Area Briefs: MassWildlife holding listening sessions on hunting access

MassWildlife holding listening sessions on hunting access

The Massachusetts Division of Fisheries & Wildlife (MassWildlife) is holding public listening sessions on several opportunities to expand hunting access, including Sunday hunting, hunting with crossbows and minimum setback distances.

“Hunting has always been woven into Massachusetts’ history — supporting families, boosting local economies and helping keep our deer populations healthy,” Gov. Maura Healey said in a statement. “Expanding opportunities for hunters will carry that tradition forward while protecting public health and ensuring we’re maintaining balance in our wildlife populations.”

While MassWildlife has been working to improve access and opportunity for hunting, there are statutory limitations on hunting locations and times that would require legislative action to change, including:

• Prohibition against Sunday hunting: Massachusetts is one of only two states in the country with an outright ban on Sunday hunting. The Sunday hunting prohibition originated in the 19^th century.
• Prohibition against crossbows: Crossbows are prohibited for hunting by statute, except for hunters with a permanent disability. Crossbows are generally more accessible than traditional and compound bows because they require less physical strength to use. Modern archery equipment, including crossbows, incorporates built-in safety features that enhance reliability and safe use in the field. In recent years, several states in New England have changed laws to allow crossbows for deer hunting.
• Setback limits: Massachusetts statutes prohibit hunting within 500 feet of a dwelling/building in use or within 150 feet of a road. Other states in the Northeast have less restrictive setbacks for archery hunting than Massachusetts.

MassWildlife invites the public to provide input on these hunting laws at upcoming listening sessions. The public may also provide feedback using an online form at mass.gov/forms/hunting-laws-public-feedback or by mail to Attn: Hunting Laws, 1 Rabbit Hill Road, Westborough, MA, 01581 by 5 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 6.

The schedule of listening sessions is as follows:

• Tuesday, Jan. 27, at 6 p.m. on Zoom. Register at tinyurl.com/HuntingListeningSession1.
• Wednesday, Jan. 28, at 6 p.m. at MassWildlife’s Field Headquarters (1 Rabbit Hill Road, Westborough)
• Thursday, Jan. 29, at 6 p.m. at Berkshire Community College (Robert Boland Theatre, 1350 West St., Pittsfield)
• Monday, Feb. 2, at 6 p.m. at Massachusetts Maritime Academy (Admiral’s Hall, 101 Academy Drive, Bourne)
• Tuesday, Feb. 3, at 1 p.m. on Zoom. Register at tinyurl.com/HuntingListeningSession2.

Following the listening sessions, MassWildlife will evaluate public input and anticipated wildlife management impacts to inform its recommendations.

DCR’s snowmobile trails open

The state Department of Conservation and Recreation announced on Jan. 18 that, effective immediately and until further notice, the snowmobile trails are open at Monroe State Forest, Savoy Mountain State Forest, Mohawk Trail State Forest, Windsor State Forest, Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) State Forest, Dubuque State Forest, Beartown State Forest, Sandisfield State Forest, Pittsfield State Forest, October Mountain State Forest, Tolland State Forest and Chester-Blandford State Forest.

Snowmobiling will only be accessible as conditions allow in compliance with DCR regulations. With questions, email mass.parks@mass.gov.

State officials issue safety reminder as open burning season begins

State fire and environmental leaders are reminding residents to use caution if they plan to burn certain agricultural waste during open burning season, which runs through May 1.

“Open burning season applies only to specific types of fuel and is always limited based on the daily fire hazard, environmental concerns and location,” State Fire Marshal Jon Davine said in a statement. “Even where burning is authorized, you must have a permit from your local fire department and you must be able to extinguish the fire on a moment’s notice.”

These restrictions are authorized by 310 Code of Massachusetts Regulations (CMR) 7.07, which sets baseline requirements based on air quality and allows for “no burn” days; Massachusetts General Law, Chapter 48, Section 13, which prohibits any open-air fire unless a permit is issued; and the Massachusetts Comprehensive Fire Safety Code, which gives local fire chiefs the authority to impose additional limits.

Local fire departments may deny a permit or set additional limitations if circumstances make open burning hazardous. Only certain agricultural waste may be burned. This includes brush, cane, driftwood, residential forestry debris, fruit tree and bush prunings, raspberry stalks, infected bee hives, trees and brush from agricultural land clearing, and fungus-infected elm wood if no other acceptable means of disposal is available. It is unlawful to burn leaves, grass, hay, stumps, tires, household trash, construction materials, demolition debris or brush, trees, cane or driftwood from commercial or industrial land clearing.

Open burning may only be conducted:

• With a permit issued in advance by the local fire department;
• Between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.;
• At least 75 feet from all dwellings and without causing a nuisance;
• As close as possible to the source of material being burned; and
• When it will not cause or contribute to a condition of air pollution.

Persons who burn unlawfully or allow a fire to grow out of control could be held liable for firefighting costs, or face fines or jail time.

Residents are advised to take the following safety precautions:

• An adult should tend to the fire at all times and keep tools to extinguish it close by.
• Burn small amounts at a time.
• Never use gasoline, kerosene or other accelerants to start the fire.
• Don’t wait for the fire department to tell you that it has become unsafe to burn. Most fires get out of control during sudden wind changes.
• If the fire gets out of control, call the local fire department right away.

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