McClory: There’s still snow in western, northern N.E.

A week ago last Saturday, we took our Special Olympics Alpine ski team, the Nashoba Shooting Stars, to Blandford Ski Area out in the Berkshires to race in a qualifying event for Special Olympics. In order to compete in the state games in March, all athletes must race in an approved assessment qualifier. Now I know you’re looking out your window, scratching your head wondering how we could ski because there is virtually no snow around here, but this is not the case at most of the ski mountains up north and out in the western parts of Massachusetts. Ski areas are completely covered with snow and fully operational, with all trails open, and the skiing is excellent. Two local athletes, Gabriella Foley from Swampscott and Ryan Horrigan from Marblehead, successfully navigated the NASTAR race course to qualify for the state games. Congratulations to Gabriella, Ryan, and the rest of the Nashoba Shooting Stars!Are you a fly fisherman that makes your own flies? Have you also made your own fly rod? Have you ever considered making your own fly reel? Sounds interesting, doesn’t it? An opportunity to make your own fly reel and help New Hampshire’s Trout in the Classroom program is returning Saturday, Feb. 11, at the Shaker Road School in Concord. The second annual Reelsmithing Workshop, led by Michael Hackney of the Eclectic Angler, is being hosted by the Basil Woods Jr. Chapter and the New Hampshire Trout Unlimited Council. The workshop starts at 9 a.m. and runs to early afternoon. The fee for the reel-making workshop is $130, with $50 of that going to support New Hampshire’s Trout in the Classroom projects. The program is limited to 25 participants. Pre-registration is required and can be done online at the Eclectic Angler’s website: http://www.eclecticangler.com/NH-TU-Workshop-2012. This year’s participants will build one of Hackney’s newest, and very sharp-looking reels. The 3-inch diameter reel will feature a click drag system, hold 90 feet of 4-weight fly line, and handle 25 yards of backing. Participants will receive a “Ported Aluminum Reel” kit and walk out with a functioning reel. You don’t need to have any metalworking experience to take the workshop ? just a desire to make a fly reel and willingness to use a little elbow grease and get a little dirty. All necessary tools are provided. Everyone at last year’s event completed their reel at the workshop ? but some did the final polishing and personal touches at home.Preliminary information on the Massachusetts archery and shotgun deer season results is being compiled. For the 2011 archery deer season, a preliminary statewide total of 3,689 deer were checked in at official deer check stations. The Western District office tallied 397 deer while the Connecticut Valley District office reported 430. Central District stations checked 657 deer; Northeast District, 995; and Southeast District checked 1,210 deer. During the statewide shotgun season, licensed deer hunters checked in 5,343 deer. The breakdown of deer checked by District check stations was: Western District, 688; Connecticut Valley District, 725; Central District, 1,038; Northeast District, 910; and Southeast District, 1,982. In addition to the shotgun season total above, the DCR Quabbin Reservation Hunt yielded 73 deer. All reported figures are preliminary; the final harvest numbers will not be available until spring.Attention potential Eagle Scouts looking for a project! There is a wildlife housing need in Massachusetts that conservationists of all kinds can support! The Division of Fisheries and Wildlife is welcoming donations of constructed wood duck boxes or lumber for building boxes. Wood ducks are one of the few kinds of waterfowl that nest in cavities or holes in trees. There are not enough natural cavities available in the state for nesting. While wood ducks are wintering in warm, southern climes, Division of Fisheries and Wildlife (DFW) biologists and technicians will soon be braving chilly winter temperatures on icy