Posted by Wayne G. Barber
WESTBORO − State wildlife officials are considering a plan which would add two weeks to the archery hunting season for deer in the eastern part of the state.
Currently, the archery hunting season begins six weeks before Thanksgiving, or Oct. 15 this year, and lasts until the end of the primitive firearms season, which is the end of December this year. The proposal would allow archery hunting starting on Oct. 1.
State officials said the proposal will increase hunting opportunities in a region where the deer numbers are above management range goals of six to eight deer per square mile. It would apply to Wildlife Management Zones 10-14, which include all of southeastern Massachusetts, Cape Cod, Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard.
No additional hunting days are recommended for wildlife management zones 1-9, since deer in these areas are within the management range of 12 to 18 per square mile.
The state’s fisheries and wildlife board will hold a public hearing on the proposal at 7 p.m. March 7 at the MassWildlife Field Headquarters, 1 Rabbit Hill Road, Westboro, where written and oral comments on the proposal will be accepted.
The board will also accept written comments until March 21, either by mail to the Chairman, Fisheries and Wildlife Board, in care of MassWildlife Director, Division of Fisheries and Wildlife, 1 Rabbit Hill Road, Westboro, MA 01581. They can also be e-mailed to Susan.Sacco@state.ma.us and to the marked attention of the fisheries and wildlife board.
During last year’s deer hunt in the Blue Hills Reservation, 10 of the 67 deer taken were by bow hunters, who had 11 exclusive hunting days. It was the third year a limited deer hunt was allowed in the reservation.
The Braintree Conservation Commission is scheduled to hold a hearing on March 14 on the question of allowing bow hunting on land under the commission’s control.
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