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Calendar of EventsWood duck drake

Looking for a wildlife related workshop, talk, walk or demonstration? Need to find out what seasons are open or closed? When and where is the next Fisheries and Wildlife Board meeting? Events of all types can be found in this area. If your organization, club or association is hosting a speaker or a workshop designed by MassWildlife, we can help publicize your event.

Note: Some calendar links are to files in PDF format and will require PDF reader software such as Adobe Acrobat. Click here to obtain free Adobe Acrobat Reader software.

Last Updated: 05/21/2013

2013
| 2014
   May    |    Jun    |    Jul    |   Aug    |    Sep    |     Oct    |    Nov    |    Dec  |  Jan    |    Feb    |    Mar    |    Apr   


MAY 2013

See the MassWildlife Fishing & Hunting Laws page for regulations, bag limits and zone information.
For Hunting, fishing and trapping dates, see the Quick Reference Guide.

  • May 4 -- Needham Recreation Family Fishing Derby, Needham -- On the shores of Needham Reservoir from 9am - 2:00pm, cast a line, learn about fish in our waters, safety, ethics, and fishing equipment. If you have fishing equipment, bring it along. A limited quantity of fishing equipment and bait will be available. MassWildlife is participating in this festival in cooperation with the Needham Recreation Commission. Contact: Karen Pierce (781) 455-7521.
  • May 4 -- Westborough Spring Fishing Challenge, Westborough -- On Sandra Pond at the Minuteman Park in Westborough from 9:00am - 1:00pm, cast a line, learn about fish in our waters, safety, ethics, and fishing equipment. If you have fishing equipment, bring it along. DFW's Angler Education Program is providing a limited quantity of fishing equipment at this event. Contact Jim Lagacy at (508) 389-6309 or email jim.lagacy@state.ma.us.
  • May 4 -- Snows Pond Family Fishing Festival, Charlton -- On the shores of Snows Pond, located at Fay Mountain Farm off Cemetary Rod from 10:00am - 2:00pm, cast a line, learn about fish in our waters, safety, ethics, and fishing equipment. If you have fishing equipment, bring it along. A limited quantity of fishing equipment and bait will be available. MassWildlife is participating in this festival in cooperation with the Charlton Conservation Commission. Contact: Charlton Conservation Commission, Todd P. Girard (508) 248-2247 or email: todd.girard@townofcharlton.net
  • May 5 -- Growing Up WILD Workshop for Pre-School Educators, Acton -- Pre-school educators are invited to this fun, practical hands-on 6-hour workshop that focuses wildlife, the environment and pre-school age children. The activity guide builds on a children's sense of wonder about nature and invites them to explore wildlife and the world around them. Through a wide range of activities and experiences, it provides a foundation for developing positive impressions about nature while also building lifelong social and cognitive skills for students ages 3-7 years. Workshop participants will receive a copy of the Growing Up WILD guide and a certificate of completion. Please bring a brown bag lunch, mug or water bottle and wear comfortable clothes & shoes for outdoor activities. Pre-registration is required, fee is $25. Registration deadline is April 19.To register contact Eileen Sullivan at esullivan@abschools.org. Project WILD is sponsored by DFW and the Mass. Wildlife Federation.
  • May 5 -- Brookline Reservoir Family Fishing Festival, Brookline--On the shores of Brookline Reservoir, from 9:00am - Noon, cast a line, learn about fish in our waters, safety, ethics, and fishing equipment. If you have fishing equipment, bring it along. A limited quantity of fishing equipment and bait will be available. MassWildlife is participating in this festival in cooperation with the Brookline Recreation Department. Contact Stephanie Springer by email sspringer@brooklinema.gov.
  • Red spotted newts are laying eggs during this time. The adults live in water, but the young, when they hatch crawl onto land, living in moist areas on land from 2-7 years. Look for the bright orange red young called "red efts" after periods of rain, moving about on the forest floor. When they return to the water, they become aquatic, turning green with small bright red spots.
  • May 9-- Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Advisory Committee Meeting, West Boylston. The Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Advisory Committee will be meeting on Thursday, May 9, 2013, at the DFW Field HQ Office at 100 Hartwell Street, Suite 230, West Boylston from 1:30- 4:30 P.M. Directions or call MassWildlife at (508) 389-6360.
  • May 11 -- Coes Pond Fishing Derby, Worcester -- On the shores of Coes Pond, from 8:00am - 11:00am, cast a line, learn about fish in our waters, safety, ethics, and fishing equipment. If you have fishing equipment, bring it along. A limited quantity of fishing equipment and bait will be available. DFW's Angler Education Program is participating in this festival in cooperation with the Worcester Fish & Game Association. Contact Jim Lagacy at (508) 389-6309 or email jim.lagacy@state.ma.us.
  • May 11 -- Biodiversity Conservation Tools "Walk and Talk", Sharon -- This free public program is offered by MassAudubon's Moose Hill Wildlife Sanctuary. Learn about recent state level biodiversity conservation initiatives from MassWildlife's Sarah Haggerty, Natural Heritage Information Manager. She'll talk about BioMap2 town profiles, and the new way to report rare animals and plants via the Vernal Pool and Rare Species Information System (VPRS). After the presentation, head outdoors for a trail walk, enjoying the birds and other signs of spring, and a demonstration of the new VPRS system and smart phone app. The program will run from 9-11. Registration Required—Each participant will be provided with a BioMap2 Community Profile specific to their municipality. For more information: go to www.massaudubon.org/shapingthefuture. Questions and RSVP: Stephanie Elson, selson@massaudubon.org, 781/259-2146.
  • May 11 -- US Fish & Wildlife Service Kids Fishing Event, Hadley -- Bring your kids to the US Fish and Wildlife Service Regional HQ off Rtes 9 and 116 on 300 Westgate Center Drive, Hadley. MassWildlife's Angler Education Program is providing a limited quantity of fishing equipment for this event. For more information, contact Sam Parker at samual_parker@fws.gov or call (413) 253-8517. -- Bring your kids to the US Fish and Wildlife Service Regional HQ off Rtes 9 and 116 on 300 Westgate Center Drive, Hadley. MassWildlife's Angler Education Program is providing a limited quantity of fishing equipment for this event. For more information, contact Sam Parker at samual_parker@fws.gov or call (413) 253-8517.
  • May 14 -- Fisheries and Wildlife Board Meeting, Belchertown -- The May meeting of the Fisheries & Wildlife Board will be held on Tuesday, May 14, 1:00 PM at the Division of Fisheries and Wildlife's Connecticut Valley District Office on East Street, Belchertown, MA. Directions
  • May 18 -- Disabled American Veterans Fishing Festival, Marlborough--This special festival is open to disabled veterans only at the Marlborough Fish and Game Club, 10:00 - 2:00pm. The Angler Education Program is partnering with the Marlboro Fish and Game Club. Contact Jim Lagacy at (508) 389-6309 or jim.lagacy@state.ma.us.
  • Memorial Day Weekend marks the end of MassWildlife's trout stocking activities. Enjoy the fishing for our warmwater fish over the summer and take a friend of family member fishing!
  • May 19 - Whitman's Pond Family Fishing Festival, Weymouth -- On the shores of Whitman Pond, from 10:00 am - 1:00 pm, cast a line, learn about fish in our waters, safety, ethics, and fishing equipment. If you have fishing equipment, bring it along. A limited quantity of fishing equipment and bait will be available. DFW's Angler Education Program is participating in this festival in cooperation with the Whitman's Pond Association and Weymouth Youth and Family Services. Contact Marie Feely at (781) 340-6976 for more details.

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JUNE 2013

See the MassWildlife Fishing & Hunting Laws page for regulations, bag limits and zone information.
For Hunting, fishing and trapping dates, see the Quick Reference Guide.

  • June 1 & 2 -- STATEWIDE FREE FISHING WEEKEND! Take a friend or family member fishing for free--you won't need a fishing license to fish any waterbody statewide for these two days! It is time well spent with family and friends. Your purchase of a fishing license directly supports fishing, stocking, education and fish habitat management programs.
  • June 1 -- Great Falls Family Fishing Day, Turners Falls -- On the bank of the Connecticut River, at Turners Falls (Montague) from 10 AM - 2 PM, cast a line, learn about fish in our waters, safety, ethics, and fishing equipment. If you have fishing equipment, bring it along. A limited quantity of fishing equipment and bait will be available. MassWildlife is participating in this festival in cooperation with the Friends of Great Falls Discovery Center and the US Fish & Wildlife Service. Contact Sarah Bevilacqua at (413) 863-3676 or Sarah_Bevilacqua@fws.gov for more details.
  • June 2 -- 22nd Annual Horn Pond Family Fishing Festival, Woburn -- On the shores of Horn Pond from 9 AM - 1 PM, cast a line, learn about fish in our waters, safety, ethics, and fishing equipment. If you have fishing equipment, bring it along. A limited quantity of fishing equipment and bait will be available. MassWildlife is participating in this festival in cooperation with the Woburn Elks. Contact Jim Lagacy at at (508) 389-6309 or jim.lagacy@state.ma.us.
  • June 8 -- Spot Pond Family Fishing Festival, Stoneham -- On the shores of Spot Pond (at Middlesex Fells Reservation) from 9 AM - 1 PM, cast a line, learn about fish in our waters, safety, ethics, and fishing equipment. If you have fishing equipment, bring it along. A limited quantity of fishing equipment and bait will be available. MassWildlife is participating in this festival in cooperation with the Department of Conservation and Recreation and the Stoneham Police Department. For more information, contact Jim Lagacy at at (508) 389-6309 or jim.lagacy@state.ma.us.
  • June 14-- Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Advisory Committee Meeting, West Boylston. The Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Advisory Committee will be meeting on Thursday, June 14, 2013, at the DFW Field HQ Office at 100 Hartwell Street, Suite 230, West Boylston from 1:30- 4:30 P.M. Directions or call MassWildlife at (508) 389-6360.
  • June 20 -- Summer Solstice is here, the longest day of the year.
  • June 21 -- Fisheries and Wildlife Board Meeting, Belchertown -- The June meeting of the Fisheries & Wildlife Board will be held on Friday, June 21, 1:00 PM at the Worcester Surf Casting Club, 40 Old Monument Neck Rd, Bourne MA. A Public Hearing will be held at the same location at 3:00 pm to to establish and amend rules and regulations governing the issuance of certain classes of Hunting, Fishing, and Trapping Licenses. Directions.
  • June 22 -- Family Fishing Day at Great Meadows, Sudbury -- From 10 AM - 2 PM, cast a line, learn about fish in our waters, safety, ethics, and fishing equipment at the Great Meadows National Wildlife Refuge. If you have fishing equipment, bring it along. A limited quantity of fishing equipment and bait will be available. MassWildlife is participating in this festival in cooperation with the US Fish & Wildlife Service. Contact Susan Russo at (978) 443-4661 x34 or Susan J Russo@fws.gov for more details.

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JULY 2013

See the MassWildlife Fishing & Hunting Laws page for regulations, bag limits and zone information.
For Hunting, fishing and trapping dates, see the Quick Reference Guide.

  • July 8--Blueberries begin ripening, beginning with low bush varieties.
  • July 11--Snowy tree crickets and katydids begin singing around this date.
  • July 15--Watch for fireflies blinking above meadows and overgrown lawns.
  • The whine of cicadas on hot days begins.
  • Shorebird migration to southern climes and hemisphere begins, watch for flocks along the coast.

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AUGUST 2013

See the MassWildlife Fishing & Hunting Laws page for regulations, bag limits and zone information.
For Hunting, fishing and trapping dates, see the Quick Reference Guide.

  • August 5--Yellow warblers and northern waterthrushes begin moving south.
  • Clethra, or summersweet, is a shrub that begins to bloom in wet areas, filling the air with a sweet spicy scent.
  • August 20--Bright red cardinal flowers bloom along high quality freshwater streams.
    • August 22 -- Project WILD/Aquatic WILD Workshop for Educators, West Boylston -- Join educators of all kinds for this fun, hands-on workshop from 8am - 4pm that focuses on both the Project WILD and Project Aquatic WILD activity guides. This workshop is co-sponsored by the Nashua River Watershed Association and the Dept. of Conservation & Recreation. Project WILD/Aquatic WILD are interdisciplinary, conservative and environmental education programs that emphasize wildlife, aquatic wildlife, aquatic ecosystems, people and the environment. The activities, which correlate to the MA Curriculum Frameworks, cover many subject areas for students in grades K-8. They are "hands-on" and easily integrated into units on adaptations, endangered species, life cycles, senses, seasons, classification, migration, animal behavior, and ecosystems. and can receive 8 to 12 hours toward professional development after completing the workshop requirements. The workshop will take place both indoors and outdoors so please dress appropriately. Cost is $20. Pre-registration is required. To register or for more information, please contact Jim at Jim.Lafley@state.ma.us, or (508) 792-7423 ext. 231. Please bring a brown bag lunch, mug or water bottle and wear comfortable clothes & footgear for outdoor activities. Project WILD is sponsored by DFW and the Mass. Wildlife Federation.
  • Nighthawk migrations begin in the last week of August.

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SEPTEMBER 2013

See the MassWildlife Fishing & Hunting Laws page for regulations, bag limits and zone information.
For Hunting, fishing and trapping dates, see the Quick Reference Guide.

  • Mid-September is when broadwing hawks and sharp shinned hawks are migrating. Take up a watching post on a high hill or some of the popular hawk watching peaks such as Mt. Tom, Mt. Wachusett, the Blue Hills or Monument Montain or high dunes on Cape Cod. Check with local bird clubs for hawk counting locations at www.massbird.org.
  • September 22 -- Fishing at the Massachusetts Outdoor Expo (The Big MOE), Sturbridge Learn about fishing from MassWildlife's Angler Education Program and many other fun outdoor and nature related activities at The Big MOE located on the Hamilton Rod and Gun Club grounds. Organized by FAWNS (Facts About Wildlife and Nature Society) this outdoor extravaganza is packed with activities for the whole family! For more information on MOE, contact Gary Zima at (508) 389-6314.
  • September 28 -- Friends of Myles Standish State Forest 5th Annual Take Me Fishing Event, Carver-- This family-friendly event will be at Fearing Pond at Myles StandishState Forest. It will be held from 10:00 - 3:00 pm in cooperation with the Friends of Myles Standish State Forest and the Department of Conservation and Recreation. Angler Education Program volunteers will be on hand to help novices cast a line, learn about fish in our waters, safety, ethics, and fishing equipment. If you have fishing equipment, bring it along. A limited quantity of fishing equipment and bait will be available. For more information, contact Sharl Heller at slheller@comcast.net

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OCTOBER 2013

See the MassWildlife Fishing & Hunting Laws page for regulations, bag limits and zone information.
For Hunting, fishing and trapping dates, see the Quick Reference Guide.

  • Juncos, often called snowbirds, begin to arrive from their summer breeding areas in northern New England and Canada.
  • October 19-- Growing Up WILD Workshop for Pre-School Educators, Lenox -- Pre-school educators are invited to this fun, practical hands-on 6-hour workshop that focuses on early childhood education. The Growing Up WILD Activity Guide builds on a children's sense of wonder about nature and invites them to explore wildlife and the world around them. Through a wide range of activities and experiences, it provides a foundation for developing positive impressions about nature while also building lifelong social and cognitive skills for students ages 3-7 years. The Guide is correlated to the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) Standards and the Head Start Domains. Workshop participants will receive a copy of the Growing Up WILD guide and a certificate of completion. Please bring a brown bag lunch, mug or water bottle and wear comfortable clothes & shoes for outdoor activities. Project WILD is sponsored by DFW and the Massachusetts Wildlife Federation. Pre-registration is required, fee is $30. Registration deadline is October 9.To register contact Gayle Tardif-Raser at MassAudubon's Pleasant Valley Sanctuarygtraser@massaudubon.org or call (413) 637-0320 or register online at www.mass.audubon.org/pleasantvalley (click on Program Catalog).
  • Spawning at the Hatcheries--Trout are being spawned by MassWildlife hatchery staff to begin the process of fertilizing eggs and raising fish to be stocked in future years for eager anglers.
  • Woodchucks are beginning to seek out hibernation areas. Their body temperature and breathing rate will drop and they will no longer excrete, an unusual physiological phenomenon.

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NOVEMBER 2013

See the MassWildlife Fishing & Hunting Laws page for regulations, bag limits and zone information.
For Hunting, fishing and trapping dates, see the Quick Reference Guide.

  • Eastern cottontail rabbits have switched to a winter diet of twigs and buds.
  • Black bears begin seeking a place to sleep through the winter, particularly sows with cubs. If there is no snow cover and food is available, bears may not den up for winter until later in December. Wait to put out bird feeders until mid-December.

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DECEMBER 2013

See the MassWildlife Fishing & Hunting Laws page for regulations, bag limits and zone information.
For Hunting, fishing and trapping dates, see the Quick Reference Guide.

 

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JANUARY 2014

See the MassWildlife Fishing & Hunting Laws page for regulations, bag limits and zone information.
For Hunting, fishing and trapping dates, see the Quick Reference Guide.

  • January 1--Happy New Year! We hope you enjoy and use this calendar for your recreation and educational needs.
  • White-tailed deer are shedding their antlers--shedding begins around mid-December and runs through February. Rodents often chew on the "sheds" which provides them with calcium.
  • Breeding begins for several furbearers in this chilly month, including coyote, beaver, opossum and raccoon.

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FEBRUARY 2014

See the MassWildlife Fishing & Hunting Laws page for regulations, bag limits and zone information.
For Hunting, fishing and trapping dates, see the Quick Reference Guide.

  • February 2 -- GROUNDHOG DAY Here in New England, what some people call groundhogs are actually woodchucks. Fact sheet on woodchucks!
  • Housing for Wood Ducks-With safe ice throughout the state, district and Westboro biologists are replacing old wood duck boxes or installing new ones in wet (frozen) areas throughout the state. Contact the MassWildlife District office closest to you for wood duck box plans or check our website!

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MARCH 2014

See the MassWildlife Fishing & Hunting Laws page for regulations, bag limits and zone information.
For Hunting, fishing and trapping dates, see the Quick Reference Guide.

  • Garter snakes beginning their breeding season. One of the earliest snakes to emerge from hibernation, the garter snake is probably our most common snake. Generally, these snakes breed at or near their hibernation site.

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APRIL 2014

See the MassWildlife Fishing & Hunting Laws page for regulations, bag limits and zone information.
For Hunting, fishing and trapping dates, see the Quick Reference Guide.

  • Remember Endangered Species on Your State Tax Form! Help protect Box Turtles, Peregrine Falcons and other endangered wildlife by supporting the Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Fund when you file your state income tax this year. Massachusetts tax filers of Form 1 can donate to this effort through the Division of Fisheries and Wildlife's Natural Heritage & Endangered Species Fund when filing their state income tax (Line 32a: "Endangered Wildlife Conservation"). Donations help restore populations and conserve and maintain habitat for many vulnerable kinds of wildlife, from raptors to reptiles. You can also contribute directly to the Fund by sending a check payable to: "Comm. of Mass-NHESP Fund" and send it to: NHESP, Massachusetts Division of Fisheries & Wildlife, 1 Rabbit Hill Rd, Westborough, MA, 01581.

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Note: The Massachusetts Division of Fisheries & Wildlife (MassWildlife) provides external links to the websites of entities mentioned on this page as a public service. The Division does not exercise control over the content of these websites. A link's presence here should not be construed as an endorsement of its contents by MassWildlife.