If you are a someone who enjoys hunting, you need not go much further than your back door because “October in Massachusetts is the month for you.”Whether it is goose, ducks, quail, pheasant, partridge, deer, bear, squirrel, rabbit, I could go on and on, as the Budweiser commercial says with a little twist, “this month is for you.”Here is the latest example of how well Fisheries and Wildlife manage our state’s resources. Preliminary reports reveal a record 202 black bears were harvested by licensed hunters in central and western Massachusetts during the Sept. 2-20 bear season. The tally includes 186 bears that were reported online (either by home internet users or by staff at physical check stations), 6 bears checked in at check stations in the Western district, and 10 bruins checked in at Connecticut Valley district check stations. The previous bear harvest record was set in 2012 with 185 bears reported for both the September and November seasons.uBow hunting is well under way throughout all of the New England states, with one exception. It will start here in Massachusetts on Oct. 20. A mention of tree-stand safety is in order. If you are a serious bow hunter, chances are you spend a lot of time hanging in a treestand 15 to 20 feet above the surface of the earth.Why?Because you know that a deer’s primary survival instinct is smell and getting off the ground is critical. When the wind is right, your scent will be above and drift over the deer. This is a great advantage to a bow hunter. All of this assumes that you have done your scouting homework and have located a good crossing area that will allow you to be close to your target, a must when bowhunting.Remember that, unlike a firearm, the acceptable shooting range is measured in feet rather than yards. Of course there are some important safety issues. The most serious problem associated with treestand use is the risk of falling.Tree-stand falls are increasing as the popularity of tree stands increases. If you choose to hunt from one, use a safety belt, especially when climbing. The majority of falls occur when climbing up and down the tree or getting in and out of the stand. As soon as you get into your stand, strap in. A body harness is better than a plain safety belt, but a belt is better that nothing. Attach it high around your chest to avoid injury from the belt if you fall. Use a rope to raise and lower you bow, never try to carry your bow up and down trees.uIt was bound to happen sooner or later. The Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife is pleased to announce the launch of our new Facebook page.By liking our page at www.facebook.com/masswildlife, you will receive updates about MassWildlife activities, events, research projects, hunting and fishing regulations, tips on living with wildlife, and more.As a follower of our page, you will be able to communicate with us and ask us all of your wildlife questions. We look forward to building a vibrant and engaged community of outdoor enthusiasts who wish to share their experiences and ideas with others.uThose of you that have resisted the temptation to put the fishing gear away, you’ll be pleased to learn that fall trout stocking has begun. MassWildlife began stocking rivers, streams and ponds statewide on Sept,23. This fall 67,900 trout, comprised of 61,900 rainbows and 6,000 brown will be stocked.The rainbow trout include 34,100 fish over 12 inches in length of which 27,800 fish are larger than 14 inches. The brown trout average 12 inches. The fish come from DFW’s McLaughlin, Montague, Sandwich, and Sunderland Hatcheries and are distributed in fairly equal quantities to each of the five Districts.A list of trout stocked waters is posted on the agency website. Water bodies typically stocked in the fall are underlined. Anglers are advised to contact the District Office in their area to confirm stocking schedules. Sluice Pond is usually one of the ponds that is stocked in the fall.uCome celebrate “Hunters Gear Up Week