Habitat Management

A 32-acre forestry mowing project has been completed at Quinebaug River Wildlife Management Area (WMA) to enhance a pitch pine and dry grassland community while controlling invasive plants. Eight acres were mowed to maintain young forest habitat at Salmon River State Forest (SF) in January 2024. Five acres were mowed for the same purpose at Little River WMA. A 32-acre understory mowing with invasive plant control was also completed in the Wyassup Block of Pachaug SF in early December 2023.

Ten acres of old field are being restored at Sessions Woods WMA. Fecon mowing is being used to mulch small trees and heavy brush.

Forestry mowing is due to start on an eight acre stand at Franklin Swamp WMA.

Acquisitions

In September 2022, 79 acres were acquired through donation from the Arnhold Foundation, Inc., and added to Collis P. Huntington State Park.

In March 2023, 51 acres were acquired through the purchase of the Estate of John Bario, Jr., and added to Nipmuck SF. Per Mr. Bario’s wishes, proceeds to the estate from the acquisition were donated to Ducks Unlimited.

In June 2023, 2 acres were donated as an addition to Cockaponsett SF on Ruth Hill Rd. in Haddam. Twenty-eight acres were also added to Cockaponsett SF in Westbrook in November 2023.

In November 2023, 15 acres were added to Goshen WMA, better joining the 627 acres acquired in 2021 to the parcel on East St. N.

Please note: Recently acquired parcels need to be border marked and so indicated as open before hunting can take place. If you have any questions, please contact the district biologist for the area (East: 860-295-9523; West: 860-424-3011).

If you or someone you know is aware of land for sale or donation that would benefit the hunters and trappers of Connecticut, please visit The Recreation and Natural Heritage Trust Program webpage for more information.

One of the most important pre-season preparations, and often the most overlooked, is patterning your gun for spring turkey hunting. Hunting without patterning your shotgun is akin to hunting deer without sighting in your rifle. Hunters have a responsibility to ensure their firearms are properly set to make an ethical shot.

The idea of patterning is to make sure your gun shoots reliably and consistently throughout your ethical kill range, and also help determine what that range is. When starting the process of patterning, have a good supply of targets. You need at least one target for each manufacturer, shot size, and distance. You can use a turkey target that is readily available for this purpose or simply take a piece of 2x3 foot poster paper and place a dot in the middle.

More on patterning your shotgun . . .

Fred Becker, President of the Connecticut Trappers Association, was recently honored by the National Trappers Association as Trapper of the Year – East for his “outstanding efforts on behalf of trappers and trapping.” The award was presented to Fred by John Daniel, President of the National Trappers Association, at their 64th Annual Convention, which was held in Escanaba, Michigan, in 2023.

When Fred was presented with the award, John Daniel said, “The Becker family has been a stable force in trapping and conservation in Connecticut for decades and Fred is no exception to that tradition. Fred has been instrumental in promoting, defending, and educating the public about the need for meaningful trapping in modern times on both the state and national levels. The National Trappers Association is truly grateful to have Fred as a part of our team.”

Fred’s father, Fred Becker Sr., was instrumental in the establishment of the Connecticut Trappers Association (CTA) in 1967, along with several other founding members. Both father and son have played key roles in the organization. CTA is a non-profit organization of Connecticut sportsmen and women dedicated to the conservation of fur bearing animals and practical wildlife management. The CTA’s motto of “Conservation Through Association” is the foundation of the organization.

The Beckers and the CTA were the creators of the Trapping Course that exists to today. New trappers are required to take this course to be eligible to obtain a trapping license in Connecticut. Fred actively serves as a volunteer instructor and has helped train and introduce more than 1,200 new trappers! Throughout his tenure as an instructor, he has attended more than a dozen workshops to help ensure the program provides the best information possible to get new trappers into the field.

Congratulations to Fred on his award and acknowledgement!