Many town lands are open to hunting. Some town bylaws limit hunting or prohibit the discharge of firearms. You need to know the laws for individual towns. Some land trusts and other nonprofit land groups also allow hunting. You need to contact each group to find out details.
Municipal lands
Depending on the town, municipal lands may be open to hunting. You may find that there are restrictions on hunting on these lands including:
- Special rules
- Special permit requirements
- Lottery drawings
- Designated hunting areas
Some towns prohibit the discharge of firearms, others require hunters to get written permission from landowners. Since these restriction vary by town, you need to read the by-laws for town(s) where you want to hunt. To help you get started, here is a link to websites of all the towns in Massachusetts.
Note: Wildlife Management Areas are open to hunting regardless of town bylaws.
Nonprofit land group properties
Land trusts and other nonprofits may allow hunting on lands they control. However, they may impose their own rules and restrictions. You should contact the group for information about their particular hunting policies.