March 2023
2023 fishing and hunting season summary
March 2: Brook Trout Restoration and Research in the Quashnet River, Virtual – Join MassWildlife’s Southeast District Aquatic Biologist, Steve Hurley, for a virtual presentation about brook trout. The Quashnet River has been the site of ongoing brook trout restoration and monitoring activities. These efforts have inspired similar progress at other coastal coldwater streams. Steve will discuss the results of these efforts in the Quashnet River, the results of the ongoing brook trout PIT tagging studies started in 2007, and the opportunities and challenges for the river and its fish populations in the future. The presentation is from 6:30 – 7:30 p.m. and is part of a series sponsored by the Waquoit Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve. Click here for information and to register.
March 5: Turkey Calling Seminar, Westborough – Calling all interested turkey hunters! Join MassWildlife and the National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF) for a 3-hour class to learn all about turkey calling! This course will cover turkey hunting tips and tricks from turkey hunting experts and give you an opportunity to practice calls under the guidance of experienced turkey callers. This class will be held prior to the NWTF’s turkey calling contest and all participants are welcome to stay for the contest and hear their instructors compete. The seminar will be held at MassWildlife’s Field Headquarters (1 Rabbit Hill Road) in Westborough from 9 a.m. – noon. Space is limited, click here to register.
March 8: Mustelids of Massachusetts, Dalton/Virtual – Join MassWildlife Biologist Nathan Buckhout to learn about members of the weasel family including otter, mink, and fisher. Learn the facts and the common misconceptions about this diverse family of carnivores. This event, sponsored by the Berkshire Environmental Action Team, will be held at the Shire Breu-Hous (63 Flansburg Ave, Dalton) at 6 p.m.; there is also an option to attend virtually. Click here to learn more and to register.
March 9: Sandplain Grasslands: A Rare Habitat, Virtual – Join MassWildlife’s State Botanist, Robert Wernerehl, for a virtual presentation about sandplain grasslands. Sandplain Grasslands are unique, treeless ecosystems in the Northeast. Like similar grasslands across the United States, the extent and quality of these grasslands has greatly diminished over recent decades. A few thousand acres remain in New York, Massachusetts, and Maine. This habitat is critical for endangered plant and animal species, from harriers and short-eared owls, to several state and federally endangered plants, some of which are globally rare. The presentation is from 6:30 – 7:30 p.m. and is part of a series sponsored by the Waquoit Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve. Click here for information and to register.
March 21: Black Bears in Massachusetts, Holden – Curious to know more about bears in your area? Join MassWildlife biologist Mike Morelly to learn about biology, current and past research about bears, and his own efforts to track a local bear using GPS data. This event is sponsored by the White Oak Land Conservation Society and will be held at the Holden Senior Center (1130 Main Street) at 7 p.m.
March 26: Martin Burns WMA Cleanup, Newbury – Join the New England Chapter of Backcountry Hunters and Anglers and MassWildlife from noon – 4 p.m. at Martin Burns WMA. Pick up trash and spent shells then stick around to share a meal and hear from special guest Mark Kenyon, author of That Wild Country, founder of Wired To Hunt, and host of the industry-leading Wired To Hunt Podcast. Mark is a nationally published writer, and MeatEater's resident "whitetail guy." Meet at the WMA entrance on Orchard Street in Newbury. Click here to learn more and to register.
March 30: Fisheries and Wildlife Board Meeting, Westborough – The monthly business meeting, which is open to the public, will be held Thursday, March 30 at 9 a.m., at the MassWildlife Field Headquarters (1 Rabbit Hill Road, Westborough). Anyone wishing to be placed on the agenda to speak must notify the Board in writing 2 weeks prior to the meeting; for more detailed information, contact Susan Sacco at susan.sacco@mass.gov.
March 30: Fisheries and Wildlife Board Governance Meeting, Westborough – A Board Governance meeting of the Fisheries and Wildlife Board will be held on Thursday, March 30, 2023, at 1:00 p.m., at the Division of Fisheries and Wildlife’s (MassWildlife) Field Headquarters, Richard Cronin Building, 1 Rabbit Hill Road, off North Drive, Westborough, Massachusetts.
April 2023
2023 fishing and hunting season summary
April 11: Turkey Calling Seminar, Westborough – Calling all interested turkey hunters! Join MassWildlife and the National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF) for a 1-hour class to learn all about turkey calling! This class will give you an opportunity to practice calling under the guidance of experienced turkey callers. Each student will spend 1 hour practicing a specific type of call— either a box call, pot call, or mouth call. You can select the type of call you want to work with during registration. Box and pot calls will be available to borrow, but if you select mouth calls you will need to bring your own. The seminar will be held at MassWildlife’s Field Headquarters (1 Rabbit Hill Road) in Westborough from 5 – 6 p.m. Space is limited, click here to register.
April 13: Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Advisory Committee meeting, Zoom – This Advisory Committee meeting will be held at 1:30 p.m. Members, Associate Members, and MassWildlife staff will meet virtually via Zoom; the meeting is also open to the public.
April 19: Earth Day Celebration and Cleanup, Palmer – Join MassWildlife and others in the outdoor community for a day of service and fun at Forest Lake. There are three events planned for the same location; attend one, two, or all three events. Bring plenty of water and pack a lunch. These events are rain or shine, please dress for the weather.
- 9:00 a.m. Forest Lake WMA Cleanup
Meet at the boat ramp parking lot to clean up the area around Forest Lake. Wear sturdy shoes or boots and bring work gloves if you have them. If you will attend, help us plan by registering in advance. Click here to register for the cleanup. (Those who pre-register and attend will receive a 2-year subscription to Massachusetts Wildlife magazine!)- 11:00 a.m. Help Stock Trout in Forest Lake
MassWildlife’s trout stocking truck will be on site and the public is invited to help stock the lake. No registration required.- 12:00 noon Learn to Fish with MassWildlife
Learn to set up your rod, tie knots, cast, and identify fish. Events are free, family friendly, and open to all skill levels. No fishing license is required. Bring your own fishing equipment or borrow ours. Limited gear and bait will be provided. Click here to register for the free Learn to Fish Clinic.
May 2023
2023 fishing and hunting season summary
Saturday May 13, 2023: Growing Up WILD Professional Development Workshop, Northampton – Growing Up WILD is an early childhood education activity guide that builds on children’s sense of wonder about nature and invites them to explore wildlife and the world around them. Through a wide range of activities and experiences, it provides a foundation for developing positive impressions about nature while also building lifelong social and cognitive skills. Workshop participants will receive a copy of the guide and a certification of completion. Click here to learn about this workshop. To register contact Kathleen Mahoney, kathleenmaho@umass.edu. Registration deadline is May 4, 2023. Space is limited, so register early.
Event accommodations
If you have a disability or medical condition and would like to request special accommodations or will require translation services for an upcoming event, please contact Susan Sacco via email at susan.sacco@mass.gov.