Earlier this month, Governor Maura Healey officially announced her support for lifting the centuries-old ban on Sunday hunting in Massachusetts. As one of only two states in the nation with an outright “Blue Law” ban still on the books, this is a massive step toward modernizing wildlife management, but for now, it remains a verbal commitment.
Proposed Changes for Massachusetts Hunters
This isn’t just about Sundays. The Governor plans to include language in her upcoming supplemental budget that would:
- End the Sunday Hunting Ban: Finally giving you the full weekend to be in the woods.
- Legalize Crossbows: Opening up more opportunities for all sportsmen.
- Reduce Archery Setbacks: Lowering the discharge distance from 500 feet to 250 feet, which will unlock thousands of acres of huntable land currently tied up by outdated buffer zones.
Monitoring the Legislative Process at the State House
While the Governor’s endorsement is a pivotal milestone, a press release is not a law. Once the supplemental budget is public, we are prepared to analyze every line of the actual language to ensure these expansions are included and are not watered down or stripped out during the legislative process.
This verbal promise is a major win for Massachusetts sportsmen, but we will provide more details once the written text is available. At that time, we will call on you to contact your legislators to ensure this momentum leads to real change.
In the meantime, please help us spread the word by sharing this email with your fellow hunters, because when the time comes, The Bay State will need everyone to ensure the Governor follows through on her promise to modernize Massachusetts’s outdated hunting laws.
The legacy of hunting, fishing, and trapping depends on our actions today. Urge your family and friends to join you and the Sportsmen’s Alliance in the fight against the rising tide of animal extremism.
The Sportsmen’s Alliance guarantees hunting, fishing, and trapping for the American sportsman now and forever. We’re there when sportsmen need us most. We are the only organization specifically created to protect the individual hunter, angler, and trapper – no matter the threat. We will never compromise when it comes to defending our way of life in the courts, in the legislatures, in the public square, and at the ballot box. We make this promise to the American sportsman: we will never give up and never give in while proudly securing our future against those seeking to destroy our values, beliefs, and traditions. Stay connected to the Sportsmen’s Alliance: Online, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
