Don't forget your "Hunter Orange"!

New regulations for hunting this year: Please be careful out there!
We are in zone 11, and there has been some changes to the hunting regulations this year:
Effective October 12, 2012-
WILD TURKEY HUNTING REGULATIONS

Effective October 12, 2012, several new hunting regulations have been promulgated which expand wild turkey hunting opportunities across the state. These regulations take effect in time for the 2012 fall turkey hunting season.

1) Wildlife Management Zones (WMZ) 10, 11, and 12, which encompasses eastern Massachusetts and Cape Cod, will open for the fall wild turkey hunting season. Previously, the fall wild turkey hunting season was open in only WMZs 1-9 and 13; central and western Massachusetts and Martha's Vineyard.

2) The statewide fall wild turkey hunting season has been lengthened from one week to a two- week season. Fall wild turkey hunting season will begin on the second to last Monday in October and continue for 2 weeks. The 2012 fall hunting season dates are October 22 - November 3, 2012.

3) Permissible shot sizes for wild turkey hunting have been expanded to include #7 shot. Formerly, shot sizes were limited to #4 - #6 for wild turkey hunting.
Fall wild turkey hunters are reminded that wild turkey hunting hours during this season begin one half hour before sunrise and end one half hour after sunset. Only those turkey hunters who did NOT harvest a season limit of 2 birds during the spring season are eligible for fall turkey hunting where 1 turkey of either sex may be harvested. All other regulations relative to wild turkey hunting apply.

http://www.mass.gov/dfwele/dfw/regulations/regulations_turkey_deer_2012.htm
More helpful links


http://www.eregulations.com/massachusetts/huntingandfishing/quick-reference-guide/
http://www.eregulations.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/12MAAB_Quick_Reference_List.pdf
Also here are some fun facts from the dept of fish and wildlife calendar for late October:

•Bullfrogs, snapping turtles and garter snakes are going into hibernation.

•Juncos, often called snowbirds, begin to arrive from their summer breeding areas in northern New England and Canada.

•Woodchucks are beginning to seek out hibernation areas. Their body temperature and breathing rate will drop and they will no longer excrete, an unusual physiological phenomenon.


http://www.mass.gov/dfwele/dfw/calendar/calendar.htm

We enjoyed a lovely morning hike to "the beach" at Cranberry Pond this morning.  Thanks for all who joined us. What a lovely way to start the day!

Town Forest Walk this Saturday

We are continuing our "2nd Saturday at noon" walks in the Town Forest. Come check out the beauty of spring in our own community forest! We will leave from 255 Pine St (the Carolyn Long Entrance) at high noon this coming Saturday May 14th! Wear bug spray, and long pants, and bring a bottle of water. We hope to see you there! All the trees have donned their bright green leaves in anticipation of your visit! This is the time of year we often see the first Lady Slippers.

Forest Committee to meet

The Town Forest Committee continues to meet on the 3rd Wed of each month at Town Hall at 7:30 pm. All are welcome :)

This is the 2nd Saturday!

Saturday please join us for a hike in the Town Forest. We will leave from Park Dr at noon and hope to see some frog eggs! It's vernal pool season, after all! Bring water and a snack, and DO wear bug spray!

Is it Spring Yet?

Early Spring Hike.

Saturday at noon.

Meet at

Forest Drive entrance &

Wear boots!

Printable Vernal Pool Field Guide

Here is a great resource for those of you who will be out looking for Frogs and "Sallies"(Salamanders)
You can print it two sided and laminate it to bring out in the warm spring rain!

http://www.dec.ny.gov/docs/regions_pdf/hrepwpwid.pdf

Also check this out: the Vernal Pool Association is on facebook  !
www.facebook.com/VernalPoolAssociation