MassWildlife calendar

2026 fishing & hunting seasons

October 1: Fall Turkey Hunting, Virtual – Join members of the NWTF and staff from MassWildlife for a one hour zoom panel discussion focused on 'Fall Turkey Hunting.' Topics will include laws and regulations, fall turkey hunting tactics and strategies, and fall turkey calling.  The class is from 6–7 p.m.  Click here to register.

October 1: Family Fishing Clinic, Shrewsbury – Join us for a free, family friendly, learn to fish clinic at Dean Park Pond from 5–6:30 p.m. Bring your fishing equipment or borrow ours; limited equipment and bait will be provided. Open to the public, pre-registration is required for the Family Fishing Clinic in Shrewsbury. This event is being held in cooperation with the MassWildlife's Angler Education Program and the Shrewsbury Recreation Department.

October 3: Fearing Pond Family Fishing Festival, Plymouth – Join the fun at this family friendly, learn to fish event at Fearing Pond in the Myles Standish State Forest from  10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Learn to set up your rod, tie knots, cast, and identify fish. Bring your own fishing equipment or borrow ours. No pre-registration is required; contact Jim Lagacy at jim.lagacy@mass.gov or (508) 389-6309 for more information. This event is being held in cooperation with the Friends of Myles Standish State Forest and the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR).

October 4: Barrens and Buck Moths Walk, Carver/Plymouth  – Join MassWildlife and DCR experts for a habitat walk at the Myles Standish Complex from 1 – 3 p.m. This area, which includes MassWildlife’s Southeast Pine Barrens WMA and DCR’s Myles Standish State Forest, is one of the few places on earth where you can explore an expansive, intact pine barrens. Learn about buck moths and other Species of Greatest Conservation Need that depend on pine barrens with open tree canopy maintained by fire or other disturbance. Participants should be prepared for a ~1.5 mile walk and dress for the weather and walking on uneven ground. The Massachusetts Forester Licensing Board will award 2 Category 1 credits for the walk. Space is limited, and pre-registration is required for the Barrens and Buck Moths Walk in Carver/Plymouth. 

October 4: Learn to Fish Clinic and Fly Fishing Clinic, Wrentham – Join MassWildlife at the National Wild Turkey Federation's Youth Outdoor Field Day at the Wrentham Sportsmen’s Association from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. Open to the public, pre-registration required. Visit 2026 NWTF Youth Outdoor Skills Day Registration to register, or email jim.lagacy@mass.gov for more information.

October 6: Family Fishing Clinic, Easton – Join us for a free, family friendly, learn to fish clinic at New Pond from 4:30–6:30 p.m. Bring your fishing equipment or borrow ours; limited equipment and bait will be provided. Open to the public, pre-registration is required for the Family Fishing Clinic in Easton. This event is being held in cooperation with the MassWildlife's Angler Education Program and the Easton Recreation Department.

October 7: Waterfowl Hunting 101, Virtual – Join MassWildlife staff and partners to learn all about waterfowl hunting. Topics include basic waterfowl biology and identification, laws and regulations, gear and equipment, and hunting strategies/techniques for beginner waterfowl hunters. This class will be taught through Zoom from 6–8 p.m. Registration is required. Click here to register.

October 7: Protecting Our Coastal Plain Ponds: Science, Stewardship, and Management Presentation, Plymouth – Join us for a talk exploring the natural history and unique ecology of Massachusetts’ Coastal Plain Ponds. Learn about the threats facing these special habitats and discover practical management and conservation options. The discussion will highlight the important role private landowners can play in protecting and restoring Coastal Plain Ponds for future generations. The presentation is from 2–4 p.m. at the Plymouth Public Library (132 South Street, Plymouth) Space is limited, and pre-registration is required; sign up now to save your spot! 

October 8: Family Fishing Clinic, Palmer – Join us for a free, family friendly, learn to fish clinic at Forest Lake from 4:30–6:30 p.m. Bring your fishing equipment or borrow ours; all equipment and bait will be provided. Open to the public, pre-registration is required for the Family Fishing Clinic in Palmer. This event is being held in cooperation with the MassWildlife's Angler Education Program, the Opacum Land Trust, and the Town of Palmer.

October 11: Restoring Woodlands for Wildlife Walk, East Falmouth  – Join us for a habitat walk at Frances Crane Wildlife Management area from 12–2 p.m. This remarkable place provides critical habitat for wildlife, including more than 20 species listed as endangered, threatened, or of special concern. Discover how more than a decade of successful habitat restoration has transformed the area and hear about the management activities planned there for this winter. Participants should be prepared for a ~2.5 mile walk and dress for the weather and walking on uneven ground. The Massachusetts Forester Licensing Board will award 2 Category 1 credits for the walk. Space is limited, and pre-registration is required for the Restoring Woodlands for Wildlife Walk in East Falmouth. 

October 13: Protecting Our Coastal Plain Ponds: Science, Stewardship, and Management Presentation, Virtual  – Join us for a talk exploring the natural history and unique ecology of Massachusetts’ Coastal Plain Ponds. Learn about the threats facing these special habitats and discover practical management and conservation options. The discussion will highlight the important role private landowners can play in protecting and restoring Coastal Plain Ponds for future generations. The presentation will be on Zoom from 6–8 p.m. Space is limited, and pre-registration is required; sign up now to save your spot! 

October 15: Coexisting with Black Bears Presentation, Northfield – Join us from 6–7:30 p.m. for an engaging presentation about black bear biology, behavior, and research. Learn practical, proactive steps your community can take to safely coexist with black bears in Massachusetts. The program will be led by Meghan Crawford, Community Engagement Biologist at MassWildlife. This talk is free and located in the Auditorium of the Northfield Mountain Visitor Center located at 99 Millers Falls Road in Northfield, MA. Learn more about the bear presentation.

October 22: Family Fishing Clinic, Ayer –Join MassWildlife for a free, family friendly fishing clinic at the Ayer Gun and Sportsmen's Club from 4–6 p.m. Learn to set up your rod, tie knots, cast, and identify fish. Bring your own fishing equipment or borrow ours. Limited gear and bait will be provided. Open to the public, pre-registration is required for the Family Fishing Clinic in Ayer. This event is being held in cooperation with the MassWildlife's Angler Education Program, the Ayer Library, and the Ayer Gun and Sportsmen’s Club.  

October 30: The Remarkable Landscapes of Montague Plains Presentation, Turners Falls  – Join this engaging presentation from 5–7 p.m. at the Great Falls Discovery Center. Explore the natural history of Montague Plains through 4 complementary perspectives. Geology professor Richard Little will explain the glacial lake Hitchcock origins of the Montague Plain and why Turners Falls would not exist if not for this delta. Pat Conlin, Habitat Biologist at MassWildlife, will describe the agency’s long-term stewardship and restoration of imperiled natural plant communities. Caren Caljouw, Prescribed Fire Manager at MassWildlife, will cover the benefits of prescribed fire. And ecologist Mike Akresh, PhD, will review findings from wildlife research conducted there. Together they will show how geology, land management, and ecological research have shaped our understanding of one of New England’s most distinctive pine and oak barrens. Register for the Montague Plains presentation.

Email Mass.Wildlife@mass.gov

We will do our best to accommodate any needs to allow community members to participate as fully as possible.

• Reasonable accommodations for people with disabilities are available upon request. To submit a request for an accommodation, please email eeadiversity@mass.gov or call 617-626-1282; an ADA Coordinator will receive your request. Please include a description of the request in as much detail as possible and a way we can contact you if we need more information. Please allow at least 2 weeks’ (14 days) advance notice. Last-minute requests will be accepted but we may be unable to fulfill the request.
• Please let us know of any language interpretation requests by email to susan.sacco@mass.gov at least 72 hours before the event.
• Se pueden solicitar servicios adicionales de traducción o interpretación enviando su solicitud por correo electrónico a susan.sacco@mass.gov al menos 72 horas antes de la reunión.
• Serviços adicionais de tradução ou interpretação podem ser solicitados ao enviar um e-mail para: susan.sacco@mass.gov com pelo menos 72 horas de antecedência da reunião.
• 如需额外的笔译或口译服务，请至少在会议开始前 72 小时发电子邮件至 susan.sacco@mass.gov 提出要求.
• Ou ka mande plis sèvis tradiksyon oswa entèpretasyon lè w adrese demann ou pou imèl susan.sacco@mass.gov omwen 72 èdtan anvan reyinyon an.
• Các dịch vụ biên dịch hoặc phiên dịch bổ sung có thể được yêu cầu bằng cách gửi yêu cầu của quý vị qua email đến susan.sacco@mass.gov ít nhất 72 giờ trước cuộc họp.
• Предоставление дополнительных услуг письменного или устного перевода можно запросить, отправив просьбу по электронной почте на адрес susan.sacco@mass.gov как минимум за 72 часа до начала встречи
• Des services de traduction ou d'interprétation supplémentaires peuvent être demandés en envoyant votre demande par e-mail à susan.sacco@mass.gov au moins 72 heures avant la réunion.