Attendees
Present: Emma Ellsworth/Chair, Ernie Foster/Vice Chair, Malcolm Haith/Secretary, Sasha Dyer, Kyla Hastie, Matthew Sisk, Tom O’Shea/DFG Commissioner, Nicole McSweeney/Assistant Director of Outreach and Education, Mike Huguenin/Assistant Director of Wildlife, Todd Richards/Assistant Director of Fisheries, Trina Moruzzi/Assistant Director of Operations, Emily Myron/Assistant Director of Land and Habitat, Pat Huckery/Northeast Wildlife District Manager, Joe Rogers/Conn. Valley Wildlife District Manager, Jason Zimmer/Southeast Wildlife District Manager, Todd Olanyk/Central Wildlife District Manager, Caleb Slater/Hatchery Program Manager, Adam Kautza/Coldwater Fisheries Project Leader, Mike Jones/State Herpetologist, Jim Burnham/Program Coordinator, Jesse Leddick/Assistant Director of Natural Heritage & Endangered Species, Jody Simoes/Human Dimensions Project Leader, Jason Stolarski/Watershed Project Leader, Jennifer Sulla/DFG General Counsel, Christine Smith/DFG Assistant General Counsel, Captain Bill Woytek/MEP; Public: James Cardoza, Chris Giglio; Dave Morin
Acceptance of the minutes of the November monthly business meeting
A motion was made by Mr. Foster to accept the minutes of the November business meeting as presented. The motion was seconded by Ms. Dyer; the vote in favor was unanimous.
Chair's comments
Chair Ellsworth shared that she had the opportunity to mentor a friend this fall who does not come from a hunting family and is new to hunting and firearms. Ms. Ellsworth remarked how rewarding it was to see this friend go through all the steps of learning to become a hunter, including several of MassWildlife’s program offerings like Hunter Education, Learn to Hunt, and the pheasant stocking program. Ms. Ellsworth remarked that MassWildlife provides many opportunities for hunters to learn and practice the many skills required to become a hunter, which is especially important for adults who do not come from hunting families with generational knowledge of outdoor skills.
Chair Ellsworth then provided an update on the search for MassWildlife’s next director in light of Director Tisa’s impending retirement in January, to ensure it meets the state hiring process requirements as well as the open meeting law. Chair Ellsworth said that many parts of the process will happen in open session in accordance with the open meeting law, including discussion of the process, formulating interview questions, and writing the job description. She said a preliminary screening committee (PSC) consisting of fewer than four Board members, so as to not constitute a quorum, and non-Board members would be made to enable some parts of the search to occur in executive session, including consideration of applications and interviews. Ms. Ellsworth said the PSC would make a recommendation to the full Board with at least two finalists for consideration, and the final selection decision would be made in open session. Ms. Ellsworth said the PSC would include herself, Ms. Hastie, and Mr. Foster, as well as Commissioner O’Shea. Ms. Ellsworth said the PSC would report back to the Board with periodic updates and provide a draft job description. Ms. Ellsworth then asked for a vote on the PSC and search process.
A motion was made by Mr. Foster to create the PSC and proceed with the Director search process as presented. The motion was seconded by Ms. Dyer; the vote in favor was unanimous.
Mr. Foster asked if the Director search meetings in open session would happen at the same time as the regular monthly business meeting, and Ms. Ellsworth said it would be a separate meeting time.
Director’s updates
Director Tisa did not attend the meeting.
Commissioner’s updates
Commissioner O’Shea agreed with Chair Ellsworth’s comments about the importance of a transparent process for the Director search.
Commissioner O’Shea reported that Assistant Director Todd Richards, Hatchery Manager Caleb Slater, and McLaughlin Hatchery Manager Matt Lyons hosted a kick-off meeting for the McLaughlin Fish Hatchery Modernization Project. The Commissioner reported there were about 30 people in attendance, including MassWildlife staff, Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance (DCAMM) staff, contractors, engineers, architects, and energy-efficiency experts. He remarked that this will be a nation-leading model for hatchery infrastructure with the goal of making it both energy- and water-efficient, as well as addressing staff safety and comfort. The Commissioner remarked that the project has an ambitious deadline, starting first with the feasibility study to understand design needs to begin construction in 2028. The Commissioner thanked the Healey-Driscoll Administration for its support of the project, recognizing how important the hatchery is to the future of MassWildlife’s popular trout-stocking program. Commissioner O’Shea suggested Assistant Director of Fisheries Richards should do a presentation for the Board at a future date to discuss the project. Mr. Foster commented that they should hold a Board meeting onsite in the future in order to do a hatchery tour. Ms. Dyer also offered that staff and the Board could do a tour of the hatchery facility where she works to get design ideas.
Mr. Haith arrived at the meeting at 2:14 p.m.
Law Enforcement updates
Captain Bill Woytek remarked that officers were in the midst of a busy hunting season and provided several examples of cases. Captain Woytek said it is important for anyone in the field who observes violations should immediately report it to OLE. Mr. Haith commented that he reported a violation to OLE in the Northeast District and officers were responsive.
Captain Woytek reported that several OLE investigations have happened in coordination with other departments and other states in the Northeast. He said several officers were present at the deer hunt at Joint Base Cape Cod and the Quabbin Deer Hunt.
Captain Woytek remarked that the cold, snowy weather has been good for deer hunting and reported that some people are already ice fishing and using snowmobiles in the Berkshires. Mr. Foster shared his appreciation for OLE officers who helped hunters recover deer in the Southeast District. Chair Ellsworth remarked that it is good to hear about OLE’s interstate cooperation.
Personnel report
Commissioner O’Shea recommended Deputy Director Eve Schlüter be appointed MassWildlife Acting Director effective January 10, 2026, following Director Tisa’s retirement on January 9.
Eve Schlüter; Acting Director; Westborough
The Commissioner stated he had consulted with Chair Ellsworth and they agreed that appointing Dr. Schlüter as Acting Director will help ensure a seamless transition until the Director position is permanently filled.
A motion was made by Mr. Sisk to approve the personnel report as presented. The motion was seconded by Ms. Hastie; the vote in favor was unanimous.
Chair Ellsworth remarked that Dr. Schlüter has already done a great job in her role as Deputy Director and that she has confidence in her ability to lead the agency as Acting Director. She also recognized the burden on staff to cover gaps with retirements and thanked them for their hard work.
Commissioner O’Shea suggested that the Board may want to consider designating an acting deputy director as well, depending on how long the hiring process will take for the Director.
Emergency regulations for deer hunting in WMZs 13 and 14 [321 CMR 3.02(4) The Hunting of Deer; Michael Huguenin]
Commissioner O’Shea introduced the presentation by saying that the Healey-Driscoll Administration has asked MassWildlife to be responsive to deer overabundance on Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket Island, saying it increases the likelihood of tick-borne illness, negatively impacts forest health, increases deer-vehicle collisions, and contributes to coastal erosion.
MassWildlife Assistant Director for Wildlife Mike Huguenin made the presentation about Emergency Regulations for Deer Hunting in WMZs 13 and 14. He noted that Deer and Moose Project Leader Martin Feehan is currently on Martha’s Vineyard having a meeting with stakeholders about the same issue.
Assistant Director Huguenin began by saying MassWildlife works hard to base management decisions on the best available science. Ms. Ellsworth agreed and referenced a recent public attitudes study that showed many members of the public felt MassWildlife was a trusted source of information.
Assistant Director Huguenin said the Healey-Driscoll Administration asked MassWildlife to re-evaluate deer management options on the Islands to see if more could be done to impact the 2026 season. Assistant Director Huguenin showed a graph that demonstrated deer densities on both islands have been growing over time, well above the statewide management goal range of 12–18 deer per square mile. In areas closed to hunting, there are over 100 deer per square mile. Assistant Director Huguenin discussed the negative impacts of overabundant deer on the islands, including agricultural damage, coastal erosion, tick-borne illness, and habitat damage. He highlighted several partnerships MassWildlife has on the island and noted that Deer and Moose Project Leader Martin Feehan has been building local relationships to address overabundant deer issues, including through deer damage permits, processing and donating venison through Hunters Share the Harvest, and promoting dumpster sites on Nantucket for deer remains.
Assistant Director Huguenin reminded the Board that they already approved a January deer hunting season in WMZs 13 and 14 with primitive firearms and archery equipment. While MassWildlife was already scheduled to implement the January hunt for the first time on the islands in 2026, Assistant Director Huguenin proposed additional emergency regulations which would add an additional 2 weeks into February and an early season in September. These emergency regulations would:
- Extend the winter deer season an additional 2 weeks in Wildlife Management Zones 13 and 14 from January 1 through February 14, where primitive firearms and archery equipment may be used. A primitive firearm stamp would not be required to hunt this season.
- Create an early deer season in Wildlife Management Zones 13 and 14 where primitive firearms and archery equipment may be used. The early deer season in 2026 would be open Monday, September 21 through Thursday, October 1. Annually, this season would always begin the second Monday before Youth Deer Hunt and end on the Thursday before the Youth Deer Hunt.
Assistant Director Huguenin also said there were two additional regulations related to the islands that were already pending a public hearing that are also included in the emergency package to reduce pain points.
- Hunters on the Islands will no longer have to check deer at designated stations on the Island of harvest; hunters can check deer at any check station or online within 48 hours.
- Hunters, including those using the ferry to transport deer, will no longer be required to transport deer in a visible fashion but will be able to conceal them, reducing conflicts.
Assistant Director Huguenin explained that if approved, these changes will take effect immediately after filing with State Secretary and be in place for the 2026 season. A public hearing and public comment period will be scheduled within the next 90 days to determine if the emergency regulations will be made permanent. Assistant Director Huguenin said MassWildlife would be able to evaluate the season’s first year and propose future recommendations.
Ms. Ellsworth asked if there are other actions the Board should be considering, such as allowing shotguns. Mr. Huguenin replied that we would first see the outcome of this season, review various options, and go through the regular process of public hearings if shotgun was to be recommended.
Mr. Haith asked about what MassWildlife anticipates the impact to be based on historical participation and license/stamp sale trends. Mr. Huguenin replied that MassWildlife does track participation through various means and we will need to see results following the first season, and he remarked that hunters may spread out their effort over the longer time period but the regulations provide more options and opportunity for hunting.
Ms. Dyer asked how the winter deer permit works. Mr. Huguenin explained hunters with a Winter Deer Permit can harvest an additional deer of either sex on the Islands during the winter deer season. He clarified that hunters have to obtain the winter deer permit through the licensing system (not automatically included with license) but it is a free product.
Mr. Foster thanked Governor Healey and the MassWildlife staff for acknowledging the problem with overabundant deer with vehicle impacts, tick issues, and coastal erosion. Mr. Foster said having deer processors on island is important to removing barriers. He remarked that these are beautiful places to hunt with friendly people but can be difficult to access with the ferries. He also noted that legislative changes including allowing Sunday hunting, changing discharge setbacks, and allowing crossbows would provide additional opportunity to control deer numbers. He noted these changes should be made statewide and allow hunting seasons to be determined based on the best available science.
Mr. Huguenin added that deer hunting alone will not be a silver bullet answer for reducing ticks, and said several tactics will be needed to protect public health. He noted reducing deer numbers is critical for maintaining healthy forests.
Chair Ellsworth remarked she is looking forward to hunting the islands this winter and plans to donate any deer harvested. She said she is looking forward to doing the activity she loves while contributing to forest health, public health, public safety, and helping to feed people.
A motion was made by Mr. Sisk to approve the emergency regulations as presented. The motion was seconded by Ms. Dyer; the vote in favor was unanimous.
Future deer hunting expansion opportunities (Commissioner O’Shea)
Commissioner O’Shea thanked the Board for their support of the emergency regulations and commented that while Director Tisa and Deputy Director Schlüter were unable to attend today’s meeting, they are both supportive of the changes.
The Commissioner shared that the Healey-Driscoll Administration is considering working to remove the statutory ban on Sunday hunting, and has asked MassWildlife to hold public listening sessions in early 2026 to get feedback on potential benefits of and concerns about allowing Sunday hunting and how it might be a useful tool for managing deer populations. The Commissioner noted the importance of weekends to hunters in being able to participate, noting Massachusetts is 1 of only 2 states in the country that bans Sunday hunting. Commissioner O’Shea said that MassWildlife will come back with a plan for the format of those listening sessions in early 2026.
Mr. Haith suggested we need a strategy for addressing fear and safety concerns from non-hunters. Commissioner O’Shea noted that both Rhode Island and New Jersey are more densely populated than Massachusetts and have successfully implemented Sunday hunting. Commissioner O’Shea said Sundays would provide additional opportunity to address overabundant deer and allow for additional hunter effort.
Mr. Foster asked if the administration was interested in soliciting public feedback on other hunting statutes like discharge setbacks and crossbows. Commissioner O’Shea replied that the administration is particularly interested in getting public feedback on Sunday hunting at this time.
Chair Ellsworth said she frequently hears from other hunters that allowing Sunday hunting would make a big difference, particularly for working families and youth hunters who have limited time and competing activities. She remarked that in particular, trips to the islands for off-island hunters can be a big expense if only going for a single day, so allowing both weekend days would be a big improvement.
Ms. Hastie commented that reducing deer numbers is critical for conserving biodiversity, as well as habitat protection. Sunday hunting would enable us to achieve multiple objectives, while bringing science to those management decisions.
Mr. Haith noted that finding affordable places to stay on the islands can be a barrier for some hunters and suggested MassWildlife work with the Chamber of Commerce to address this issue.
Set January business meeting date and time
After a brief discussion, the Board members selected January 21, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. for the January business meeting, at the Field Headquarters and on Zoom.
Ms. Ellsworth remarked that a public hearing for the emergency regulations would be voted on and scheduled during the January meeting.
Members’ comments
Mr. Sisk reported that pheasant stocking and hunting in the southeast region was great as usual. Mr. Sisk remarked that there is opportunity for dog clubs to use MassWildlife properties and requested if MassWildlife could provide information at a future meeting if they have seen an increase in field trials and hunt tests on WMAs since the new regulations were passed.
Mr. Haith agreed that there is a lot of opportunity for more field trials and hunt tests on Wildlife Management Areas, and said he plans to visit different properties to better understand the features of the properties, maintenance needs, and public access in order to better communicate with dog clubs about what is available. Mr. Haith said he would reach out to each district manager to coordinate. Mr. Haith shared his experience competing at field trials and hunt tests in other parts of the country, and noted that they have positive economic impact and bring many people together to enjoy the outdoors.
Ms. Dyer shared she recently attended a surprise presentation at the Petersham Country Store for young angler Kyler Leslie who is featured on the cover of the 2026 Guide to Hunting, Freshwater Fishing, and Trapping. Ms. Dyer thanked MassWildlife Publications Manager Troy Gipps for helping to coordinate the cover and surprise. Ms. Dyer said the experience reminded her of the importance of volunteering and sharing outdoor skills with others.
Mr. Foster congratulated MassWildlife staff for their work on the Hunters Share the Harvest Program, noting the thousands of meals hunters have donated to support their local communities, and the many new processors added this year. Mr. Foster noted that ticks are a major concern for hunters and a problem for public health.
Public comment
Meg Sheehan of Plymouth from the Community Land & Water Coalition was not present in person to provide comment.
Adjourn
There being no further business, Ms. Dyer moved to adjourn. Mr. Sisk seconded the motion.
The vote in favor was unanimous, and the meeting was adjourned at 3:18 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Malcolm Haith
Secretary
List of documents presented to the Board in its December business meeting packets
December agenda
November monthly meeting minutes draft
Draft redlined and clean copies of the emergency regulations: 321 CMR 3.02(4) The Hunting of Deer