2024 Upland season

Is anyone else confused by the info regarding Bolton Flats on the Pheasant Stocking Page this year? After one of the driest summers in my memory, they still say it's flooded out and won't be stocked with pheasant. I emailed a few weeks ago asking what's up, but there was no response.

Does anyone have any first-hand information?
 
admcd said:
Is anyone else confused by the info regarding Bolton Flats on the Pheasant Stocking Page this year? After one of the driest summers in my memory, they still say it's flooded out and won't be stocked with pheasant. I emailed a few weeks ago asking what's up, but there was no response.

Does anyone have any first-hand information?
Click to expand...
As you probably know, the area was flooded out the past few years. This year is the first time we could get equipment all the way into all the fields and assess what's left of them. Some of them are now cattails, the river has claimed portions of others, and most everything else was significantly overgrown with 8'-12' brush & trees. We made the decision to use the dry weather to get our heavy mowers in and reclaim what we could. There isn't much cover left to stock so we are planning on holding off stocking until next season.

Contact the District Office that oversees maintenance of Bolton Flats at 508-835-3607. Don't waste your time with Field Headquarters in Westborough.
 
Catoperat said:
As you probably know, the area was flooded out the past few years. This year is the first time we could get equipment all the way into all the fields and assess what's left of them. Some of them are now cattails, the river has claimed portions of others, and most everything else was significantly overgrown with 8'-12' brush & trees. We made the decision to use the dry weather to get our heavy mowers in and reclaim what we could. There isn't much cover left to stock so we are planning on holding off stocking until next season.

Contact the District Office that oversees maintenance of Bolton Flats at 508-835-3607. Don't waste your time with Field Headquarters in Westborough.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the info and the hard work.

Sad to hear it's not available - It was my uncle's favorite place to hunt and I was hoping to take this shotgun there for a hunt on the opener.
 
Catoperat said:
As you probably know, the area was flooded out the past few years. This year is the first time we could get equipment all the way into all the fields and assess what's left of them. Some of them are now cattails, the river has claimed portions of others, and most everything else was significantly overgrown with 8'-12' brush & trees. We made the decision to use the dry weather to get our heavy mowers in and reclaim what we could. There isn't much cover left to stock so we are planning on holding off stocking until next season.

Contact the District Office that oversees maintenance of Bolton Flats at 508-835-3607. Don't waste your time with Field Headquarters in Westborough.
Click to expand...

That area seems like it was in a constant state of flooding for the past few years, it's amazing (and not necessarily in a good way) how soils, as well as vegetation, are altered by being constantly/regularly submerged.

What do you use for your heavy mowers? Just curious due to my interest in tractors, etc.

And thank you for the information!
 
Woodsloafer said:
What do you use for your heavy mowers? Just curious due to my interest in tractors, etc.

We have 2 60-ish horsepower tractors (Deere and a Massey) that run 7' cutters (Deere HX series) that can do ~3" diameter trees here and there. We have a 15' cutter that runs behind a 100hp tractor (Cat Challenger) that can do ~4". That cutter is pulled from the drawbar and it's HEAVY. If there is mud it sinks and bogs. down We were able to use it at Bolton for the first time given the dry conditions. We also have a tracked T300 Bobcat with a fecon milling head. That combo weighs just south of 16k lbs.
Click to expand...
 
admcd said:
Thanks for the info and the hard work.

Sad to hear it's not available - It was my uncle's favorite place to hunt and I was hoping to take this shotgun there for a hunt on the opener.
Click to expand...
Odds are they will spread them in North Central. Barre Falls, Westminster etc....kinda what happened the last few years I was there. It was tough to go on a Wednesday afternoon and not limit out in 3 seconds after I let the dog loose.

I'd let a few fly just so the dog would get her run in and I would get my walk in. Glad they did away with the season limit......that got annoying with all the birds around.
 
I may go after huns again on Saturday. Unfortunately they are talking 30 mph winds, but it is what it is. I have a choice of 1 1/8 ounce 8 shot or 1 once 6 shot. O/U shotgun, 12 gauge.
Should shoot number 1 with the 8 and number two with the 6? Or just load 6 in both? With the wind they all be gone in a nano second.
 
Pheasant camp with new england adventures is this weekend. Spent my Sunday cleaning my truck and getting it all organized. I leave my truck set up with all my small game and bird hunting gear throughout the season just had to clean the rig and get everything organized. Always nice to start a trip with freshly cleaned truck.


Cleaned my shotguns and got most of my stuff for the weekend organized. On travel hunts I always bring a spare shotgun in case something breaks. Saved a hunt in Maine years ago when the safety detent broke on my old auto 5. Just go back the truck and swap out vs spend the weekend watching everyone else hunt lol

Can't wait for Friday.
 
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