Attendees
Present: Emma Ellsworth/Chair, Malcolm Haith/Secretary, Sasha Dyer, Kyla Hastie, Matthew Sisk, Eve Schlüter/Acting Director, Tom O’Shea/DFG Commissioner, Kris McCarthy/Associate Director/CFO, Nicole McSweeney/Assistant Director of Outreach and Education, Mike Huguenin/Assistant Director of Wildlife, Todd Richards/Assistant Director of Fisheries, Jesse Leddick/Assistant Director of Natural Heritage and Endangered Species, Pat Huckery/Northeast Wildlife District Manager, Joseph Rogers/Conn. Valley Wildlife District Manager, Jason Zimmer/ Southeast Wildlife District Manager, Todd Olanyk/Central Wildlife District Manager, Andrew Madden/Western Wildlife District Manager, Nicole Keleher/Habitat Restoration and Management Program Manager, Jim Burnham/Program Coordinator, Jon Brooks/Wildlife Conservation Ecologist, Jody Simoes/Human Dimensions Project Leader, Erik Amati/Wildlife Biologist, Jennifer Sulla/DFG General Counsel, Christine Smith/DFG Assistant General Counsel, Major Kevin Clayton/MEP; Public: Dave Morin, Steve Larivee, Melinda Mackendrick, Richard Strahan
Acceptance of the minutes of the December monthly business meeting
A motion was made by Mr. Sisk to accept the minutes of the December business meeting as presented. The motion was seconded by Ms. Dyer; the vote in favor was unanimous.
Chair's comments
Chair Ellsworth reported she had taken a recent trip to hunt on Martha’s Vineyard during the extended winter season and was amazed to see how many deer there are on the island. She reported experiencing a positive reaction from local residents, who were grateful hunters were there and acknowledged the problem of overabundant deer. She used a bike path to access public property and received thumbs-up encouragement from residents. She reported being inspired by the way the community is supporting hunting to manage the deer population. The Chair also reported on the MassWildlife Director transition, stating that she had submitted a draft job description to the state Human Resources Department and hoped to have it back for the February meeting to put in front of the Board for a vote. Regarding the upcoming listening sessions on hunting laws, the Chair reported being excited to hear from the public and that she was amazed at the number of people who told her they had filled out the online form. She is also aware of clubs that are holding dinners to encourage participation. She stated that this is an important time to make sure the public’s voices are on the record and heard, and she personally wanted to encourage everyone to participate.
Director’s updates
Acting Director Schlüter called in to the meeting, reporting being under the weather and needed to stay home but that she did not want to miss the meeting. She thanked the members for their support and for entrusting her with this important role during the transition period. Director Schlüter stated that she is looking forward to working with the Board, Commissioner O’Shea, and the MassWildlife staff on expanding hunting access, which she noted would be discussed later in the agenda, and managing wildlife and habitats for healthy populations. She also recognized MassWildlife’s outstanding staff for their contributions serving the public, stating that she is continually amazed at the level of expertise and commitment staff members bring to their jobs. She closed by saying she’s looking forward to attending the next meeting.
Commissioner’s updates
Commissioner O’Shea reported looking forward to attending the hunting laws listening sessions. The statutes in question are all about access, which we know is critical, and he encouraged the public to participate in this important opportunity.
The Commissioner then reviewed the accomplishments from the DFG over the previous year, pointing out that it was a very challenging year, with uncertainty around federal funding and the hiring freeze. He praised all the staff for going above and beyond and taking on new initiatives in addition to their core work.
He reported that the land protection team protected over 3,200 acres last year, which is in line with the 30x30 goals and represents a doubling of the pace of land protection. The SWAP was finalized and submitted, building on BioMap, with over 620 species of greatest conservation need. MassWildlife staff expanded access to public archery ranges, issuing over 1,200 free passes this year, while hundreds of people attended archery classes at the ranges. The Governor’s announcement of the state’s biodiversity goals and joining the IUCN was hugely important, showing the state’s leadership in biodiversity conservation. Staff have also greatly expanded the habitat management program. On MassWildlife lands and those of partners of the DER, DFG had more projects this year than ever before, enabled in part by ARPA funding, with 21 projects under construction. These included dam removals and culvert replacements. He reported that $200,000 in funding was available for culvert upgrades and climate resilience, enabling significant coldwater fisheries connections across the state. He was grateful to the Healey-Driscoll Administration for the funding for the McLaughlin Hatchery restoration, and the DMF’s Cat Cove facility also received funding. He also reported that the Department had closed the submission period for the community biodiversity grants.
Law Enforcement updates
Major Kevin Clayton reported that the MEP is bringing on six new personnel. He also reported that during the past deer season there were a number of hunting incidents and accidents, and that a couple of them are still under investigation. He reported that one hunter was shot on Martha’s Vineyard, and that the incident violated the basic Hunter Education 10 commandments of firearm safety, including always pointing a firearm in a safe direction, always being sure of your target and what lies beyond, and treating every firearm as if it was loaded. He stated that the incidents might have been prevented if these principles were followed.
Update on public listening sessions for hunting laws (Acting Director Schlüter)
Director Schlüter reported to the Board the schedule planned for gathering public input and making recommendations to the Governor’s Office as requested regarding three existing hunting statutes. She reported that a press release was issued on January 9 that opened the online public feedback period. Starting the following week, MassWildlife staff would hold five public listening sessions, after which staff will provide a public input summary and recommendations to the Board. Director Schlüter reviewed the schedule of the listening sessions, with two virtual and three in person, and she encouraged the public to use MassWildlife’s online form or attend a session to submit comments.
Vote to move emergency regulations to a public hearing: deer hunting in WMZs 13 and 14 [321 CMR 3.02(4) The Hunting of Deer; Michael Huguenin]
Assistant Director of Wildlife Huguenin reminded the Board of the emergency regulations that were promulgated after the December business meeting that now have to go to a public hearing to be made permanent.
- 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. If the emergency regulations are not made permanent, the season would revert to being open January 1–31.
- 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 the Youth Deer Hunt and end on the Thursday before the Youth Deer Hunt.
Assistant Director Huguenin said there were also two additional regulations related to the islands that were already approved by the Board and 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, other than during the first week of shotgun season, when all deer need to be brought to a physical check station.
- 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.
A motion was made by Mr. Sisk to vote to move the emergency regulations to a public hearing as presented. The motion was seconded by Ms. Dyer; the vote in favor was unanimous.
Assistant Director Huguenin also provided a reminder of what is included in the pending modified deer package that was approved for public hearing at the June 2025 business meeting:
- Creating a January deer season in Wildlife Management Zones 9, 10, and 11
- Add an additional Youth Deer Hunt day on the Friday before
- Start the Archery Deer season on the Monday following the Youth Deer Day
- Allow MEP to substitute confirmation numbers for metal seals
- Allow only synthetic and other non-deer-based lures
Schedule public hearing dates for the emergency deer package and the modified deer package [321 CMR 2.0 and 3.02 (4); Acting Director Schlüter]
After a brief discussion, the Board members selected Monday, February 23, 2026, at 6:00 p.m., for the public hearing on the emergency deer package on Zoom. After a brief discussion, the Board members selected Monday, February 23, 2026, at 7:00 p.m. for the public hearing on the modified deer package on Zoom. Director Schlüter stated that the public comment period for both hearings would close on Monday, March 9, at 4:00 p.m.
Preview and vote to move to public hearing proposed 2026–2027 Migratory Bird Hunting seasons [321 CMR 3.02(2); Michael Huguenin]
Assistant Director Huguenin provided an overview of the federal regulatory process for establishing the migratory game bird regulation frameworks, noting that Massachusetts is part of the Atlantic Flyway and Massachusetts can’t be more liberal in its regulations than the federal frameworks. Massachusetts must submit its season framework by April 30 to the USFWS so it can be published in federal register.
He reported that MassWildlife has additional considerations beyond the federal frameworks, based on hunter feedback and experience, including avoiding the Youth Deer Hunt day, opening the woodcock season early, maximizing Saturdays, pushing the coastal season into late January, maximizing the early/late goose seasons, having separate opening days in the Berkshire and Central zones, and pushing falconry later in the season.
Assistant Director Huguenin provided an overview of dates, bag limits, and frameworks for each of the seasons. He acknowledged the hard work of the wildlife biologists to establish the frameworks and reminded the Board that these will be finalized by the Atlantic Flyway Council during its meetings in late February.
Chair Ellsworth asked if HPAI [highly pathogenic avian influenza] would impact bag limits. Mr. Huguenin reported that it was possible, but that MassWildlife has not had to do this yet, stating that when there was a concern about HPAI with eiders a couple of years ago, MassWildlife asked hunters to adjust on a voluntary basis, but did not do it through regulation. He added that there was the potential to make minor adjustments as needed based on the final frameworks.
A motion was made by Mr. Sisk to move the 2026–2027 migratory game bird regulations to public hearing as presented. The motion was seconded by Ms. Dyer; the vote in favor was unanimous.
Set February business meeting date and time
After a brief discussion, the Board members selected Wednesday, February 11, 2026, at 1:00 p.m., for the February business meeting, at the Field Headquarters and on Zoom.
After a brief discussion, the Board members selected Wednesday, March 18, 2026, at 1:30 p.m., for the March business meeting, at the Field Headquarters and on Zoom.
Members’ comments
Ms. Dyer reported that she took an opportunity to hunt on Martha’s Vineyard during the January season, as well as the Wachusett watershed at the end of December. Ms. Dyer noted that finding lodging is important because cost can be a limiting factor on the islands. She reported observing large numbers of deer in yards, with nine deer in one yard alone. She stated that the deer trails on the beach and the evident shoreline damage was incredible. The deer she harvested had some ticks but the one her husband harvested was covered in ticks, even in January, so she could imagine it must be really bad in the summer. Ms. Dyer reported that she received positive feedback from Hunter Education volunteers from central Mass. who attended MassWildlife’s recent instructor training, sharing that the volunteers felt the training was very valuable in helping them deliver Hunter Education to students.
Mr. Haith asked whether MassWildlife provides advice to homeowners about ticks, or advice for tick treatments. He also asked where someone would go for advice on tick treatments in their yard. Director Schlüter said this would most likely come from our partners, the Department of Public Health and the Department of Agricultural Resources. Commissioner O’Shea agreed that the DPH has a lot of resources related to tick prevention.
Ms. Hastie gave her compliments to the commissioner for his comments and reported that the U.S. House and Senate the previous week had passed a federal appropriations bill for DOI, including federal partner agencies the USFWS, the NPS, the USGS, and others. The bill was sent to the White House and should avoid a federal shutdown for January 30. Ms. Hastie reported she had some high points to share from an analysis of the bill from The Wildlife Society. The USGS Climate Adaptation Center, with its Northeast office at UMass, nationally had a $1 million increase, the USGS Coop Units had a flat budget, with no cuts nationally. The USFWS State and Tribal Wildlife Grants, the principal source for funding for implementing the SWAPs, saw a $1.5 million increase. The National Wildlife Refuge system saw a $5 million decrease, but the initial request from the White House was a more significant increase. More decisions have yet to be made on how that trickles down to Massachusetts, but overall it was better news than anticipated earlier in the year. She stressed the importance of NEAFWA, AFWA, and the conservation NGOs in advancing this, particularly the efforts of the Boone and Crockett Club and WMI in educating and communicating with Congress. Ms. Hastie highlighted former Director Tisa and Acting Director Schlüter, and noted that their engagement with AFWA and NEAFWA was very important in this context.
Ms. Hastie also reported that on January 7, the Secretary of the Interior issued a new secretary order directing its agencies to encourage expanding hunting and fishing access nationwide. This was to include removing unnecessary barriers and improving consistency across federal properties. It orders the USFWS to coordinate with states, using a science-based approach to management, ammunition and fishing tackle on federal lands. This is an opportunity in the Northeast region of the USFWS, working with Assistant Director Huguenin and Director Schlüter to take a fresh look at federal regulations on national wildlife refuge land, to make sure they align well with Commonwealth regulations, and it’s an opportunity to improve alignment between the Interior agencies and the states.
In the spirit of partnership, Ms. Hastie gave a shout-out to MassWildlife staff and their industry partners and anglers as the Sport Fish Restoration Act turns 75 years old this year. She marveled at how important the Act is and what it does for all people. A user-funded model, it provides dedicated, stable funding from excise taxes on boat fuel and fishing equipment. It and the Wildlife Restoration Act provide 50% of MassWildlife’s revenues. Importantly, the funds cannot be diverted to any other purpose under federal and state law. She offered her thanks to CFO McCarthy, Federal Aid Coordinator Cookman, and Federal Aid Assistant Morrison for their hard work administering those funds.
Ms. Hastie also reported that the Wildlife Management Institute recently shared an update about the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) working with the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies and regional associations to develop new business plans aligned with State Wildlife Action Plans. The efforts will help prioritize future funding toward landscape-scale conservation priorities. Massachusetts successfully secured more than $8.4 million through NFWF’s America the Beautiful program to restore pine barrens in the Southeast and for aquatic and terrestrial restoration in the Connecticut River Valley. Acting Director Schlüter, Assistant Director Richards, and other MassWildlife staff engaged with the Northeast Landscape Committee will be tracking NFWF’s business plan effort to help guide priorities and track opportunities to compete for funding for additional restoration projects.
Mr. Sisk reported on the last Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Advisory Committee meeting, which the two newest Board members also attended. Mr. Sisk stated that the Advisory Committee members were pleased to have them at the meeting and he appreciated that they attended. He also reported that there was a presentation from Meg Sheehan and Janet Sinclair with their opinions on how habitat management work is impacting pine barrens. He reported that Assistant Director for Natural Heritage Leddick did a great job navigating it. He also reported that currently the Trump Administration is making substantive changes to the Endangered Species Act, including by redefining harm and considering a blanket rule that would limit automatic protections for certain species. The changes would also allow for economic considerations not previously allowed and change the designation of critical habitat. He made a motion and it was unanimously supported that the Advisory Committee is going to write a letter, even though the public comment period has ended. Mr. Sisk stated that the Massachusetts Attorney General is also weighing in from the state’s perspective. He reported that the letter is being drafted.
Public comment
Richard Maximus Strahan of Cambridge from Calm Earth Corporation asked what was the scope of this committee in protecting the state’s wildlife? He stated that it is supposed to advise the Commissioner on all wildlife, including marine wildlife, and that this is in statute.
He stated that in the 1990s, the government decided to adopt a ghost principle, such that no conservation of any endangered species that would adversely affect commerce, and that the right whale is now condemned to extinction. He stated that he is the expert on endangered marine mammals. He stated that there are social, ethical, and political reasons why some species can get protection and others don’t. He stated that there are ruthless requirements, but they are not enforced. He stated that if a fisherman kills a whale, nothing happens, not even a ticket. He stated that this goes to the courts, where a judge found a person guilty of entangling a whale but there was no penalty. He reported that he brings lawsuits to test the legal system all the time and reported 2021 lawsuits against the state. He stated that the state is killing the right whale; he said it is illegal but [the state] is not going to do anything about it. He stated that he wanted an equitable balancing, that NOAA is not going to do it, and that NOAA is dedicated to the fishing industry. He stated that in England, you have a 10% increase in biodiversity, a quantitative measurement, and he asked the Commissioner to consider this model and emulate it. He stated that the state passed the MESA and it was meant to cover all wildlife, including marine wildlife. But, he stated, this upset the fishing committee, and he stated that they came to the Board and asked it to give up the authority. He stated that nothing has happened for right whales in Massachusetts and asked whether the members have heard of his organization’s petition under the MESA. Mr. Strahan’s time was at an end.
Executive session
Mr. Haith made a motion to move to executive session for the purpose of discussing potential land acquisition projects whose negotiations might be compromised by discussion in open session and to not return to open session afterward. Mr. Sisk seconded the motion. There was a roll call vote.
Mr. Sisk: Yes
Ms. Dyer: Yes
Ms. Ellsworth: Yes
Mr. Haith: Yes
Ms. Hastie: Yes
The vote in favor was unanimous, and the open session ended at 3:19 p.m. The Chair opened the executive session at 3:27 p.m. There were eight parcels for approval. Each was discussed, each was voted by roll-call votes, and all were unanimously approved.
Adjourn
There being no further business, Mr. Sisk moved to adjourn. Ms. Dyer seconded the motion.
The vote in favor was unanimous, and the meeting was adjourned at 3:45 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Malcolm Haith
Secretary
List of documents presented to the Board in its January business meeting packets
January agenda
December monthly meeting minutes draft
Executive session packet