Conference vmsnet::hunting$note:hunting

    
    That doesn't seem right, about getting permission from the town to hunt
    on town land.  If it is town land, you own part of it, you live there
    its part yours isn't it?  Or am I way off base here?
    
    --Bob

    	The entire state of Colorado requires that you ask permission
    before hunting on private property. This doesn't, however, apply
    to public land. I think that it makes sense to require landowner
    permission, since it's only common courtesy to ask. It's just a
    shame that it has to be legislated.
    
    	George
    

    Bob,
    
    I agree with you....you are right on base. I don't live in Westford
    anymore but my folks did for 15 years. Regardless of that, I still
    live in Massachusetts and pay state taxes which in turn go to the
    towns.
    
    My brother just got a little more info on Westford. Apparently the
    town had some problems with ATV riders on town (citizen's) land,
    so they decided to close it off. I guess its the old story of a
    few people messing things up for everybody. And to think that I
    always took the time to pick up trash left on the ground by others.
    Does this mean that the people in Westford need to get permission
    from the town to walk on town owned land or fish the rivers? 
    
    Tom,

         This new regulation in Westford probably applies only to
         private property.         

         I don't consider it anti-hunting to require permission to
         hunt private land.

         Look at it from the property owner's point of view. In most
         Mass towns, all property is open to hunting unless it's
         posted. If the owner doesn't want hunting, he's got to buy
         and post NO HUNTING signs which mar his property. (There's
         certainly nothing pretty about red NO HUNTING signs posted 
         every 100 feet or so.)

         That policy is backwards and unfair to the property owner.   
         Westford is rightfully saying that it's the hunter's
         responsibility to seek permission rather than the property
         owner's responsibility to deny permission with ugly NO
         HUNTING signs. 

         I've knocked on a lot of doors in asking permission to hunt.
         Very often the landowner will offer a reason for denying
         permission. One of the reasons I've frequently heard is 
         hunters who hunt without permission. These property owners
         figure it's their land and those uninvited hunters are
         trespassers who have a lot a gall. They get so irritated that
         they refuse to allow ALL hunters on their land.

         Doug

    RE: .4
    
    Doug,
    
    I as well as you and hopefully all hunters, do not have a problem
    with asking PRIVATE land owner's permission to hunt their land.
    In fact I like yourself have done it many times. I DO NOT feel
    it is anti-hunting to require permission to hunt private land.
    Now, like I said in .0, we only hunt on TOWN land in Westford
    and this is where the problem is. My brother's first call was
    to the Westford police department, which is where the info for
    my original note came from. They have directed him to call the
    Town Clerk to get further information and/or possibly "permission"
    to hunt on town land. Like I said, I will post what we find out.
    
    Correct me if I'm wrong, but don't the towns of Littleton,Concord,
    Carlisle, Clinton(?) etc. have similar ordinances?
    
    Tom,

    Sorry, Tom, for the misunderstanding. I'm not sure about the towns you
    mention, but lots of Mass towns have this rule. Bolton requires
    landowner permission and nearby Havard requires landowner permission in
    writing. 
                                                 
    Doug

    
    
        I lived in Vermont for 4 years and found people to be very
    nice about hunting on their land...  I have asked permission from
    at least a half dozen people and got it without any problems..
    
            Now ya know why i'm getting out of Mass the first chance
    i get.... 
    
    
        Maine in 4 Weeks..
    
    
                Jeff

    Littleton has designated hunting areas, although I've never gone over
    to the town offices to find out.  But I would believe that the areas
    would be very limited.  Dunstable also requires that the hunter have
    written permission to hunt.
    
    Ray
    

                            
    
    	Please bear in mind, this info was compiled in 1987. 
    USE THIS ONLY AS A GUIDE.
    
    
    reproduced without permission:

    HUNTING RESTRICTIONS IN SOME MASSACHUSETTS COMMUNITIES

                        Compiled by

    MASSACHUSETTS DIV. of FISHERIES AND WILDLIFE  -  1987

    WARNING !!! This information is compiled from the best current
    information obtainable 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 HAVING ORDINANCES PROHIBITING THE DISCHARGE OF FIREARMS
   ---------------------------------------------------------------

    Arlington    Burlington    Lynn      Natick     Revere     Swampscott
    Ashland      Canton        Lynnfield Newton     Salem      Winchester
    Belmont      Chelsea       Malden    N. Reading Somerset   Winthrop    
    Boston       Lawrence      Medford   Norwood    Somerville Woburn
    Brookline    Lowell        Melrose   Randolph   Stoneham


    TOWNS HAVING ORDINANCES REQUIRING HUNTERS TO OBTAIN WRITTEN
             PERMISSION OF LANDOWNER OR TOWN AUTHORITY
   ---------------------------------------------------------------

    Acton      Concord    Ipswich    Newbury      Stow       Weston
    Andover    Danvers    Lexington  N. Andover   Sudbury    Westboro
    Bedford    Dover      Lincoln    Northboro    Tolland    Westwood
    Blandford  Dunstable  Lunenburg  Peabody      Topsfield  W. Newbury
    Bolton     Essex      Medfield   Reading      Tyngsboro  W. Tisbury
    Boxford    Framingham Methuen    Rowley       Wakefield  Wilbraham
    Boxborough Georgetown Middleton  Sandsfield   Waltham    Wilmington
    Brewster   Groveland  Millis     Seekonk      Wayland
    Carlisle   Hamilton   Milton     Sherborn     Wellesley
    Chelmsford Harvard    Needham    Southboro    Wenham

                    TOWNS HAVING SPECIAL RESTRICTIONS
                   ------------------------------------

    ASHBURNHAM    Prohibits discharge of rifles, handguns, bow and arrow
                  without permission of property owner. Permits discharge
                  of shotgun without permission while hunting.

    AMHERST       Check for local restrictions

    BILLERICA     Requires permission of property owner to fire a rifle
                  within town limits

    BRAINTREE     No person shall discharge a gun without 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 yds thereof, or in any
                  building or within 100 yds of any building without
                  permission of city council.

    CHILMARK      Deer hunting prohibited without written consent of landowner

    EASTHAMPTON   Prohibits discharge of any firearm by minors under 16

    EDGARTOWN     Deer hunting prohibited without written consent of landowner

    FALL RIVER    Prohibits discharge of any firearm within 50 yds of dwelling
                  house

    GAY HEAD      Deer hunting prohibited without written consent of landowner

    HAMPDEN       Hunting prohibited from Somers Rd easterly to Glendale Rd
                  for 1,000 feet either side of highway

    HINGHAM       No discharge of firearms upon or across private property
                  without consent of owners or tenants.

    HULL          No hunting within 300 feet of highway

    LAWRENCE      NO discharge of firearms within one mile of city limits

    LITTLETON     Hunting only in areas designated by town zoned hunting.
                  Only certain areas in town open to hunting. Map available
                  at Police Station, according to information supplied to us.

    LONGMEADOW    No person shall discharge firearms within limits of town
                  except, in lawful defense of property unless done with
                  permission of landowner and the Board of Selectmen

    MANCHESTER    Hunting in 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.

    QUINCY        Only waterfowl hunting allowed, waterfront areas.

    ROWE          No hunting or trapping 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.

    SUDBURY       Hunting permitted on some conservation land. Apply in
                  writing to Sudbury Conservation Commission

    WAREHAM       Wareham and Agawam Rivers -- sanctuary from above Rt 6
                  bridge at Wareham Center - see Police.

    WESTFIELD     Prohibits discharge of firearms within 100 yds of street
                  or building.

    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 yds of Bass River.