Conference vmsnet::hunting$note:hunting

Why is the Quabbin singled out that way?

    
    	This is a special (and controversial) hunt designed to thin out
    	an over-sized herd. There are people attempting to stop it. I
    	read an article regarding this the otehr day, will bring it in
    	if I can find it.
    
    		Smitty
    

>> Why is the Quabbin singled out that way?

<< FLAME ON! >>
The GD [insert favorite slur here] that run the MDC have made MDC property
NO HUNTING.  The MDC has kept us hunters off of their property (EVEN WHEN
NOT POSTED!) by arresting anybody trespassing - they arrest first and ask
questions later (I think that you get off almost all of the time but who
wants to sit in the clink overnight!).  Now the Quabbin watershed has too
many deer (what is it something like more than 20/sq mile?).  This many
deer is not allowing new forest growth leading to lots of erosion in the
rain water runoff leading to too much algae growing in the Quabbin leading
to poorer quailty of water for Boston.  So now they have to reduce the deer
population around the Quabbin.  The cheapest way to do this is to have a public
hunt.  The $#%&^&*@# jerks at the MDC are charging us $5.00 for the priveledge
of entering into a drawing for their hunt!  I haven't decided whether I will
send them $5.00 to enter their lottery or not (after all, I NEED all the help
deer hunting I can get!).

The bottom line - they're going to charge us sportspeople for helping them
fix their mistake.  Isn't that just like the People's Republic of Massachusetts.

<< flame off >>

Mike (now I feel a little better)

    see also note 610

    
    Note 610.42 sums up everything pretty well. I just got off the phone
    with one of the officers that works at the Quabbin and these details
    add to what Dana has already posted. Each three day hunt will be broken
    up into 30 acre plots which will have hunter/hunters assigned to them.
    I talking with this person he said that the deers average weight on the
    watershed run about 10 pounds less than on the surrounding public game
    lands that are hunted annually. I then said the possibility of a "NEW"
    State record for B&C Buck has a high percentage in the 9 day season and
    he agreed with me. The deadline for applications is 9/30/91 and the
    drawing date is 10/15/91. If your "LUCKY" enough to be drawn a notice
    will come by mail in 2-3 WEEKS. They are expecting to get 20,000
    applications for this hunt. The $5 non-refundable fee is to pay for all
    administration costs, overtime for police, and added costs to cut roads
    into certain areas for access and parking lots. Another address to get
    an application is, send a Self-Addressed envelope to:
    
                       MDC Division of Watershed Management
    
                       P.O. Box  628
    
                       Belchertown, Mass.  01007
    
    They are only sending one per letter, unless you specify up to a
    maximum of 5 with the proper postage to handle the added weight.
    They will also except photo copies of their applications if you already
    know someone who has a blank one.
    
                                                       Good Luck,
    
                                                          Guy
    
    

    
    One last detail I forgot to add, "IF" picked you MUST attend a one
    session on Quabbin Awareness. This is similar to the N.H. Moose hunt
    education. The courses will from what I was told be only offered during
    the week.
    
                                               Guy
    

Well, I broke down last night and wrote a check out for $5.00 payable to
the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and sent in my Quabbin application this
morning.  50 deer per square mile is hard to ignore!

Mike

	This is not an "official" statement, just the opinion of a
	friend at the DFW.

	Approx. 20,000 applications were received for the Quabbin hunt.
	The anti's did a massive campaign to send in applications.  He
	estimates that 2/3 of the applications were filed by anti's.
	The one's picked will buy hunting licenses, go to the orientation
	and proceed to disrupt the hunt any way they can once they have
	been granted access to the Quabbin.  Since there is no hunter
	"harrasment" law in Massachusetts, there is nothing that the
	DFW can do!

	Mike

	

    Re .8 Don't know if you're friend is really that knowledgeable about the
    permits for the Quabbin Hunt.
    
    On the instructions of the application form "Item #4" states that you
    must have a valid 1991 Massachusetts Hunting or Sporting License for
    your application to be considered.
    
    Now if your friend is saying that he knows that the F&W dept is not
    abidding by the application instructions then thats something I'm
    sure a lot of sportsman would like to know about.
    
    The drawing is a week from today (October 15th) and hopefully there
    is no truth to any anti's getting any permits.
    
    George

    hell, if the antis wan't to contribute the license fee, plus the
    five-dollar application fee, to the Dept. of Fisheries and Wildlife, 
    just to disrupt a super-restricted experimental hunt, I say let
    'em. I'll be in the Berkshires, with no morons to bother me. And
    there'll be more trout stocked next spring ;-)
    
    frankly, Quabbin has made their bed, now they're giving out unlimited
    numbers of applications for 900 lousy three-day permits so *we* 
    the hunters might solve their problems. Then they refuse to protect our
    rights from idiots. I say screw 'em. Let the deer multiply until 
    Quabbin officals take a more intelligent approach to herd management 
    than this anti-hunter appeasing super-restricted media event. 
    
    Dana the righteously PO'd advocate of hunter-protection laws ;-)

    
    Dana,
    
    How do you propose they protect hunters rights:
    
    They can't restrict the hunt to hunters, they could restrict it to
    anyone with a license  but this does not stop the anti's
    
    The only thing they could do was to remove anyone who is disturbing the
    hunt and I am not sure how legal this would be without a hunter 
    harassment law.  Besides looking for people disrupting the hunt would
    require the wardens themselves to be in the woods and this would 
    probably disrupt the hunt.
    
    I don't really see a way without the harrassment law. If the anti's
    are willing to meet the requirments of a license and attending the
    class then they also have every right to go in, they don't have the
    right to disrupt your hunt but it is not illegal, yet.
    
    --Bob
    

    Bob, I think we agree on the need for hunter protection laws.
    In this case, simply opening the area to all hunters, coupled
    with hunter-protection laws, would be a more effective method of 
    controlling the deer, plus eliminate the _opportunity_ for
    the antis to harass us. Personally, I'd love it if every hunter who 
    drew a permit simply didn't show up, to protest for just this reason.
    But I doubt it. 

    	How about the state require a *new* applicant for a hunting
    license to have passed a hunter safety course?  It's something like a
    total of 16 hours of instruction.  Possibly we (pro-hunters) might
    get to them during that period or they might *see the light*!
    
    Andy -just-a-thought-
    

    The drawing was suppose to occur on the 15th according to the
    application. Any winners out there? Any idea on how one could
    find out if they got lucky?
    
    Thanks,
    George

    According to the paper this AM winners will be notified within
    a few days. 

    I received my permit to hunt the Quabbin durring segmet #2 
    Dec 5-7 Saturday. You have to reply by Nov 1st to there two
    questions that they ask on the permit,( S.S.# and do you
    have a 4-wheel drive vehicle you can use) so they must
    all be in the mail by now if they are going to make there
    deadline.
    
    Bill
    
                                           

    I was one of the lucky ones. The permit is for segmet 1 Dec. 2-4. I
    hope that this is well run. I have some mixed feelings about what this
    maybe like. Just have to wait and see. I'll keep the results of the
    orientation posted. Anybody else geet lucky?
    
    Steve

    The mailperson dropped the good news off on saturday.
    I was picked for the 3rd segment Dec. 9 - 11.
    Orientation is Nov. 6, cost for a Quabbin doe permit is $5 more.
    
    I've been applying for a doe permit it seems like the last ten years,
    this year my number was picked for zone# 8.
    
    It seems like when luck dumps on you, you get it all at once.
    
    Good luck to all,  Kevin Butler

    I got mine.....Second segment Dec. 5-7. MDC very cooperative also.
    Couldn't make the Nov. 14, orientation class so they rescheduled me to
    the Nov. 6 one. First time the MDC has ever been cooperative
    
    I just hope this isn't going to be a circus with the anti's and every-
    thing else going on.
    

    I attended last nights orientation in Waltham, they said this was the
    first of approximately nine meetings - attendance was about 140 people.
    It was a little late in starting (6:45) and it took them a while to
    hand out paperwork and permits. They wouldn't validate your Quabbin
    permit until the meeting was over, just to make sure you stayed
    until the end.
    They said they received 7600 applications and the odds for being picked
    were one in eight.
    At the very begining they stressed that this controlled hunt was a
    water resource management tool and at all cost we will be in
    Quabbin to protect the water quality - no washing deer out in brooks,
    no gut piles within 100 feet of water, no shooting within sight of
    Quabbin and must use port-a-potties. Also shotgun/slugs only.
    They divided the area to hunt into six zones, everyone was
    assigned a zone and an access point to get into your zone, once inside
    your zone you would be unrestricted as to where you could hunt,
    meaning you didn't have to stay in your zone. They also handed
    out maps of your zone - only.
    Other than being a little slow in the beginning the meeting was
    very informative and long, ended at 9:45.
    Well I'm ready, worst part about it is I have to wait until the
    third segment, Dec 9 - 11.
    
    Kevin

Anyone hear how it's going with the anti-hunters who are filing a suit to try 
and get the Quabbin hunt stopped??

 Heard it briefly on the news the other night but didn't catch all of it.

    	I think the anti-hunting group (CEASE) was supposed to file an
    injunction in court today.  
    
    	Get this!?!  The group claims such a hunt would threaten the eagle
    population.  How?  By injesting the lead bullets from dead deer which
    were not found.
    
    Andy -who-finds-himself-shaking-his-head-more-and-more-these-days-

re -1

Andy,

I think what they are worried about is the noise disrupting the "mating cycle" 
of the eagles. 

I don't know how an occasional shot is going to disrupt them but CEASE probably
thinks ther will be a constant barrage of gun fire, like a war battle. 

Who knows what is going through their little minds.

Cowboy-who-didn't-get-a-permit-for-the-Quabbin

    
    	Is this the mating time for eagles??  

    any news on what was taken yesterday at the quabin hunt, numbers and
    sizes etc...???
    
    Saw a little blip last night on the news about the lead poisoning the 
    eagles and got a good chuckle...  These people have no clue... 
    There was a woman commenting about how there would be a shot "every 
    few seconds/minutes" throughout the day... A Chris Bauer this woman was
    not!! ;^)  Sorry I missed it, these Anti's would have you believe that 
    theres tens of thousands of deer standing side by side at the deli
    waiting for their numbers to come up... and all I saw all day yesterday 
    and this morning was a few fat squirrels and some partridge...
    
    Animal lovers... can't live with em and ya can't shoot em... ;^)
    
    Fra                                        
    

 I heard that there were about 100 deer taken yesterday from ther Quabbin.

    
    	Last nights' Springfield Union paper put the first day kill
    number at 123.  I heard work of mouth that 78 deer were taken
    yesterday in that wonderful weather.  I can't remember the exact
    numbers but I seem to remember that there was about an equal mix
    of males and females taken. 
    	They also reported that there were about 15 protesters there from
    about 5:00 am to 7:00 am.  Guess they had something better to due
    for the remainder of the day.  There were MDC cops in the woods to
    make sure that no hunting took place within eye sight of the waters'
    edge. 
    
    
    	Tom
    
    P.S.  4 protesters' cars were towed.

    First three days results - Monday, 123, Tuesday, 74, Wednesday, 52,
    for a total of 249 deer, well ahead of predictions. 
    
    Alse, record high opening day kill reported all across Mass.
    (Frankly, with the way the wind was blowing where I was, and the lack
    of shooting in the area, I'm surprised.)
    
    Dana

	Along with the 249 deer taken in the Quabbin, I understand one pickup
truck was peppered with buckshot.


						Alan

    
    re .29
    
    What color was the pickup?
    
    ;^)
    
    Kevin

    hmmm. I was under the impression, from some newspaper article, that 
    the Quabbin hunt would be 'slugs only', no buckshot. Maybe from
    across the road?

       There is a report of a hunter that was killed in Barre, any
    one else here about this?????
    
    BJ

    
    
    	Did any of those from this file who hunted the Quabbin this past
    	season have any luck???

    I received a letter from the MDC yesterday - YES -
    asking if I would like to participate in this years hunt.
    Having been successful there last year they gave as to why
    I was picked for this years hunt.
    They will have a lottery again this year for all that want
    to apply, I think the fee will be $5 just to apply again.
    Some of the changes for this year are:
    dates are going to start around the 1st of november and end
    december 5th.
    it will be two day segments instead of three day
    they're going to open Prescott Peninsula as well as Pelham
    they may let you hunt in pairs
    
    That's what I remember off the top of my head,
    bring on November + make that shot count     K. Butler

    
    I just got off the phone to the Quabbin Visitors Center,
    they said there is going to be a controlled deer hunt at
    the Quabbin Reservoir again this year - 1993. When I asked
    for an application they told me to mail a S.A.S.E (#10)
    (self-addressed-stamped-envelope) to
    
    		Quabbin Visitors Center
    		Box 628
    		Belchertown, Ma. 01007
    
    The deadline is suppose to be AUGUST 31, 1993 for applications.
    
    They wouldn't say where the hunt is suppose to take place, or
    when?
    
    Anyone else have any info on this?
    
    kevin

    
    There is an article in today's Worcester Telegram on the Quabbin hunt.
    They are very please with the results showing on the forest growth
    which is attributed to the past years thinning of the deer herd. So
    they plan to expand the area of hunting and increase the number of 
    permits. 

    Both plans are being challenged in court by the anti's. 

    Jim

    I received the application in the mail for the 1993 hunt,
    some of the requirements are:
    1) Hunters must apply in pairs
    2) The application can't be duplicated 
    3) Application must include $10 non-refundable
    4) No applicants name can appear on more than one form
    
    The dates and zones:
    Nov 8-9, 11-12 + 15-16 (2day hunts) Prescott Pen.
    Nov 29-30, Dec 1-2 + 3-4 (2day hunts) Hardwick + New Salem
    Dec 6-7-8 Pelham
    
    They expect 2100 hunters will be selected.
    
    anyone else thinking of applying?
    
    Kevin

    
    I was so disappointed with last years hunt that I plan on spending
    my time scouting/hunting where I normally do. I shot a buck on opening
    day and still had a doe permit for that zone  but decided not to use it so
    I could still hunt the Quab with my dad. It ended up we were
    picked for the last or second to last hunt in Pelham. Not the ideal
    slot, and didn't see a thing. if someone were to get picked for one 
    of the first slots it would be much better. IMO
    
    Walt

I did send in an application. I was one of the lucky
ones that hunted prescotte the first day.

I was a little bummed whn they said that even successful
hunters had to apply :^(

Bob P.

    The Quabbin Permits have been drawn.  My buddy who I applied with
    called up and found out that our number was the last one drawn for
    Prescott Nov, 8,9!  Now we have to find out if they do partial numbers
    like they do on doe permits.
    
    Jeff

i've been trying to call all morning, busy!!!

      I've got some questions on the Quabbin hunt.  We managed to draw a
    permit for Prescott Peninsula on Nov. 8&9.  This is the first hunt
    of the year for Quabbin.  Does anyone know if they will let you 
    scout the area before hand?  I'd hate to go in Monday morning "blind".
    Can you take vehicles into the area?  Any info would be apreciated.
    
    Thanks
     Jeff

    
    I don't know what has changed for this year, or if the Prescott
    Penisula is being treated specially, but, last year you could:
    
    * scout before hand, but they recommended that you not take anything
      that looks like a hunters vehicle due to anti-hunters.
    
    * You could drive down some roads if you had 4wd, I believe they
       would give rides also.
    
    --Bob
    

    
    	The numbers drawn for this years hunt are in the Worcester
    Telegram today, copied without permission....
    
    Hardwick (Nov29-30)-34,54,964,864,064,164,364,664
    	     (Dec1-2)  -38,28,788,188,088,288,588,988
    	     (Dec3-4)  -16,26,176,576,976,476,376
    New Salem (Nov29-30)-71,31,901,001,801,301
    	     (Dec1-2)  -11,41,021
    	     (Dec3-4)  -62,42,102,302,802,602
    Prescott (Nov8-9)  -36,46,66,76,96
    	     (Nov11-12)-56,06,15,05,65,75,025,825,925
    	     (Nov15-16)-95,25,85,45,55,35
    Pelham   (Dec6-8)  -48,18,08,058,358
    
    total of 2,308 hunters selected out of 7,080 applications

                           Results
    
    I spoke to a lady at the Quabbin office today, Notifications are
          beening mail out this week.. WIZzard of SHR.

      We went for our Quabbin Deer Hunt Orientatin session last night.
    I thougt it was pretty well run.  Below are some highlites from the
    session.
    
    - Everyone was issued a antlerless permit at the door.  If you fill it
      it nulifies any other antlerless permit yo might have recieved.
      They encourage you to take does.
    
    - You _must_ check in and out of the area everyday you hunt.  You must
      be out by 4:00 pm!  They said this it to give them time to search for
      lost hunters. You cna enter the area at 5:00am.
    
    -In the Prescott zone you can kill two deer in one day.  However, you
     must check inyour first deer before killing the second.
    
    - The doe to buck ration in the Prescott is 3-4 to 1.  They estimate
      that  there are 30-35 deer per square mile.
    
    - Last year, they killed 34 deer per square mile in the Prescott!
    
    - They talked alot about dealing with protestors.  Basically they
      advised to ignore them.  The state trooper that spoke said that
      they would be more then happy to arrest anyone disturbing the 
      hunt.
    
    - Scouting is not permitted in Prescott.  Normally, this area is 
      strictly off limits to non MDC personel.  We will be the only ones
      in there.
    
    _ On average there will be one hunter for every 30 acres.
    
    - They stressed safety and respect for the area. 
    
    Jeff