Who would have ever imagined that one of the most important hunting and fishing tools would be a smartphone?
Today’s hunters and fishermen are quickly recognizing the value of using the many websites and apps that can be useful tools to the sportsman and woman. This writer has slowly begun to see the many uses and, like nearly all successful deer hunters, used the MassHuntFish web page, accessible from masswildlife.org, to check in my deer.
Unfortunately, this week my cyber-world experience was very unpleasant. Tuesday morning a text message came to my phone from the individual from whom I had purchased my new-to-me boat, asking if I had sent him an email. I replied that I had not and began preparing for a Zoom meeting on the computer with MassWildlife Director Mark Tisa and Board member Bob Durand. Fifteen minutes before the meeting, Bob called me and asked if I had sent him a strange email and I again said I had not, but something was beginning to feel odd. Over the next hour, 30 more people contacted me by land-line telephone, cell phone, email, and text message and all were wondering about the strange email message sent from my address.
It soon became clear that yours truly had been hacked!
The hackers had gotten my email password and sent a message to everyone in my address book. The message was simple: “Can I ask a favor? Those who responded were then messaged that I was away and unable to access my apple.com account and needed $300 in Apple gift cards for my niece’s birthday. They were given a different address, with my name misspelled, where they could send the gift cards. With the help of my tech-savvy daughter Jen, I quickly changed my password just in time to be part of the Zoom meeting. The others had to bear with me as I fielded inquiry after inquiry about the bogus email. It was nice to hear from so many people who were concerned for my cyber well-being and some even asked if everything was OK. Within 12 hours, things had returned to normal, although I did engage a local computer professional to come to my house and take a look at everything on my smart phone, laptop and standalone computer from a security perspective.
That should not deter anyone from using this new tech tool to enhance your hunting and fishing. The text message replaced the GPS radios on many deer hunting trips and was an upgrade, as you did not have to talk and spook the deer. There are a number of apps like OnX Hunt that provide satellite topographic maps that include boundaries and landowners. When downloaded for a free trial in New York, it was a great way to determine where the property lines were, as much of the land is posted. You can purchase one state or a version that covers the country. It is not cheap but certainly has great value and deer, turkey and bird hunters alike can use it.
MassWildlife has a lot of free information including maps of all Wildlife Management Areas for downloading and printing and descriptions of all MassWildlife lands. Fishermen can access pond maps and “real time” trout stocking information. Go Fish MA! Digital maps give fishermen a great tool to check out most of the state’s best fishing waters. You can purchase your licenses, permits, and stamps online at MassHuntFish and check in your deer and turkey harvest using your smartphone.
That phone can also be a lifesaver if something happens, as a 911 call (or getting Siri to make the call if you are incapacitated) can save your life, as all phones are GPS enabled and rescuers can locate you, providing you have service. For remote areas, you can get locator devices like SPOT, which work anywhere on earth and send a message if anything happens and you need help. Short money for a life-saving moment. You can also rent satellite cell phones that work anywhere if you go on a hunting or fishing trip in a remote area. What did we ever do before all this technology was available?
Ice fishermen are still advised to use extreme caution and remember the warnings and advice offered in this space a couple of weeks back. Do not go alone and have with you ice picks and some throw/rope device available in your car. Please take all reasonable precautions. In time, the ice will get better but do not expect much improvement over the next week or so.