Hardwick Hunt December 11 and 12

The Hardwick Hunt went very well this year with 51 deer harvested. Like Petersham great hunting conditions pushed the numbers higher than usual. Unfortunately I did not get a chance to even get into the Hardwick zone as the Petersham hunters kept us hopping. I don't have the weights of the individual images I have but feel free to update any information in then comments at the end of the post. I've included an image and letter received from one very successful family of hunters. Thanks Chris for sharing your story

Picture from left to right: Andrea Przybyla (sister), Ted Pawlikowski (Father), Jarek Przybyla (Brother-in-Law) and I, Christoher M. Pawlikowski.

Good Morning,

Just wanted to drop a line and a couple of pictures from the Hardwick hunt of 2009.

We have been hunting Quabbin since 1998 and have taken approx. 19 deer. This year we have the best hunt ever. I shot a 155lbs. 8 pt. at 7am, my father, Ted was next with his 8pt. 135lbs. at 8:30, around 9am my brother-in-law, Jarek shot a 8pt. 136lbs. and at 12:30pm my sister Andrea finished the day with a 110lbs. spikehorn. What a great day. The following day we finished the Quabbin hunt with my cousin Dan harvesting a 112lbs. doe and I finished my season with a 101lb. 4pt. 

I'd like to extend our gratitude to those who make these hunts successful. From the biologists, managers, wardens, rangers, to the DCR workers that make sure everybody is safe. They're friendly and familiar faces always there trying to help if there's every a problem. (Trust me, we've had one swimmer)

While we as hunters only see the end product, it has always been like a second "Opening Day" for this family of hunters and we know that it's not just a two day hunt that takes a month to plan.

Thank you and Seasons Greetings.

Sincerely,

Christopher M. Pawlikowski

Chicopee Ma.

A few more images from the Hardwick Hunt

Brian Kubaska Ipswich Ma 8 Pointer

Connor Maloney Springfield Ma

Thomas Motyka Ware Ma 8 pointer

Prescott Hunt December 3rd and 4th

The Prescott hunt was December 3rd and 4th and highlighted by pouring rain  in the early morning checkin Thursday, followed by a violent wind event about 8:30 AM and developing into a beautiful 6o+ degree couple of days of hunting. The morning winds caused a tree branch to crash into a utility pole, toppled a transformer, closing the hunt access road for the day. Thanks to DCR Staff for quick shuffling of the exit route  minimizing the impact on the hunting experience. Unfortunately the wind also toppled a tree whihc broke the windshield of a hunters vehicle, 2 vehicles required towing and another hunter is recovering from a dislocated shoulder... An eventful hunt for staff and participants. The hunters pulled through it all with 46 deer taken in a fine hunt.

DCR Biologist Kiana Koenen works the Prescott Deer Check Station

Jacob Poirer with his 10 pt 176 lb buck

David Robertson with 9 point 169 lb buck

Dennis and Matthew Letendre with 99 & 109 lb does

Yvon Torgeon 7 point 136 lb buck

Joe Dussault 8 point 159 lb buck

Penny Corliss 133 lb doe

Moose Survey at the Quabbin Hunt

Thanks to Bruce Leduc for sending in these images of Moose taken during the Pelham scouting weekend. There has been a lot of interest in the state about the growing Moose population and Quabbin staff and UMass researchers have been aggressively studying this population. UMass scientists have radio colored dozens of adult Moose (both male and female) in Quabbin and around the state. These collars record the animals location by gps every 1 to 2 hours and run for about 11 months gathering thousands of data points which can be downloaded by researchers. This information tells us how the Moose are spending their time, what forest types they are using, and how many time they cross busy highways.

DCR and UMass staff are very happy with the enthusiastic cooperation in our first day of hunt Moose surveys. Your continued cooperation will provide valuable data that is not found in any other hunted area. We will post results when the hundreds of sightings and descriptions are analyzed... Thanks again for being a part of this survey.

Please send in other Moose, Bear, Bobcat images from the hunt if you have them

Pelham Section Hunt December 3 and 4 2009

The Pelham hunt took place December 3rd and 4th in balmy 60 degree weather. 19 deer were taken from this area. Pelham is traditionally difficult to hunt with a long linear area with lots of heavy cover. Thanks to DCR Biologist Ken MacKenzie for providing these images from the Pelham deer check station.

December 3, 2009

Ray LaBarre 135.5 lb 9 point

Melissa Salls 103.5 lb doe

Rene Boudreau 106.5 Spikehorn
First Quabbin Deer after many hunts

Carl Lehberger 181.5 lb 9 points

David Gregoire 129.5 lb Doe
First deer ever taken

Day 2 December 4, 2009

Ted Drobiac 137lb 8 pointer

Petersham section of the Hunt did quite well - Page 1

This is Kimberly Genereux and her 8 point 123 lb Buck

Bruce Spinney III with his 131 lb 8 pointer

John Siano with his 109 lb 8 Pointer

Richard "Dana" Cooley with his 195lb 10 pointer

Dana's son Adam responded the next day with a 9 pointer

Adam Cooley with his 9 pointer

Stay tuned more to follow

Petersham and Hardwick hunts off to a great start

The second round of the Quabbin Hunt found near perfect hunting conditions and an enthusiastic group of hunters. 51 deer were taken in the Hardwick and 85 in the Petersham section with the largest a 195 pound 10 point buck taken by Richard "Dana" Cooley not far from his family's ancestrial farm in the former town of Dana.

More to follow in the next couple of days
The old site of imagees is still available at:
http://www.dhsmall.net/2008Quabbinhunt.htm