“The Healey-Driscoll Administration announced today that the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries & Wildlife (MassWildlife) will hold public listening sessions on several opportunities to expand hunting access in Massachusetts, including Sunday hunting, hunting with crossbows, and minimum setback distances for hunting.” 

It is IMPERATIVE that we as a community show up and provide feedback on these issues in Massachusetts. 

We have comprised some bulleted talking points that can help folks have organized thoughts together for when they attend the Zoom or in person sessions with Massachusetts Fish & Wildlife. 

• Increased access for working families: Many hunters work Monday–Saturday. Sunday hunting provides fair access to participation without increasing season length
• No evidence of increased safety incidents: States that allow Sunday hunting have not seen an increase in hunting-related accidents.  Some try to contend that hunters create danger to non-hunters… This is not supported by ANY evidence
• Supports conservation funding: Increased participation helps fund wildlife conservation through license sales and excise taxes.  More Massachusetts hunters will buy licenses!
• Aligns Massachusetts with neighboring states: Most surrounding states already allow some form of Sunday hunting without negative impacts.(Maine and Massachusetts
•  are the only two states with NO Sunday hunting) 
• Respects private property rights: Hunting would still only occur where landowners allow access. There are also other places for non-hunters to access the outdoors where hunting is not permitted for them to access
• Helps manage wildlife populations: Additional opportunity assists with deer management and reduces conflicts such as vehicle collisions and habitat damage, and increases the chance that we hit the goal for harvests reported

• Improves hunter recruitment and retention: Crossbows lower the physical barrier for youth, older hunters, and those with temporary or non-permanent limitations. They are a great gateway into the community of hunting for someone that has never tried and might not be comfortable around guns and unable to pull back a compound bow 
• Comparable effectiveness to vertical bows: Modern crossbows are accurate and ethical when used within regulated distances
• No negative conservation impact: States that allow crossbows have not experienced overharvest when seasons and bag limits remain unchanged
• Encourages continued participation: Hunters who may otherwise leave the sport can continue hunting safely and legally
• Still requires skill and practice: Crossbows require proper training, shot placement, and ethical decision-making.
• Supports wildlife management goals: Increased participation helps meet harvest objectives, especially in high-density deer areas
• Maintains fairness: All hunters would still be licensed and subject to the same rules and enforcement including archery safety courses

• Archery equipment has limited range: Bows and crossbows have a significantly 
• shorter effective distance than firearms. Most archery hunters are also shooting from a tree stand elevated from 15 feet or more, so the angle will cause the arrow if it passes through or misses the animal to go into the ground
• Current setbacks restrict effective deer management: Large buffer zones remove many safe, practical hunting areas—especially in suburban regions
• Other Northeast states safely use smaller setbacks: Neighboring states have successfully implemented reduced archery setbacks without increased incidents
• Improves safety through controlled harvest: Managed archery hunting reduces deer-related vehicle collisions and property damage
• Respects property owner consent: Hunting would still only occur with landowner permission
• Allows better access to fragmented landscapes: Smaller setbacks help manage deer populations where firearm hunting isn’t appropriate

Bill H.800 193rd Current An Act authorizing the use of bow and arrows for Sunday hunting By Represe