Massachusetts Law About Recreational Hunting and Fishing
See Also:
Best Bets
Mass. Div. of Fish and Wildlife (MassWildlife). Primary resource for official information about freshwater fishing and hunting.
Mass. Div. of Marine Fisheries. Primary resource for official information about saltwater fishing, lobstering and crabbing.
2013 Massachusetts Guide to Hunting, Freshwater Fishing and Trapping. Comprehensive guide to licenses, permits and fees, species regulations, prohibitions and more, updated annually.
2013 Massachusetts Saltwater Recreational Fishing Guide. Comprehensive guide to regulations, species, access sites, bait and tackle shops and more, updated annually.
Massachusetts Laws
- MGL c. 130 Marine Fish and Fisheries
- MGL c. 131 Inland Fisheries and Game
Massachusetts Regulations
- 321 CMR 2 Miscellaneous Regulations Relating to Div. of Fisheries and Wildlife
- 321 CMR 3 Hunting
- 321 CMR 4 Fishing
- 322 CMR Fisheries
- Plain language summaries. Consolidation of fish and wildlife regulations and statutes clearly written
Federal Regulations
50 CFR 32 Hunting and Fishing
Selected Case Law
Dapson v Daly 257 Mass. 195 (1926) "…the title to wild animals and game is in the Commonwealth in trust for the public, to be devoted to the common welfare…"
Other Web Sources
License types.
Freshwater fishing and hunting license types and fees
MassFishHunt. Obtain licenses online here
License vendor locations. Walk-in locations to obtain licenses
Hunter course descriptions. Basic required course as well as advanced classes
Places to Go. Links to boat ramp locations, fishing, hunting and shooting opportunities, and state forests and parks. Includes maps for ponds, wildlife management areas, and outdoor recreation areas.
Maps of OFBA Facilities. Gives fishing and boating access facility type as well as a list of fish species typically fished for from the site
Take Me Fishing. Resource by state to all things fishing-related including regulations, licenses, places to fish, fishing reports, educational programs and events, species of fish, fishing techniques.
Print Sources
Massachusetts Environmental Law, edited by Gregor I. McGregor. 3d ed., MCLE, 2010. Chapter 8 – "Fisheries and Wildlife Law".
"The Economic Nature of Wildlife Law" by Dean Lueck, 18 J. Legal Stud 291 (June 1989)
(Available online to library card holders through Hein Online) Comprehensive review of the development of American wildlife law.
Organizations
Mass. Gun Clubs. Alphabetical and county listings of rod and gun, hunting and fishing, fish and game, and sportsman's clubs.
Mass. Fishing Organizations. List of local clubs.