Current through Register 1531, September 27, 2024
TIn accordance with M.G.L. c. 131, § 5, the Director shall
declare an annual open season on wild turkeys, subject to the following:
(a)Definitions: For the purposes of
321 CMR 3.02(9), the following words or phrases shall have the following
meanings:
Online means a Division of Fisheries and Wildlife licensing and
game harvest reporting system accessible at the MassWildlife website that
allows for automated licensing and game harvest reporting, including issuance
of an official seal via the internet.
Zone or Zones shall mean the Massachusetts wildlife management
zones as described in 321 CMR 3.02(4)(o).
(b)Open Season. The open season shall be in
three periods as follows:
1. In Zones 01
through 13, the spring period of the open season (hereafter "spring season")
shall begin on the last Monday in April and shall end on the fourth Saturday
following.
2. In Zones 01 through
13, the fall period of the open season (hereafter “fall season”)
shall occur in concurrence with the exclusive archery deer season as specified
in 321 CMR 3.02(4)(b)(2)(a). (See section 321 CMR 3.02(9)(h)(2) and (3) for
permissible hunting methods within the fall season.)
3. The open season for the mentored youth
turkey hunt shall be as specified in 321 CMR 3.02(9)(c) and (l).
(c)Zones. A person shall
not hunt a turkey during the spring season, fall season, or during the mentored
youth turkey hunt except in Zones 01 through 13
(d)Hunting Hours. A person shall not hunt a
wild turkey on any day during the spring season except during the period from
1/2 hour before sunrise to 12:00 P.M. Any person participating in the mentored
youth turkey hunt as defined in 321 CMR 3.02(9)(l) shall not hunt wild turkey
except during the period from 1/2 hour before sunrise until 5:00 p.m. A person
shall not hunt a wild turkey on any day during the fall season except during
the period from 1/2 hour before sunrise to 1/2 hour after sunset.
(e)Bag Limit.
1.
A person shall not kill, take, or possess more than three wild
turkeys in any calendar year, provided that during the spring season, the bag
limit and possession limit shall be two bearded wild turkeys.
2. During the fall season, the bag and
possession limit shall be one wild turkey of either sex.
3. Notwithstanding 321 CMR 3.02(9)(e)1., a
minor 12 through 14 years of age, who participates in the mentored youth turkey
hunt as specified in 321 CMR 3.02(9)(l) and during the regular spring turkey
hunting season as specified in 321 CMR 3.02(9)(b), may not kill more than two
bearded turkeys, which shall be in addition to the bag limit of his adult
mentor.
(f)Bearded Turkey
Requirement. A person shall not kill, take, or possess any wild turkey during
the spring season or the mentored youth turkey hunt unless said turkey is
bearded.
(g)Permit and Tagging
Requirements. A person shall not hunt, kill, take, or possess a wild turkey
unless he possesses on his person a permit so to do. Such permit shall be valid
only for the date or dates stipulated thereon. A person killing a wild turkey
shall immediately, before transporting or removing the carcass in any manner
from where it was killed, complete and attach to the carcass in a conspicuous
manner that portion of the permit designated "turkey tag". Said turkey tag
shall remain attached to the turkey until the turkey is presented to a duly
authorized person or checking station at which time the turkey tag shall be
surrendered upon request to the official agent in charge thereof or shall
remain attached to the turkey after being reported online. No person shall
possess a detached turkey tag except as described in 321 CMR 3.02(9)(g). Tags
detached except as provided in 321 CMR 3.02(9) (g) shall be void and shall be
surrendered to any officer empowered to enforce 321 CMR.
(h)Permissible Hunting Methods.
1. During the spring season, a person may
hunt wild turkey only by means of a bow and arrow as specified in 321 CMR
3.01(3) or a shotgun not larger than ten gauge, and shot not larger than size
four.
2. Beginning the sixth Monday
prior to Thanksgiving and ending the second Saturday thereafter, a person may
hunt wild turkey only by means of either a bow and arrow as specified in 321
CMR 3.01(3) or a shotgun not larger than ten gauge, and shot not larger than
size four.
3. At all other times
during the fall season not specified in 321 CMR 3.02(9)(h)(2), a person may
hunt wild turkey only by means of a bow and arrow as specified in 321 CMR
3.01(3) in any Zone that has a concurrent exclusive archery deer season as
specified in 321 CMR 3.02(4)(b)(2)(a).
(i)Prohibitions. A person shall not hunt or
take wild turkeys by means of or set or use any bait, live decoys, electronic
or electronically operated callers, nor any trap or other device intended or
designed for the purpose of capturing or ensnaring wild turkeys, nor shall any
person use or have control of, in any place where turkeys may be found, any dog
or dogs while hunting wild turkey, nor shall any person or persons drive, herd
or take or attempt to take by driving or herding any wild turkey or turkeys
provided that nothing in 321 CMR 3.02(9)(i) shall be construed to prohibit the
use of hand or mouth operated turkey calls by persons otherwise lawfully
hunting wild turkey.
(j)Safety
Sticker Requirement. A person shall not hunt wild turkey with or by means of a
shotgun nor have a shotgun in his possession while hunting wild turkey, unless
such person has obtained a safety sticker as provided by the Director and
applied said sticker to his shotgun in such a manner as to be visible to the
shooter when sighting down the barrel of the shotgun. The Director is hereby
authorized to provide such safety stickers of a type and design as he may deem
appropriate.
(k)Harvest Reporting:
Except as provided in 321 CMR 3.02(9)(k), within 48 hours after killing a wild
turkey, its harvest shall be reported to the Division of Fisheries and Wildlife
by one of the following means:
i.
Checking Station: The entire carcass shall be presented by the
person who killed the wild turkey to a duly authorized person, or at a wild
turkey checking station designated by the Director for the purpose of being
recorded and examined for research purposes and to have affixed thereto an
official seal in such manner as prescribed by the Director;
or
ii. Online
Reporting: The person who killed the wild turkey shall access the Online system
to report the harvest of the wild turkey. The person shall receive an Online
system confirmation number, which shall be the official seal issued by the
Division of Fisheries and Wildlife, and record the confirmation number on the
tag affixed to the wild turkey as prescribed in 321 CMR 3.02 (9)
(g).
iii. The
official seal shall remain affixed to the wild turkey until the animal is
skinned, cut up, or otherwise prepared for food purposes or for mounting by a
taxidermist. The official seal is non-transferable and shall be valid only for
the bear or carcass to which it is applied.
iv. Any violation of the requirements of 321
CMR 3.02(9)(k), shall be heard in the District Court for the location where the
violation occurred.
The Director may establish an alternate checking process for
persons participating in the mentored youth turkey hunt. The Director may
require, as a condition of checking, that the hunter surrender breast feathers,
wing tips, or other biological samples from turkeys presented for
checking.
(l)Youth Hunter Training
Program.
1. The Director may establish
standards, qualifications and curricula for a wild turkey hunter youth training
program and field exercise. Minors between the ages 12 through 17 years of age
who successfully complete the training program and field exercise and are
properly enrolled with the Director may participate in a (mentored youth turkey
hunt) on the first Saturday prior to the last Monday in April. All such minors
must be accompanied by an adult licensed to hunt in Massachusetts and who
possesses a Massachusetts turkey hunting permit. No adult may be accompanied by
more than one minor, and no more than one firearm may be carried. The licensed
adult may not hunt, but may carry the minor's firearm when unloaded or cased
and may use a turkey caller to call for the minor. During this mentored youth
turkey hunt, minors aged 12 through 14 years of age shall not be required to
possess a hunting or sporting license.
2.
The Director may issue minors 12 through 14 years of age who have
successfully completed the Youth Hunter Training Program requirements, or their
adult mentors, a special Massachusetts youth hunt turkey permit that is valid
for the date of the mentored youth turkey hunt specified in the permit as well
as for the duration of the regular spring and fall hunting seasons, as provided
in 321 CMR 3.02(9)(b)(1) and 321 CMR 3.02(9)(b)(2). All minors 12 through 14
years of age and their adult mentors shall comply with the requirements of
M.G.L. c. 131, § 14 and 321 CMR 3.02(9) while hunting during the regular spring
and fall hunting seasons.
3. Minors
15 through 17 years of age shall possess both a Massachusetts hunting or
sporting license and a valid Massachusetts turkey permit. All minors and their
mentors shall otherwise conform to all provisions of M.G.L c. 131, and 321 CMR
3.02(9).
Regulatory Authority: M.G.L. c. 131, § 5. Last
Revised: 1/6/23.
