McClory: Pheasant hunting can be pleasant

Sportsmen’s clubs across the state that have an interest in passing on the traditions of hunting and the great outdoors to young people might want to look to MassWildlife. They have designed a program specifically for sportsmen’s clubs and young people. The Massachusetts Young Adult Pheasant Hunt Program was developed by MassWildlife to provide an opportunity for 12-17-year-old Hunter Education graduates to practice firearms safety, develop shooting skills, and participate in a special pheasant hunt in a friendly environment with a safe, experienced hunter. The program is run by participating local sportsmen’s clubs. Hunter safety is emphasized in all aspects of the program to help build the confidence of young adult hunters so they can feel comfortable hunting alone or with others in the field. This program is more than just a day of pheasant hunting in the field. It is a comprehensive three-part outdoor recreation program, consisting of: Part One – Shooting Instruction and Practice. One of the most important elements for becoming a safe and ethical hunter is developing and practicing shooting skills. Participants will practice the fundamentals of shotgun shooting and firearms safety by receiving hands-on instruction at the club range prior to the hunt. Part Two – Pre-hunt Workshop. The participants will have the opportunity to practice all aspects of a safe hunt during a pre-hunt workshop held just prior to the actual pheasant hunt. This will be a hands-on “in the field” session that will include safety exercises such as hunting in a group, zones of fire, crossing safely over obstacles, safely loading and unloading firearms in the field, proper field carries, handling and operating firearms safely, shoot/don’t shoot scenarios and hunter ethics. In addition, the pre-hunt workshop will cover the basics on firearms for upland hunting, ammunition, gear, clothing, and other equipment typically used in upland hunting. Part Three – Young Adult Pheasant Hunt. The program culminates with a day in the field pheasant hunting in a relaxed and friendly environment under the watchful eye of a safe, responsible, experienced hunter. It is an opportunity to experience the enjoyment and excitement of watching a dog working a bird; the thrill of seeing a pheasant flush from cover and taking the shot, and then cleaning and cooking the day’s harvest. Locally, Essex County League in Danvers participates in this program; contact Mike Robinson at 508-527-9902 for additional information.With summer weather warming up lakes and ponds, fish kills may be discovered in area water bodies. The sight of dead and dying fish along the shores of a favorite pond can be distressing and trigger concerns about pollution. Fish do act as the “canary in the coalmine”, so it’s natural to think a fish kill was the result of pollution. In fact, the opposite is likely true; the vast majority of fish kills reported are natural events.Natural fish kills are generally the result of low oxygen levels, fish diseases or spawning stress. Dissolved oxygen depletion is one of the most common causes of natural fish kills. As pond temperature increases, water holds less oxygen. During hot summer weather, oxygen levels in shallow, weedy ponds can further decline as plants consume oxygen at night. This results in low early morning oxygen levels that can become critical if oxygen levels fall below the requirement for fish survival. In addition to reduced oxygen levels, late spring and early summer is when most warmwater fish species, such as sunfish (bluegill, pumpkinseed, largemouth bass) begin to spawn. At this time, large numbers of these species crowd into the shallow waters along the shore vying for the best spawning sites. These densely crowded areas become susceptible to disease outbreaks, especially as water temperatures increase. The result is an unavoidable, natural fish kill.On the salt water front, flounder are hitting sea worms in Boston Harbor. For stripers try trolling