Protect the Places That Sustain our Traditions: Vote Yes on Question 6

Hunting and fishing are more than hobbies. They connect us to the land, and remind us that our traditions depend on healthy forests, clean water, and thriving wildlife.

Question 6 would establish the Nature for All Fund, dedicating up to $100 million annually to conserve and restore the places Massachusetts residents hunt, fish, and explore. It would not create a new tax. Instead, it would direct revenue from existing sales taxes on certain outdoor gear into a dedicated fund with oversight for protecting the Commonwealth’s natural resources.

We are not merely visitors in nature. We depend on it, and we have a stake in its future. Protecting forests, farms, and rivers helps sustain the habitats that support deer, turkey, and fish, while also safeguarding drinking water, strengthening climate resilience, and expanding outdoor access for everyone.

Let’s invest in the wild places that sustain our wildlife, communities, and outdoor heritage. Vote Yes on Question 6.

 

Keep the Path to Hunting Open: Vote No on Question 9

Massachusetts voters will decide the fate of Chapter 135 in November. “No” supports repealing Chapter 135; voting “Yes” keeps it in place.

Backcountry Hunters & Anglers has raised concerns about this law from the outset. In 2023, when the legislation was first introduced, BHA testified about the ways its provisions could make hunting more difficult to access. Those concerns remain the same today—and our position has not changed.

Chapter 135 created new rules that affect the firearms and ammunition-feeding devices hunters may use, the process for obtaining firearm identification cards, and the ability of young people to hunt with certain semiautomatic firearms. It also adds complexity for nonresident hunters navigating Massachusetts’ permitting requirements.These changes risk putting unnecessary distance between people and the outdoors. A visiting hunter faced with confusing rules may choose another destination, while a young person or family encountering extra barriers may find it harder to take part. That matters not only to hunters, but to the efforts of the State Agency working to recruit, retain, and reactivate participants, and to the license revenue that helps support conservation.

BHA believes hunting traditions are strengthened when regulations protect public safety and wildlife while keeping participation accessible. We testified to that principle in 2023, and we stand by it now.

On November 3, Massachusetts voters can decide whether Chapter 135 should remain in place. A “No” vote supports repeal.