Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife may amend the state’s black bear hunting regulations (321 CMR 3.02) in order to “increase bear harvest, stabilize the population, and reduce human-bear conflict.”
According to the department’s website,
There are currently over 4,500 black bears living in Massachusetts. The bear population is increasing and the range is expanding eastward into more highly-developed areas. As a result, human-bear conflict—including more bears in highly-developed neighborhoods, vehicle collisions, agricultural damage, and livestock predation—has increased.
The proposed amendment would
- Replace the current three bear hunting seasons with one continuous bear hunting season from Labor Day in September through the end of the Shotgun Deer hunting season.
- Create a free Youth Bear Permit.
The state accepted public comment on the proposed amendments in January and February. The full text of the proposed amendment is attached below.