June 2 & 3 - STATEWIDE FREE FISHING WEEKEND!--Take a friend or family member fishing--you won't need a fishing license in freshwater for these two days! All other fishing regulations apply. A fishing license is a valuable investment in your state, supporting fisheries research, fish stocking programs, angler education, land and water protection and many other services provided by MassWildlife. Unlike most other state agencies, the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries & Wildlife does not receive general tax fund revenues. More information on licenses, fees, purchasing on-line or over the counter.

June 8 - 10 - Lenox-- 12th Annual MASS. Becoming an OutdoorsWoman Weekend (pdf) This weekend offers 25+ separate workshop options plus fun and activities for the full group. Sign up now--bring a friend or relative and have a great weekend at "Camp for Women"!!! Shooting, fishing, kayaking, nature photography and more are on the menu of workshops sessions to choose from. New offerings include: Game Cooking with Chef Myron Becker, Stones, Bones and Feathers with Randy Julius, Healthy Landscaping for your Lawn and Woodlands as well as a Forestry 101 with Anna James, Knives and Knots with Karen Nottonsen and Bob Trapnell. Any other questions? Call Sue Fritze at 508/389-6329.

Southeast Wildlife District Office Temporarily Closed

MassWildlife's Southeast Wildlife District Office in Bourne will be closed temporarily during building renovations. The closure is anticipated to last approximately one month and will during the week of April 23rd.

Arrangements have been made to relocate the District Clerk to the Scusset Beach State Fish Pier Office operated by the Department of Conservation and Recreation at Scusset Beach State Reservation. Turkey permits and licenses will be sold at the Scusset Beach location from 8am to 3:30pm.

District Biologists and technicians will be relocated to the Sandwich State Fish Hatchery located on Route 6A in Sandwich. The District Supervisor will split time between the two locations, in addition to being on site at the District Office to supervise construction projects.

All phone inquiries should be directed to the Sandwich State Fish Hatchery at (508) 888-0008.

The Sandwich State Fish Hatchery will serve as a turkey check station. The check station will be open from 9am-3pm. Special Note: Red Top Bait & Tackle is also an official turkey checking station and is located at 265 Main Street, Buzzards Bay, which is within 5 minutes of the closed District Office.

Directions to Scussett Beach State Reservation:
Scusset Beach State Reservation is located in southeastern Massachusetts. From the North: Follow Rte. 3 south to the intersection with Rte. 6 at the Sagamore Bridge. Take exit for Scusset Beach Rd. Follow Scusset Beach Rd. 4 miles to the campground entrance.

From the West or South: Take Rte. 495 South to the intersection with Rte. 6 at the Bourne Bridge. Follow Rte. 6 East to the intersection with Rte. 3 at the Sagamore Bridge. Continue under Route 3 to Scusset Beach Rd. Follow Scusset Beach Rd 4 miles to the campground entrance.

Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy (Wildlife Action Plan) -- This document, recently approved by the US Fish & Wildlife Service, lays out the current needs for wildlife, habitat and biodiversity in Massachusetts. This plan also provides strategies for action that will help protect the wild places that both people and wildlife depend on.

Southeast Wildlife District Office Temporarily Closed

MassWildlife's Southeast Wildlife District Office will be closed temporarily during building renovations. The closure is anticipated to last approximately one month and will tentatively begin sometime during the week of April 23rd.

Arrangements have been made to relocate the District Clerk to the Scusset Beach State Fish Pier Office operated by the Department of Conservation and Recreation at Scusset Beach State Reservation. Turkey permits and licenses will be sold at the Scusset Beach location from 8am to 3:30pm.

District Biologists and technicians will be relocated to the Sandwich State Fish Hatchery located on Route 130 in Sandwich. The District Supervisor will split time between the two locations, in addition to being on site at the District Office to supervise construction projects.

The Sandwich State Fish Hatchery will serve as a turkey check station. The check station will be open from 9am-3pm. Special Note: Red Top Bait & Tackle is also an official turkey checking station and is located at 265 Main Street, Buzzards Bay, which is within 5 minutes of the closed District Office.

All phone inquiries should be directed to the Sandwich State Fish Hatchery at (508) 888-0008.

Directions to Scussett Beach State Reservation:

Scusset Beach State Reservation is located in southeastern Massachusetts. From the North: Follow Rte. 3 south to the intersection with Rte. 6 at the Sagamore Bridge. Take exit for Scusset Beach Rd. Follow Scusset Beach Rd. 4 miles to the campground entrance.

From the West or South: Take Rte. 495 South to the intersection with Rte. 6 at the Bourne Bridge. Follow Rte. 6 East to the intersection with Rte. 3 at the Sagamore Bridge. Continue under Route 3 to Scusset Beach Rd. Follow Scusset Beach Rd 4 miles to the campground entrance.

Help MassWildlife Stock Salmon Fry this Spring! -- Volunteers from schools, sporting clubs, civic groups and individuals with a passion for rivers, fish or fishing are needed to assist MassWildlife in stocking 1.7 million salmon fry (juvenile fish) as part of the Atlantic salmon restoration program. Fry will be trucked to meeting sites where volunteers will gather and caravan to release sites. The tiny fish will then be moved from truck to water by bucket using volunteer man and woman power. Dr. Slater offers some tips for potential volunteers, "You may get wet! A change of clothes is a good idea. You will be walking on slippery stream and river beds, so waders or other waterproof footgear is useful." There are a few waders to loan. Volunteers will also be climbing up and down steep stream banks and should be in good physical condition.

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Jan 16, 2007 ---New Phone Numbers at Westborough Field Headquarters -- Phone numbers at the Mass. Division of Fisheries and Wildlife Westboro office were changed over the past weekend. Please make update your information.

The main office number is: 508/389-6300.
Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program: 508/389-6360

Fax numbers have also changed:
Main fax number: 508/389-7890
Fax for the Natural Heritage & Endangered Species Program: 508/389-7891

In addition, extensions have changed for each staff person. A staff directory will be available by phone. Updates will also be posted on the appropriate agency web pages.

July 10, 2006--New Hunting/Sporting License Purchase Law -- Effective January 1, 2007 new legislation was signed that requires first time hunting or sporting license (combination hunting and fishing) buyers to produce a certificate showing they have passed a basic hunter education course or show a hunting or sporting license from any previous year and/or any state or province. The recent legislation now reinstates the hunter education requirement that had been in place prior to major gun law changes in 1998. See the above link for answers to any questions you may have.

Sportsmen's Club Surveys Needed! A survey from MassWildlife requesting information on sportsmen's clubs activities related to youth and women as well as handicapped accessibility was sent out to clubs last winter. Since then, a number of clubs have responded, but some surveys were returned due to old addresses and others have not responded. Club members are encouraged to check on their club's survey status. Click for a listing of clubs and their status regarding this survey.

If a survey has not been returned, members may download the survey , fill it out and send it in. Club not listed? Please download a survey, fill out the information and send it to us as well!

Please return completed surveys as soon as possible to: Ellie Horwitz, MassWildlife Field Headquarters, 1 Rabbit Hill Road, Westborough MA 01581.

Holiday/Birthday Gift Ideas--Click here for gift ideas for the wildlife or outdoor enthusiast in your life!

Subscribe Online to MassWildlife News!!--This electronic publication contains updates on the latest fish and wildlife topics, rare and endangered species, wildlife events and important reminders to sportsmen and women, wildlife enthusiasts and other outdoor oriented people. MWNews will appear in your email 1-2 times/month. To subscribe send an email to: Join-MassWildlife.news@listserv.state.ma.us A confirmation message will follow with a short survey (30 seconds) asking about your wildlife related interests and affiliations.

Click here for a Recent MassWildlife News sample.

Fishing in Massachusetts --(1080KB) Want to get a good overview of fishing for various species in the Bay State? We've posted in pdf format the entire Massachusetts Wildlife magazine Fishing Issue published in 2000.

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.

Questions? Comments? Contact: MassWildlife at Mass.Wildlife@state.ma.us