Deer management: Dealing with predators

By David WillettePrint Story | Email Story
This is the second of a two-part series. If the first part of deer management is habitat improvement, the second part to helping the deer herd is predator control. There are essentially three predators in Massachusetts: humans, coyotes and bears. The biggest predator is the local average deer hunter. Deer hunters are a dying breed. The number of big game hunting licenses sold in this state is almost half of what it used to be 10 years ago. Because of this, one would think that you would see more deer in the woods, but that’s not the case in the Western District. Not only are hunters seeing fewer deer, they are also not seeing any definitive sign, like tracks and scat. The harvest numbers are controlled by season length, bag limits and doe permits — all of which have been increased over the last 10 years to make up for the lack of hunters. The biggest problem is that the biologists use the total statewide deer kill as a guide for the whole state. Unfortunately deer aren’t evenly distributed across Massachusetts; there are many more deer in the middle and eastern parts of the state. Here in the Western District, (from the Connecticut River west to the New York State border), the deer population is shrinking fast, and the herd can’t absorb another lengthy deer season in which everyone has a doe permit. This could do irreparable damage to the deer herd, especially if we have another hard winter. Because the Western District has such a wide eastern border (the Connecticut River), it would be easy to implement a different set of rules for deer season here. For years, the islands of Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket had a different deer season than the rest of the state. There wasn’t any confusion on the part of the hunter because there was no mistaking if you were hunting on the islands or not. The same could be said for the Connecticut River. How could a hunter NOT know that he/she was on the wrong side of the river? You’re not going to cross the Connecticut without knowing it. What type of rule changes could the state Division of Fisheries and Wildlife implement for the Western District? The first would be to restructure the shotgun and muzzle-loader season. Why can’t the state hold opening day on a Saturday and then close the season on the following Saturday? That may actually increase license sales by allowing the working hunter a fair chance at the best two days to hunt, opening day and the last day. Secondly, the state should start reducing the number of doe permits for the entire district. The state has already begun this in Zone 1 (Northern Berkshire County), and we all applaud them for this. The biologists did a great job when they first implemented the doe permit system back in 1967. They worked the herd to the point where almost every hunter received a permit. Now it’s time to back off and cut way back on the total permits allocated. Thirdly, the season bag limits should be adjusted. Presently, a hunter can take two or more deer in the Western District. This may be irrelevant because there are few chances to harvest one deer, never mind three. But in many other states with healthier deer populations than the Western District, the season bag limit is one deer. The other predators are, as mentioned above, coyotes and black bears. Studies have shown that coyotes typically are most detrimental to deer in the late winter when we have a deep snowfall. Then deer are at their weakest and are very vulnerable to coyotes. Hunters could help out here by hunting coyotes more, although it has been proven that this really doesn’t help keep down the coyote numbers. But it can’t hurt. It is very difficult in wooded areas like we have here to control a predator like the coyote. There have been many controlled attempts to lower coyote numbers, and studies have shown that none work effectively. Besides, who are we to judge that deer are more important than coyotes? The jury is still out on black bears. When they leave the den in early spring, their bodies crave protein, and a fawn deer is just what they are looking for. How many fawns die each spring due to bear predation is anyone’s guess. But the bear is not a “chase and capture” type predator. Bears may be more apt to follow a doe back to her newborn fawn, but after a week or two, the fawn can easily outrun a bear. The state can get the herd back in the Western District to where it was just five years ago. They have to cut down a lot of trees to improve the habitat, and they have to cut back on the length of the deer seasons and the number of doe permits. If nothing is done, then in five years this all may be moot because there won’t be any deer to hunt anyway.
Share
If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

Dalton Announces New Supplier for Energy Program

DALTON, Mass. – The Town of Dalton has signed a thirty-four month contract with a new supplier, First Point Power.
 
Beginning with the January 2026 meter reads, the Dalton Community Choice Power Supply Program will have a new rate of $0.13042 per kWh. The Program will also continue to offer an optional 100 percent green product, which is derived from National Wind Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs), at a rate of $0.13142 per kWh.
 
For Dalton residents and businesses who are enrolled in the Town's Program, the current rate of $0.13849 per kWh will expire with the January 2026 meter reads and the new rate of $0.13042 per kWh will take effect. This represents a decrease of $5 per month on the supply side of the bill given average usage of 600 kWh. Additionally, this new rate is 3 percent lower than Eversource's Residential Basic Service rate of $0.13493 per kWh. Residents can expect to see an
average savings of $3 per month for the month of January 2026. Eversource's Basic Service rates
will change on Feb. 1, 2026.
 
Dalton launched its electricity program in January 2015 in an effort to develop an energy program that would be stable and affordable. From inception through June 2025, the Program has saved residents and small businesses over $1.7 million in electricity costs as compared to Eversource Basic Service.
 
It is important to note that no action is required by current participants. This change will be seen on the February 2026 bills. All accounts currently enrolled in the Program will remain with their current product offering and see the new rate and First Point Power printed under the "Supplier Services" section of their monthly bill.
 
The Dalton Community Choice Power Supply Program has no fees or charges. However, anyone switching from a contract with a third-party supplier may be subject to penalties or early termination fees charged by that supplier. Ratepayers should verify terms before switching.
 
View Full Story

More Stories

Sports
image description

Lee Executes Game Plan to Perfection in Quarter-Final Win

Sports
Sports
image description

Lenox Volleyball Reaches State's Final Four

Sports
Sports
image description

Mount Greylock Boys Win 3rd Straight Regional Crown

Sports
Sports
image description

Mount Greylock Girls Again Top Monson in Western Mass Final

Sports
Sports
image description

Lenox Sweeps Its Way to Western Mass Crown

Sports
Community News
image description

North Adams License Commission Sees Little Need for License...

Community News
Latest Stories
Previous Next

What's Trending?