Wandering bear is found in athol, but had to be euthanized. Without attractants, it seems nearly impossible to harvest a bear, and the. The massachusetts general law chapter 1, section 21a defines this in depth. Best places to hunt turkey in massachusetts 8 matching. Masswildlife will post any new information about the spring turkey hunting season to mass. Masswildlife authorizes 3 statewide hunting seasons for black bear. Sunday shall be a closed season except for hunting deer or black bear with bow and arrow on private property and for the purpose of trapping under the provisions of this chapter. Night hunting is not allowed during the shotgun season for deer hunting. The department of fish and game announced that this bear season, new for 2015, will run from november 30 to december 12, the same time frame as shotgun deer season. Bear tags to hunt bear in california, all residents and nonresidents must be age 12 or older and have both a valid hunting license and a bear tag. During the three hunting seasons in 2018, a total of 204 bears were harvested.
Oct 15, 2015 bear hunters in massachusetts will be happy with a new season beginning next month. September 1 marks the start of the bear hunting season in new hampshire. If youre planning to go hunting in massachusetts, you need to know the rules. Black bear hunting season is open in allegany, frederick, garrett and washington counties only only one black bear may be harvested by a permitteesubpermittee hunting team for the season only one black bear may be harvested per person for the season black bear shooting hours are onehalf hour before sunrise to onehalf hour after sunset.
The late bear season runs from november 19 through november 24. Massachusetts hunting seasons, 20192020 massachusetts is a small state known for some big hunting, such as white tailed deer and even bear. Everything you need to plan your massachusetts hunting trip for 2020. The 2020 massachusetts spring turkey hunting season opens april 27 and runs through may 23.
While the fall months bring cooler temperatures and changing leaves, they also bring a time some sportsmen wait for all year. The areas with the highest harvest of black bear in massachusetts historically are the counties of berkshire, franklin, hampden, and hampshire. Segment a in october, with the first three days for archery only. Regulations are set annually by the fisheries and wildlife board. Bear hunting regulations this page is to be used as a reference, it is not the entire law and is subject to change. See hunting regulations for different game animals, get hunting tips, and learn about classes that will prepare you to hunt safely and successfully. There is also a september and november black bear hunting season as well. Whether you are a seasoned hunter or new to the sport, its important know information such as open season dates and rules and regulations specific to. Massachusetts 8 pointer shot on video jim gallagher. Bear hunting new hampshire fish and game department. The american black bear population in massachusetts is up dramatically from the early 1970s, when there were only about 100 in the state. Deer, black bear, turkey and a wide range of small game and game bird hunting. Read more massachusetts sets new bear hunting season nov.
Refer to the bear hunting regulations in the code of massachusetts regulations, 321 cmr 3. During the 2010 fall bear seasons, licensed hunters took a total. Find regulations related to licenses, permits, and reporting as well as black bear harvest data and tips for hunters. Black bear hunting season begins in massachusetts wwlp. Rifles may not be used to hunt bear in massachusetts. This represents a drop from the 270 bears taken in 2017 and record of 283 bears taken in 2016. Massachusetts black bear hunters will have another two weeks in the woods late this fall as a new stretch of hunting season was announced. To ensure you have a legal hunt, visit the massachusetts department of fish and game website. The massachusetts hunting season website describes the various types hunting in this state including. These pages provide a summary of the regulations and statutes that relate to hunting and trapping in massachusetts. If massachusetts is the hunting spot for you, know that hunting tags and permits can now be purchased online for. All care has been taking in preparing this hunting season information for you. To hunt for bear prior to the firearms season on deer, a valid hunting license and a bear permit is required.
The first of three seasons scheduled for 2019 runs until september 21, when there are no. Tony silva, andover, massachusetts i would like to thank you for a wonderful bear hunting experience this past season. With the first segment of the massachusetts bear hunting season set to begin on sept. To be well prepared for your next hunt, always first check the regulations and season dates on the website of massachusetts government. The statewide bear population has experienced modest growth over the past. This includes bears harvested during the archery season. Massachusetts hunting seasons, 2018 2019 clever hunters. The massachusetts spring turkey hunting season is just around the corner april 25, 2011. Doublechecking hunting season rules and regulations. In that period hunting hours are onehalf hour before sunrise and onehalf hour after sunset. In 2015, a total of 228 bears were taken by hunters in the state, with 53 of them during the expanded season, larson said. Segment b is for firearms only and is held concurrently with the sixday firearm deer season in december.
Ap last years deer, bear and spring turkey hunting seasons ended with strong results in new hampshire, the state fish and game department said. Follow the latest official state guidance and recommendations regarding covid19. Massachusetts hunting seasons, 20192020 hunting season hq. A bear permit is required in addition to a hunting or sporting license. Hunters may purchase only one bear tag per hunting license year. Wwlp massachusetts s first black bear hunting season started this week. Hunters already afield during the shotgun deer season can now take a. Keep an eye out for more species and how to hunt them.
Masswildlife biologists estimate 1,900 to 2,000 bears in massachusetts, the majority found in the hill towns west of the connecticut river. Massachusetts early black bear hunting season big game hunt. The massachusetts environmental police and the division of fish and wildlife have a joint memorandum that calls for any animal that has been chemically immobilized within 45 days of hunting season. General bear season closes on december 29, 2019, or earlier, if the department determines that 1,700 bears have been reported taken. Fishing or hunting on your own or with a family member is a perfect way to enjoy a day outside. Wwlp massachusettss first black bear hunting season started this week. Black bear hunting permitted during shotgun deer season. Here are some important reminders for turkey hunters to consider as they plan for their hunt. Vermonts bear hunting season is getting underway and officials are reminding successful hunters to submit a bear tooth so the state can collect.
Bears may be hunted over bait, by stalking or with hounds. Massfishhunt official fishing and hunting license sales. Everyone has their own reason for being a hunter, but we all share one thing. Massachusetts releases 2010 black bear harvest numbers. Use the pages below to learn about regulations related.
One of the best places to get a statebystate forecast for the 2014 spring turkey hunting season is from the national wild turkey federation nwtf. Black bear hunting permitted statewide black bear may be hunted in all zones throughout massachusetts. Bear tags can be purchased from any cdfw license sales office, license agent, online, or by telephone sales. Extended archery bibb, chatham, clarke, clayton, cobb, dekalb. James earl kennamer, the chief conservation officer for the nwtf who collects forecasts from biologists in each state every year. The possession in the open air on sunday of any implement for hunting, except for bow and arrow, shall be prima facie evidence of hunting in violation of the. Participants in this hunt only can use a shotgun, muzzleloader or archery equipment. One of the antlered deer must have at least 4 points, one inch or longer, on one side of the antlers. In the remaining deer hunting x zones, bear season begins october 12, 2019. Understand your options and learn about regulations and available tools to find your perfect hunting spot. For more on hunting bears in massachusetts, click here. On the opening day of bear hunting season in massachusetts, there is not a lot of sympathy out there for the bears. No more than 10 may be antlerless and no more than 2 may be antlered. The late season bear tag is included on each hunting license except the nonresident small game.
Massachusetts hunters are reminded that most other states have quarantine orders in place for nonresidents crossing state lines. The black bear population in massachusetts has grown exponentially since 1970, resulting in two seasons for hunting black bear. Bear hunting california department of fish and wildlife. The bear i caught on video in montague, i also captured a dow with a fawn with what looked like scars on the doe, later i saw the doe without the fawn, and i suspect. From the lodge to the great cooking to the hunting sites, your outfit provided a very rewarding hunting experience. The first of three seasons scheduled for 2019 runs until september 21, when there are no requirements to. There are two segments to the new jersey black bear hunting season. Our purpose here is to create a knowledge and networking base. The first thing youll need is a hunting or sporting license. The full departmentwide calendar can be found under home nmdgf calendar. Dec 28, 2015 did you know guide outdoors has extensive information available on snowmobile trails. The bear i captured on video in gill, was a momma with two cubs i experienced at 10 yards, while sitting on a log during spring turkey season. The massachusetts division of fisheries and wildlife makes the following comments about deer hunting opportunities during hunting season. This will be the third bear season in 2015 for massachusetts bear hunters.