Why It Matters: On February 10th, the Massachusetts Division of Fish and Wildlife (Mass Wildlife) concluded a public comment period to help manage black bear populations in the commonwealth. Agency staff presented a detailed map and timeline of black bear population growth which has grown from isolated areas in the northwest of the Commonwealth and has boomed in numbers spreading across the northeast and even appearing south of Boston. In order to manage black bear growing population and mitigate human-wildlife conflict Mass Wildlife proposed regulatory amendments to 321 CMR 3.02(1) in Massachusetts.
Highlights:
- A “youth bear permit” will be created for 12-17-year-olds, allowing this age group to now hunt black bear with the appropriate added tag.
- Mentors will not have to sacrifice their own personal tag for mentees from the ages of 12-14 who harvest a bear.
- The black bear hunting season will be extended from Labor Day until the close of shotgun deer season.
- The definition of “baiting” has been clarified to not cause confusion or entrap hunters who may be positioned near natural food sources.
Creating a “youth bear permit” for 12–17-year-olds is a positive step in strengthening R3 initiatives (Recruitment, Retention and Reactivation). Increasing youth engagement is essential to the recruitment of our next generation of hunters. A study done by New Mexico Game and Fish found that for every 100 hunters lost only 69 youth are being brought in to replace them. Increasing both access and opportunity are great tools to make the experience memorable and enjoyable for new hunters.
Utilizing mentors is a safe and effective way to engage youth in our hunting heritage. Mentors should not be penalized by sacrificing their own big game tags when mentoring youth during the harvest. The Division should be commended for taking the appropriate step in allowing 12-14-year-olds to have their own tags in order to safely be mentored and let those mentors have their own opportunities to harvest in the season for themselves. Single-parent families and households who need to hold down multiple jobs may not have the time or opportunities to teach their children about hunting heritage, whereas extended family, friends, and community volunteers may. Mentors should be commended and supported for their efforts in sharing our hunting heritage and not punitively punished by sacrificing their own tags.
Youth, mentors and other hunters will now have more time afield for the bear hunt as these regulations would expand the bear season from Labor Day to the end of shotgun deer season, over a 70% increase in days compared to the current season. This simplifies the rules for potential hunters, as well as addresses the need for more time afield to reach the quotas set by Mass Wildlife. This would create one long season instead of the current September, November and December separate seasons. A patchwork of dates makes it more confusing and difficult for hunters to plan their time afield for big game season.
To further clear up confusion for hunters, the Division clarifies what constitutes “baiting” in Massachusetts to help educate and protect hunters who are utilizing natural resources afield which should not be designated as “bear attractants.” The proposed definition change is to add the statement, “Food sources deposited by natural vegetation, from agricultural or gardening practices, or standing crops planted and left as wildlife food plots do not constitute baiting.” The purposeful dispersal of substances to attract bear to a hunting spot is still illegal in Massachusetts.
The Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) would like to thank the forward thinking of Mass Wildlife for proposed regulations in engaging youth, clarifying current regulations, and simplifying rules for black bear hunters. CSF continues to work with agency staff and legislators all over the nation, including many northeast states such as Connecticut, Massachusetts and New Jersey to appropriately open bear hunts with scientifically derived take rates and simplify hunting regulations where appropriate.
