Conference mse1::archery

    Guy 
    
    Wouldn't it would be great if they lengthened both archery and blackpowder
    seasons. Especially BP as currently it's only 3 days.
    
    
    Walt

I'd love to see extended seasons, an extra tag for successful hunters, and 
allow optics for blackpowder...

3 days to hunt blackpowder is not enough... at least get in a weekend hunt.

An additional week for bow would be great.  I used to love bowhunting on
thanksgiving morning... before the fitchburg/leominster game. 

Course, then again, i'm getting the opportunities, just not cashing in... ;^)

definately would like to see them allow scopes during blackpowder.

    
    Since I've started hunting in Mass almost 6 years ago I tried to
    continue too follow 4 items in the law that IMHO felt needed change;
    1) Release Aids for Archery, 2) Non Disrimination on Muzzleloaders (as
    long as they were single shot), 3) Fully Rifled Slug Barrels, 4) Optics
    on Muzzleloaders. Three of the Four in Order have been passed. It seems
    the terminology of "Primitive Arms" defines and holds back changes of
    the current regulations. In-Line muzzleloaders were approved mainly to
    Tony Knight of Knight Muzzleloaders coming to tesify and document how
    far back history this design goes back. In speaking with F&G they say
    modern optics won't be allowed the only thing that could be used based
    on history is the long brass scopes used during the early wars and maybe
    even before that (haven't done any research to place a date). So we may
    just have to live with the technologies that have been approved.
    
    How about 1 week added to the Archery season, make the week between
    Archery and Shotgun (Thanksgiving) an Early Muzzleloader season and
    extended the late Muzzleloader to a full week instead of three days
    and since your paying for a special stamp put a deer tag to it so if
    all worked out 1 hunter could harvest 3 deer. The either sex should
    apply to both Archery or Muzzleloader before loosing a Doe Permit
    during the Shotgun season. So only 2 Doe's could be harvested during
    one hunting season per hunter.
    
                                                        Guy 

    
    	Does anybody know where you can get the hunting rules/laws for
    each individual town/city in Mass.? Some towns/cities are closed to
    hunting, others are land owners permission, etc... I don't think
    extending seasons or giving out more permits. Will reduce the deer
    population that much in Mass. When the season is open and hunters
    start going in and out of the woods. Plenty of deer find there way into
    towns that have resrictions.
    
    Ron

    If you are want to find out which towns are closed and by permission
    only you can call the Fish and Game dept in Boston.  They have a list
    of which towns are closed and which ones are permission only. I had one 
    mailed to me last year.
    
    
                                  Lonnie
    

    
    
    I just requested a copy of the updated list. The woman I spoke with
    also recommeneded that you should still speak with the Town Hall folks
    to ensure nothing has changed. If anyone would like a copy of this list
    I'll send it out too you once it's been received.
    
    
    
                                                         Guy

                                  
    I've written and mailed a letter to John McDonald (Deer Project Leader)
    at the Westborough office.
    
    I suggested a season change.
    
    Archery: 01-OCt thru Last Saturday of October or first 
              Saturday in November.
                     
                       or
             If a November BP season doesn't fly...Have Archery two months
             October and November.
    
    Benefit: Gives the Working stiff opportunity to hunt after work as most
             of October doesn't get dark until 7pm 7:30pm...we don't turn
             Clocks back until last week of October. More time in the
             woods...more deer are taken.
    
    Blackpowder:   2nd Monday in November to 1st Saturday..6 day season
                   or use BP as a floater....based on the deer kill in
                   each WMU F&G could adjust...could have a season in 
                   January instead of November and run the number of 
                   days as needed...3 or 6 or 10 ect....
    
    Let me know what you think  or better yet....send a letter
    to the Deer project leader and suggest changes.
    
    
                           Division of Fish & Wildlife
                           Field Headquarters
                           Westborough, Mass 01581
    
                           Attn: John McDonald
    
    Thanks!
    
    Rick 

Personally speaking I like bowhunting in November, it's a little cold, but the 
rewards are great...  less hunting pressure, peak of the rut etc...  i'd like to
see them add a week to the tail end of the season at a minimum... love hunting
around the thanksgiving holiday, unfortunately it dos'nt always happen due to 
when thanksgiving falls in the calendar year.  If they want to extend it even
further, then add a week to the beginning as well...

As it stand right now, it works out pretty well for me... I can bowhunt 4
weekends in VT during Oct.  Have a layoff week with nothing till mass archery
opens the first monday of november.  bowhunt for a week till rifle opens in VT. 
archery hunt weekdays in mass during the VT rifle... then head to VT for long
weekends.  VT rifle ends on the sunday after thanksgiving. Mass shotgun starts
the next day (monday) in mass.

I'd love to see them add a week to BP season in Mass to allow hunting during the
christmas holiday season...


so my idea is to run the mass archery season till the saturday after
thanksgiving, minimully.
add an extra week to the front end of archery as well, if needed.

extend Muzzleloader season to encompass the christmas holiday or for that matter
run it to the end of the calendar year.

leave the shotgun season as is...  

allow a 3rd deer tag to successful hunters. or better yet, have people purchase
the tag before the season opens.  that way they'll be add'l $$ to help support
the F&W...

ALLOW SUNDAY HUNTING!!!

FWIW

    There you go............
    
    Sunday Hunting!!!!!! That law is so outdated it's pathetic. If Walmare
    can open at 8:00 a.m. on Sunday morning then why do Blue Laws apply to
    us hunters here in Mass?
    
    Open up Sundays and you'll thin them out!
    Bob M......Who next year will be Bow Hunting in Maine for the
               first time ever.......Why not? Every deer I have seen up
               there has been 30 yards or closer! Hunting in Maine in Oct
               sure sounds nice.....

    
    I received over the weekend the list from Mass F&G on towns closed to
    the Discharge of Firearms and Landowner Permission Required. Anyone
    interested in a copy of this please send me a message with your
    Internal Location w/Mailstop.
    
    
                                                   Guy