Regulated hunting is an important tool for managing wildlife populations, connecting people with nature, and providing food for thousands of families across Massachusetts. While MassWildlife has been working to improve access and opportunity for hunting, there are several statutes which would require legislative action to change:
- Sunday hunting
- Hunting with crossbows
- Minimum discharge setback distances for hunting
MassWildlife welcomes the public to provide input on these hunting laws at upcoming listening sessions or online using this form by 5 p.m. on Friday, February 6, 2026.
Attend a listening session
- January 27 at 6 p.m. on Zoom. Click here to register.
- January 28 at 6 p.m. at MassWildlife Field Headquarters (1 Rabbit Hill Road, Westborough)
Note: Parking is limted at this location, please carpool if possible. - January 29 at 6 p.m. at Berkshire Community College (Robert Boland Theatre, 1350 West Street, Pittsfield)
- February 2 at 6 p.m. at Massachusetts Maritime Academy (Admiral’s Hall, 101 Academy Drive, Bourne)
- February 3 at 1 p.m. on Zoom. Click here to register.
Format: Attendees will be asked to sign up to speak. Comments will be limited to 2 minutes.
Notice: In the event of inclement weather, in-person sessions may switch to a virtual format. Check this page for updates.
Submit written comments
To provide written comments, use this online form or send by mail to Attn: Hunting Laws, 1 Rabbit Hill Road, Westborough, MA, 01581 by 5 p.m. on Friday, February 6, 2026.
Accommodations
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.
- MassWildlife is committed to providing equitable access to its public listening sessions. We will do our best to provide live language interpretation upon request, including in Español, Português, 中文, Kreyòl Ayisyen, or Tiếng Việt. Please give us your specific request for language interpretation for any of the sessions by email to susan.sacco@mass.gov at least 72 hours before the session.