March 2019
2019 fishing and hunting season summary
March 2: Growing Up WILD: Exploring Nature with Young Children, Bedford – GUW is an early childhood education activity guide that builds on children’s sense of wonder about nature and invites them to explore wildlife and the world around them. Through a wide range of activities and experiences, it provides a foundation for developing positive impressions about nature while also building lifelong social and cognitive skills. Workshop participants will receive a copy of the guide and a certificate of completion. Click here to learn about this workshop. Register online at https://apm.activecommunities.com/bedfordma. Registration deadline is February 15.
March 5 & 7: Beginner Fly Tying Class, Beverly – Learn the basic skills of tying your own flies during this free, hands-on, two-session course offered at Endicott College in Beverly, (376 Hale Street, Beverly), 6–8 p.m. All tools and tying materials provided. *Open to the public, for beginning fly tiers only, minimum age is 15. Pre-registration is mandatory. To register or for more information, please contact Jim Lagacy at (508) 389-6309 or jim.lagacy@mass.gov.
March 12 & 14: Beginner Fly Tying Class, Westborough – Learn the basic skills of tying your own flies during this free, hands-on, two-session course offered at the MassWildlife Field Headquarters (1 Rabbit Hill Road, Westborough), 7–9 p.m. All tools and tying materials provided. *Open to the public, for beginning fly tiers only, minimum age is 15. Pre-registration is mandatory. To register or for more information, please contact Jim Lagacy at (508) 389-6309 or jim.lagacy@mass.gov.
March 13–17: Boston Flower & Garden Show, Boston – Stop by MassWildlife's display at the Boston Flower Show to learn about the wildlife you might encounter in your backyard or garden! A display of furs from common Massachusetts wildlife will be on display to see and touch. Staff will be available to answer all of your fish, wildlife, and outdoor recreation questions. Click here for Boston Flower & Garden Show details.
March 14: Fisheries and Wildlife Board Meeting, Westborough – The March meeting of the Fisheries and Wildlife Board will be held on Thursday, March 14 at 10 a.m. at the MassWildlife Field Headquarters (1 Rabbit Hill Road, MA). If you have a disability or medical condition and would like to request special accommodations, please contact Susan Sacco at (508) 389-6342. Anyone wishing to be placed on the agenda to speak must notify the Board 2 weeks prior to the Board meeting; for more detailed information, contact Susan Sacco at (508) 389-6342.
March 14: Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Advisory Committee Meeting, Westborough – The March meeting of the Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Advisory Committee will be at the MassWildlife Field Headquarters Office located at 1 Rabbit Hill Road, Westborough, MA, 1:30–4:30 p.m., in the Southwest Meeting Room, Room #103.
March 16: The Impacts of the 2011 Tornado to Forests and Birds, Wales – How did the 2011 tornado in the Brimfield area affect the forest and resident songbirds? We know that it created new young forest habitat, an uncommon type of forest on the Massachusetts landscape. Find out how research in and around the Brimfield State Forest by MassWildlife and others is revealing how songbirds are using nesting habitats within: 1) tornado-damaged areas where downed trees were left in place; 2) tornado-damaged areas where salvage logging took place; and 3) undisturbed forest adjacent to the tornado impact area. Andrew Vitz, MassWildlife Ornithologist and John Scanlon MassWildlife Habitat Program Supervisor will be presenting the story of their findings at the Norcross Wildlife Sanctuary, 30 Peck Road in Wales, at 1:30 p.m. The program is free but requires registration. Call Norcross Wildlife Sanctuary at (413) 267-9654.
March 17: Life and Times of Lake Trout at Quabbin Reservoir, Belchertown – Join MassWildlife's Aquatic Biologist, Jason Stolarski who will share the history and current status of Lake Trout in the Quabbin Reservoir. Find out how fisheries biologists have studied these fish and the findings of the decades-long lake trout monitoring program on the Reservoir. This free program beginning at 2 p.m. is part of a series of presentations at the DCR Quabbin Visitor's Center off 485 Ware Road in Belchertown. For more information call (413) 323-7221 or visit the DCR Quabbin Reservoir webpage.
March 19 & 21: Advanced Fly Tying Class, Westborough – Learn new fly tying skills during this free, hands-on, two-session course offered at the MassWildlife Field Headquarters (1 Rabbit Hill Road, Westborough), 7–9 p.m. All tools and tying materials provided. This event is co-sponsored by the Charlton Conservation Department. *Open to the public, for intermediate to advanced fly tiers only, minimum age is 15. Pre-registration is mandatory. To register or for more information, please contact Jim Lagacy at (508) 389-6309 or jim.lagacy@mass.gov.
March 30: Growing Up WILD: Exploring Nature with Young Children, Norwell – GUW is an early childhood education activity guide that builds on children’s sense of wonder about nature and invites them to explore wildlife and the world around them. Through a wide range of activities and experiences, it provides a foundation for developing positive impressions about nature while also building lifelong social and cognitive skills. Workshop participants will receive a copy of the guide and a certificate of completion. Click here to learn about this workshop. To register contact Diane Thureson at dthureson@ssymca.org. Registration deadline is March 16.
April 2019
April 4: Coyote Listening Session, West Barnstable – The Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife (MassWildlife) is holding a public listening session on coyote population management, coyote hunting, and coyote hunting contests. The session will include a short presentation by MassWildlife staff, followed by an opportunity for attendees to comment and ask questions. The meeting will be held on Thursday, April 4, 6–8 p.m., at Cape Cod Community College, 2240 Iyannough Road, West Barnstable, in Lecture Hall A in the Science Building (Building 6). Click here for a map of the campus.
April 27: Project WILD and Aquatic WILD Professional Development Workshop for Educators of Students in Grades K–12, Sudbury – Don’t miss this exciting opportunity to receive training in this award winning, interdisciplinary nationally recognized program! It is one of the most widely-used conservation and environmental education programs among educators of students in kindergarten through high school. The program emphasizes terrestrial and aquatic wildlife because of their intrinsic, ecological value, as well as their role in teaching how ecosystems function. Through the use of balanced curriculum materials and professional training workshops, Project WILD accomplishes its goal of developing awareness, knowledge, skills and commitment. Workshop participants will receive a copy of the newly revised guides and a certificate of completion! This hands-on workshop has applications for school teachers, scout leaders, camp counselors, nature center staff, home educators, after care teachers, etc. Click here to learn about this workshop. To register contact Pam Landry of MassWildlife at pam.landry@mass.gov. Registration deadline is April 12.
May 2019
May 3: Managing Montague Plains for Whip-poor-wills and Woodcocks, Montague – Join MassWildlife Habitat Biologist Brian Hawthorne at the Montague Plains Wildlife Management Area from 6:30–8:45 p.m. to find out how fire and timber harvesting are used as part of a sustainable habitat management for uncommon and rare wildlife. At sunset, you will listen to the chorus of whip-poor-wills and woodcocks. This program is sponsored by MassAudubon and requires registration. More details at https://www.massaudubon.org/get-outdoors/wildlife-sanctuaries/arcadia.
June 2019
June 12: Family Fishing Clinic, Holden – This is a family friendly, learn to fish clinic at Trout Brook Conservation Area (354 Manning St), 6:30–8 p.m. This event is in cooperation with the Nashua River Watershed Association. *Open to the public. Pre-registration is required. To register or for more information, contact Kathryn Nelson of the Nashua River Watershed Association at kathrynn@nashuariverwatershed.org.