On Monday morning, the boom of shotguns echoed across the Island landscape, signaling the start of the two-week deer shotgun hunting season.
On Monday morning, the boom of shotguns echoed across the Island landscape, signaling the start of the two-week deer shotgun hunting season. The season began a half an hour before sunrise on Monday morning, Dec. 1, and continues until half an hour after sunset Saturday, Dec. 13. Hunting is not allowed on Sundays in Massachusetts. New this year, the muzzleloader and archery seasons will continue through January 2026.
Many landowners, including Island nonprofit organizations and towns, allow hunting on conservation properties. Hunting is permitted in the Manuel F. Correllus State Forest.
Land Bank properties are only open to shotgun hunters through a property hunting lottery. Properties are closed to the public during shotgun season.
Shotguns are loud. I sometimes find myself jumping when someone is hunting an adjoining property (then I’m overcome with jealousy). But hunting season is safe for non-hunters. In the past 30 years, I can only recall three hunting accidents, and in each case, they involved hunters wounding other hunters.
Still, wearing a blaze orange hat or vest is a sensible precaution if you plan to hike in the woods. Avoid entering wooded areas at dawn and dusk when deer and hunters are most active. And don’t let your unleashed dog roam through the woods, where it may disturb a hunter waiting patiently for a shot at a deer (not your pet).
Hunters need to stay safe, too. I’ve heard enough early and late shots to recommend that hunters walk with a light when entering or exiting the woods. But statistically, a hunter is more likely to be seriously injured falling out of a treestand. Always use a safety line.
Hunters must wear blaze orange (vest and hat). They may not trespass on private property, whether posted or not. It is illegal to possess a loaded firearm, discharge a weapon, or hunt within 500 feet of a dwelling or a building in use without the permission of the owner or occupant. Discharging a shotgun within 150 feet of any state or hard-surfaced highway is illegal.
Archers may hunt during the firearms season but must wear the required amount (500 square inches) of blaze orange.
Deer hunters must bring all deer harvested during the first week of shotgun deer season to an official check station for biological data collection. Deer may be checked at the state forest. Deer harvested during the second week of the shotgun season may be reported online through MassFishHunt.
The Massachusetts Environmental Police handles hunting-related complaints. The emergency dispatch number is 800-632-8075. The Island Communication Center (911) is another option.
Nelson Sigelman lives in Vineyard Haven.
Comments
I wanted to add a comment to
Peter Fyler West TisburyI wanted to add a comment to the November 13 article: “Deer Population Cuts Held Back By Lack of Butchers”, but I guess I am too late to have my comment posted there. Regardless, I want my voice to be heard.
The deer overpopulation ‘problem’ has been around for decades and many of us have suffered the effects of the diseases carried by, not only the deer, but mice and now the burgeoning turkey population. I know, you say, turkeys eat ticks; have you ever plucked a carcass? Anything we can do to reduce the dreaded diseases carried by these hosts we must do. Not only is this a health matter but it is also becoming an economic problem. Vacationers are starting to look for other places to summer and spend their money. It was 1988 when I first contracted ‘Chronic’ LYME Disease, and at that time the medical community was in total denial. “No, you have arthritis.”
Men, and WOMEN, like the members of the MV HUNT CLUB, a tightly run operation founded by one of the most selfless members of our community, are risking their own health to do what they can to get our habitat back in balance. Brian Athearn, who is a dear friend of mine, has AlphaGal, yet he is out there most days with his team eradicating (temporarily?) the deer population in communities like Spring Point, and my community where for decades we were closed to hunters. Brian, thus far, is self-financing a processing facility. Most of the Club members have day jobs, yet they have donated their time to create a high-end sanitary environment for processing the catch, so much of it can be ‘donated’ to various groups on and off the Island. There are other ways to utilize the venison that is harvested. I spoke to Chris Pantalone, owner of the best pizza restaurant (IMO) on Island; he would be open to making venison pizza. Sound good? Groups like MV HUNT CLUB need benefactors to help support their efforts. I could go on and on about our problem but you get the idea --- THIS IS WAR!
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