Massachusetts wildlife board supports ending Sunday hunting ban

NORTHAMPTON — Allowing hunting on Sundays and giving all hunters the ability to use crossbows are included in a package of statutory changes being endorsed by the Massachusetts Fisheries and Wildlife Board.

At the board’s monthly meeting in Westborough Wednesday afternoon, the panel took a unanimous vote in favor of recommendations from Acting Director Eve Schlüter, who provided an in-depth report based on the feedback her team received from state residents during five listening sessions and through an online portal.

The comments, she said, showed widespread support for revisions, including rescinding the statute prohibiting Sunday hunting.

In addition to setting the stage for MassWildlife to regulate hunting on Sundays, the other changes would allow any hunter to use crossbows, rather than just those permanently disabled, and to reduce the setback for archery hunters and falconry from 500 feet of an in-use dwelling to 250 feet.

The board’s recommendation goes to Gov. Maura Healey, whose administration had asked to get input. MassWildlife, though, has no ability to change the statutes on its own, but rather will need to get legislation to the governor’s desk.

Less than 24 hours later, Healey announced that she would file the necessary legislation to enact the changes.

Describing the package of changes as modernizing the rules and allowing for better, science-based management of land, should these be implemented they would also help address food insecurity and reduce both vehicle collisions and tick-borne diseases, advocates said.

Schlüter said hunting is highly regulated and safe, there has never been a non-hunter killed by a hunter in Massachusetts, and most injuries to hunters come from falls and not from discharge of weapons.

“As an agency, we remain committed to respectful, shared use of natural resources,” Schlüter said.

The recommendation came from five listening sessions, three in-person and two via Zoom, this winter, and from 11,231 unique comments, all but 99 of those from individuals from nearly all 351 cities and towns. The comments ran 70-30 in favor of allowing Sunday hunting.

“It was a lot of work and we saw strong public engagement on these issues,” Schlüter said. Schlüter described the feedback as “magnitudes larger” than typically seen.

The agency also consulted with other states and environmental police.

Commissioner Matthew Sisk said he is excited to give the endorsement, observing many have asked for the change.

“The speed with which this was done was historic,” Sisk said.

Board members also praised the thoroughness of the report, which included information about why people opposed Sunday hunting, that it is a day of rest and quiet and the safety risks posed, or supported it, like more time to hunt and encouraging new hunters.

Whether this will lead to any changes is uncertain. Much of the legislation this session has been sent to dead-end studies by the Committee on Environment and Natural Resources and previous hearings on changes in 2023 to lift the ban showed more opposed than in support.

Those who oppose remain vocal, such as the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, which issued a statement to the State House News Service: “Given the protection and relief that the Sunday hunting ban provides to the more than 99% of Massachusetts residents who do not hunt, we urge upholding the Sunday hunting ban.”

Judy Eiseman of Pelham said she will ask people to contact legislators, Healey and others to make sure that the current statutes are preserved, observing that she has worked with the hunting lobby on passing laws to protect land.

Eiseman said hunters appeared motivated to offer input this time, which may have skewed the feedback.

“I can guarantee you that there will be a lot of protest from the 99% of the people who do not hunt and who do not want setback requirements relaxed,” Eiseman said.

A letter to the Gazette from Matteo Pangallo of Shutesbury earlier this year echoed this concern: “Changes to Massachusetts hunting laws now being considered by the Division of Fisheries and Wildlife would create new public safety hazards with no public benefit.”

At one of the hearings in January, Edward Olmstead of Florence outlined his concerns:

“This is a complex issue, but I have one, just one thing, that I’m requesting is that at least one day a week be kept so that one can go into the woods without hunting being an issue to be concerned about,” Olmstead said.

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