Tired of being housebound? Check out these upcoming events.
Many outdoor sports enthusiasts would like to participate in banquets, shows, derbies, etc. again, despite the still existing COVID-19 variants. Athlete clubs in particular want to get their banquets, dinners, and derbies back on track as they rely heavily on the revenue generated from these to run their programs, pay their property taxes, send kids to camp, etc. Yes, people still visit Zoom like meetings like the one below, but they prefer to get out of the house and attend some of them with their friends. Event organizers are happy to accommodate you. Today and in future columns I will list upcoming events. Grab your mask and visit some.
Wildlife tracking presentation
Students learn about animal tracking at a camp in Pleasant Valley, Lenox, in 2019.
This Tuesday from 6-7 p.m., Richard Greene will speak via Zoom at the Berkshire Environmental Action Team’s (BEAT) Pittsfield Green Drinks meeting. He will talk about his wildlife tracking experiences and the many places this passion has taken him.
Greene has studied Track and Sign and Wildlife Biology with Mass Audubon’s Keeping Track, Cybertracker and Field Naturalist Program. These interests took him through New England, Canada and South Africa. Although he spends most of his time at his home in southern Berkshire County these days, he has also given many lectures on the use of trail cameras in wildlife research.
As part of the discussion, he will present a slide show and narration from his collection of winter photos of tracks and signs. And maybe even give us some tips and techniques on noticing and identifying wildlife tracks and signs.
animal tracking map.
Click on the BEAT website to register to attend this event.
Incidentally, Pittsfield Green Drinks is an informal meeting on the third Tuesday of the month. These nights are free and open to anyone with an environmental interest. The drinks aren’t green, but the conversations are.
Green Drinks is an international forum for people working in the environmental field to meet for a drink and snacks in informal sessions. There will be a vibrant mix of people from non-profit organizations, academia, government, business and the general public. Green Drinks is a great opportunity to exchange ideas with friends and make new contacts. These networking events are very simple and unstructured. Due to COVID-19, they will take place virtually until further notice. Registration is required to participate in this event.
The Marlborough Fly Fishing Show is back
The 2022 FlyFishing Show will be held Friday, January 21st through Sunday, January 23rd at the Royal Plaza Trade Center, 181 Boston Post Road West, Marlborough, Mass. instead of. The opening hours are: Friday, 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.; Saturday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Sunday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m
More than 10 demonstrations or audiovisual presentations every hour along with wall-to-wall displays of the latest fly rods, reels, lines, boots, waders, clothing and flies throughout the 3 day Midwinter Run.
In addition to equipment, lodges and exotic destinations, show-goers can view ongoing fly-tying demonstrations, seminars and presentations ranging from fly-fishing for trout in Yellowstone National Park to surf-fishing for striped bass on Martha’s Vineyard.
Seminars include Introduction to Spey Fishing by Tim Flagler, Saltwater Fishing by Jeff Currier, Nymph Fishing Secret Weapons by Jason Randall, Catching Difficult Trout by Ed Engle and more.
Casting demonstrations will be scheduled by Gary Borger, Alan Caolo, Sheila Hassan and others.
Fly tyers featured include Borger, Caolo, Flagler, Engle, Joe Cordiero, Bob Clouser, and others.
The 2022 Fly Fishing Film Festival World Premiere is Friday at 6:30pm. Tickets are $10 in advance or $15 at the box office. Cash only at the box office, ATM available.
Admission to the FlyFishing Show is $15 for one day, $25 for two days and $35 for three days. Children under 5 are free, as are Boy Scouts and Girl Guides under 16 in uniform. Children under 12 pay $5. Active military with ID is $10.
For a complete listing of fly fishing films, classes, seminars, grand prizes, demonstrations and more, visit www.flyfishingshow.com/marlborough-ma/ or call 814-443-3638.
Whitetails Unlimited Banquet
Whitetails Unlimited (WTU) is hosting a banquet on Saturday, January 29th at the Knox Trail Inn, Rte. 23, in East Otis, Massachusetts. Tickets are $50 for a single and $30 for a spouse, with ticket orders closing on January 20th. There will be games and raffles.
Social hour starts at 12pm and dinner starts at 1:30pm.
Impressive! There will be some great prizes, too many to list here. The best way to check them out is online at whitetailsunlimited.com. Contact Bill Bailey at 413-244-2304 for tickets. First come first serve. Tickets are not sold at the box office.
The purpose of WTU is to raise funds to support educational programs, the improvement and acquisition of wildlife habitats, and the preservation of the sport of shooting and hunting tradition for future generations. To date, over $109.9 million has been spent on program services that enhance and advance its mission.
I can tell you from personal experience that the Knox Trail Chapter has provided many fun and memorable days for many Berkshire County children over the years. Any funds they raise don’t go anywhere else.
Incidentally, depending on ice conditions, Knox Trail WTU has scheduled an ice fishing derby on February 5th at Laurel Lake. For more information such as start and weigh-in times, entrance fees etc. please contact Bill on the phone number above.
Swapping fishing and hunting
The Cheshire Rod & Gun Club (CR&G) will hold its second annual Fishing and Hunting Exchange Meeting on Saturday 5th February at its clubhouse at 310 Curran Road, Cheshire. The opening hours are from 8.00 a.m. to 1.00 p.m. Open to the public, admission is $3 for adults and children under 12 are free.
It is an opportunity to buy, sell or trade new and used fishing and hunting equipment. No weapons, ammunition, household items; Unsold items must be removed.
I’m mentioning this event a bit early as it takes time to buy table space. Table space is still available for $30, which includes admission for one person. To reserve a table, contact Jeff Kruszyna at 413-743-4168.
Together with the Cheshire Rod & Gun Club they and the Adams Outdoor For Youth organization have scheduled an Ice Fishing Derby on 1st and 2nd Hoosac Lakes in Cheshire for Sunday 20th February. It runs from sunrise to 4pm with weigh-ins at Farnams Causeway. The ticket holder with the heaviest fish wins an Eskimo Quickfish 3 Ice Shelter and an 8-inch K-Drill Auger.
Prizes and refreshments will be presented at 5pm at the Cheshire R&G Club House. Children 14 and under free with adult ticket holder ($10 donation). If canceled it will only be due to lack of ice.
Important note for deer hunters
MassWildlife recently issued the following announcement. If you were lucky enough to get a deer on December 30th or 31st, it may apply to you: “MassWildlife is aware of a technical issue that was preventing hunters from getting deer online at the end of the 2021 Primitive Firearms Season Report. If you are on 30.12. or 31.12. If you have caught a deer and were unable to report online through the MassFishHunt system, we still need to collect your catch report. Gathering this information is important to the management of deer populations across the state.”
To submit this information, you can either: Try using the MassFishHunt form online to enter your harvest report, or call 508-389-6300 during regular business hours and a representative will take your information over the phone. If you receive a voicemail please leave your full name, customer number and a phone number so they can call you back.
If you have already personally reported your crop to a control station or contacted them about this issue, no further action is required.
MassWildlife apologizes for the inconvenience and thanks you for your cooperation. They hope you all had a safe and prosperous hunting season.
Hi! If any of you have ever experienced a “transition” at work, you know what MassWildlife is going through right now. Be patient my friends, they will work it out.
Take care!