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, including Sunday hunting, hunting with crossbows, and minimum discharge setback distances for hunting.
Public input
Upon request from the Healey-Driscoll Administration, MassWildlife held five listening sessions in January and February of 2026 to gather public feedback on statutes related to Sunday hunting, hunting with a crossbow, and setback distances for hunting. These topics generated significant public interest, with nearly 1,000 people attending the sessions and over 11,300 comments received through the sessions, an online form, letters, and emails.
While a variety of perspectives were shared, most comments were in favor of removing the ban on Sunday hunting (70%), removing the ban on hunting with crossbows (71%), and reducing the hunting setback distance (66%). Those in favor expressed the need to modernize hunting laws to better meet current wildlife management goals and align with other states, improve hunting opportunities for working families, provide equitable access to hunting, and reduce human-wildlife conflicts. Those opposed primarily shared concerns about safety and conflicts with other forms of outdoor recreation.
Recommendation
With consideration of public feedback and an evaluation of anticipated impacts to wildlife management and outdoor recreation, MassWildlife offers the following recommendations, as endorsed by the Fisheries and Wildlife Board:
- Remove the statutory ban on Sunday hunting to enable MassWildlife to regulate hunting on Sundays during established hunting seasons.
- Remove the statutory prohibitions to enable MassWildlife to regulate hunting with a crossbow during established hunting seasons.
- Reduce the minimum archery hunting setback distance from 500 feet to 250 feet from a dwelling in use except with landowner permission.
- Remove the hunting setback for falconry.
MassWildlife recommends these statutory changes to enable the agency to use scientific management techniques to more effectively fulfill its mandate to manage wildlife populations, conserve biodiversity, improve outdoor-recreation opportunities, address agricultural damage, and reduce human-wildlife conflicts. Adopting these recommended legislative changes will complement MassWildlife’s ongoing efforts to expand hunting opportunity and access through regulations, education, and land conservation. Massachusetts continues to maintain a strong hunting safety record, demonstrating that prudent increases in hunting opportunity can be implemented responsibly. MassWildlife consulted with the Massachusetts Environmental Police on these recommendations to provide input on enforcement, safety, and implementation considerations.
If these hunting statutes were changed, MassWildlife would consider public input and use the best available science to determine how to implement changes through the regulatory process.