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.
- Updating Hunting Laws Fact Sheet
MassWildlife's recommendations and summary of public input. - Updating Hunting Laws (full report)
MassWildlife's recommendations, in-depth review of public input, and support materials.
What changes are proposed?
In March 2026, Governor Healey announced she will file legislation to:
- 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.
This announcement was made following an extensive effort to collect public feedback and a recommendation from MassWildlife. Read MassWildlife’s full recommendation to the Administration, including an in-depth analysis of public comments and what these changes would mean for Massachusetts.
Together these changes will support efforts to:
- Manage healthy wildlife populations
- Conserve biodiversity and protect habitats from deer overbrowse
- Promote fair, equitable access to nature
- Increase food security for working families
- Support the outdoor recreation economy
- Reduce crop damage and provide relief to farmers
- Address public health and safety concerns associated with overabundant wildlife
When might these changes go into effect?
- In March 2026, Governor Healey announced she will file legislation to amend the hunting laws, however these changes require legislative approval.
- No changes have been made to Sunday hunting, crossbows, or setback laws at this time. Current hunting regulations are posted on MassWildlife’s website and updated over time.
- If hunting statutes are amended by the legislature, MassWildlife stands ready to implement changes in a safe, responsible way using the best available science. Any changes to hunting regulations include the opportunity for public comment.
Broad public support for updating laws
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.
Are these changes safe?
- These changes are aligned with recommendations from MassWildlife, in consultation with the Environmental Police, based on decades of experience implementing safe hunting.
- Massachusetts is currently only one of two states with a ban on Sunday hunting, and also has more restrictive laws for crossbows and setback laws than the rest of the Northeast. These changes would align Massachusetts with standard practices in neighboring states.
- Hunting is a highly-regulated activity with a strong safety record in Massachusetts. Hunters must be licensed and complete MassWildlife’s Hunter Education safety training.
- Hunting already safely coexists with other outdoor activities. Most hunting injuries are caused by treestand falls and rarely involve non-hunters.