As winter thaws and outdoors enthusiasts prepare for spring hunting in Massachusetts, they should know the season features only one animal, the turkey, that can be legally taken.
Spring, loosely defined by the
Farmer’s Almanac as the third week in March until the third week in June, brings better weather for hunters in the state, but most animals cannot be hunted during that time, according to
the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife.
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All hunters in Massachusetts, regardless of their states of residence, must buy a state-issued hunting license to hunt turkey. That means every hunter has passed the state hunter safety course or proved they have passed one somewhere in the country. The
MDFW website details special permitting requirements for each species to be hunted, as well.
Wild turkey hunting requires a special permit and a green safety sticker applied to the firearm. It must be visible as you sight down the barrel. Spring turkey hunting hours are a half hour before sunrise until noon in zones 1-13 from late April through late May.
The annual bag limit is two birds per year, with only one taken per day,
the MDFW said.
You can take one bearded bird in the spring, and one of any sex in the fall, or two in the spring and you’re done for the year. Having difficulty in identifying the bird’s sex? The state’s turkey hunting page offers tips on how to understand the visual differences between them . It’s illegal to use electronic calls, baiting, or dogs when hunting turkey.
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Although the Massachusetts turkey is the only animal to hunt during spring, two other animals in the state can be hunted into the first week in March.
The Bobcat can be hunted in zones 1 to 8 from Dec. 21, 2015, to March 8, 2016. Hunting times are from half an hour before sunrise until half an hour after sunset. Don’t use dogs, and make sure you check in with your kill within four working days of season’s end, the MDFW website said.
Coyote can be taken between October and March, from a half hour before sunrise to midnight. Use any weapon listed on the state site, with some restrictions for nighttime and deer season. It is legal to bait them, use decoys, electronic or manual calls, and dogs, but artificial lights are prohibited. Check the pelts within four business days of season’s end.
This article is for information only. Please check current regulations before hunting.
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