McClory: It’s never too early to think about hunting

When I walked to the curb recently to pick up the newspaper, the advertising section scattered all over my driveway. As I patiently picked up each ad I couldn’t believe what I saw. Summer just got into full swing and we are already being bombarded with back to school sales.Now if that’s the case, I guess I should start preparing for the upcoming fall hunting season. First, if you haven’t sent in your antlerless permit for Massachusetts, you’re too late but you still have time if you are planning on hunting in Maine because you can apply online until 11:59 p.m. Aug. 15.Did you apply for a Massachusetts antlerless deer permit by the July 16 deadline? If you did, here is important information you will need to know. You must now return to the MassFishHunt licensing system to try to win your antlerless deer permit.With the new system, permits will be based on a computer-generated random number that is given to each customer when they return to play.This random number is then compared to the chance of winning a permit in that zone and the computer determines if the customer has won a permit or not.This is not a first-come first-served system. The odds of winning a permit during the Instant Award Period are the same whether a customer logs into the MassFishHunt system in August, November, or anytime during the Instant Award Period.The early Canada goose hunting season dates are Sept. 4-25, with hunters allowed a bag limit of seven birds per day. All other migratory bird season dates and bag limits will be set by the Fisheries and Wildlife Board immediately following an informational hearing on Aug. 30 at 3 p.m. to be held at the UMass Cranberry Experiment Station in East Wareham.Waterfowlers are also reminded that both state and federal waterfowl stamps are required for hunting ducks and geese.If you do hunt migratory birds like woodcock, snipe, ducks, and geese you must register with the Harvest Information Program (HIP) by taking a HIP survey. The system has changed and is new this year; HIP surveys can only be completed through the new MassFishHunt system. The HIP survey is no longer available by telephone and HIP numbers are no longer issued.Non-resident hunters are reminded they must register for the Massachusetts HIP system in order to hunt migratory game birds in Massachusetts. The Massachusetts HIP registration is valid for the calendar year only.The purpose of HIP is to gather data from migratory game bird hunters for harvest surveys. The survey information assists state and federal biologists in making decisions on setting sustainable bag limits for future hunting seasons. Hunters obtaining a state waterfowl stamp automatically complete the HIP survey during the stamp purchase process.Waterfowl hunters who purchased a state waterfowl stamp to hunt in January and February 2012 are already registered for the entire calendar year.The Quabbin Controlled Deer Hunt will occur during the statewide deer shotgun season in four areas of the Quabbin Reservation: It will take place in Pelham and Hardwick on November 29-30, and Prescott and New Salem on Dec. 6-7.Approximately 1,000 permits will be drawn based on hunters’ license numbers on Sept. 5.Winning numbers will be posted on the website, and successful applicants will receive written notification from the DCR by early October.Applications for the 2012 Quabbin Controlled Deer Hunt are available on the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) web page at www.mass.gov/dcr/watersupply/watershed/hunt.htm. DCR Water Supply Division staff remind prospective applicants that regardless of the type of firearm used, all applicants must have a valid MA gun license to be eligible to apply for this hunting opportunity.To qualify for the permit selection process, all applications must be postmarked by August 15 or hand-delivered to the Quabbin Visitor’s Center by 4 p.m. on that date.Hunters may obtain hard copy applications at DCR administrative and field offices at the Quabbin and Wachus