News  Public comment period extended on proposed bear regulations

UPDATE 3/3/2025: The public comment period for proposed bear hunting regulations has been extended. Written comments can be submitted using this online feedback form, or by mail to: MassWildlife Re: Bear Public Hearing, 1 Rabbit Hill Road, Westborough, MA 01581. All comments must be received by 4 p.m. on March 17, 2025. The online feedback form now allows unlimited space for typed comments and accepts attachments. All comments submitted during the initial comment period have been received. If you have already submitted a comment, you do not need to resubmit.

A brief summary of the proposed regulations is outlined below.

Proposed black bear hunting season changes

Background: There are currently over 4,500 black bears living in Massachusetts. The bear population is increasing and the range is expanding eastward into more highly-developed areas. As a result, human-bear conflict—including more bears in highly-developed neighborhoods, vehicle collisions, agricultural damage, and livestock predation—has increased. Expanding hunting opportunities during the time of year when bears are more active aims to increase bear harvest, stabilize the population, and reduce human-bear conflict.

Currently, youth hunters ages 12–14 can harvest a bear during the regular bear hunting seasons utilizing the permit of a licensed adult. MassWildlife is proposing the creation of a free Youth Bear Permit, which would allow youth hunters to harvest their own bear at any point during the bear hunting season without utilizing a licensed adult’s permit. Additionally, minor hunters aged 12–17 who possess a valid Youth Deer Hunt Permit and Bear Permit would be able to hunt bear on the Youth Deer Hunt Day.

Proposed regulation changes:

• Replace the current three bear hunting seasons with one continuous bear hunting season from Labor Day in September through the end of the Shotgun Deer hunting season.
• Create a free Youth Bear Permit.
   

The public can review the full proposed regulatory language at this link:  DRAFT - DFW Bear Hunting Regulations 321 CMR 3.02(1). Two public hearings were held on Zoom on January 27, 2025.