations joining them: Boy Scouts, Berkshire Bass, Berkshire Regional Planning Commission. Friends of Lake Garfield, and Taconic Chapter of TU.  TU will have a table there and Peter Paulson and I will be teaching folks how to fly cast, tie flies, etc.

The Hatchery will be Introducing their new additions:

Fish Egg Separator: Curious about the process of separating fish eggs? Their innovative fish egg separator will be on display, and they’ll be providing a live demonstration of how it works. You don’t want to miss this presentation.

Also

A 270-Gallon Display Fish Tank: Marvel at the beauty of the Brook Trout in their newly installed 270-gallon display fish tank. Get up close and personal with these magnificent creatures, and learn about their habitats and behaviors.

You are invited to come and connect with fellow fishing enthusiasts, conservationists, and outdoor enthusiasts. Share stories, make new friends, and learn about other local organizations dedicated to preserving our natural resources.

Bring your family and friends along for a day of fishing, exploration, and community bonding.

 

American Museum of Fly Fishing Festival

 

Also on Saturday, August 12 from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm, the AMFF’s 16th annual Fly-Fishing Festival will take place on the museum grounds in Manchester, Vermont. This is its signature event of the summer, featuring a unique collection of vendors, including painters, appraisers, industry artisans and professionals, and other angling-related nonprofits. You are invited to enjoy fly tying and casting demonstrations, try your hand at casting vintage rods, learn how to tie a fly, and mingle with like-minded people as you share the joy of the great outdoors.

 

Activities include:

11:00 am: Casting competition
12:00 pm: AMFF Ambassador Steve Ramirez on fly fishing and mental health
2:00 pm: AMFF Ambassador Rachel Finn discusses “After You’ve Gone.” .She grapples with       life after loss while showcasing an inspiring outlook on moving forward through trauma in an unapologetically true-to-herself way that brings a smile to everyone who crosses her path.
3:00 pm: Raffle drawing at admissions tent

Throughout the day, there will be: free tackle appraisals with Bob Selb, Fred Kretchman, and Carmine Lisella; free casting lessons with AMFF Ambassador Rachel Finn, free fly-tying demonstrations, book signings with Steve Ramirez and Steve Woit, children’s activities, and free museum admission

That evening, at 7:00 pm at the Burr & Burton Academy’s Riley Center, 57 Seminary Ave, Manchester, VT, there will be a special screening of the motion picture Mending the Line  to benefit the American Museum of Fly Fishing and the Southwestern Chapter of Trout Unlimited. It is a new motion picture written by Stephen Camelio and directed by Joshua Caldwell—starring A-list actors Brian Cox, Sinqua Walls, Patricia Heaton and others. It tells the story of a U.S. Marine “Colt” (Walls) who returns from a traumatic tour in Afghanistan and is sent to a VA facility in Montana. There, he meets Vietnam veteran “Ike” (Cox) who connects him with fly-fishing to find healing. The time they spend together—especially interactions on beautiful Montana rivers—eventually helps Colt navigate through survivor’s guilt and replace his desire to die for something with a renewed sense of having something to live for.

Anglers will appreciate the film for several reasons. It’s true to the sport with legitimate  substance, right down to the knots and flies. The cinematography and especially close-up trout “eats” are stunning. And while anyone who seriously fishes will sense where the story is headed (because they’ve felt redemption through fly fishing themselves), the picture gives pride and purpose to all who embrace fly fishing as more than a mere game for people who get their jollies by pulling on trout. It’s the kind of picture you want to take your friends who don’t really fish or don’t really understand why you fish to see, because the light bulb will undoubtedly turn on.

The characters are compelling and authentic, and the cast really pulls the whole thing together. The last time we saw a film that landed on the grace of fly fishing this well was Robert Redford’s screen adaptation of Norman Maclean’s benchmark novella A River Runs Through It, some 30 years ago. That changed the angling world as we knew it. Mending the Line is eye-opening and reaffirming on several levels and is bound to be another essential element of fly-fishing filmography. Tickets cost $20.

 

Deerfield River TU Annual Banquet

On Thursday, August 17 from 5:00 to 9:30 pm you are invited to join the Deerfield River Chapter of Trout Unlimited (DRWTU) to celebrate the Deerfield River and all who care for this valuable resource. Held at the Warfield House Inn’s scenic outdoor pavilion, this event will include a BBQ dinner featuring local produce, a cash bar, and an auction and prize giveaway to benefit the DRWTU.

Cocktails at 5:00, dinner at 6:00 pm. The Warfield House is located at 200 Warfield Road, in Charlemont, MA. The cost is $55 per guest.

Tom Rosenbauer will be the guest speaker. Tom has been a fly fisher for 50 years, and was a commercial fly tier by age 14. He has fished extensively across North America and has also fished on Christmas Island, the Bahamas, Belize, in Kamchatka, Chile, and on the fabled English chalk streams. He is credited with bringing Bead-Head flies to North America, and is the inventor of the Big Eye hook, Magnetic Net Retriever, and tungsten beads for fly tying. He has about 20 fly fishing books in print.

His presentation, “Taking Your Trout Fishing to the Next Level” will answer the questions, “How do I get better at my trout fishing?” and “What should I learn more about to have more fun on a trout stream?”

This should be a great presentation for novices and experts alike.

Do you like fishing?  Then join the crowd

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The following information was obtained from the Outdoor Foundation and the Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation Executive Summary of their 2023 Special Report on Fishing. I thought you might be interested in the findings.

Executive Summary

In a year marked by inflationary pressures, war in Ukraine and political instability, Americans found solace and companionship in a much-loved and time-tested pursuit: recreational fishing. Fishing promotes wellness, fosters bonds with family and friends, and forges a deep connection with nature. Whether fishing on lakes, rivers, streams, or seas; from shorelines, boats, or embankments; millions of Americans were united in 2022 by the love of fishing. For the thirteenth consecutive year, the Outdoor Foundation (OF) and the Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation (RBFF) partnered to produce the Special Report on Fishing to provide a comprehensive review of fishing participation trends, including detailed information on specific fishing categories and audiences.

Insights include motivations, barriers, and preferences of key groups. Special sections are dedicated to youth, Hispanic Americans, and females—populations we must engage, activate, and retain to ensure future growth.

Overall Fishing Participation Trends

In 2022, 18 percent of the American population ages 6 and up went fishing at least once, up from 17 percent in 2021. Over 54.5 million Americans fished in 2022—2.1 million more than the prior year. Fishing’s participation rate, 18 percent, and the number of anglers were just slightly below all-time records set in 2020. Both, however, were higher in 2022 than in preCOVID 2019.

Nearly 7 in 10 participants fished 1 to 11 times in 2022—less than once a month. Participation among more frequent anglers, those fishing once per month or more, has gradually declined since participation tracking began in 2007. 17 percent fished once a month or more, down from 21 percent a decade ago.

The “leaky bucket” analysis measures the annual churn of fishing participants—those joining or rejoining the activity compared to those quitting. Following modest declines in 2021, there was a net gain of 2.1 million fishing participants. Nearly 14.2 million new or returning anglers fished, while over 12 million left the sport.

Fishing participants were less diverse than the U.S. population. 78 percent of participants in 2022 were White, versus approximately 6 in 10 nationally. Large gaps remained for Hispanics (9 percent of fishing participants versus 19 percent of the U.S. population), Black anglers (8 percent versus 13 percent) and Asian participants (3 percent versus 6 percent)

Fishing by Category

Freshwater remained fishing’s most popular style. In 2022, 61 percent of participants reported they only freshwater fished, 71 percent of fishing outings were freshwater trips, and 78 percent of first-timers freshwater fished. 2.6 million more Americans participated in 2022 than in 2019, solidifying freshwater’s post-COVID gains.

Nearly 42 million Americans ages 6 and over freshwater fished in 2022, representing 7 in 10 total fishing participants. Freshwater’s national participation rate rose to 14 percent, up from 13 percent in 2021. Average outings per freshwater angler held steady at 15 percent, while total outings increased 2 percent to 634 million.

Saltwater fishing rebounded in 2022, growing 4 percent to 14.3 million participants. Participant numbers approached 2020’s record of 14.5 million, and easily exceeded the 13.2 million seen in pre-COVID 2019. Encouragingly, there were over 2 million more participants in 2022 than a decade prior. Eight percent of saltwater anglers in 2022 were first-timers, down from 11 percent in 2020. Among the 1.1 million saltwater first-timers, 700,000 were male and 400,000 were female.

A 2 percent increase in both fly fishing participant numbers and the national participation rate followed 4 percent declines in 2021. Fly fishing recorded 100,000 more participants in 2022—and 600,000 more than in 2019. Year over year, average outings fell from 12 to 11, and total outings declined from 87 million to 82 million. Compared to other categories, fly fishing had a high level of first-time participants in 2022. 12 percent of total participants were first-timers, versus 8 percent in saltwater and 6 percent in freshwater. Fly fishing had 900,000 first-timers in 2022, not far from saltwater’s 1.1 million even though saltwater had nearly twice the number of total participants.

Youth Participation

After 2020’s COVID bump, fishing’s national participation rate among children ages 6 to 12 dipped 1 percentage point in 2021, then another point in 2022. On the brighter side, participant numbers grew by 3 percent to 12.7 million child and adolescent participants, nearly 2.5 million higher than a decade ago. Male participation grew slightly, while female participation fell. As with younger children, fishing’s national participation rate among children ages 13 to 17 fell a percentage point in 2022. Actual participant numbers increased slightly to 4.9 million but remained above the 2019 level of 4.3 million. This represented an average annual increase of 6 percent in adolescent participation between 2019 and 2022.

Kaydance Soules holding a nice bass.

Adults with children in their households, particularly younger children, participated in fishing at much higher levels than adults without children. In 2022, 22 percent of U.S. households with children fished, while just 14 percent of households without children fished. These levels have remained stable since participation data collection began in 2007. Children consistently inspired participation growth. Over the past three years, the participation rate in households with children ages 6 to 12 and adolescents ages 13 to 17 reported annual growth averaging 6 percent and 5 percent, respectively. During the same period, participation in households with no children grew 3 percent.

Hispanic Participation

Fishing participation among Hispanics ages 6 and over has increased about 45 percent over the last decade. Participant numbers rose from 4.7 million in 2021 to 5.1 million in 2022. The participation rate jumped 6 percent year over year, up from 12.7 percent in 2021 to 13.4 percent in 2022.

Female Participation

Female fishing participation in 2022 approached its 2020 all-time high. Over the last decade, female participant numbers grew nearly 4 million, from 16 million in 2012 to 19.8 million in 2022. Females represented 36 percent of total anglers, 42 percent of first-time participants, and 46 percent of those considering fishing in 2022. 25 percent of participants were 55 or older, up from 19 percent a decade ago.

Profile of a Fishing Trip

Only 18 percent of anglers typically fished alone, reiterating that fishing remained a shared activity in 2022. Nearly 8 in 10 participants usually fished in groups of 2 to 5 anglers. Males were far more likely than females to fish alone, at 25 percent versus 8 percent, and females were more likely to fish in groups of 3 or more, at 53 percent to 35 percent. 3 in 4 participants ages 55 and older typically fished alone or with one companion.

Perceptions of Fishing

Fishing was generally seen as an easy, exciting, and intriguing way to spend times outdoors. Among first-time anglers, negative expectations of fishing—(that it’s only for “serious outdoor people,” was too time consuming, requires too much equipment, or was “not for someone like me”) were reported much less often than positive perceptions.

Future of Fishing

Data continues to underscore the critical importance of introducing fishing at a young age, as 86 percent of current fishing participants fished before the age of 12. Participation rates fall sharply after a child turns 18, making families with young children the key to growing future participation. By understanding the demographics, motivations and barriers of participants, the fishing industry can better reach America’s youngest citizens, nurture a new generation of fishing enthusiasts, and retain those new to the sport. Connecting youth to fishing will ensure that our nation’s waterways are protected, our communities are healthy, and our industry is thriving.

Sample Specification

During 2022, a total of 18,000 online interviews were carried out with a nationwide sample of individuals from U.S. proprietary online panels representative of the U.S. population of people ages six and older. Strict quotas associated with gender, age, income, region, and ethnicity were followed to ensure a balanced sample.

The 2022 participation survey sample size of 18,000 completed interviews provides a high degree of statistical accuracy. All surveys are subject to some level of standard error—that is, the degree to which the results might differ from those obtained by a complete census of every person in the U.S.

Now that we have learned all this information, I’m not sure what we can do with it – other than to dazzle our families and friends with our great knowledge.

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

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

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

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

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

We can speculate as to the reasons why.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

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

 

MassWildlife staff among wildland firefighters deployed to Quebec

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

MassWildlife awarded $773K to address wildlife diseases

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

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

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

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

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

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

Shad stocking underway

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

shad picture provided by MassWildlife

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

Interesting events sponsored by BEAT

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

Angling news from Connecticut

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

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

 

Other news from CT:

 

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

picture provided by CT DEEP

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

Picture provided by CT DEEP

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

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

Housatonic River film produced by local students

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

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

 

Click onto the HVA website to see the film.

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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