Press Release  Healey-Driscoll Administration Announces Public Listening Sessions on Expanding Hunting Opportunities in Massachusetts

Westborough — The Healey-Driscoll Administration announced today that the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries & Wildlife (MassWildlife) will hold public listening sessions on several opportunities to expand hunting access in Massachusetts, including Sunday hunting, hunting with crossbows, and minimum setback distances for hunting.

“Hunting has always been woven into Massachusetts’ history – supporting families, boosting local economies, and helping keep our deer populations healthy,” said Governor Maura Healey. “Expanding opportunities for hunters will carry that tradition forward while protecting public health and ensuring we’re maintaining balance in our wildlife populations.”

“We encourage the public to take part in these upcoming listening sessions and share their perspectives about Sunday hunting, hunting with a crossbow, and opening additional areas,” said Department of Fish & Game Commissioner Tom O’Shea. “By expanding access, we can ensure that people have more opportunities to participate in this tradition, connect with the outdoors and each other, and put food on the table.”

“Massachusetts hunters play an important role in conservation, all while boosting food security in our communities,” said MassWildlife Deputy Director Eve Schlüter. “Through programs like Hunters Share the Harvest, which has donated more than 90,000 meals in recent years, we see the tangible benefits of regulated hunting as we explore ways to increase access.”

Regulated hunting is an important tool for managing wildlife populations, connecting people with nature, and providing food for families across Massachusetts. While MassWildlife has been working to improve access and opportunity for hunting, there are statutory limitations on hunting locations and times which would require legislative action to change, including:

• Prohibition against Sunday hunting: Massachusetts is one of only two states in the country with an outright ban on Sunday hunting. The Sunday hunting prohibition originated in the 19th century over 200 years ago.
• Prohibition against crossbows for hunting: Currently, crossbows are prohibited for hunting by statute except for hunters with a permanent disability. Crossbows are generally more accessible than traditional and compound bows because they require less physical strength to use. Modern archery equipment, including crossbows, incorporate built-in safety features that enhance reliability and safe use in the field. In recent years, several states in New England have changed laws to allow crossbows for deer hunting.
• Setback limits: Currently, Massachusetts statutes prohibit hunting within 500 feet of a dwelling/building in use or within 150 feet of a road. Other states in the Northeast have less restrictive setbacks for archery hunting than Massachusetts.

How to Provide Feedback:
MassWildlife welcomes the public to provide input on these hunting laws at upcoming listening sessions. The public may also provide feedback using this online form or by mail to Attn: Hunting Laws, 1 Rabbit Hill Road, Westborough, MA, 01581 by 5 p.m. on Friday, February 6, 2026.

• 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)
• 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.

Following the listening sessions, MassWildlife will evaluate public input and anticipated wildlife management impacts to inform its recommendations. The upcoming listening sessions build on recent regulatory changes that expand deer hunting seasons on Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket with a six-week primitive firearms and bowhunting season from January 1 through February 14. The Islands have the highest deer densities in Massachusetts, which can lead to the spread of tick-borne disease, increased deer/vehicle collisions, habitat damage, and coastal erosion.  
 

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