MassWildlife Monthly July 2022

News from the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife

Apply for your Antlerless Deer Permit by July 16

If you want to hunt antlerless deer this fall, you need an Antlerless Deer Permit (ADP). If you apply for a permit by the July 16 deadline, you then must check back after August 1 to find out if you have been awarded the ability to purchase the permit. Hunters can apply online using MassFishHunt. You need a valid hunting or sporting license to apply for an ADP. There is no fee to apply; a $10 fee is charged only if you are awarded a permit during the instant award period.

The instant award period begins August 1st at 8 a.m. and ends on December 31. Your odds of being awarded a permit are the same regardless of when you check your permit status. You can check the status of your permit through MassFishHunt.

New this year:

• If you have already applied for an ADP, you can change your application zone any time before the July 16 deadline.
• There is no cap on available ADPs in zones 10, 11, 13, and 14.

 Get details about these changes and learn how to apply for an Antlerless Deer Permit.

Finding summer trout

Summer is here and everyone is trying to beat the heat, and trout are no exception. Trout are coldwater fish and seek out cool, well-oxygenated water which becomes harder to find as summer progresses. That can be good news for anglers, since it can become easier to target trout by fishing in deep (but not too deep) waters. As the water warms, shallower margins of lakes are no longer suitable habitat for trout, so they move deeper toward cooler temperatures in the center of the waterbody. Trout are restricted from going too deep because oxygen becomes limited.

 

These illustrations show how suitable trout habitat becomes more compressed during the summer months. By picturing a pond from above (A), you can see the shallower shoreline areas (shaded in blue) are too warm for trout. When a viewed in profile (B), you can see the narrow band of water that contains enough dissolved oxygen and is cool enough for trout. The exact depth and dimensions of the band of trout-friendly water can vary from pond to pond and during different times of the season.

MassWildlife’s Go Fish MA! map can help you target trout in deep lakes. After launching the map, use the “Digital Depth” and “Trout Stocked” filters to narrow your list of options. Zoom into a waterbody to see the bathymetry (depth) contours. In most cases, you need a boat (a canoe, kayak, or even paddleboard will do) to reach the deep, cool trout-friendly waters. If fishing from shore, you’ll still have plenty of opportunities to catch bass, bluegill, and other warmwater species.

Trout provide a great fishing experience and a fantastic meal. If you catch trout from lakes this summer, we hope you will keep and enjoy them rather than releasing them back into warm waters. While successful catch and release is possible in certain scenarios, like in cold rivers, catching and releasing trout in lakes during the summer can stress trout and result in low survival because it requires moving them between cooler and warmer waters. You can keep up to three trout per day (see fishing regulations).

 

More summer fishing resources

• 10 tips for fishing with kids
  What you need to know to plan a successful family fishing trip.
• Reservoir fishing
  Review maps and special regulations for Quabbin, Wachusett, and Sudbury.
• Campsites for fishing
  Pick a place to camp near a great place to fish.

Massachusetts is bear country

With the increasing number of black bears found in many areas of Massachusetts, it is important for all residents to know how to prevent problems. While people living in western Massachusetts have been coexisting with bears for years, others in the eastern part of the state may be surprised to learn that black bears likely live nearby as well. In the mid-1970s, the Massachusetts black bear population was estimated at under 100 individuals, and today the population is estimated to be over 4,500.

As the bear range expands eastward toward the most densely populated communities of Massachusetts, bear sightings are increasing, and many people are asking themselves, “How dangerous are bears? Is it normal to see a bear in a neighborhood? What do I do if I encounter one?”. Taking a few easy, precautionary measures will help you avoid negative encounters with bears and other wildlife.

Prevent conflicts with bears

At home:
Bears often pass through residential areas where you may not expect to see them. Bears tend to spend more time in neighborhoods if there is food available.

• Remove all potential food for bears including bird feeders, unsecured garbage, and compost piles.
• Clean greasy barbecues after each use.
• Feed pets indoors. The presence of a barking dog can trigger a bear to become aggressive; always keep dogs leashed, check your yard for bears before letting your dog out, and never let dogs chase or interact with bears.

• Special note for backyard chicken owners and beekeepers: Black bears killing chickens and damaging coops is becoming the number one human-bear conflict in Massachusetts. Installing and maintaining electric fencing is the only way to keep bears out of coops and away from hives. Learn how to protect your bees and chickens.

While hiking or camping:
While bears are generally not aggressive and usually wary of people, it’s always important to respect bears and give them plenty of space if you encounter them in the woods.

• Always be aware of your surroundings. Normal trail noise will usually alert bears to your presence and prompt them to move without being noticed.
• Keep pets leashed and supervised.
• While camping, store food and cooking gear in bear-proof containers separate from your sleeping area. (Coolers are not bear-resistant!)

What to do if you see a bear

In town:

• If a bear is sighted in town, leave the animal alone. In most situations, if left alone, the bear will return to the forest on its own.
• Keep dogs under control and clear the area.
• If a bear is in a densely populated area, contact the Environmental Police Radio Room at 1 [phone] or the nearest MassWildlife District Office to report the sighting and get advice.

In the woods or in your backyard:

• Stay calm and back away slowly to give the bear plenty of room.
• Bears will sometimes “bluff charge” when cornered or threatened. Don’t run from a charging bear; speak calmly and slowly back away.

 

The best thing for people to do is educate themselves about bears and take action to prevent conflicts. Dave Wattles, MassWildlife’s Black Bear and Furbearer Biologist said, “As our bear population increases, people need to understand what it means to really co-exist with bears. People need to change their behavior because bears aren’t going to change theirs.” For more tips on living with black bears in Massachusetts, please visit mass.gov/bears

Learn more:

• MassWildlife's website contains a wealth of information about black bears in Massachusetts, including tips for residents, research projects, conservation and management efforts, and more. 

Fostered peregrine falcon chicks find new home

Each spring, MassWildlife biologists monitor peregrine falcon nest sites across the state and band chicks. This nesting season presented a unique challenge when MassWildlife received word that a pair of peregrine falcons was nesting at an active construction site near Boston. After evaluating the scene, MassWildlife determined the safest course of action would be to relocate the four chicks to another nest in a more secure location at UMass Lowell. The UMass Lowell site was selected because of the nest suitability and the experienced nature of the current resident pair of peregrines. This year, the Lowell pair only successfully hatched one chick of their own, which allowed the four additional fostered peregrines to find a new home. MassWildlife is pleased to report that all five chicks have now successfully fledged under the watchful eyes of two experienced parents.   

Because peregrine falcons fiercely protect their young and defend their territory, they consider their nest and what is inside to be theirs. Once placed in the nest, the fostered chicks become part of the clutch for that resident pair. The adults will provide food and security as the chicks collectively grow and begin to fledge. This care continues through fledgling as the young learn how to hunt and other important life skills from the adults. Fostering is an effective technique and is only utilized when there are no other options. 

While the nesting season is not yet over, MassWildlife estimates that there are over 42 territorial pairs of peregrines statewide. Peregrine falcons nest on a wide range of modern structures including buildings, bridges, quarries, and a cell tower. This year, MassWildlife biologists banded over 40 chicks from 14 nests with small metal leg bands inscribed with a unique identification number. Staff use this information to track individual peregrines through observations reported by the public. This helps biologists learn about these protected birds’ movements, life span, breeding activity, and injury recovery. In fact, this year with the help of leg bands MassWildlife biologists were able to determine the origins of the resident female at one of our natural cliff sites in the Berkshires. BM/18 was banded in 2019 on a rooftop nest in Jersey City, New Jersey. She now calls western Massachusetts home! 

Web cameras are another useful tool to monitor peregrine nests for eggs, hatched chicks, and fledged chicks. There are six active nest cameras across the state, including one at UMass Lowell. While many of these nests have chicks that have already fledged this year, it is a fun way to engage with nature.  

Peregrine falcons, the fastest birds on earth, are protected as a species of special concern under the Massachusetts Endangered Species Act. MassWildlife’s work to conserve peregrine falcons would not be possible without the support of the public, dedicated volunteers, and other conservation partners who assist in restoration efforts by monitoring nests and their young. 2022 marks the 36th year of nesting peregrines here in Massachusetts since their reintroduction. Several public banding events occurred this season, which helped to renew community engagement and increase awareness about conservation in the Commonwealth. Click here to support the conservation of rare species like the peregrine falcon in Massachusetts.

Hunters donate equipment to MassWildlife for waterfowl research

On June 22, state officials accepted a special piece of waterfowl research equipment donated by the Massachusetts Chapter of Ducks Unlimited (DU) and Western Mass. Duck Hunters (WMDH). A tub net launcher is a tool used by trained wildlife biologists in the field to capture waterfowl like mallards and black ducks for banding.

“We are extremely grateful for our ongoing partnership with Ducks Unlimited and Western Mass. Duck Hunters,” said Mark S. Tisa, MassWildlife Director. “This equipment donation will make a huge difference in our capacity to band and study ducks, and will be put to use by our biologists right away this summer.”

In the field, biologists bait a small area with corn, wait for the birds to congregate, then use the tub launcher to discharge a net that is capable of capturing many ducks at once. Biologists place a leg band on each bird with a unique ID code and record data like sex, location, and species before releasing them. This information is critical to the conservation and management of waterfowl, as biologists gather data on the movements and survival of these birds across the Atlantic flyway.

“I want to thank the hunters who put in the time and energy to fundraise and provide a piece of equipment the state was in desperate need of,” said Ron Amidon, Department of Fish and Game Commissioner. “Your generous donation will directly support conservation work right here in Massachusetts.”

Securing this piece of research equipment was not an easy task, as tub net launchers are hard to find and must be custom built. Dedicated volunteers from DU and WMDH organized all the fundraising to purchase the equipment and found a company willing to build the custom tool.

“It took many months but I am very proud of our dedicated members who really stepped up to help fund this research,” said John Dow, State Chair for the Massachusetts Chapter of Ducks Unlimited. “We are always looking for opportunities to partner and support local conservation projects.”

“Part of our club’s purpose is to understand waterfowl populations, maintain critical habitat, and advance wildlife education,” said Ed Snyder, longtime member of Western Mass. Duck Hunters. “Our volunteers have been supporting conservation efforts like this for years, such as the installation and maintenance of nesting boxes for wood ducks.”  

Hunters play a critical role in funding and supporting wildlife conservation. For example, Ducks Unlimited has been a key partner to MassWildlife in many recent conservation projects, including the restoration of wetland habitat at Burrage Pond Wildlife Management Area in Hanson and the improvement of public access sites at Three Mile Pond Wildlife Management Area in Sheffield. All hunters contribute to the funding of wildlife management, as proceeds from hunting licenses, permits, and stamps, as well as a portion of federal excise taxes on hunting equipment, is given to state fish and wildlife agencies for conservation.

Find bigger fish

Are you looking for information on where to go to catch more trophy-sized fish? Have you ever wondered if a fish you caught has broken a record? Do you appreciate recognition after a great accomplishment?  

Since the early 1960s, MassWildlife’s Freshwater Sportfishing Awards Program has helped foster the joy of angling by recognizing people who catch exceptional freshwater fish. You can win awards for more than 20 different species.  

Summer is a great season to catch fish that thrive in warmer water such as largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, sunfish, crappie, chain pickerel, and yellow perch. If you catch a fish that meets minimum length or weight requirements, you can win a bronze pin. If your fish is the largest or longest in its category, you can win a gold pin and a plaque. For catch-and-release, just snap a picture of your catch against a measuring device, such as a common tape measure.  For catch-and-keep, just bring your fish to a certified weigh station. Over the past six months of the 2022 license year, we have already issued more than 1,000 pins to anglers across Massachusetts! 

To find more big fish and catch locations, check out our 2022 leaderboard or best bets by species. Choose between adult catch-and-release, adult catch-and-keep, or youth catch-and-keep categories. Review the full catch-and-release rules or full catch-and-keep rules, and take a look at some of your current competition below!  

Adult Catch-and-Release Leaderboard Highlights  

• Chain Pickerel: 28”, Billington Sea, Plymouth  

• Yellow Perch: 16”, Denison Lake, Winchendon 

• Sunfish: 11.5”, Springfield Reservoir, Ludlow  

Adult Catch-and-Keep Leaderboard Highlights  

• ​Largemouth Bass: 8lb 10oz , Singletary Pond, Sutton 

• Smallmouth Bass: 4lb 15oz , Quabbin Reservoir, Belchertown 

• Crappie: 2lb 12oz, Wachusett Reservoir, West Boylston 

Youth Catch-and-Keep Leaderboard Highlights 

• Brown Trout: 3lb 2oz, Stockbridge Bowl, Stockbridge  

• Shad: 3lb 7oz, Merrimack River, Lawrence 

• Walleye: 5lb, Connecticut River, Chicopee 

Gold pins are awarded after each license year closes.  Visit our gold pin page to see the winners from 2021.