For generations, Massachusetts hunters have called for modern, science-based wildlife management that expands opportunity and upholds our outdoor traditions. That long-awaited moment is here.

Governor Maura Healey has filed a supplemental budget that includes three landmark provisions for the hunting community:

1. Eliminating the Ban on Sunday Hunting
2. Reducing Archery Setback Distances from 500 feet to 250 feet from occupied dwellings
3. Expanding Access to Crossbows by removing the medical exemption requirement

This is a significant step forward, one that honors decades of advocacy. We are grateful to Governor Healey and her administration for recognizing that these antiquated statutes have been obstacles. They limited opportunities for resident hunters to be in the field, to connect with nature, to obtain food for the table, and to share outdoor traditions with friends and family. Just as importantly, the administration recognized these laws as obstacles to the Commonwealth’s own conservation objectives.

All too often, we see laws that take management control away from the experts we entrust to steward our natural resources. Returning proven conservation tools to their toolbox by adding a weekend day, opening tens of thousands of new acres to archery, and expanding crossbow use—is how we support sound, science-based management that benefits wildlife and people.

This isn't just policy; it's about real opportunity. For the hunter living in the city, an extra weekend day means flexibility against traffic, logistics, and fading daylight. For families, it means a chance to pass on tradition on a day when schedules often align. For our wildlife managers, it means more effective tools to steward healthy game populations and habitats.

It’s not just the hunting community that sees the importance of these changes. A growing number of leading conservation, environmental, and political voices in the Commonwealth are rethinking their positions. Mass Audubon, for example, has shifted its stance on Sunday hunting after witnessing the impacts of overabundant white-tailed deer on the lands it manages. Even the Boston Globe’s editorial board has revised its view, now supporting Sunday hunting as part of a modern, science-based approach to wildlife management.

But now, the final step depends on us. These provisions must pass through the Massachusetts State House, and our legislators need to hear directly from the hunters and anglers they represent.

This is how we get this done. Here are three ways to take action, listed in order of impact.

A direct phone call is the most powerful way to be heard. It’s personal, immediate, and impossible to ignore.

• Step 1: Find your State Senator and State Representative using the Official Massachusetts Legislator Lookup Tool.
• Step 2: Call their office. Be polite, concise, and clear:
  "Hello, my name is [Your Name] from [Your Town]. I'm calling to ask [Senator/Representative Name] to support the hunting access provisions in Governor Healey's supplemental budget—specifically Sunday hunting, reduced archery setbacks, and crossbow access. These are critical for conservation and our hunting heritage. Thank you."
• Step 3: Follow up with a brief email (or use our Action Alert) to the same offices reinforcing your message. This creates a record and doubles your impact.

If you cannot call, a personalized email is a strong and essential alternative.

• Use the same lookup tool to find your legislators' official email addresses.
• Craft a short, respectful email. Mention you are a constituent and state your specific support for the three hunting access provisions in the Governor's budget. Personalize it with a sentence about what this means for you and your family.

If time is extremely limited, we have a pre-written message ready to go. While not as impactful as a personal call, it floods legislative inboxes with a unified message and shows broad support.

• CLICK HERE TO SEND THE ACTION ALERT

Why This Matters Now

These proposed changes are more than just new opportunities; it's a cornerstone of sound wildlife management. Expanding Sunday hunting provides crucial opportunity for population control, especially for growing deer herds that impact forest health and increase tick-borne illness risks. Reducing setbacks responsibly opens tens of thousands of locked acres to archery hunters. Recognizing crossbows adds a versatile tool for hunters of all ages and abilities.

We’ve worked with lawmakers to get us here. Now, they need to hear from us loud and clear to get this over the finish line. Let’s show the strength of the Massachusetts hunting community.

Pick up the phone. Send the email. Make your voice heard. Let's secure this victory.