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Barnstable County League of Sportsman’s Clubs Notes

25 April 2015

The meeting was held at Brewster Sportsman and Civic on Thursday April 23 2015

There was a quorum – 12 of 16 clubs present. Secretary’s report was accepted as printed.Treasurer’s report was accepted as read by Vice President Ken Teixeira. Two clubs are behind on dues - Highland Fish and Game, and Falmouth Skeet Club. Highland has promised payment but no word from the Falmouth Skeet Club.

Correspondence:. None

Handouts: Black Sea Bass, Fluke and Scup Regulations (not included here because it was sent previously by e-mail.)Draft letter proposing a change to the BCL By-Laws.

Committees:

Mass Wildlife –Jason Zimmer –Grassland Project - Frances A Crane WMA - all trees have been pulled and are being moved to an area for chipping. The ground is being prepared for seeding.. The forest thinning project on the west side of the grassland area (about 80 acres) has finished, and they are starting on the east side.. This project will be completed over the course of the next couple of years and will thin roughly 400 acres both east and west of the grassland. Pavement has been removed from the parking lot near the old airport, and the ground graded and seeded.

Field trials are being held in slightly different areas working around the ongoing project.

Trout stocking – All ponds and streams have been stoked at least once and some places several times. One delegate reported a fishing success at Peters Pond.

Eagles - The Spring eagle survey was conducted but no results are available yet. Poor weather hampered the count.

Youth Turkey Hunt – reminder that youths interested in participating must go through training course with a sponsor club. Two clubs offering it in SE Mass (Carver & Falmouth). Contact Astrid Huseby if interested (508-389-6300).Blue Hill Deer Management - no news.

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Fax: (508) 759-0381Like us on Facebook! www.facebook.com/masswildlife

National Seashore – Craig Thatcher –Was not present.

Jason reported that there had been fewer applicants for turkey permits this year, so many people get the dates that they want.

http://www.nps.gov/caco/parkmgmt/hunting-information.htm

Craig ThatcherNorth District Ranger Cape Cod National Seashore508-487-2100, ext. 0910www.nps.gov/caco

Marine Fisheries – Ross K. Kessler was not present so no report.

Michael S. Bednarski, Ph.D.Stock Assessment Specialistmike.bednarski@state.ma.usMass. Division of Marine Fisheries1213 Purchase St.New Bedford, MA 02740508 990 2860 x 114Ross Kessler ross.kessler@state.ma.us Aquatic Biologist IIFacility: SSO (508)990-2860 x143

Mass State Council of Sportsmen (MSC) – Stan Bazycki and Charlie LewisLegislation - A watch list has been prepared, and distributed to the BCL delegates, One good bill pertains to the use of lights for Coyote hunting. There are several that bear watching. Hearings are in the process of being scheduled.

Raffle tickets - Tickets are $5 each or $10 for a book of 4. Again this year if a club member sells a book his or her club receives $1 reduction in their Barnstable County League dues. There are 17 prizes; first prize is a Benelli SBE II, 28 inch barrel. To get the credit, Raffle Ticket stubs were tobe turned in to Stan Bazycki by the 23 April meeting, but if you call Stan or Charlie, there are still a few days before the Mass State Council needs them.. Unused tickets must be returned to Stan because there is a new law requiring accountability for all raffle tickets, sold or unsold.

Banquet - The MSC Banquet was a good time for all.

MSC has a new web page: http://masportsmen.org/ (Cut and paste, doesn't work as a hyperlink).

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Old Business Rabies –On 4 and 5 May, baits will be distributed by hand in Sandwich, Barnstable, Yarmouth, and Dennis. Any left over will be distributed in Mashpee and maybe Falmouth. Barnstable had two Raccoons with confirmed cases last year, and Falmouth had two last year.

Mo Beach range – Not discussed.

Barnstable Shooting Range - Not discussed. The vote is expected to be taken May 21)

Yarmouth Discharge of Firearms Petition Article - (as reported last month) Mike Cerbone and Board of Directors of the Bass River Rod & Gun Club met with the Board of Selectmen and Chief of Police on the subject. The Bottom Line they were told (as we suspected) that if this Article Passes at Town Meeting May 2nd the Bass River Rod & Gun Club will be ordered to discontinue any and all Discharge of Firearms on their property. We must not let this happen this will be the beginning to the end of any discharging of any firearms in the town that is their end game, get the word out to anyone we know that lives in the Town of Yarmouth to get to the Town Meeting on May 2nd and vote this Article Down. We also need them to understand that once they are successful in defeating this they need to stay at Town Meeting until it is over and officially closed because according to the meeting rules any article maybe reconsidered at any time during the meeting until the meeting is officially ended. This means they could watch to see how many people leave and then bring the article back up for reconsideration if they think they have the votes to win. There is also a petition article to ban motorcycles in Yarmouth, the Bass River Rod & Gun Club is forming an alliance with the group that will be fighting this motorcycle ban to help fight the discharge ban therefore we will need to back them also to help fight the motorcycle ban.

This month Vice President Ken Teixeira emphasized how important it is to stop this Article from Passing, he has notified the State Council & GOAL and they are both on board. He also wants the Bass River Rod & Gun Club, the Cape Cod Fish & Game Club and all Member Organizations to know that we are totally committed to helping to Defeat this Article and any and all of our resources are at their disposal, just let us know what we can do.

Bell's Neck Conservation Area Hunting - The proposed ban was not discussed but one delegate provided a newspaper clipping and Jason tells me that the Town cannot regulate Conservation Land as that is under the Conservation Commission's jurisdiction. A town vote on May 5 can, however, influence any decisions the Commission makes. See clipping attached as attachment 1. Also Attachment 2 is a map Jason sent us yesterday showing the hunting setback on the area. Looks like mostly water so great for waterfowl hunting.

New Business The nominating committee presented a draft letter requesting a change in Barnstable County League Bylaws regarding the term limit for the President's office. The problem is that the current by-law reads: ARTICLE VI OFFICERSSec. 5. The President shall not serve more than three (3) consecutive terms.

The proposed bylaw read:ARTICLE VI OFFICERS

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Sec. 5. The President shall not serve more than three (3) consecutive terms unless no other eligible member is nominated and willing to serve. The change is needed because no one but Mike Veloza is willing to serve and he has already served the limit.

After much discussion, the proposed by-law amendment was unanimously voted to read:ARTICLE VI OFFICERSSec.5. Delete Article VI Sec.5. The signed letter was given to the Secretary to send to the clubs.

ADDENDUM: During the meeting I forgot to mention that Stephen Albright is willing to serve as Treasurer for 1 year if Mike Veloza stays on as president. Although we discussed re-electing the present slate, Stephen can be nominated from the floor.

For the Good of the Order:2 & 3 May: Holbrook Sportsmen’s Show, Rte 53 Holbrook,3 May : Monument Beach Sportsman Club Women on Target event. Registration is now closed (class is full). There will be another W-O-T class offered on Sept 13, 2015 Check the web site in June forregistration form.May 5 _ Falmouth Fishermen's Association Meeting (open to the public) at 6:30, and around 7:00 presentation by Dave Peros on Spring Stripers, the type of fish to target as the season progresses, AMVETS Post 70, 336 Palmer Ave, Falmouth. For further information, contact John Dillon, 774-392-1305, clamboy18comcast;.net.5 May - Town of Harwich Special Town Meeting(Excerpt from article in Cape Cod Chronicle 3-26) • A petitioned article seeks to eliminate all forms of hunting in the Bells Neck Conservation Land and wetlands in West Harwich and require the area be posted. The explanation states the Bells Neck Conservation Land and marshes are too small to .support the increasing number of hunters drawn to the area .• Thespecial town meeting is scheduled to begin Tuesday, May 5 at 8 p.m. at the community center gymnasium.

May 28 - GOAL Seminar - MA Gun Laws. 6 - 9 pmAdvanced registration is required. Fees as follows Member = $5.00; Non-member = $10-.ALL PROCEEDS will be donated back to GOAL. Seminar is limited to 100 participants.Email stkehoe@comcast.net to be placed on registration roster.

Next meeting: Next league meeting is scheduled for May 21 at the Bass River Rod and Gun Club. Cocktails 6:30 PM, Dinner at 7:00 PM, and meeting at 8:00 PM.

Adjournment: The meeting adjourned at 9:23 PM.

Jim Hanks e-mail: jphanks@comcast.net

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Attachm

ent 1

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New Biologist - The new biologist went to Penikese Island to assist in habitat restoration project including seeding of plots. The district is getting involved with piping plovers, and working with State and Federal offices to acquire better beach access. Permits are expensive, on the order of $11,000.

Fish Kills - Burrage Pond in particular has experience fish kills caused by the ice. Thick ice cuts down the light which inhibits photosynthesis, and that combined with decaying vegetation leads to oxygen depletion. Upper Burrage Pond had an almost total fish kill.

Burrage Pond Access - The is an access problem because the previous parking area turned out to be private property and the owner has denied access. The District s negotiation with the Town of Halifax to buy back some land to provide a parking area.

Youth deer hunt – Since The regulatory paperwork has gone forward, but it remains to be seen if the process can be accomplished in time for this year.If it goes through, the JBCC may support it, and the Coast Guard and National Seashore will support it. If it is the first Saturday in October that could be a problem because that is a heavy training day for the Army.

Cottontail survey The survey covers areas that have been identified as normally supporting cottontails. It will go on another couple of years. The survey is best done in the winter time because the pellets age can be determined and the DNA is preserved. Trapping is also best done in the winter.

Blue Hills Deer - No news about Blue Hills or Wompatuck. A deer population survey is needed at Wompatuck.

Otis Hunt Dates & pre-registration form – turkey and deer hunt dates and forms all on website. All hunters must pre-register each year now for hunt, as opposed to prior protocol. Here is a link:

6. [PDF]Hunting Pre-Registration Form – 2015 Camp Edwards Controlled Hunting Programs 2015 Camp Edwards Hunting Dates Please check off

In March Jason reported the 2015 JBCC Hunting Dates - The dates are:Youth Turkey Hunt - Saturday, Apr 25Spring Turkey Hunt, Monday May 18 through Friday May 22Paraplegic Deer Hunt, Thursday October 29 through Saturday October 31Archery Deer Hunt, Thursday November 5 through Saturday November 7 Military Deer Hunt, Friday December 4 through Saturday December 5Shotgun Deer Hunt, Monday December 7 through Saturday December 12Muzzleloader Deer Hunt, Friday December 18 through Saturday December 19Facebook Page - Mass Wildlife now has a facebook page www.facebook.com/masswildlife

Mass Wildlife Site: http://www.mass.gov/dfwele/dfw/dfw_toc.htmSouth East District OfficeJason Zimmer, District ManagerDivision of Fisheries & WildlifeBuzzards Bay, MA 02532.Tel: (508) 759-3406