Sportsman’s Corner: MassWildlife seeks input on Sunday hunting

A press announcement last week contained information that sportsmen and women, as well as all Massachusetts residents, should pay serious attention to, as well as provide feedback to have everyone’s voice heard.

The Massachusetts Division of Fisheries & Wildlife (MassWildlife) will hold public listening sessions for the public on the topic of several opportunities to expand hunting access in Massachusetts, including Sunday hunting, hunting with crossbows, and minimum setback distances for hunting.

“Hunting has always been woven into Massachusetts’ history – supporting families, boosting local economies, and helping keep our deer populations healthy,” said Gov. Maura Healey in the Jan. 9 announcement. “Expanding opportunities for hunters will carry that tradition forward while protecting public health and ensuring we’re maintaining balance in our wildlife populations.” 

“We encourage the public to take part in these upcoming listening sessions and share their perspectives about Sunday hunting, hunting with a crossbow, and opening additional areas,” said Department of Fish & Game Commissioner Tom O’Shea. “By expanding access, we can ensure that people have more opportunities to participate in this tradition, connect with the outdoors and each other, and put food on the table.” 

“Massachusetts hunters play an important role in conservation, all while boosting food security in our communities,” said MassWildlife Deputy Director Eve Schlüter in the announcement. “Through programs like Hunters Share the Harvest, which has donated more than 90,000 meals in recent years, we see the tangible benefits of regulated hunting as we explore ways to increase access.” 

The press release made clear that regulated hunting is an important tool for managing wildlife populations, connecting people with nature, and providing food for families across Massachusetts. While MassWildlife has been working to improve access and opportunity for hunting, there are statutory limitations on hunting locations and times which would require legislative action to change, including:

• Prohibition against Sunday hunting – Massachusetts is one of only two states in the country with an outright ban on Sunday hunting. The Sunday hunting prohibition originated in the 19th century over 200 years ago.
• Prohibition against crossbows for hunting – Currently, crossbows are prohibited for hunting by statute except for hunters with a permanent disability. Crossbows are generally more accessible than traditional and compound bows because they require less physical strength to use. Modern archery equipment, including crossbows, incorporates built-in safety features that enhance reliability and safe use in the field. In recent years, several states in New England have changed laws to allow crossbows for deer hunting.
• Setback limits: Currently, Massachusetts statutes prohibit hunting within 500 feet of a dwelling/building in use or within 150 feet of a road. Other states in the Northeast have less restrictive setbacks for archery hunting than Massachusetts.

MassWildlife welcomes the public to providing input on these hunting laws at upcoming listening sessions. The public may also provide feedback by using an online form available at the MassWildlife web site or by mail to Attn: Hunting Laws, 1 Rabbit Hill Road, Westborough, MA, 01581 by 5 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 6. Zoom sessions will be held on Jan. 27 at 6 p.m. and Feb. 3 at 1 p.m.  

If you want to attend a listening session, they will be held on Jan. 28 at 6 p.m. at MassWildlife Field Headquarters at1 Rabbit Hill Road, Westborough, Jan. 29 at 6 p.m. at Berkshire Community College in Pittsfield, and Feb. 2 at 6 p.m. at Massachusetts Maritime Academy in Bourne. 

Following the listening sessions, MassWildlife will evaluate public input and anticipated wildlife management impacts to make its recommendations. The upcoming listening sessions build on recent regulatory changes that expand deer hunting seasons on Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket with a six-week primitive firearms and bowhunting season from Jan. 1 through Feb. 14. The Islands have the highest deer densities in Massachusetts, which can lead to the spread of tick-borne disease, increased deer/vehicle collisions, habitat damage and coastal erosion.   

The issue of Sunday hunting has been a topic of discussion and interest as long as this writer can remember. During my 35-year tenure as member of the Massachusetts Fisheries and Wildlife Board, representing the Connecticut Valley Wildlife Management District, there were hundreds of conversations with individuals and meetings with groups where the matter of this Massachusetts statute, which was never been something the board had direct control over, was discussed. My personal opinion was always being influenced over time as hunters asked to be the same as a majority of other states and others asked to have one day without hunting on their private properties, which were open to hunting otherwise.

My recollection is that during my time serving on the board and also as regional director for Ducks Unlimited in Massachusetts (1988-1992), there were about a half dozen “no Sunday hunting” states on the east coast, including Pennsylvania and Maine. Over the years, some states have made changes, including Pennsylvania. Right now, only Massachusetts and Maine still prohibit Sunday hunting, and the matter is clearly dynamic as societal changes and wildlife management challenges are reshaping the discussion. Please consider getting involved in this matter and expressing your opinion through the listening sessions.

Mike Roche is a retired teacher who has been involved in conservation and wildlife issues his entire life. He has written the Sportsman’s Corner since 1984 and has served as advisor to the Mahar Fish’N Game Club, counselor and director of the Massachusetts Conservation Camp, former Connecticut Valley District representative on the Massachusetts Fisheries and Wildlife Board, a Massachusetts Hunter Education Instructor and is a licensed New York hunting guide. He can be reached at mikeroche3@msn.com.