Restricted Hunting Towns
Hunting Restrictions In Some Massachusetts Communities
Compiled by the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife
WARNING - This information is compiled from the best current information available and is offered only as a general guide. Since local ordinances can and do change -- sometimes without the knowledge of this agency -- there is no guarantee as to its accuracy and hunters are urged to check with local police departments when in doubt. Towns not listed are understood to have no ordinances affecting hunting.
Towns With Ordinances Prohibiting the Discharge of Firearms
Arlington
|
Chelsea
|
Medfield
|
Stoneham
|
Ashland
|
E Longmeadow *
|
Medford
|
Tewksbury
|
Avon
|
Lawrence
|
Melrose
|
Wakefield
|
Bedford*
|
Lexington
|
Newton
|
Wilmington
|
Belmont
|
Longmeadow *
|
N Reading
|
Winchester
|
Boston
|
Lowell
|
Randolph
|
Winthrop
|
Braintree
|
Lynn
|
Salem
|
Woburn
|
Burlington
|
Lynnfield
|
Somerset
|
|
Canton
|
Malden
|
Somerville
|
|
* See Special Restriction Section
Towns Requiring Hunters to Obtain Written Permission
of Landowner or Town Authorities
Acton
|
Essex
|
Milton
|
Swamscott
|
Andover
|
Framingham
|
Monterey
|
Tolland
|
Alford**
|
Georgetown
|
Natick
|
Topsfield
|
Bedford
|
Gosnod
|
Needham
|
Tyngsboro
|
Beverly
|
Groveland
|
New Marlboro
|
Tyringham **
|
Billerica
|
Hamilton
|
Newbury
|
Walpole
|
Blanford
|
Hampden
|
N Andover
|
Waltham
|
Bolton
|
Harvard
|
Northboro
|
Wayland
|
Boxford
|
Holliston
|
Norwood
|
Wellesley
|
Boxborough
|
Hull
|
Peabody
|
Wenham
|
Brewster
|
Ipswich
|
Reading
|
Weston
|
Brookline
|
Lincoln
|
Rowley
|
Westboro
|
Carlisle
|
Littleton
|
Sandisfield
|
Westford
|
Chelmsford
|
Lunenburg
|
Saugus
|
Westwood
|
Concord
|
Medfield
|
Seekonk
|
W Newbury
|
Cuttyhunk
|
Methuen
|
Sheffield
|
W Stockbridge
|
Danvers
|
Middlefield
|
Sherborn
|
W Tisbury
|
Dover
|
Middleton
|
Southboro
|
Wilbraham
|
Dracut
|
Millis
|
Stow
|
|
Dunstable
|
|
Sudbury
|
|
E Longmeadow
|
|
|
|
** By Landowner Association, not Town Ordinance
Towns Having Special Restrictions
Alford - A Landowner Association requires permission to hunt on lands belonging to its members
Amherst - prohibits discharge of firearms except shotguns and airguns. No discharge of firearms or bows and arrows (and no possession of loaded weapons) within 150 feet of or in the direction of, the paved surface, parking areas or entrance/exit ramps of the Rail Trail.
Ashburnham - prohibits discharge of rifles, handguns, bow & arrow without permission of property owner. Permits discharge of shotgun without permission while hunting.
Bedford - A person shall not hunt any bird or mammal except on the Concord River during the open season. A person shall not otherwise discharge a firearm on public land except as provided by law.
Billerica - requires permission of property owner to fire a rifle within town limits.
Braintree - no person shall discharge a gun without written permission of the selectmen except on an approved range.
Brockton - prohibits discharge of any firearm in or upon any street or public place, or within 100 yards thereof, or in any building or within 100 yards of any building without permission of the city council.
Chilmark - deer hunting prohibited without written consent of owner.
Easthampton - prohibits discharge of firearms by minors under 16.
Edgartown - deer hunting prohibited without written consent of owner.
E Longmeadow - no discharge of: rifles larger than .22 cal; handguns larger than .38 cal; shotguns larger than 10 ga without a permit from the Board of Selectmen.
Fall River - prohibits discharge of firearms within 50 yards of a dwelling house.
Gay Head - deer hunting prohibited without written consent of owner.
Hampden - hunting prohibited from Somers Rd easterly to Glendale Rd for 1,000 feet either side of the highway. Town land closed to hunting. Written permission requires on all other lands.
Hingham - no discharge of firearms upon or across private property without consent of owners or tenants.
Hull - no discharge of a firearm or arrow within 2,000 feet of a dwelling in use or highway except by permission of landowner.
Lawrence - no discharge of firearms within one mile of city limits.
Longmeadow - no person shall discharge firearms within limits of town except, in lawful defense of property unless done with permission of landowner and Board of Selectmen.
Ludlow - No person shall discharge any firearm other than a shotgun or bow & arrow or primitive firearm in the Stoney Brook Wetland Area and such use is to occur only during authorized hunting seasons - Sep 01 - Jan 31
Manchester - hunting on ocean only
Marblehead - only waterfowl hunting allowed, waterfront areas.
Marshfield - minors under 18 may not fire rifles except on range approved by selectmen.
Nahant - only waterfowl hunting allowed, waterfront areas.
Northhampton - hunting and carrying firearms or other weapons prohibited on all town conservation lands except in the "Abuza" section of Fitzgerald Lake Conservation Area and Rainbow Beach Wildlife Management Area.
Pembroke - No discharge on Town owned land
Quincy - Only waterfowl hunting allowed, waterfront areas.
Revere - requires hunters to have a hunting or sporting license and to use shotgun only.
Rowe - no hunting or trapping at Pelham Lake Park.
Salem - prohibits hunting with rifle or pistol.
Saugus - no discharge of firearms on town property. Hunters required to obtain written permission of landowner or town authorities. Coastal waterfowl hunting permitted.
Scituate - prohibits hunting east of Cushing Highway, except certain areas. See local authorities.
Walpole - No hunting on town land: written permission of landowner required elsewhere.
Wareham - Wareham and Agawam Rivers - sanctuary from above Route 6 Bridge at Wareham Center - see Police.
Westfield - prohibits discharge of firearms within 100 yards of a street or building.
W Stockbridge - A Landowner Association requires permission to hunt on lands belonging to its members
Wilbraham - No discharge of firearms on town or private land without written permission of landowner filed with Town Clerk's Office
Worcester - prohibits discharge of any weapon on or across any street or near any dwelling. No hunting in city limits.
Yarmouth - no hunting on or within 300 yards of Bass River.
|