|
Quick Links
|
MassWildlife
News Release
All Media Inquiries: Contact (617) 626-1809
MassWildlife News is published 1-2 times/month. If you are interested in receiving the MW News electronically, send an e-mail to the following address: Join-MassWildlife.news@listserv.state.ma.us
October 2010
- KLINEFELTER, BROWN WIN DEER STAMP COMPETITIONS
- RESULTS OF THE 2010 SUMMER/FALL DUCK BANDING PROGRAM
- 2010 FALL TROUT ALLOCATIONS AND STOCKING
- ANTLERLESS DEER PERMITS ON SALE TUESDAY OCTOBER 12, 2010
- AUTUMN OUTDOOR SAFETY TIPS
- DIVISION RECEIVES WETLAND GRANT FOR BURRAGE POND WMA PROJECT
- DRIVERS: BRAKE FOR MOOSE AND DEER THIS FALL!
- DEER HUNTING OPPORTUNITY FOR PARAPLEGIC HUNTERS
- UPCOMING PUBLIC MEETINGS – CALENDAR OF EVENTS
KLINEFELTER, BROWN WIN DEER STAMP COMPETITIONS
Jeffrey Klinefelter of Etna Green, Indiana, and Mike Brown of Canton, Georgia, have won Massachusetts’ 2010 deer hunting stamp competitions, and images of their artwork will grace the state’s 2011 Archery stamp and the state’s 2011 Primitive Firearms stamp, respectively.
Klinefelter, who also won the 2009 Archery stamp competition, submitted a painting of four deer against a sunset sky. The Archery stamp is required of anyone hunting deer during the archery (bow hunting) season. It costs $5.10, and each year the Archery stamp generates approximately $140,000 for wildlife conservation programs in Massachusetts.
No stranger to Massachusetts stamp competitions, Klinefelter won this state’s Archery stamp contests in 1994, 2002 and in 2009 (for the 2010 stamp). Jeffrey had been interested in drawing and painting from a very young age and received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Herron School of Art at Indiana University. After graduating from college, Klinefelter helped to run his father’s business for 23 years, during which time he painted only sparingly, during the winter of each year. In 1993, he decided to devote more time to art and entered and won the Indiana Duck stamp contest.
Mike Brown is a first-time entrant in the Massachusetts competitions. His painting of a pair of whitetails in the snow will be reproduced on Massachusetts’ 2011 Primitive Firearms Stamp, which also costs $5.10 and is required for anyone hunting deer during the primitive firearms deer hunting season. The Primitive Arms stamp generates approximately $160,000 annually for wildlife conservation in the Commonwealth.
Mike is a self-taught artist whose ideas for paintings are drawn from memories of days spent afield. His love of wildlife and nature has been part of his artwork for the past three decades. In 2009, at his wife’s urging, he entered his first stamp art contests for the Federal and Nevada Waterfowl Stamps) and found that he “was hooked.” He placed second in the competition for Ducks Unlimited’s 2010 Artists of the Year in both Georgia and Michigan, and he was named DU’s Ohio Sponsor Artist of the Year for 2011. This is Mike’s first victory in a state stamp competition.
The winning art for the state 2011 Waterfowl stamp was selected in an earlier judging. That stamp will depict the image of a Brant, carved by Joseph Lincoln of Hingham, and painted by Randy Julius of East Bridgewater, Massachusetts.
Stamps will be available after December 1 at all hunting and fishing
license sales outlets.
RESULTS OF THE 2010 SUMMER/FALL DUCK BANDING PROGRAM
The Division of Fisheries and Wildlife’s 2010 airboating season
was the best since 1994, with 1,158 birds captured. This was despite
the summer drought that prevented boating on some sites because of lack
of water and limited success on other sites because of low water. Further,
it was the third-largest catch on record. “The program’s goal
is to band 1,000 birds a season via airboat night-lighting, and we have
accomplished this only five times in 38 years, though we came close
with 950 or more birds captured in four other years,” said DFW
Waterfowl Project Leader H Heusmann. “Any season with 800 or more
birds banded is considered a good year.
“What was most remarkable about this season was that the birds
were caught in only 16 nights of airboating, for an average of 72.3
birds per trip,” Heusmann continued. “This capture rate is
much better than the 40-45 birds per trip in a normal year and even
higher than the average of 71.2 birds per trip during the record catch
year of 1985, when 1,496 birds were captured in 21 trips.”
The airboat banding total included 799 wood ducks, 198 mallards, 76 American green winged teal, 21 blue wing teal, 7 black ducks, 2 hooded mergansers, 1 American wigeon, 1 American coot, 6 soras, 2 Virginia rails, and 1 pied billed grebe. An additional 44 previously banded ducks were also caught.
Ducks were banded all across the state, including 4 sites in the Northeast District, 3 sites in the Southeast, 5 sites in the Central District, 2 sites in the Connecticut Valley, and 1 site in the Western District.
In addition, DFW cooperators Ken Bushey and Paul Baj of the Western
Mass. Duck Hunters Association banded 6 wood ducks and 7 mallards via
bait-trapping in Warren. One additional wood duck was banded when Project
Leader Heusmann encountered her still sitting on non-viable eggs in
a nest box on August 3 at the Westborough Wildlife Management Area.
2010 FALL TROUT ALLOCATIONS AND STOCKING
Autumn anglers will be pleased to learn that fall trout stocking is in fill swing. This fall, 67,000 rainbow trout will be allocated among the five Wildlife Management Districts across the state. The rainbow trout will average over 12 inches in length. The fish are produced at DFW hatcheries in Sandwich, Belchertown, and Montague. Water temperatures and flow levels permitting, trout stocking began no earlier than the last full week of September and will be completed by mid-October. List of trout stocked waters. Waterbodies stocked in fall are underlined.
Anglers are advised to contact the District Office in their area to
determine when stocking begins: Northeast (Ayer): (978) 772-2145; Southeast
(Bourne): (508) 759-3406; Central (W. Boylston): (508) 835-3607; Connecticut
Valley (Belchertown): (413) 323-7632; Western (Dalton): (413) 684-1646.
ANTLERLESS DEER PERMITS ON SALE TUESDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2010
Surplus antlerless deer permits for Wildlife Management Zones (WMZ) 10, 11, 13, and 14 will go on sale on a first-come, first-served basis on Tuesday, October 12, at the Westborough Field Headquarters and all MassWildlife District Offices. The exception is the Southeast District, which will be selling permits at the Myles Standish State Forest in Carver during October 12 -15, 2010. The Southeast Office will then move antlerless deer permit sales to their office in Bourne beginning on October 18.
Hunters must provide their original license; copies cannot be accepted. Antlerless deer permits cost $5.00, payable with checks or cash only. Hunters may bring in original licenses and purchase permits for others. Hunters may purchase one permit per zone per day in person.
Online license holders may purchase permits through the MassOutdoors
website and may purchase one permit for Zones 10 and 11 online.
If available, additional permits must then be purchased in person at
District offices or the Westborough Field Headquarters. Online license
holders may purchase multiple permits for Zones 13 and 14 (Martha’s
Vineyard and Nantucket) online.
AUTUMN OUTDOOR SAFETY TIPS
Fall is a wonderful time to be outdoors, with its dazzling colors, crisp air, and wildlife activity galore. Whether your passion is hiking, hunting, fishing, birding, or just taking in the scenery, a few commonsense safety reminders will add to your enjoyment during your days in the field.
- Know your limits. Don't take off on a long hike, hunt, or bike ride if you're not physically ready.
- Always tell someone where you're going and when you expect to return.
- Watch the weather. New England weather is notorious changeable. Be ready with extra clothing.
- Expect the unexpected. Carrying a fanny pack with a few first aid items, matches, water, pocket knife, cell phone, map, compass, whistle, extra food, and flashlight can help prevent small problems from becoming big ones.
- Wear blaze orange for visibility. Whether you're a hunter, hiker, birder, or dog walker in rural areas, it's a good idea to wear a cap or vest of highly visible blaze orange clothing while you're enjoying the great outdoors.
- Respect the water. Canoeists and kayakers are required to wear life jackets from September 15 to May 15, but all water enthusiasts, especially anglers who wade in larger rivers, would be wise to wear flotation devices now that water and air temperatures are cooling.
- Respect other outdoor users. Mountain biking, horseback riding, wildlife watching, hunting, and hiking need not be and are not mutually exclusive activities. Know the hunting seasons and who is likely to be sharing the woods and waters with you. Keep dogs under direct control and respect other outdoor users' rights to enjoy our open spaces.
- Finally, licensed hunters are reminded to take the basics of hunter safety to heart. Treat every firearm as it were loaded, keeping the muzzle pointed in a safe direction at all times. Positively identify your target and what lies beyond it.
For other wildlife and outdoor safety information and tips, visit the DFW Outdoor Safety web page.
DIVISION RECEIVES WETLAND GRANT FOR BURRAGE POND WMA PROJECT
Over the past several years, the Division of Fisheries and Wildlife has been in the process of designing and planning a major habitat restoration project at the Burrage Pond Wildlife Management Area, one of the largest and most-visited WMAs in southeastern Massachusetts. In October 2009, the Division submitted an application for funding under the North American Wetlands Conservation Act Small Grants Program administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. In August 2010, the Division received final approval for the project and was awarded a $75,000 grant towards the work, which, coupled with over $45,000 in additional funds provided by some supporting partners, will help make the project a reality. The grant application was supported by many project partners, including Sweetwater Trust, Ducks Unlimited, Hanson Rod & Gun Club, Plymouth County League of Sportsmen, Marshfield Rod & Gun Club, Upland Sportsman Club, Cedar Gun Club, SS Solutions Charitable Trust, Massachusetts Audubon Society, The Nature Conservancy, Wildlands Trust of Southeastern Massachusetts, New England Consulting Services, and Martha’s Vineyard Rod & Gun Club.
The goal of this project is to restore approximately 245 acres of former cranberry bogs to a mosaic of wetland habitats including open water, deep and shallow emergent marsh, and seasonally-exposed mudflats, thereby expanding available habitat for use by waterfowl, wading birds and other wildlife and plant species at the WMA.
The work will include repairing or replacing water control structures and grading to improve microhabitats within a portion of the former cranberry bog system to restore the Division’s ability to manage water levels, facilitating the restoration of wetland habitats through seasonal hydrological manipulations, wet soils management, invasive/exotic species control and seeding/planting of native vegetation. This effort will also allow for the restoration of natural water flow through adjacent wetlands that have been impacted by the former cranberry operations.
The existence of the former cranberry bogs and water control superstructure
offers a unique and immediate opportunity to restore 245 acres to a
functional mosaic of wetland habitats to benefit local and migratory
wetland-dependent birds, as well as other important wildlife and plant
species. The value of this project is enhanced by the immediate area’s
juxtaposition to over 2,500 acres of permanently protected open space
containing over 400 acres of open water and thousands of acres of forested
and emergent wetland habitat, in addition to the sites long and well-documented
history of importance to migratory birds.
DRIVERS, BRAKE FOR MOOSE AND DEER THIS FALL!
Because fall is the breeding season for both moose and white-tailed deer, the Division of Fisheries and Wildlife reminds motorists to be mindful of increased deer and moose activity, especially during early morning and evening hours. September and October are the peak of the breeding season for Massachusetts' small but expanding moose population in central and western Massachusetts. The breeding season (also known as "the rut") for white-tailed deer closely follows the moose breeding season, running from late October through early December.
Because moose have no natural predators in Massachusetts and are protected by law from hunting, these large members of the deer family are unwary as they move through populated areas. During the mating season this indifference is magnified by the "tunnel-vision" created by the urge to reproduce.
Be aware and heed "Moose and Deer Crossing" signs erected
by highway departments. Motorists are advised to slow down and drive
defensively should a moose or deer be spotted on or by the road. Moose
are less likely to move from the road than deer; braking for moose is
your best policy. Police and other departments involved in moose or
deer/car collisions are reminded that while drivers are allowed by law
to keep white-tailed deer they have hit, only the Division of Fisheries
and Wildlife or the Environmental Police can make decisions regarding
the disposition of moose involved in vehicle collisions. All moose or
deer/vehicle collisions should be reported to the Division of Fisheries
and Wildlife District offices. The Environmental Police Radio Room is
open 24/7 and can be reached at (800) 632-8075.
DEER HUNTING OPPORTUNITY FOR PARAPLEGIC HUNTERS
Every year, the Division of Fisheries and Wildlife offers the opportunity for paraplegic sportsmen and sportswomen to hunt deer in several locations across the state during a special 3-day season. This year's hunt dates are October 28 - October 30, 2010. Locations will include Fort Devens, Quabbin, and two areas in Berkshire County. Licensed paraplegic sportsmen and sportswomen with an interest in participating in this hunt should contact Trina Moruzzi at (508) 389-6318 for more details.
UPCOMING PUBLIC MEETINGS--CALENDAR OF EVENTS
The Fisheries and Wildlife
Board is holding its next meeting on October 5, 2010, at 1:00 P.M.
at the Plainfield Public Safety Building on 38 North Central Street,
off Rte 116 in Plainfield.
The Natural Heritage
and Endangered Species Advisory Committee will meet on October 14,
2010, at the Westborough Field Headquarters from 1:30 P.M.—4:30
P.M.
Both meetings are open to the public and are handicapped accessible.
Calendar of Events
Oct 1-11 – DFW at the Topsfield Fair – Stop by the
booth, talk with staff while you are visiting the fair.
October 6 - Ladies Night Out Fishing Clinic, Billerica -- Adult
women who would like to learn more about fishing are welcome to sign
up for this fishing clinic with Mass Wildlife's Angler
Education Program and the Billerica Parks and Recreation Department.
The clinic will take place at Nuttings Lake from 5:00-7:00 P.M. Pre-registration
is required. Contact Donna at (978) 671-0921.
October 23 -- Forest Stewardship for Outdoorswomen, Petersham --
This workshop, designed for women 18 and older, will be held at the
Harvard University Forest and will include information on options for
managing and caring for forest habitat. For more information, contact
the DFW Becoming
an Outdoorswoman Program at (508) 389-6393.
For a complete listing of wildlife-related events,
see the Events Calendar.
Last Updated: 10/14/2010