The first settlers found Berkshire teeming with fish and game; now the wildlife is more plentiful than it has been in 150 years. Deer visit town to devour ornamental shrubbery; wild turkey and beaver have been successfully reintroduced; bear, pheasant, quail, rabbit, raccoon, fox, coyote, and gray squirrel are sufficient to satisfy nearly every hunter's aim. In Berkshire's waters, large and small mouth bass, northern pike, white and yellow perch, horned pout, and trout of all varieties still swim in abundance. Numerous brooks, rivers, ponds, and lakes are stocked with trout each year.

Essential equipment for any hunting or fishing is a free pamphlet containing abstracts of the Massachusetts Fish and Wildlife Laws, available at local sporting goods shops; from the Division of Fisheries and Wildlife (617-727-3151; 100 Cambridge St., Boston 02202); or from the Western Wildlife District Manager, Tom Keefe (413-447-9789; 400 Hubbard Ave., Pittsfield, 01201). This pamphlet carefully outlines the rules and regulations of Massachusetts fishing and hunting. Also essential is a license, which can be obtained through either city or town clerks, through the Division of Fisheries and Wildlife at the Boston address above, or through many local sporting goods stores (see the list at the beginning of this chapter).

A license permits hunting, fishing, or trapping on property that is not posted, although some towns also require owner permission. State lands are open with a few exceptions, such as a three-quarter-mile radius around the tower on Mount Greylock. No hunting is allowed on Greylock during the summer and early fall. Deer season varies by a few weeks between Massachusetts and neighboring states, and hunters are responsible to know what state they are in.

Alford
Seekonk Brook, Green River.

Egremont
Green River, Hubbard Brook.

Great Barrington
Green River, West Brook, Thomas & Palmer Brook, Williams River, Lake Mansfield.

Lee
Beartown Brook (west branch), Hop Brook, Goose Pond, Greenwater Brook, Laurel Lake, Washington Mountain Brook.

Monterey
Lake Buel, Lake Garfield, Rawson Brook, Konkapot River.

New Marlborough
Konkapot River, Umpachene Brook, York Pond.

Otis
Farmington River, Otis Reservoir, Dimock Brook, Little Benton Pond, Big Benton Pond.

Sandisfield
Buck River, Clam River, Farmington River.

Sheffield
Hubbard Brook, Konkapot River.

Stockbridge
Marsh Brook, Stockbridge Bowl.

Tyringham
Hop Brook, Goose Pond Brook, Goose Pond.

West Stockbridge
Williams River, Cone Brook, Flat Brook.

Becket
Shaker Mill Brook, Greenwater Pond, Yokum Brook, Westfield River (west branch), Walker Brook, Shaw Pond.

Dalton
Sackett Brook, Housatonic River (east branch), Wahconah Falls Brook.

Hancock
Kinderhook Creek, Berry Pond.

Hinsdale
Bennet Brook, Housatonic River (east branch), Plunket Reservoir.

Lanesborough
Town Brook, Sachem Brook, Pontoosuc Lake.

Lenox
Sawmill Brook, Marsh Brook, Yokum Brook, Laurel Lake.

Peru
Trout Brook.

Pittsfield
Daniel Brook, Housatonic River (southwest branch), Lulu Cascade Brook, Sackett Brook, Smith Brook, Onota Lake, Lake Pontoosuc, Jacoby Brook.

Richmond
Cone Brook, Furnace Brook, Richmond Pond, Mt. Lebanon Brook.

Washington
Depot Brook.

Windsor
Westfield River (east branch), Windsor jambs Brook, Windsor Pond,

Windsor Brook, Westfield Brook.

Adams
Anthony Brook, Hoosic River (south branch), Tophet Brook,

Southwick Brook.

Cheshire
Hoosac Lake, Hoosic River (south branch), Dry Brook, Kitchen

Brook, South Brook, Thunder Brook, Penniman Brook.

Clarksburg
Hoosic River (north branch), Hudson Brook.

Florida
Deerfield River, North Pond,

North Adams
Notch Brook, Windsor Lake.

Savoy
Chickley River, Cold River, Westfield River (east branch), Center Brook.

Williamstown
Broad Brook, Hemlock Brook, Green River (west branch),Green River, Roaring Brook.

Editor's note: This article was excerpted from the GREAT DESTINATIONS— Berkshire Book, 6^th Edition by Lauren R. Stevens, published by Berkshire House Publishers in Lee, MA .