Call to Order: President Mark Jester called the Meeting to order at 7:05PM 13 clubs and/or organizations were represented. (21 people attended)

Secretary’s Report: The minutes from the January 7 meeting which had been previously E-mailed, were unanimously approved.

Treasurer’s Report: The Treasurer’s Report was presented and unanimously approved.

DFW Western District January, 2010 Report - Andrew Madden reported the following:
• Sportfishing Award Winners – The 2009 Gold Pin winners and angler of the year have been announced and are posted at www.masswildlife.org. Many Berkshire county waters produced award winning fish including the following.
Adult - Northern Pike - 22lb 11oz - Onota Lake - Bryan Kopala
Bullhead - 2lb 4oz - Cheshire Lake - Michael Houghtlin
Junior- Northern Pike - 19lb 11oz - Housatonic River - Jake Burke
Salmon (broodstock) - 13lb 7oz - Onota Lake - Jacob LaDouceur
Trout, Brown – 5lb 6oz - Hoosic River - Joshua Sworzen,
• Angler of the Year - Roy Leyva – 14 Award winning fish in 2009. Roy is a 3 time winner of the annual award.

• Fall Turkey Harvest--Final figures for the fall 2009 turkey season have been compiled by Turkey Project Leader David Scarpitti. Hunters harvested 58 turkeys statewide during the 6-day season that occurred from October 26 - October 31, 2009. The total included 28 toms (males) and 30 hens (females). The 2009 fall harvest by county is as follows: Berkshire – 8, Franklin – 13, Hampden – 4, Hampshire – 14, Middlesex – 1, Norfolk – 1, and Worcester – 1. Scarpitti noted, “The 2009 fall turkey harvest was likely influenced by poor hatching conditions created by heavy spring and early summer rains. This was also noted throughout the summer when poult production was lower than normal.”

• 2009 Bear Harvest -- During the September and November bear seasons, licensed hunters took a record total of 168 black bears, breaking the 2003 record of 153 bears. During the 17-day September season 140 bears were taken, and a record November black bear harvest of 28 more taken during the 18-day season. Last year, the total number of bears taken was 100. The breakdown of figures by county is as follows: 60 bears taken in Berkshire County, 42 in Franklin, 27 in Hampden, 35 in Hampshire, 1 in Middlesex County, and 3 in Worcester County. The largest field-dressed bear to be checked in weighed 357 pounds and was taken in Blandford with a rifle.

• 2009 Preliminary Deer Season Results--A preliminary total of 10,121 deer were taken during the 2009 deer hunting seasons. Some check stations results have yet to be compiled, and the total number of deer taken will likely increase as more data are collected. Paraplegic hunters took 4 deer during the three-day hunt. For the 2009 archery deer season, a preliminary total of 3,243 deer were checked in at official deer check stations. The Western District office tallied 340 deer while Connecticut Valley District office reported 445. Central District stations checked 597 deer checked, Northeast District 892, and Southeast District checked 969.

Preliminary figures for deer checked in for the 2009 statewide shotgun season totaled 4,869. Deer checked by District were: Western District 637; Connecticut Valley District 770; Central District 1,070; Northeast District 812 and Southeast District with 1,580. In addition to the above total, 200 deer were taken during the controlled hunt at the Quabbin Reservation.

Deer checked in during the 2009 muzzleloader season was a preliminary total of 2,005. By district, the numbers of deer checked in are as follows: Western District 287; Connecticut Valley District 315; Central District 440; Northeast District 400 and Southeast District with 563. In 2008, the final muzzleloader total was 1,895. Final numbers will not be available until later in the year after all data has been analyzed.

• DCR Forest Forums--As part of its Forest Futures Visioning Process, the Department of Conservation and Recreation is holding five public forums this month to discuss draft recommendations on forest stewardship. Interested citizens are encouraged to attend and provide input on the management of state forests. Forums will be held in Westborough (Feb 4), North Adams and Pittsfield (Feb 6), Amherst (Feb 9), and Taunton (Feb 11). For details, go to: www.mass.gov/dcr/news/publicmeetings/forestryfvp.htm.

DFW Q&A
• Statewide bobcat quota still exists. So far 34 cats harvested statewide. The new harvest reg’s have to be signed off by the Secretary of State before implementing changes to regulations.
• DFW budget is stable compared to what it was last year
• DFW will man a booth at the Springfield Sportsmen’s Show
• Bats – Andrew confirmed that there is no survival of the bats in caves checked, ie 100% mortality. The disease has spread to VA now and headed toward Kentucky
• Coyotes – Andrew stated that doe permits are the controlling factor in deer populations, not coyotes. Zones (like Zone 2) are based on productivity and habitat and you will never get Zone 2 up to high densities of deer by controlling doe permits. In Zone 1 or 3 for example, 70% of deer harvest is 1 ½ year old deer and that is remaining constant, indicating that all of the fawn are not being killed by coyotes.
• Mark Jester has made arrangements to get people from DFW (fur biologist and others) to come out to the Berkshires and speak to us on this subject at a County League meeting later on in the year.

Fish & Wildlife Board Report – Chairman George (Gige) Darey commented on the following:
• Tom O’Shea and deer biologists will come out here sometime in the spring
• Discussed how the Zebra Mussel task force got started. He feels the issue will not be over with the Task Force Report.
• Governor’s budget – Although many agencies took cuts, DFW is pretty much unchanged. Level funded but 20% down from 2008. The division is down 5 positions. Just filled the Chief of Land position filled.

GOAL
• Mark Jester has spoken with Jim Wallace, Executive Director of Goal about the Gun Reform Bill H2259 and he said that the first reading was well received. Jim is encouraged and asked that sportsmen continue contacting their legislators requesting their support.
• Goal annual meeting will be Feb 20 at the Storrowtown Tavern during the Springfield Sports Show at 8:30.am.
• Working on the windmill siting issue to protect the crucial habitat (they should not be allowed to bypass 100 years of environmental protection)

Mass Sportsmen’s Council
• No monthly report, they are meeting on the upcoming Saturday. Charlie Baker (candidate for governor) will be there.
• Clem Caryofiles will get some of their gun raffle tickets for local sportsmen
• MSC’s banquet is scheduled for April 10.

Old Business
• Zebra mussels – Mark reported that the task force met for the final time. The Lake Assn. groups are pushing hard for lake draw downs, soft closings, higher fines, limited use, monitors have to be on site or close ramps, mandatory boat washings, etc. He spoke highly of Mark Tisa, Jack Shepard and others. The new regulations will be primarily for Berkshire lakes. Lake Assn’s are blaming the fishermen for the ZM problem. They want the State to curtail stocking of Laurel Lake because they are attracting the fishermen. There were extensive discussions regarding the lake draw downs and the effects on the various watershed flora and fauna.
• There was a reminder for clubs to pay their annual dues so the League can pay the Mass Sportsmen’s Council as well.
• The 2nd annual One-Shot Turkey Hunt will take place again this year; the price will be dropped to $20 with the 100 % of the net proceeds to go to the MJCC again this year. It will run the whole turkey season with a party afterwards. Flyer will come out next month.
• The Conte Dinner – It will be held on April 24 at the Cheshire R&G to showcase their new club house. Award candidates are needed. Mark Jester is working on caterer, need donations of prizes.
• Still looking for groups for the Youth Outreach Program, scheduled for Saturday June 5 at Reynolds Pond in Cheshire.
• Nothing new on llama issue. If unused, the reward money will be retained for future violations and or for educational programs.

New Business
• Mark reported that if a club/organization uses a state ramp for location of an ice fishing derbies, and ATVs, sleds, other vehicles will be on the ramp, then the organization taking out the ice fishing permit is responsible for having an EPO present at the ramp and the cost to be borne by the club/organizations. Otherwise they have to find a spot at a private location.
• It was unanimously voted to donate $250 to the Berkshire Natural Resources Council.
• Mark and Andrew Madden gave an update on the recent CCC meeting regarding the Housatonic River PCB clean-up.
• Most local bass fishing clubs have pretty much ceased. They formed a new Berkshire Bass Fishing League and are asking to become members of the BCLS. They donated $50 for League membership and another $100 for the Youth Outreach Fishing Derby. More monies coming. Myron Sayers and Dan Miraglia will be its delegates.
• Wayne McClain advised sportsmen to attend the DCR Forest Management meetings scheduled for North Adams and Pittsfield next Saturday. They should make their feelings known regarding tree cuttings and other management issues. He referred to and distributed a letter received from the MA Forest Landowner’s Assn. stating that our dollars which are supposed to be used for outdoor sports may be shifted into DCR’s Forest Management Plan and may eventually shut us down. We will be losing more habitat, wildlife and young sportsmen. Gige Darey, Bob McCarthy and others also urged sportsmen to attend and make their feelings known.

It was recommended that the County League take a position on this and send a letter to the Secretary of Environmental Affairs and the Natural Heritage and Endangered Species people. Mark Jester and Wayne McClain agreed to work on this letter for the Council. The individual sportsmen’s clubs were also urged also send in letters. People were wondering out loud where the Mass Sportsmen’s Council stands on this…..they have been silent.
• There is a bill being introduced, S2251, Act to Regulate the use of off highway vehicles. It will give enforcement officers the tools that they need to stop illegal driving on public and private lands. If this is something of interest to you, check it out.

For the Good of the Clubs
• Adams Outdoor for Youth is having its annual raffle, $5 apiece
• Lee Sportsmen Association is having a gun raffle $5 apiece, 3 for $10s
• Trout Unlimited is having Denis Reagan (HVA) and Susan Svirsky (EPA) as its guest speaker on the evening of Feb 25 at the Bass Water Grill . They will speak on dam removals and PCB clean-up issues on the Housatonic River. Free and open to the public.
• Lenox Sportsmen Club is having a Valentine’s Day party/dance on Saturday, Feb 13; an ice fishing derby on Feb 14 at Stockbridge Bowl (hopefully), and its annual rabbit hunt on Feb 15, entrance fee $10.

Adjournment – The meeting adjourned at 8:30 PM.

Next meeting is scheduled for the Lee Sportsmen’s Association on March 4 at 7:00 PM. It will be held in the skeet house, behind the main facility.

Respectfully submitted – Gene Chague, BCLS Secretary