We all know it’s been very hot lately, to say the least, but hey, it’s summertime and it’s supposed to be hot, right? Just not this hot, I guess. Anyway, it’s still summertime… the fish are jumping, and living is easy. July and August usher in the beginning of another hunting season, with black bear season set to open on Sept. 3 (that also just happens to be an Election Day in Massachusetts). We’re still a long way from welcoming back the Autumnal Equinox, and there’s a lot of summer left to enjoy. That said, there’s a lot of outdoor-related events still available for friends and families to get involved in. So let’s lean into this by telling you about a few of these great activities that I think you might really enjoy, if you can just find the time to get there.

But first, a correction to start off with that I need to remedy regarding last week’s “On the Ridge” column.

If you recall, last week’s column was an update about the NWTF License Plates project which is steadily moving forward. In that column, I wrote that a good quantity of “two and three-digit numbers remained available for people who might like to reserve a lower number plate, but these plates will cost a little more to reserve.” What I should have written was, “A good number of two-digit numbers remain available for people who might like to reserve a lower number, but these plates will cost a little more to reserve. Three-digit plate numbers only cost $40 to reserve, with $28 coming back to the Massachusetts NWTF State Chapter.” So thanks to those who brought this to my attention, and then also reserved their plates at the same time!

Ashfield Rod and Gun Club is holding a pig roast on July 27 starting at 4:30 p.m. on the club grounds located at 161 North St., Plainfield. The pig will be prepared by Rowland Townsley, and that alone should be enough to get you there. But they’re also holding a pop-up archery challenge starting at 11 a.m. with prizes being awarded. The cost for the pig roast is $20, add another $10 to that if you want to enter the archery challenge and you’ll be set for the day. Youths 15 years and under are free. The Ashfield Rod and Gun Club is a great group of people who do so much for their community while supporting both young people and adults in the continuing legacy of the great outdoors. Contact Dan Hebert at 413-325-6616 or hebert2009@yahoo.com, or contact Jack Shea at 413-522-6150 to make a reservation for this great event.

Aug. 7: Outdoors – Women Virtual Meet & Greet, Virtual – Join women from across Massachusetts and surrounding states for a discussion about enjoying the outdoors. The conversation will include tips and ideas for all kinds of outdoor recreation with a focus on fishing and hunting. This event is from 6:30-8 p.m. and includes social time to meet and share experiences with other women. There will also be a talented panel of adventurous women to answer your questions. To register, just search the MassWildlife calendar and you’ll find the registration link there.

Aug. 10: Family Fishing Clinic, Goshen – This is a free, family friendly, learn to fish clinic at Upper Highland Lake in the DAR State Forest, from 9 a.m.-12 p.m. Bring your fishing equipment or borrow ours; limited equipment and bait will be provided. Open to the public, pre-registration is required. Search the MassWildlife calendar to find the registration link. And while you’re there look closely for cancellation policies, minimum age requirements, and what to do if you need to request physical or medical accommodation. This event is organized by my longtime friend Jim Lagacy who is one of the best when it comes to teaching and training at any type of fishing event.

Aug. 12: Mentoring Mondays: Hunting and Fishing Q&A, Virtual – Get answers to your hunting and fishing questions during virtual mentoring sessions on the second Monday of the month. A panel of expert hunters and anglers will start each event with a brief presentation on a featured topic, followed by a period when participants can ask questions. August's featured topic is “preparing for bear season and carp fishing.”

This event takes place virtually via Zoom from 6-7 p.m. Registration is required, so search the MassWildife calendar to register. Once registered, you’ll receive an email reminder with a link to the meeting. And on a personal note, having actively participated in these, mentoring Mondays are such an easy way to get answers to all your hunting and fishing questions, no matter how advanced or elementary. And from my experiences, that usually turns out to be a very good thing!

Joe Judd is a lifelong hunter and sportsman. He is an outdoor writer, seminar speaker, member of the New England Outdoor Writers Association, and a 2019 inductee into the N.E. Turkey Hunting Hall of Fame. Joe is also on the Quaker Boy Game Calls and Bass Pro Shops/Cabela’s Pro-Staff. He can be reached at jjontheridge@comcast.net