The use of legal, regulated, hunting by licensed hunters can be useful for reducing local wildlife populations and can help reduce nuisance problems in massachusetts. Native to north america, and the same species as those we farm and eat for thanksgiving, wild turkeys, like many other species, suffered population crashes when europeans arrived in north america and started hunting and cutting down forests. Check local ordinances for firearm discharge restrictions. Possess live wild turkeys or live birds that are indistinguishable from wild turkeys. The wild turkeys breeding season starts in february in southern regions and occurs in april or may farther north. The following laws and regulations are specific to spring and fall wild turkey hunting seasons. Value the hunting experience and appreciate the beauty of the wild turkey.
The inside word from biologists across the country on where to get your gobbler this spring. Youth hunters aged 10 to less than 14 must be under the supervision of a licensed adult who is at least 21 years of age. No more than 10 may be antlerless and no more than 2 may be antlered. With an increasing population, however, overhunting occurred and forests were gradually cut down for farmland, thus eliminating the turkeys habitat.
Hunting at cape cod national seashore hunting is permitted for deer, upland game, and migratory waterfowl. These pages provide a summary of the regulations and statutes that relate to hunting and trapping in massachusetts. The spring eastern wild turkey hunt will take place in massachusetts starting april 27, 2020. Review new regulations, safety information, and impacts of covid19. Regulations are set annually by the fisheries and wildlife board.
Bet you didnt know the massachusetts state game bird is the wild turkey, while the official state bird is the blackcapped chickadee. Permits and tagging a hunter may purchase, possess and use one 1 all lands turkey permit and one 1 private land only turkey permit for the taking of one 1 bearded turkey on each permit during the spring seasons. The last wild turkey in massachusetts was killed on mount tom in 1851. All hunting is prohibited from march 1 through august 31, except for the spring turkey hunt. How to deal with aggressive wild turkeys in massachusetts wild turkey. Remaining regulations that exist within wildlife management areas are as follows. Boston ap citing the abundance of wild turkeys in massachusetts, state officials are considering changes in hunting rules that would allow hunters to harvest more of the birds.
Antlerless deer, black bear, wild turkey, migratory game birds, and crossbow. Review new regulations, safety information, and impacts. The spring turkey hunt in the national seashore will be consistent with most of massachusetts department of fish and wildlife regulations. Nwtf massachusetts supports active habitat management to maintain the states wild turkey population at 30,000. Hunting and fishing at cape cod national seashore cape. Massfishhunt official fishing and hunting license sales.
Reintroduction efforts in neighboring states and around the country have created a similar storythere are 60,000 wild turkeys in maine, 45,000 in vermont, and 25,000 in massachusetts all of. The hunt is by permit only, so that the population of wild turkeys, once dismally low, can be maintained. As with many states across turkey hunting nation, serious wild turkey hunters both live and visit here, despite the political perception some might have of this northeastern location. Best places to hunt turkey in massachusetts 8 matching. Positively identify hisher target as a legal bird and insist on a good shot. Along with the american bison, the wild turkey meleagris gallopavo is one of americas great conservation success stories. Hunting and shooting hours for the spring seasons, including youthparaplegic, end at 1.
Massachusetts deer herd benefited from a large mast crop and mild winter last fall and the fall before, too. The learn to hunt program and mentored hunt is offered in a series of four sessions. The spring season is a much more popular hunting time as it is breeding season. Wild turkeys in massachusetts at the time of colonial settlement, the wild turkey was widespread in massachusetts. The massachusetts turkey hunting this is designed to be a place where everyone can invite all their turkey hunting friends and post pictures,advice, tips and ask questions. Maine 2020 spring turkey season opens may 4 june 6, 2020. At the time of colonial settlement the wild turkey was widespread in massachusetts, ranging from cape cod to the berkshires. In the spring hunting season, many hunters try to roost a gobbler the night before they hunt him. 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. The first thing youll need is a hunting or sporting license. Wild turkeys are at a record high in new englandbut not all. The 2019 massachusetts spring turkey hunting season opens on april 29 and runs through may 25.
The first three are indepth turkey hunting seminars that cover basic hunting needs, shooting, gear, clothing, turkey scouting, calling and other hunting techniques. The herd should be in great shape when the 2018 season starts. One of the antlered deer must have at least 4 points, one inch or longer, on one side of the antlers. To be well prepared for your next hunt, always first check the regulations and season dates on the website of massachusetts. Due to habitat loss, turkeys were extirpated from the state and the last known. And flying over and back on the ky river into anderson and back to woodford county, i shot the gobbler in woodford probably 34 miles from the river, so with this said, guys when turkey hunting you may be seeing different birds on a regular basis. The 2020 spring turkey hunting season in massachusetts is april 27may 23. Turkey populations remain strong throughout most of the state, says bob long, wild turkey and upland gamebird project manager with the maryland department of natural resources. Those who have a lifetime comprehensive hunting, lifetime comprehensive hunting and fishing, or resident or nonresident youth hunttrap license can hunt turkey and do not need to purchase the gamebird habitat stamp because it is included with those license types. Sep 09, 2019 massachusetts wild turkey populations have changed dramatically. Legal hunting time is from 12 hour before sunrise to 12 hour after sunset. The youth turkey hunt takes place on the saturday before the opening day of the spring season. Use the pages below to learn about regulations for licensing, permits, and reporting. The 2018 spring hunt guide provides you with all the useful information needed for turkey hunting in your state, plus public land recommendations from nwtf regional biologists.
The committee advises the wildlife policy team on a variety of topics such as hunting regulations, surveys and research priorities. Take wild turkeys from an area in which bait has been placed. This is because the bird taken during the youth season counts as the first bird for the first week of the regular season. Nov 25, 2019 reintroduction efforts in neighboring states and around the country have created a similar storythere are 60,000 wild turkeys in maine, 45,000 in vermont, and 25,000 in massachusettsall of. The massachusetts division of fisheries and wildlife makes the following comments about deer hunting opportunities during hunting season. The guide is a summary of indiana hunting regulations. A person shall not mimic the sound of a turkey in an area open to turkey hunting and where turkeys are reasonably expected to be present from march 1 until the opening of the youthonly turkey season, and from the close of the youthonly turkey season until the opening of the statewide turkey season. Night hunting is not allowed during the shotgun season for deer hunting. Spring archery hunters must purchase a small game and deer archery permit and resident game bird conservation stamp. Find regulations related to licenses, permits, and reporting, as well as turkey harvest data and tips for hunters. Information and regulations for specific species such as deer, black bear, wild turkey, and more can be found in dfws online hunting guide. Spring 2020 the spring season is april 22 through may 10, 2020. There are two segments for the turkey hunting season.
A separate turkey license is needed for the spring and fall turkey season. Only bearded turkeys are legal in the spring season. The goal of wisconsins wild turkey management program is to maintain turkey populations in all suitable range and optimize quality turkey hunting opportunities in spring and fall. Turkey hunting changes changes in bag limits, shot size changes, expan. Hunters must also comply with all other applicable fish and wildlife laws. Massachusetts hunting seasons, 20192020 massachusetts is a small state known for some big hunting, such as white tailed deer and even bear. Outdoorsmen recount the history of the restoration of the wild turkey with zeal, and for. Massachusetts wild turkey population plentiful for. Spring shotgun hunters must purchase a firearms hunting license and resident game bird. Massachusetts considers allowing hunters to bag more wild. Youth turkey hunters aged 10 to 16 with a youth license can obtain a y permit which allows them to hunt in any hunting period in the zone that they obtain a permit for during the spring season. If youre planning to go hunting in massachusetts, you need to know the rules. Fall 2019 the bag and possession limit for the fall seasons is one bird of either sex, regardless of hunting equipment used or what portion of the season.
Wild turkey hunting seasons species gear zones where hunting is permitted note 3 hunting season 2018 hunting season 2019 wild turkey 3, with 15, 26, 27a beard note 1 firearms, crossbow and bow note 2 9, 11, 12, april 27, 2018 to may hunting is permitted onehalf hour before sunrise until noon. States wild turkey comeback continues news telegram. This page is to be used as a reference, it is not the entire law, and is subject to change. See hunting and trapping guide for counties open to fall turkey hunting. It is designed as a service to hunters and is not intended to be a complete digest of all hunting and trapping regulations. Regulations for hunting in cape cod national seashore the following regulations are in addition to massachusetts fish and wildlife laws and federal migratory bird hunting regulations. The next morning, try to set up early within 100 to 150 yards of where the bird roosted and before he starts gobbling.
Wild turkeys killed in the spring gobbler season must be checked using the telephone or internet checking system. Theyre just as committed to mentoring new adult hunters as well. Message from masswildlifes turkey biologist first and foremost, i want to wish you and your families well during these uncertain times. Hunting and fishing at cape cod national seashore cape cod.
Cold and rainy weather can delay the onset of mating. The massachusetts department of fish and game has an excellent webpage devoted to the law about hunting wild turkeys, including the hunting season dates, bag limits, permits, types of weapons allowed, and all other pertinent regulations. Crow, ruffed grouse, quail, english sparrow, starling, pheasant, eastern wild turkey. Nwtf massachusetts introduces 12 to 14yearolds to hunting, while working to break down barriers to hunting, including lowering the minimum age to hunt. Use any type of handgun or rifle to hunt wild turkey. James earl kennamer, the chief conservation officer for the nwtf who collects forecasts from biologists in each state every year. Spring turkey hunting season opens monday the berkshire.
You can tag one per day in the spring season using both tags one daily, with no fall bird. Refer to the wild turkey hunting regulations in the code of massachusetts regulations, 321 cmr 3. The national wild turkey federation nwtf is a national nonprofit conservation and hunting organization that has worked for the conservation of the wild turkey and preservation of the hunting tradition since 1973. Spring hunters may hunt with archery equipment andor shotguns. The first season begins on the second monday of april. Hunting wild turkey in massachusetts there are 2 turkey hunting seasons, one in the spring and one in the fall. Extended archery bibb, chatham, clarke, clayton, cobb, dekalb. The 2020 massachusetts spring turkey hunting season opens april 27 and runs through may 23. Why are there so many wild turkeys in massachusetts now. Find regulations, hunting tips, safety information, and more. Aside from licenses, the following hunting permits may be purchased for the state of massachusetts. The spring wild turkey hunting season is open statewide. How to deal with aggressive wild turkeys in massachusetts. While the fall months bring cooler temperatures and changing leaves, they also bring a time some sportsmen wait for all year.
Alaska alaska drivers manual alaska motorcycle manual alaska commercial. The 2020 spring turkey hunting statebystate forecast. Wild turkeys are at a record high in new englandbut not. Read through common questions and answers about turkey hunting licenses and regulations. A key role in the success of the wild turkey management program can be attributed to hunters through their purchase of the wild turkey stamp which provides vital financial support in providing for future opportunities for turkey management and hunting in wisconsin. The odds of winning a permit vary greatly by deer management zone and excess permits are sold over the counter. Includes wild turkey species information, links to turkey calls, online articles, state hunting information, turkey records and everything else related to turkeys and turkey hunting on the web. Massachusetts hunting seasons, 2018 2019 clever hunters. Legal methods and restrictions for archery turkey season. At the time of colonial settlement, the wild turkey was widespread in massachusetts. Statebystate 2020 spring turkey hunting forecast p4. Turkey hunters can continue to use shotgun, muzzleloader or archery equipment during the traditional twoweek season from the third monday. Precolonial america supported an estimated 10 million of them.
With the neartotal destruction of the eastern forests by 1930. Wild turkeys, the official game bird of massachusetts, thrive in a variety of habitats across the commonwealth, including urban areas. In the 1970s, masswildlife biologists trapped 37 turkeys in new york and released them in the berkshires. Second to last monday in october 2nd saturday thereafter. James earl kennamer, the chief conservation officer for the nwtf who collects forecasts from. Due to habitat loss, turkeys were extirpated from the state and the last known native bird was killed in 1851. The 2020 spring turkey hunting season in massachusetts is april 27 may 23. Anyone hunting turkeys during the fall firearms turkey season may not be in possession of both a firearm and a bow. How to deal with problem wild turkey in massachusetts.
An area is considered baited until 10 days after the bait has been consumed or otherwise removed. Best places to hunt turkey in massachusetts 8 matching articles. All spring turkey hunters must leave the woods by 1. The birds urge to breed is triggered by increasing daylight hours, which stimulate the sex hormones of the toms. The novice hunter is paired with a mentor who takes them out on a. Massachusetts turkey hunting public group facebook. The 2020 national seashore turkey hunting season is april 27 through may 16, which is the first three weeks of the states fourweek turkey season. Fastforward to 1972, when the ma division of fisheries and wildlife now known as mass wildlife, in cooperation with the university of massachusetts, received permission to livetrap turkeys in new york state and release them in massachusetts.
To manage the size of massachusetts deer population, masswildlife regulates hunting during 3 distinct seasons using 15 wildlife management zones. Hunting wild turkey in massachusetts find regulations related to licenses, permits, and reporting, as well as turkey harvest data and tips for hunters. When europeans first settled in massachusetts, wild turkeys were plentiful throughout the state. Hunting this species can be the most exciting and challenging fowl hunting available. As with many states across turkey hunting nation, serious wild turkey hunters both live and visit here, despite the political perception some might have of this.
Massachusetts hunting seasons, 20192020 hunting season hq. Any private landowner is eligible to hunt wild turkeys on their own land without a turkey hunting permit if. Beginning in the spring, when male birds attempt to attract their mates with proud displays of strutting and calling, the challenge is the greatest. While public land is scarce and population density is high third in the nation in people per square mile, good deer hunting can still be found for those who work at it. The 2019 spring turkey hunting season in massachusetts is april 29may 25. Want to get started turkey hunting, are new to the activity or just looking for some tips. Turkey hunting in massachusetts massachusetts law updates. To hunt wild turkey, a valid turkey hunting license and a valid gamebird habitat stamp privilege are required. In addition, shotgun gauges 10 through 28, including. Massachusetts wild turkey population plentiful for thanksgiving. In that period hunting hours are onehalf hour before sunrise and onehalf hour after sunset.
Possession of a firearm while hunting for wild turkey during the fall archery season. A person can use shotgun gauges 10 through 20, using shot sizes 4 through 6 or mixed loads that include shot sizes 4 through 7. Seasons are also open at varying times for woodcock, crow, fox, and raccoon. Eastern wild turkey provides and exciting hunting opportunity for hunters, with a fall hunting season and a youth spring season. Very nice 2 year old bird after a cold long winter. Statewide except in areas where there is a closed firearm season on turkey. The national wild turkey federation will enhance 600 acres of wildlife habitat in massachusetts, recruit 2,500 hunters in the state and open hunting access to 4,000 acres in the next decade. Share responsible turkey hunting with others and work for turkey conservation. However, three summers of belowaverage reproduction 2015 through 2018 dampened the previous population growth and reduced numbers in some.
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