Open to the public and media, meetings of the Fisheries and Wildlife Board are held monthly. The Board holds its meetings at locations around the state, weather permitting; holds public hearings on proposed regulatory changes; and uses its meetings to conduct the business of and provide oversight to the Division of Fisheries and Wildlife and to address many issues of specific concern. While many different matters and issues are brought before the Board each year, most of its meeting time is spent in review and scrutiny of proposals for regulatory changes and of Division of Fisheries and Wildlife programs. The Board has hiring authority over agency staff and makes decisions concerning the acquisition and protection of land and water for wildlife.
If you have a disability or medical condition and would like to request special accommodations, please contact Susan Sacco at (508) 389-6342.
Anyone wishing to be placed on the agenda to speak must notify the Board in writing 2 weeks prior to the Board meeting; for more detailed information, contact Susan Sacco at the phone number above or at Susan.Sacco@state.ma.us.
View an archive of Fisheries and Wildlife Board meeting minutes.
Next meeting
July 17, 2019. The July meeting of the Fisheries and Wildlife Board will be held on Wednesday, July 17, 2019, at 1:00 p.m., at the Division of Fisheries and Wildlife’s Field Headquarters, Richard Cronin Building, 1 Rabbit Hill Road, off North Drive, Westborough, Massachusetts.
AGENDA
- Acceptance of Minutes of the June Monthly Meeting
- Chair’s Comments
- Commissioner’s Comments
- Director’s Comments
- Law Enforcement Comments
- Proposed Coyote/Furbearer Regulations (David Wattles)
- Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Advisory Committee Report
- Confirm August Meeting Date of August 28, 2019, at 10:00 a.m., and Set September Meeting Date
- Members’ Comments
Posted June 20, 2019, 12:00 p.m.;
Updated and posted June 20, 2019, 2:30 p.m.;
Updated and posted June 26, 2019; 11:30 a.m.;
Updated and posted July 15, 2019; 10:00 a.m.
Past meetings
June 18, 2019. The June meeting of the Fisheries and Wildlife Board will be held on Tuesday, June 18, 2019, at 2:30 p.m., at the Massachusetts Maritime Academy, in Admiral’s Hall, 101 Academy Drive, Buzzards Bay, Massachusetts.
On the same date and in the same location, at 6:30 p.m., a public listening session is planned, to discuss and listen to public comments on coyote management and private coyote contests in Massachusetts.
Posted May 16, 2019; 11.00 a.m.;
Updated and posted June 14, 2019; 11:00 a.m.;
Updated and posted June 17, 2019; 1:30 p.m.
May 15, 2019. The May meeting of the Fisheries and Wildlife Board will be held on Wednesday, May 15, 2019, at 2:30 p.m., at the Division of Fisheries and Wildlife’s Field Headquarters, Richard Cronin Building, 1 Rabbit Hill Road, off North Drive, Westborough, Massachusetts.
On the same date and in the same location, at 6:30 p.m., a public hearing is planned, to amend rules and regulations relative to the hunting of wild turkey.
Posted April 19, 2019; 4:45 p.m.
Updated and posted May 13, 2019, 9:00 a.m.
April 18, 2019. The April meeting of the Fisheries and Wildlife Board will be held on Thursday, April 18, 2019, at 10:00 a.m., at the Division of Fisheries and Wildlife’s Field Headquarters, Richard Cronin Building, 1 Rabbit Hill Road, off North Drive, Westborough, Massachusetts.
On the same date and in the same location, at 11:00 a.m., a public hearing is planned, to establish rules and regulations relative to the 2019-2020 migratory game bird seasons.
Posted March 14, 2019; 4:30 p.m.
Updated and posted April 16, 2019, 10:00 a.m.
March 14, 2019. The March meeting of the Fisheries and Wildlife Board will be held on Thursday, March 14, 2019, at 10:00 a.m., at the Division of Fisheries and Wildlife’s Field Headquarters, Richard Cronin Building, 1 Rabbit Hill Road, off North Drive, Westborough, Massachusetts.
Posted February 26, 2019, 1:00 p.m.
Updated and posted March 12, 2019; 9:00 a.m.
February 21, 2019. The February meeting of the Fisheries and Wildlife Board will be held on Thursday, February 21, 2019, at 1:00 p.m., at the Division of Fisheries and Wildlife’s Field Headquarters, Richard Cronin Building, 1 Rabbit Hill Road, off North Drive, Westborough, Massachusetts.
Posted January 10, 2018; 3:30 p.m.
Updated and posted February 15, 9:30 a.m.
January 10, 2019. The January meeting of the Fisheries and Wildlife Board will be held on Thursday, January 10, 2019, at 10:00 a.m., at the Division of Fisheries and Wildlife’s Field Headquarters, Richard Cronin Building, 1 Rabbit Hill Road, off North Drive, Westborough, Massachusetts.
Posted December 21, 2018; 3:00 p.m.
Updated and posted January 7, 2019, 10:30 a.m.
Updated and posted January 8, 2019, 10:00 a.m.
December 20, 2018. The December meeting of the Fisheries and Wildlife Board will be held on Thursday, December 20, 2018, at 10:00 a.m., at the Division of Fisheries and Wildlife’s Field Headquarters, Richard Cronin Building, 1 Rabbit Hill Road, off North Drive, Westborough, Massachusetts.
Posted November 20, 2018; 3:00 p.m.
Updated and posted November 26, 2018; 2:00 p.m.
Updated and posted December 18, 2018; 1:30 p.m.
November 20, 2018. The November meeting of the Fisheries and Wildlife Board will be held on Tuesday, November 20, 2018, at 10:00 a.m., at the Division of Fisheries and Wildlife’s Field Headquarters, Richard Cronin Building, 1 Rabbit Hill Road, off North Drive, Westborough, Massachusetts.
Posted November 8, 2018; 3:00 p.m.
Updated and posted November 15, 2018; 2:00 p.m.
October 30, 2018. The October meeting of the Fisheries and Wildlife Board will be held on Tuesday, October 30, 2018, at 10:00 a.m., at the Lenox Library, in the Welles Gallery, 18 Main Street, Lenox, Massachusetts.
Posted September 26, 2018, 4:00 p.m.
Updated and posted October 3, 2018, 3:00 p.m.
Updated and posted October 11, 2018, 1:30 p.m.
Updated and posted October 25, 2018, 12:00 p.m.
Updated and posted October 26, 2018, 1:00 p.m.
September 25, 2018. The September meeting of the Fisheries and Wildlife Board will be held on Tuesday, September 25, 2018, at 11:00 a.m., at the Connecticut Valley Wildlife District office, East Street, Belchertown, Massachusetts.
Posted August 16, 2018; 9:30 a.m.
Updated and posted September 21, 2018, 11:20 a.m.
August 14, 2018. The August meeting of the Fisheries and Wildlife Board will be held on Tuesday, August 14, 2018, at 11:00 a.m., at the Camp Edwards Joint Base Cape Cod Welcome Center, Connery Avenue, Sandwich, Massachusetts.
Posted July 19, 2018; 3:00 p.m.
Updated and posted August 10, 11:00 a.m.
July 17, 2018. The July meeting of the Fisheries and Wildlife Board will be held on Tuesday, July 17, 2018, at 1:00 p.m., at the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge Visitor’s Center, 6 Plum Island Turnpike, Newburyport, Massachusetts.
Posted June 15, 2018; 11:30 a.m.;
Updated and posted July 13, 2018, 10:00 a.m.
Updated and posted July 16, 2018, 4:15 p.m.
June 13, 2018. The June meeting of the Fisheries and Wildlife Board will be held on Wednesday, June 13, 2018, at 2:00 P.M., at the Division of Fisheries and Wildlife’s Field Headquarters, Richard Cronin Building, 1 Rabbit Hill Road, off North Drive, Westborough, Massachusetts.
Posted May 18, 2018; 2:30 p.m.;
Updated and posted June 11, 2018; 9:30 a.m.
May 16, 2018. The May meeting of the Fisheries and Wildlife Board will be held on Wednesday, May 16, 2018, at 1:00 p.m., at the Stationery Factory; 63 Flansburg Avenue, Dalton, Massachusetts.
Posted April 23, 2018; 12:00 p.m.
Updated and posted May 11, 2018; 3:00 p.m.
April 10, 2018. The April meeting of the Fisheries and Wildlife Board will be held on Tuesday, April 10, 2018, at 2:00 p.m., at the Division of Fisheries and Wildlife’s Field Headquarters, Richard Cronin Building, 1 Rabbit Hill Road, off North Drive, Westborough, Massachusetts.
Posted March 21, 2018; 12:30 p.m.
Updated and posted March 22, 2018; 11:15 a.m.
Updated and posted April 6, 2018; 10:00 a.m.
RESCHEDULED: March 14, 2018. The March meeting of the Fisheries and Wildlife Board has been rescheduled by order of the Chair and will be held on Wednesday, March 14, 2018, at 1:00 p.m., at the Division of Fisheries and Wildlife’s Field Headquarters, Richard Cronin Building, 1 Rabbit Hill Road, off North Drive, Westborough, Massachusetts.
Posted February 8, 2018; 1:00 p.m.
Updated and posted March 5, 2018; 9:45 a.m.
Updated and posted March 5, 2018; 5:10 p.m.
February 6, 2018. The February meeting of the Fisheries and Wildlife Board will be held on Tuesday, February 6, 2018, at 3:00 p.m., at the Division of Fisheries and Wildlife’s Field Headquarters, Richard Cronin Building, 1 Rabbit Hill Road, off North Drive, Westborough, Massachusetts.
Posted January 11, 2018; 11:00 a.m.
Updated and posted February 2, 2018; 10:00 a.m.
January 10, 2018. The January meeting of the Fisheries and Wildlife Board will be held on Wednesday, January 10, 2018, at 1:00 p.m., at the Division of Fisheries and Wildlife’s Field Headquarters, Richard Cronin Building, 1 Rabbit Hill Road, off North Drive, Westborough, Massachusetts.
Posted December 20, 2017; 10:00 a.m.
Updated and posted January 8, 2018; 10:00 a.m.
December 19, 2017. The December meeting of the Fisheries and Wildlife Board will be held on Tuesday, December 19, 2017, at 10:00 a.m., at the Division of Fisheries and Wildlife’s Field Headquarters, Richard Cronin Building, 1 Rabbit Hill Road, off North Drive, Westborough, Massachusetts.
Posted November 9, 2017; 5:00 p.m.
Updated and posted December 14, 2017; 1:00 p.m.
November 9, 2017. The November meeting of the Fisheries and Wildlife Board will be held on Thursday, November 9, 2017, at 1:30 P.M., at the Division of Fisheries and Wildlife’s Field Headquarters, Richard Cronin Building, 1 Rabbit Hill Road, off North Drive, Westborough, Massachusetts.
Posted October 26, 2017; 3:00 P.M.
Updated and posted November 7, 2017; 9:30 A.M.
October 24, 2017. The October meeting of the Fisheries and Wildlife Board will be held on Tuesday, October 24, 2017, at 10:00 A.M., at the Royalston Fish and Game Club, 50 Main Road, Phillipston, Massachusetts.
Posted September 26, 2017; 4:00 P.M.;
Updated and posted October 18, 2017; 3:00 P.M.
September 19, 2017. The September meeting of the Fisheries and Wildlife Board will be held on Tuesday, September 19, 2017, at 11:00 A.M., at the Lawrence Library, 15 Main Street, Pepperell, Massachusetts.
Posted August 31, 2017; 2:00 P.M.
Updated and posted September 15, 2017; 9:00 A.M.
August 22, 2017. The August meeting of the Fisheries and Wildlife Board will be held on Tuesday, August 22, 2017, at 1:00 P.M., at the Stationery Factory, 63 Flansburg Avenue, Dalton, Massachusetts.
Posted July 24, 2017; 12:00 P.M.
Updated and posted August 17, 2017; 2:00 P.M.
July 18, 2017. The July meeting of the Fisheries and Wildlife Board will be held on Tuesday, July 18, 2017, at 10:00 A.M., at the Wildlands Trust Headquarters, 675 Long Pond Road, Plymouth, Massachusetts.
Posted June 30, 2017; 2:00 P.M.
Updated and posted July 13, 2017; 2:00 P.M.
Updated and posted July 14, 2017; 10:00 A.M.
Updated and posted July 17, 2017; 2:00 P.M.
June 28, 2017. The June meeting of the Fisheries and Wildlife Board will be held on Wednesday, June 28, 2017, at 10:00 A.M., at the Division of Fisheries and Wildlife’s Field Headquarters, Richard Cronin Building, 1 Rabbit Hill Road, off North Drive, Westborough, Massachusetts.
Posted June 8, 2017; 10:00 A.M.
Updated and posted June 26, 2017; 9:00 A.M.
May 30, 2017. The May meeting of the Fisheries and Wildlife Board will be held on Tuesday, May 30, 2017, at 1:00 P.M., at the Division of Fisheries and Wildlife’s Field Headquarters, Richard Cronin Building, 1 Rabbit Hill Road, off North Drive, Westborough, Massachusetts.
Posted April 25, 2017, 2:00 P.M.
Updated and posted May 25, 2017, 10:00 A.M.
Updated and posted May 26, 2017, 2:00 P.M.
April 19, 2017. The April meeting of the Fisheries and Wildlife Board will be held on Wednesday, April 19, 2017, at 10:00 A.M., at the Division of Fisheries and Wildlife’s Field Headquarters, Richard Cronin Building, 1 Rabbit Hill Road, off North Drive, Westborough, Massachusetts.
Posted March 29, 2017; 9:00 A.M.
Updated and posted April 14, 2017; 9:00 A.M.
March 22, 2017. The March meeting of the Fisheries and Wildlife Board will be held on Wednesday, March 22, 2017, at 10:00 A.M., at the Division of Fisheries and Wildlife’s Field Headquarters, Richard Cronin Building, 1 Rabbit Hill Road, off North Drive, Westborough, Massachusetts.
Posted February 28, 2017; 2:00 P.M.
Updated and posted March 20, 2017; 10:00 A.M.
February 22, 2017. The February meeting of the Fisheries and Wildlife Board will be held on Wednesday, February 22, 2017, at 10:00 A.M., at the Division of Fisheries and Wildlife’s Field Headquarters, Richard Cronin Building, 1 Rabbit Hill Road, off North Drive, Westborough, Massachusetts.
Posted February 16, 2017; 5:00 P.M.
Updated and posted February 21, 2017; 10:00 A.M.
January 11, 2017. The January meeting of the Fisheries and Wildlife Board will be held on Wednesday, January 11, 2017, at 10:00 A.M., at the Division of Fisheries and Wildlife’s Field Headquarters, Richard Cronin Building, 1 Rabbit Hill Road, off North Drive, Westborough, Massachusetts.
Posted Thursday, December 22, 2016; 9:00 A.M.;
Updated and posted Monday, January 9, 2017; 9:00 A.M.;
Updated and posted Monday, January 9, 2017; 3:00 P.M.
December 19, 2016. The December meeting of the Fisheries and Wildlife Board will be held on Monday, December 19, 2016, at 10:00 A.M., at the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife’s Field Headquarters, 1 Rabbit Hill Road, off North Drive, Westborough, Massachusetts.
Posted November 29, 2016; 12:00 P.M.
Updated and posted December 14, 2016; 12:00 P.M.
Updated and posted December 16, 2016, 10:00 A.M.
November 22, 2016. The November meeting of the Fisheries and Wildlife Board will be held on Tuesday, November 22, 2016, at 11:00 A.M., at the Division of Fisheries and Wildlife’s Field Headquarters, 1 Rabbit Hill Road, Westborough, Massachusetts.
Posted October 20, 2016; 12:00 P.M.
Updated and posted November 17, 2016; 12:00 P.M.
October 18, 2016. The October meeting of the Fisheries and Wildlife Board will be held on Tuesday, October 18, 2016, at 1:00 P.M., at the Division of Fisheries and Wildlife’s Western Wildlife District office, 88 Old Windsor Road, Dalton, Massachusetts.
Posted September 7, 2016; 2:00 P.M.
Updated and posted October 14, 2016, 10:00 A.M.
The September meeting of the Fisheries and Wildlife Board will be held on Tuesday, September 6, 2016, at 1:00 P.M., at the Sunderland Town Hall, 12 School Street, Second Floor, Sunderland, Massachusetts.
Posted August 30, 2016; 1:00 P.M.
August 23, 2016. The August meeting of the Fisheries and Wildlife Board will be held on Tuesday, August 23, 2016, at 11:00 A.M., at the Division of Fisheries and Wildlife’s Field Headquarters, Richard Cronin Building, 1 Rabbit Hill Road, off North Drive, Westborough, Massachusetts.
Posted August 1, 2016; 12:00 P.M.;
Updated and posted August 19, 2016; 10:00 A.M.
July 27, 2016. The July meeting of the Fisheries and Wildlife Board will be held on Wednesday, July 27, 2016, at 11:00 A.M., at the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge Visitor’s Center, 6 Plum Island Turnpike, Newburyport, Massachusetts.
Posted June 29, 2016; 10:00 A.M.
Updated and posted July 25, 2016; 10:00 A.M.
Updated and posted July 25, 2016; 10:30 A.M.
Updated and posted July 26, 2016; 12:00 P.M.
June 21, 2016. The June meeting of the Fisheries and Wildlife Board will be held on Tuesday, June 21, 2016, at 1:00 P.M., at the UMass Cranberry Station, One State Bog Road (the intersection of Spectacle Pond Road and Glen Charlie Road), East Wareham, Massachusetts.
A public hearing will be held at 3:00 P.M. on the same date and at the same location; please see the Public Hearings page for detailed information and to view PDFs of the proposed regulations.
Posted May 31, 2016; 1:30 P.M.
Updated and posted June 16, 2016; 12:00 P.M.
May 18, 2016. The May meeting of the Fisheries and Wildlife Board will be held on Wednesday, May 18, 2016, 1:00 P.M., at the Western Wildlife District office, 88 Old Windsor Road, Dalton, Massachusetts.
Posted April 26, 2016; 10:00 A.M.
Updated and posted May 16, 2016, 10:00 A.M.
April 21, 2016. The April meeting of the Fisheries and Wildlife Board will be held on Thursday, April 21, 2016, at 12:00 P.M., at the Division of Fisheries and Wildlife’s Field Headquarters, Richard Cronin Building, 1 Rabbit Hill Road, off North Drive, Westborough, Massachusetts.
Posted March 8, 2016; 12:00 P.M.
Updated and posted April 19, 2016, 11:00 A.M.
On the same date, at 2:00 P.M., at the same location, the Fisheries and Wildlife Board will hold a public hearing to hear public comment relative to establishing rules and regulations for the 2016-2017 migratory game bird seasons and method of take. Please see the public hearing page for further details and to view the proposed regulations.
March 21, 2016. A meeting of a subcommittee of the Fisheries and Wildlife Board will be held on Monday, March 21, 2016, at 1:00 P.M., at the Division of Fisheries and Wildlife’s Field Headquarters, Richard Cronin Building, 1 Rabbit Hill Road, off North Drive, Westborough, Massachusetts.
Posted March 16, 2016; 11:00 A.M.
March 7, 2016. The March meeting of the Fisheries and Wildlife Board will be held on Monday, March 7, 2016, at 12:00 P.M., at the Division of Fisheries and Wildlife’s Field Headquarters, Richard Cronin Building, 1 Rabbit Hill Road, off North Drive, Westborough, Massachusetts.
Posted February 15, 2016; 1:00 P.M.
Updated and posted March 3, 2016, 10:00 A.M.
February 25, 2016. The February meeting of the Fisheries and Wildlife Board will be held on Thursday, February 25, 2016, at 1:00 P.M., at the Division of Fisheries and Wildlife’s Field Headquarters, Richard Cronin Building, 1 Rabbit Hill Road, off North Drive, Westborough, Massachusetts.
Posted January 21, 2016; 4:00 P.M.
Updated and posted February 23, 2016; 1:00 P.M.
Updated and posted February 23, 2016; 2:30 P.M.
Updated and posted February 24, 2016; 1:00 P.M.
January 14, 2016. The January meeting of the Fisheries and Wildlife Board will be held on Thursday, January 14, 2016, at 1:00 P.M., at the Division of Fisheries and Wildlife’s Field Headquarters, Richard Cronin Building, 1 Rabbit Hill Road, off North Drive, Westborough, Massachusetts.
Posted December 17, 2015; 12:00 P.M.;
Updated and posted January 11, 2016; 1:00 P.M.;
Updated and posted January 12, 2016; 9:00 A.M.
December 15, 2015. The December meeting of the Fisheries and Wildlife Board will be held on Tuesday, December 15, 2015, at 10:30 A.M., at the Division of Fisheries and Wildlife’s Field Headquarters, Richard Cronin Building, 1 Rabbit Hill Road, off North Drive, Westborough, Massachusetts.
Posted November 30, 2015; 10:00 A.M.
Updated and posted December 11, 2015; 8:00 A.M.
November 24, 2015. The November meeting of the Fisheries and Wildlife Board will be held on Tuesday, November 24, 2015, at 11:00 A.M., at the Division of Fisheries and Wildlife’s Field Headquarters, Richard Cronin Building, 1 Rabbit Hill Road, off North Drive, Westborough, Massachusetts.