Staying Safe During Hunting Season
Basic Safety Tips
Hunting is a safe way to recreate outdoors; however, to ensure the safety of everyone who enjoys the outdoors, there are some basic safety tips to follow. The most important measure to take when hunting or recreating during hunting season is to wear blaze orange. Additionally, it is important to know where hunting is allowed, and hunting seasons start and end dates. Please see the list at the bottom of this page for NCLT conservation areas where hunting is allowed (with an NCLT issued permit).
You can also make your presence known by talking or whistling to identify yourself. If you see someone hunting or hear shots, call out to identify yourself and your location. Once you have identified yourself, be courteous. Do not make unnecessary noise or disturb wildlife, and remember, hunter harassment is against the law. For more information visit https://www.mass.gov/info-details/safety-tips-for-non-hunters.
Blaze Orange
To be safe and be seen, recreators should avoid earth or animal-toned clothing and wear blaze orange during hunting season. Below is an example of a blaze orange beanie, but any visible article of blaze orange clothing works.
Wearing blaze orange during hunting seasons is one of the easiest and most effective ways to stay safe while recreating in shared use outdoor areas. The use of blaze orange has reduced the amount of hunting-related firearm incidents, by minimizing the chances that a person or pet will be mistaken for game during hunting season.
This video from Mass.gov demonstrates the effectiveness of wearing blaze orange outdoors.
Pets
To keep your pets safe during hunting season, they should be wearing blaze orange and be kept on leash or under voice command at all times.
Hunters
It is a legal requirement that hunters wear blaze orange during certain hunting seasons, including shotgun deer season and pheasant or quail season. For more specific information visit https://www.mass.gov/info-details/wear-blaze-orange-during-hunting-season.
The Benefits of Hunting
Legal and regulated hunting is an important tool for wildlife population management that every state, including Massachusetts, relies on to achieve conservation goals. For species, such as white-tailed deer, the loss of natural predators, including mountain lions and wolves, caused populations to explode. Without natural predators, hunting has become a key tool to maintain populations at a healthy level. An overabundance of any given species can decrease wildlife health through the spread of disease and cause increased habitat damage. Hunting permits are only sold by the state for common and abundant species; however, and the funds generated through the sale of permits go to funding conservation efforts for all wildlife. State regulations and monitoring ensure game species do not become rare or endangered.
Moreover, animals harvested by hunters allow scientists and staff with Mass Wildlife the opportunity to collect important samples that help support research, monitor disease, and inform management decisions. For more information on the benefits of hunting visit https://www.mass.gov/info-details/the-benefits-of-hunting.
North County Land Trust ALLOWS Hunting With an NCLT Granted Permit On the Following Properties
Dwelly Farm Conservation Area, Templeton, MA
Ebenezer Keyes Conservation Area, Gardner, MA
Rome Conservation Area, Gardner, MA
Kirby Conservation Area, Ashburnham, MA
Longview Conservation Area, Ashby, MA
Monomonac Hill Conservation Area, Winchendon, MA
Peabody Conservation Area, Lunenburg, MA
Sibley Conservation Area, Westminster, MA
Zins Conservation Area, Princeton, MA
To apply for a NCLT hunting permit visit https://northcountylandtrust.org/conservation-area-hunting-request/
North County Land Trust Does NOT Allow Hunting on the Following Properties
Aho Conservation Area, Townsend, MA
Howard M. Stein Memorial Park, Townsend, MA
Crocker Conservation Area, Fitchburg, MA
Quarry Lane Park and Community Garden, Fitchburg, MA
North Common Road Conservation Area, Westminster, MA
Underwood Road Conservation Area, Hubbardston, MA