The three main objectives are:



• Allow Sunday Hunting
• Allow Crossbows for Hunting (Without Special Permit)
• Reducing Archery Setbacks

Governor Healey has spent a lot of time in the media publicizing her initiative that has left gun owners and hunters wondering what her motives really are. Regardless, there may be a legislative push for some changes the outdoor community has been pushing for decades.

The Governor has not stated that she is supporting any specific legislation that is already in the legislative system, nor has she filed her own bill that would accomplish these goals. With only around four months left in the current legislative session, it will be interesting to see how, if it all, this will manifest itself. As eager as the outdoor community is to see these changes made, we must be mindful of how it may happen and will supporters of the state’s gun laws (Chapter 135) be looking to use a vote in favor of these changes as cover for previous support for the worst attack on civil rights in modern U.S. history. (Chapter 135).

GOAL will keep our supporters up to date as we gather information on this effort.

MassWildlife Report: https://www.mass.gov/doc/updating-hunting-laws/download

Press Release: https://www.mass.gov/news/governor-healey-announces-support-for-lifting-sunday-hunting-ban-expanding-hunting-access

Governor Healey will file the following amendments in her upcoming supplemental budget:

Allow Sunday hunting: Massachusetts is currently one of only two states in the country with an outright ban on Sunday hunting. Allowing hunting on Sundays during limited hunting seasons will expand equitable access to outdoor recreation and provide MassWildlife with increased ability to manage healthy wildlife populations.

Allow crossbows for hunting: Massachusetts currently has the most restrictive crossbow hunting laws in the Northeast and only allows their use by hunters with a permanent disability. Crossbows are safe, effective, and ethical hunting implements, and are generally more accessible than traditional and compound bows because they require less physical strength to use. Removing the ban on crossbow hunting will help MassWildlife reach wildlife management goals and provide more equitable opportunities for all hunters.   

Reduce setback limits for bowhunting: Massachusetts currently prohibits hunting within 500 feet of a dwelling except with permission. Reducing the setback for bowhunting to 250 feet would bring Massachusetts laws into alignment with neighboring states and could open up thousands of acres of land to hunting, especially in areas where wildlife populations are exceeding management goals. This will also remove the setback for falconry, the regulated practice of using a trained bird of prey to hunt, since it does not pose any public safety risk.