News  Public Hearing: 2024–2025 Migratory Game Bird Regulations

A public hearing will be held on Wednesday, April 17 at 2:30 p.m., at MassWildlife’s Field Headquarters, 1 Rabbit Hill Road in Westborough, MA. The public can also join the meeting online. Click here to join from a PC, Mac, iPad, iPhone, or Android device with Passcode: 905906. Or join by phone: (929) 205-6099 with Webinar ID: 880 7695 0045 and Passcode: 905906. The hearing will establish rules and regulations relative to the 2024–2025 migratory game bird hunting seasons.

Due to the migratory game bird season filing requirements of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Fisheries and Wildlife Board must vote to finalize and approve the 2024–2025 migratory bird seasons at the close of the hearing. Therefore, please note: There will be no written comment period after this public hearing. Written comments may be submitted prior to the hearing via email to susan.sacco@mass.gov, Subject: Fisheries and Wildlife Board, or by mail to the Fisheries and Wildlife Board, MassWildlife Field Headquarters, 1 Rabbit Hill Road, Westborough, MA 01581. Written public comments will be accepted until Tuesday, April 16, 2024, 4 p.m.

Click here for full text of proposed rules and regulations. Interested persons can review the proposed changes and provide written comments prior to the hearing and oral comments during the public-comment portion of the hearing. Here is a summary of the proposed changes: 

• Woodcock Season: October 3 – November 30 
• Youth Waterfowl Hunts: September 21 and October 5
• Veteran’s Waterfowl Hunts: September 21 and October 5
• Early Goose Season (statewide): September 2 – September 21 

• Regular Goose Season 
  • Berkshire Zone: October 14 – November 16
  • Central Zone: October 12 – November 30 and December 17 – January 4
  • Coastal Zone: October 12 – October 19 and November 26 – January 25
• Late Goose Season
  • Berkshire Zone: December 18 – February 15
  • Central Zone: January 16 – February 15
  • North Coastal Zone: January 27 – February 15   
• Duck Season  
  • Berkshire Zone: October 14 – November 30 and December 16 – January 4
  • Central Zone: October 12 – November 30 and December 17 – January 4
  • Coastal Zone: October 12 – October 19 and November 26 – January 25
• Falconry Season: October 19 – February 19