State: MA

Contact: Joseph Mullin, Assistant Manager, Northeast States Highlights Why It Matters: Sportsmen and women have played a crucial role in funding conservation efforts in the United States for over 80 years. The American System of Conservation Funding (ASCF), a “user pays – public benefits” structure in which those who consumptively use public resources pay for…

Contact: Joe Mullin, Assistant Manager, Northeastern States On February 17, Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife (MassWildlife) Director Mark Tisa came before the Fisheries and Wildlife Board to review a proposed increase in license fees. For the past 25 years, Massachusetts has not had an increase in its license fees, and it’s taking a significant…

Contact: Joe Mullin, Assistant Manager, Northeastern States On February 9, the Massachusetts Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus hosted a virtual working meeting to welcome new and returning members, discuss plans for the year ahead, and raise current and future policy priorities. The gathering began with an introduction by Caucus Co-Chairs Senator Anne Gobi and Representative David Vieira,…

Contact: Joe Mullin, New England States Senior Coordinator On November 16, one of Massachusetts’ numerous restrictive kennel bills was sent to accompany a study order, easing some of the concerns that dog owners have had over the past two years. For clarification, when a bill is “sent to study,” it is commonly the end of…

Contact: Joe Mullin, New England States Senior Coordinator Beginning on May 18, Massachusetts implemented the first phase of the State’s reopening plan, which brought exciting news for sportsmen and women. The first phase of the reopening plan, COVID-19 Order No. 33, saw the reopening of “Firearms retailers and shooting ranges,” the former having been opened…

Contact: Joe Mullin, New England States Senior Coordinator The issue of fighting excessively restrictive kennel legislation in Massachusetts has been an ongoing theme for the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF), as well as for other like-minded in-state and national organizations. On May 8, news broke out of the Joint Committee on Municipalities and Regional Government that…

Contact: Joe Mullin, New England States Senior Coordinator On May 7, a Judge for the U.S. District Court, District of Massachusetts brought some exciting, long-overdue news to Massachusetts’ sporting community, ordering a preliminary injunction to authorize firearms retailers to reopen their businesses on Saturday, May 9. During the earlier stages of the Commonwealth’s response to…

Contact: Joe Mullin, New England States Senior Coordinator On May 1, the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) joined the American Kennel Club in submitting a sign-on letter of opposition against two restrictive bills in Massachusetts that would negatively impact hunting dog owners. The letter has been submitted to the respective Committee Chairs for their consideration during…

Contact: Joe Mullin, New England States Senior Coordinator On April 7, two Co-Chairs of the bipartisan and bicameral Massachusetts Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus submitted a letter of consideration to Governor Baker, requesting that the Governor list firearms retailers and shooting range facilities as essential businesses which would allow them to remain operational throughout the COVID-19 shutdown. The letter also requests that…

Contact: Joe Mullin, New England States Senior Coordinator Sportsmen and women in Massachusetts have just cause for anticipating the legislature’s return to what may be considered normal conditions. Prior to directing the majority of its efforts towards responsive measures for COVID-19, the Massachusetts General Court had set itself in motion to host a Sportsmen’s Day…

Contact: Joe Mullin, New England States Coordinator  On December 18, regrettable news developed out of Massachusetts, as the Fisheries and Wildlife Board voted in favor of the Division of Fisheries and Wildlife’s (MassWildlife) proposed ban on predator hunting contests and wanton waste regulations. Following the disappointing results of this vote, hunting contests for certain predators,…

Contact: Joe Mullin, New England States Coordinator On October 29, the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife (MassWildlife) and the Fisheries and Wildlife Board held a public hearing to receive comments on the proposed predator hunting contest ban and wanton waste regulations. The event took place at the MassWildlife Field Headquarters in Westborough and drew…