- Successful completion of Basic Hunter Education is mandatory for all first-time adult hunters. Find a Basic Hunter Education Course.
- Visit mass.gov/LearnToHunt for more resources to help build your hunting knowledge and skills.
Upcoming classes
August 15: Connect & Learn: New Hunters Skills Workshop, Westborough – Join MassWildlife and partners from across the state to learn hunting skills and meet new and experienced hunters at MassWildlife's Field Headquarters from 9 a.m.–2:30 p.m. This free event will have 9 different hunting workshops taught by experts and is designed for new hunters. The topics include small game hunting, deer hunting, waterfowl hunting, scouting, blood trailing and big game recovery, fall turkey hunting, archery and bowhunting basics, intermediate archery, and basic gear to get started. Participants will choose 3 of the hands-on skills workshops to attend during the workshop. Register here.
August 19: Black Bear Hunting 101, Zoom – Join MassWildlife staff for a two hour virtual class all about bear hunting from 6–8 p.m. This class will cover a variety of topics including black bear biology, laws and regulations, identifying food sources and property to hunt, bear hunting gear and implements, and bear meat care in the field. There will also be time available for questions and answers. Click here to register.
Sighting-In and Shoot Techniques for Bowhunters – Join MassWildlife and partners for a free event to help you practice and sight in your bow for bowhunting! Instructors will help you practice on the range, and will be able to help you adjust your sights if needed. You must bring your own archery equipment for these events. Space is limited, fill out the registration form for one of the classes listed below.
- Tuesday, August 25 from 5–7 p.m. at Ayer Game Farm in Ayer. Click here to register.
- Thursday, August 27 from 5–7 p.m. at Erwin Wilder WMA in Taunton. Click here to register.
- Friday, August 28 from 5–7 p.m. at Wayne F. MacCallum WMA in Westborough. Click here to register.
September 1: Squirrel Hunting, Zoom – Join MassWildlife staff and folks from the New England Chapter of Backcountry Hunters and Anglers (BHA) for a one hour virtual class about September squirrel hunting from 6-7 p.m. This class will highlight tried and true tactics for September squirrel season, which starts the following week. There will also be time available for questions and answers. Click here to register.
Questions about an event?
Email Mass.Wildlife@mass.gov
Event accommodations
We will do our best to accommodate any needs to allow community members to participate as fully as possible in our events and programs.
- 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 ian.sypek@mass.gov at least 72 hours before the event. We will do our best to accommodate any needs to allow community members to participate as fully as possible.
- Se pueden solicitar servicios adicionales de traducción o interpretación enviando su solicitud por correo electrónico a ian.sypek@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: ian.sypek@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 ian.sypek@mass.gov 提出要求.
- Ou ka mande plis sèvis tradiksyon oswa entèpretasyon lè w adrese demann ou pou imèl ian.sypek@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 ian.sypek@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 ian.sypek@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 ian.sypek@mass.gov au moins 72 heures avant la réunion.