The Official Website of the Department of Fish and Game (DFG)

Office of Fishing and Boating Access
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FAQs

Table of Contents

Q: Where can I buy a fresh water fishing (or hunting) License?
Q: Where can I get maps of ponds showing depth contours?
 Q: When do the various hunting seasons begin and end?
Q: How can I find out about what streams and ponds are stocked and when?
Q: Are all public access sites open to the general public?
Q: Where can I sign up for a Hunter Education course?
Q: Where can I sign up for a boating safety course?
Q: Where can I get my boat registered?
Q: How can I find out about certifying a vernal pool?
Q: I am a consultant working on a project and need to know about environmental review procedures for rare and endangered species.
Q: Who do I see about getting a job with the Department or one of its agencies?

Q: Where can I buy a fresh water fishing (or hunting) License?

A: Hunting and fishing licenses (2011 onward) are being sold through MassFishHunt, which can be found online here.
In addition, check out MassWildlife's License Vendor List for information regarding walk-in locations where you can buy these licenses. Please go to MassWildlife's fees page to see their fee schedule.

Q: Where can I get maps of ponds showing depth contours?

A: Click here to see a list of these maps, in heavy demand by the public, which have been scanned from the originals traditionally distributed by MassWildlife in hard copy format. Their singular feature is that they show depth contours for each pond, a feature in great demand by persons planning to fish in those ponds. They were recently updated (Winter 2001) with written descriptions describing the ponds themselves, fish populations and fishing opportunities.

Q: When do the various hunting seasons begin and end?

A: This information is contained in MassWildlife's "Abstracts". Click here (PDF file) to view them ( pdf format, 709KB).

Q: How can I find out about what streams and ponds are stocked and when?

A: Please refer to MassWildlife's trout stock report page .

Q: Are all public access sites open to the general public?

Boat and canoe access facilities in Massachusetts are built and maintained by a variety of different government and private organizations. All boating access facilities overseen by the Department of Fish and Game's Office of Fishing and Boating Access (FBA) are open to the public on equal terms. The vast majority of the FBA sites (more than 200 statewide) are open free of charge; however, a small number of facilities have been authorized to charge a reasonable user fee to recover the costs of general maintenance, clean up, and policing.

Town facilities or those built and maintained by a lake association or other private group can restrict use to town residents only or an organization's members, or charge higher fees to non-residents or non-members. All facilities constructed with FBA funds, whether they are on town property or state properties such as a state park or a wildlife management area, must be open to the public on equal terms.

Q: Where can I sign up for a Hunter Education course?

A:Click here or call Hunter Education (a branch of the Division of Fisheries and Wildlife in cooperation with the Division of Law Enforcement) at 508-792-7434 or 617-727-3623

Q: Where can I sign up for a boating safety course?

A: Click on this link to go to the Division of Law Enforcement's Boating Safety Course web page

Q: Where can I get my boat, atv or snowmobile registered?

A: The Division of Law Enforcement's Registration and Titling Section administers the registration of more than 140,000 motorboats and 20,000 all-terrain-vehicles and snowmobiles in Massachusetts. It is also responsible for motorboat titling, which is mandatory for all vessels 14 feet or greater in length that are designed for use with an engine, including square-back canoes, some sailboats and other watercraft. Click here to go to the Licensing and Registration web page to learn more.

Q: How can I find out about certifying a vernal pool?

A: Click here to go to Natural Heritage's web site and look in the table of contents under Vernal Pool Certification. Use your back arrow to return here.

Q: I am a consultant working on a project and need to know about environmental review procedures for rare and endangered species.

A: Click here to go to Natural Heritage's web site and look in the table of contents under Environmental Review and Legal Protections. Use your back arrow to return here.

Q: Who do I see about getting a job with the Department or one of its agencies?

A: Departmental and Division employment opportunities are posted on CEO, Commonwealth Employment Opportunities web site. You should first visit the Department's Human Resources Office page.

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