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Calendar of Events
Looking for a wildlife related workshop, talk, walk or demonstration? Need to find out what seasons are open or closed for game species? When and where is the next Fisheries and Wildlife Board meeting?
Events of all types relating to MassWildlife activities 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 you publicize your event.
| 2009 |
| 2010
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|---|---|
| Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
(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 Acrobat Reader software from Adobe.)
Last Updated: 06/29/2009
JULY 2009
See the MassWildlife Fishing & Hunting Laws page for regulations, bag limits and zone information.
- July 1-- Crow season opens.
- 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.
- July 16--Bullfrog and green frog season opens. No license required.
- July 16-- Project WILD/Aquatic WILD Workshop for Educators, Attleboro -- Interested K-12 educators to participate in an exciting six-hour interdisciplinary hands-on/minds-on workshop focusing on terrestrial and aquatic wildlife and ecosystems at Fisher College. Participants will actively engage in activities, evaluate materials for unique needs & settings, share experiences with other educators, take home ideas & resources to integrate in to their teaching, and make correlations to national & state content standards. Scout leaders, youth group leaders, and formal & non-formal educators find the materials & workshop experience very valuable. Hours may be used toward obtaining PDP’s. Workshop runs from 9 - 5 and cost is $30/person. Pre-registration is required by calling contact Nicole Wegner at (508) 944-5886.
- July 18--Geocaching for Outdoorswomen,
Acton -- A walk in the woods is more fun if you take some buddies
with you - and two of those buddies should be your map and compass.
Another good buddy could be your handheld GPS. In this workshop, learn
to use the GPS first as a trail guide and then a tool for fun and
adventure. From learning to interpret motion, to using new skills
to seek out our lunch, to searching for hidden treasures and solving
geocache riddles, this course will have adult women participants ready
to head out on their own adventures with friends or family! Registration
slots are limited! Cost is $30 and includes lunch and materials.
Registration
information
.
- July 18 -- Whitmans Pond Family Fishing Festival, Weymouth--On the shores of the Whitman's Pond, cast a line, learn about fish in our waters, safety, ethics, and fishing equipment from 10:00am - 3:00pm. MassWildlife Angler Education Instructors will be on hand to assist anglers. If you have fishing equipment, bring it along. A limited quantity of fishing equipment and bait will be available. The Massachusetts Angler Education Program is participating in this event in cooperation with the Whitman's Pond Association and Weymouth Youth and Family Services. Contact Marie Feely at (781) 340-6976 for more details.
- The whine of cicadas on hot days begins.
- July 25 -- Houghton's Pond Family Fishing Festival, Canton--On the shores of the Houghton's Pond, cast a line, learn about fish in our waters, safety, ethics, and fishing equipment from 10:00am - 2:30 pm. MassWildlife Angler Education Instructors will be on hand to assist anglers. If you have fishing equipment, bring it along! A limited quantity of fishing equipment and bait will be available. The Massachusetts Angler Education Program is participating in this event in cooperation w/the Department of Conservation and Recreation. For more information, contact Blue Hills Reservation at (617) 698-1802.
- Shorebird migration to southern climes and hemisphere begins, watch for flocks along the coast.
- July 28--Fisheries & Wildlife Board Meeting & Public Hearing, North Easton--The Fisheries & Wildlife Board will hold its July meeting on Tuesday, July 28, 2009 at 1:00 p.m. at Borderland State Park, 259 Massapoag Avenue, North Easton. This facility is handicapped accessible. A Public Hearing will be held at 3:00 p.m. at the same location relative to rules and regulations pertaining to the dates of the spring turkey hunting season in Zones 11 & 12 (Barnstable, Bristol, and Plymouth Counties).
AUGUST 2009
See the MassWildlife Fishing & Hunting Laws page for regulations, bag limits and zone information.
- August 5--Yellow warblers and northern waterthrushes begin moving south.
- Clethra, a shrub, begins to bloom in wet areas, filling the air with a sweet spicy scent.
- August 7-- Project WILD/Aquatic WILD Workshop for Educators, Attleboro -- Interested K-12 educators to participate in an exciting six-hour interdisciplinary hands-on/minds-on workshop focusing on terrestrial and aquatic wildlife and ecosystems at Fisher College. Participants will actively engage in activities, evaluate materials for unique needs & settings, share experiences with other educators, take home ideas & resources to integrate in to their teaching, and make correlations to national & state content standards. Scout leaders, youth group leaders, and formal & non-formal educators find the materials & workshop experience very valuable. Hours may be used toward obtaining PDP’s. Workshop runs from 9 - 5 and cost is $30/person. Pre-registration is required by calling contact Nicole Wegner at (508) 944-5886.
- August 15--Deadline to apply for controlled deer hunt at Quabbin. Apply through the Department of Conservation and Recreation's Division of Water Supply.
- August 20--Bright red Cardinal flowers bloom along high quality freshwater streams.
- Nighthawk migrations begin in the last week of August.
SEPTEMBER 2009
See the MassWildlife Fishing & Hunting Laws page for regulations, bag limits and zone information.
- Fall warbler migration is near its peak. Watch for them in shrubs and treetops.
- September 8 -- Black bear hunting season opens in Wildlife Managment Zones 1-9. Bear permit required. Handguns permitted during this season.
- 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 14 --Gray squirrel season opens in Wildlife Managment Zones 1-9.
- September 15--CANOEING? KAYAKING? YOU MUST WEAR A LIFE JACKET Between September 15 of this year and May 15 of next year, ALL persons in canoes and kayaks must be WEARING lifejackets. This includes waterfowl hunters. Most boating fatalities in Massachusetts are due to accidents in small craft such as this in cold water/cold weather situations. More Boating SafetyInformation.
- September 16 -- September Black bear hunting season closes.
- September 30-- Bullfrog and green frog season closes.
OCTOBER 2009
See the MassWildlife Fishing & Hunting Laws page for regulations, bag limits and zone information.
- October 1--CANOEING? KAYAKING? YOU MUST WEAR A LIFE JACKET Between September 15 of this year and May 15 of next year, ALL persons in canoes and kayaks must be WEARING lifejackets. This includes anglers and waterfowl hunters as well as other canoe and kayak users. Most boating fatalities in Massachusetts are due to accidents in small craft such as this in cold water/cold weather situations. More Boating Safety Information.
- October 1 -- Opening day for hunting raccoon and oppossum statewide.
- Bullfrogs, snapping turtles and garter snakes are
going into hibernation.
- Juncos, often called snowbirds, begin to arrive from their summer breeding areas in northern New England and Canada.
- October 12 -- Archery hunting for deer opens statewide.
- Spawning at the Hatcheries--Trout and salmon 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.
- October 17--Opening day for hunting pheasant, quail, grouse,
coyote statewide. Opening day for cottontail rabbits in Wildlife Managment
Zones 1-12. Opening day for snowshoe hare in Wildlife Managment Zones
1-12.
- Brook and brown trout are spawning during this time.
- October 26 -- Opening day for fall turkey hunting in Wildlife Managment Zones 1-9 and 13.
- 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.
- October 31 -- Fall turkey hunting season closes.
NOVEMBER 2009
See the MassWildlife Fishing & Hunting Laws page for regulations, bag limits and zone information.
- November 2 -- Opening day for bear hunting season in Wildlife Management Zones 1-9. Opening day for fox hunting statewide.
- Eastern cottontail rabbits have switched to a winter diet of twigs and buds from shrubs as well as young maples, birches and oaks.
- November 16--Cottontail rabbit and snowshoe hare seasons open in Wildlife Management Zones 13 & 14. Jackrabbit hunting season opens.
- November 21 -- Black bear and archery for deer hunting season closes.
- 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.
- November 28 -- Hunting season for pheasant, quail, grouse closes.
- November 30 -- Shotgun season for deer hunting opens statewide.
All other hunting seasons are closed except for coyote and hunting
waterfowl on coastal waters.
DECEMBER 2009
See the MassWildlife Fishing & Hunting Laws page for regulations, bag limits and zone information.
JANUARY 2010
See the MassWildlife Fishing & Hunting Laws page for regulations, bag limits and zone information.
- January 1--Happy New Year! We hope you enjoy and use this calendar for your recreation and educational needs.
- SUPPORT WILDLIFE WORK IN MASSACHUSETTS! Buy a fishing or hunting license. Unlike most other state agencies, the Division of Fisheries & Wildlife's budget is approximately 95% funded through license fees and our work benefits all citizens and the wildlife residing in the Commonwealth. Consider this a natural investment in wildlife conservation, research, recreation and education! You can also contribute to the Heritage and Endangered Species Fund which is partially supported by donations as well as license fees and general tax funds. Another valuable way to help wildlife is to donate to the Wildlands Fund--this fund was set up for the exclusive purpose of purchasing important fish & wildlife habitat. The land will also be open to the public, from fishing and hunting, to wildlife watching and hiking.
- 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
FEBRUARY 2010
See the MassWildlife Fishing & Hunting Laws page for regulations, bag limits and zone information.
- February 2 --GROUNDHOG DAY Here in New England, what some
people call groundhogs are actually woodchucks. See
a 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!
MARCH 2010
See the MassWildlife Fishing & Hunting Laws page for regulations, bag limits and zone information.
- Peregrine falcons return to establish their territories. Peregrines can migrate as far away as South America, but the falcons which nest here in Massachusetts probably don't go very far south.
- 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.
APRIL 2010
See the MassWildlife Fishing & Hunting Laws page for regulations, bag limits and zone information.
MAY 2010
See the MassWildlife Fishing & Hunting Laws page for regulations, bag limits and zone information.
- 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.
JUNE 2010
See the MassWildlife Fishing & Hunting Laws page for regulations, bag limits and zone information.
- First Weekend in June-- 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. Contact Jim Lagacy, Program Coordinator for more details at (508) 389-6309 or jim.lagacy@state.ma.us.
- June 20--Summer Solstice is here, the longest day of the year.
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.
Last Updated: 06/29/2009