MassWildlife calendar

Read the April newsletter

2024 fishing and hunting season summary

April 3: Scouting for Turkey Class, Online – Learn all about turkey scouting from experienced hunters. Topics will include wild turkey biology, scouting public and private lands, using online tools, identifying turkey sign, and more. The event is from 6–8 p.m. Registration is required; click here to register. After registering, you will receive an email with a link to join the Zoom class.

April 6: Learn to Hunt Turkey Range Day, Princeton – This event provides an opportunity for new hunters to practice patterning their shotguns for turkey season. Participants will learn about shot placement and have time to practice on the range. This event is family friendly and is open to anyone ages 12+. The event is from 8–11 a.m. Registration is required; click here to register.

April 8: Mentoring Mondays: Hunting and Fishing Q&A, virtual – Get answers to your hunting and fishing questions during virtual mentoring sessions on the second Monday of the month! A panel of expert hunters and anglers will start each event with a brief presentation on a featured topic, then participants can ask questions about anything related to hunting or fishing in Massachusetts. April's featured topic is preparing for turkey season and trout fishing. This event takes place virtually via Zoom from 6–7 p.m. Registration is required; click here to register. Once registered, you will receive an email with the event reminder and link to the meeting.

April 9: Public Hearing: Proposed MESA List Changes, Online – A public hearing will be held to gather public comment on proposed changes to the MESA List at 321 CMR 10.90 at 1:00 p.m. Visit the public hearings page to view a document containing the details of the proposed changes and to submit written comments before and for 2 weeks after the public hearing, until April 23 at 5:00 p.m. Click here to join from a PC, Mac, iPad, iPhone or Android device with Passcode: 045400. Or join by phone: (929) 205-6099 with Webinar ID: 834 4450 5762 and Passcode: 045400.

April 9: Turkey Calling Seminar, Westborough – Join MassWildlife and the National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF) for a 1-hour class to learn all about turkey calling! This class will give you an opportunity to practice calling under the guide of experienced turkey callers. Participants will select one type of call to practice with during the class—either a box call, pot call, or mouth call. Box and pot calls will be available to borrow; if you select a mouth call, please bring your own. The class is from 5–6 p.m. at MassWildlife's Field Headquarters (1 Rabbit Hill Road, Westborough). Registration is required; click here to register.

April 11: Coexisting with Coyotes in Suburban Communities, Online – Join MassWildlife and the Newton Conservators for a webinar to learn about eastern coyote biology, how coyotes use suburban areas, and how communities can take effective steps to coexist with coyotes. This talk will be presented by MassWildlife’s Black Bear and Furbearer Biologist, Dave Wattles, PhD. The webinar begins at 7 p.m. Registration is required; click here to register.

April 11: Natural Heritage & Endangered Species Advisory Committee Meeting, Online – The Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Advisory Committee will be meeting at 1:30 p.m. This Advisory Committee meeting will be held virtually via a Zoom webinar of the Members, Associate Members, and MassWildlife staff, with the public invited to join the webinar. Click here for the agenda and details on how to join the webinar.     

April 13: Turkey Calling Seminar, Hyannis – Join MassWildlife and the National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF) for a 2-hour class to learn all about turkey calling! The class is from 10 a.m.–noon at 96 Airport Road in Hyannis. You will learn about the different types of turkey calls and will watch the instructor demonstrate how to successfully and effectively utilize them while in pursuit of wild turkeys this spring. Space is limited, register today!

April 14: Learn to Cast at the Springfield Science Museum Earth Day Festival, Springfield – MassWildilfe’s Angler Education Program will have a casting station at the festival from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. This event is open to the public and no registration is required. Contact the Springfield Science Museum for more information.

April 16: Public Trout Stocking at Hampton Ponds, Westfield – The public is invited to help MassWildlife stock trout during school vacation week! Meet MassWildlife fisheries staff, view trout up close, and learn about places to fish near you. Meet at 11 a.m. at Hampton Ponds Boat Ramp (Old Apremont Way).

April 17: Fisheries and Wildlife Board Meeting, Westborough and Online – The April monthly business meeting of the Fisheries and Wildlife Board will be held at 12:30 p.m. at the MassWildlife Field Headquarters, 1 Rabbit Hill Road, Westborough, Massachusetts. Interested persons can attend the meeting either in person or via a Zoom video webinar. Click here to join from a PC, Mac, iPad, iPhone, or Android device with Passcode: 905906. Or join by phone: (929) 205-6099 with Webinar ID: 880 7695 0045 and Passcode: 905906.

April 17: Public Hearing: Proposed 2024-2025 Migratory Bird Hunting Seasons, Westborough and Online – A public hearing will be held to gather public comment on the proposed 2024-2025 Migratory Bird Hunting Seasons at 2:30 p.m. Visit the public hearings page to view a document containing the details of the proposed regulations and to submit written comments before Tuesday, April 16, at 4:00 p.m. The Fisheries and Wildlife Board will vote on the regulations immediately after the close of the hearing. Click here to join from a PC, Mac, iPad, iPhone, or Android device with Passcode: 905906. Or join by phone: (929) 205-6099 with Webinar ID: 880 7695 0045 and Passcode: 905906.

April 17: Public Trout Stocking at Hopkinton Reservoir, Hopkinton – The public is invited to help MassWildlife stock trout during school vacation week! Meet MassWildlife fisheries staff, view trout up close, and learn about places to fish near you. Meet at 12 p.m. at Hopkinton Reservoir (Hopkinton State Park).

April 17: Public Trout Stocking at Lake Quinsigamond, Worcester – The public is invited to help MassWildlife stock trout during school vacation week! Meet MassWildlife fisheries staff, view trout up close, and learn about places to fish near you. Meet at 10:30 a.m.at Regatta Point in Quinsigamond State Park (10 Lake Avenue North).

April 17: Public Trout Stocking at Lake Onota, Pittsfield – The public is invited to help MassWildlife stock trout during school vacation week! Meet MassWildlife fisheries staff, view trout up close, and learn about places to fish near you. Meet at 12:30 p.m. at Lake Onota (Burbank Park on Lakeway Drive in Pittsfield).

April 18: Public Trout Stocking in Plymouth –The public is invited to help MassWildlife stock trout during school vacation week! Meet MassWildlife fisheries staff, view trout up close, and learn about places to fish near you.

• Meet at 10 a.m. at Long Pond (Long Pond Boat Ramp off Clark Road).
• Meet at 11:15 a.m. at Little Pond (Little Pond Boat Launch on Morton Park Road).

April 18: Public Trout Stocking at Chicopee Reservoir, Chicopee – The public is invited to help MassWildlife stock trout during school vacation week! Meet MassWildlife fisheries staff, view trout up close, and learn about places to fish near you. Meet at 11 a.m. at Chicopee Reservoir (Johnny Cake Hollow Road).

April 19: Public Trout Stocking at Colburn Pond, Leominster – The public is invited to help MassWildlife stock trout during school vacation week! Meet MassWildlife fisheries staff, view trout up close, and learn about places to fish near you. Meet at 10 a.m. at Colburn Pond at Barrett Park (40 Barrett Parkway).

April 20: Bird Walk at Delaney WMA, Stow – The Forbush Bird Club is hosting a bird walk from 7–10 a.m. at MassWildlife’s Delaney Wildlife Management Area in Bolton/Stow. The WMA offers a variety of habitats including forests, marshes, streamside, and lakeshore. The walk will be 2.5–3 miles and includes slightly steep terrain. Meet at the Delaney Project Boat Launch, off Harvard Road in Stow at 7:00 a.m. Wear sturdy shoes or boots and bring your own binoculars. Also consider packing a bird ID field guide, water/snack, insect spray, and sunglasses. This walk is open to the public and all birding experience levels are welcome. Registration is required. Email David Ammerman (ammsus@comcast.net) with your name and contact information to sign up.

April 25: Bird Walk at Wayne F. MacCallum WMA, Westborough — The Forbush Bird Club is hosting a bird walk from 6–8 a.m. at MassWildlife’s Wayne F. MacCallum Wildlife Management Area in Westborough. Meet at 6:00 a.m. on the north side of Lake Chauncy off Hospital Road off Lyman Street. Wear sturdy shoes or boots and bring your own binoculars. Also consider packing a bird ID field guide, water/snack, insect spray, and sunglasses. This walk is open to the public and all birding experience levels are welcome. Registration is required. Email Nick Paulson (grendelpgill@yahoo.com) with your name and contact information to sign up.

April 27: Cops and Bobbers Family Fishing Festival, Springfield – This event is intended for children 12 and under and their families. This free, learn to fish event will be held at Forest Park in Springfield (get directions) from 7:30 a.m. – noon. Bring your fishing equipment, or borrow ours; limited equipment and bait will be provided. This event is in cooperation with MassWildlife's Angler Education Program and the Springfield Elks, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Springfield Parks Department. This event is open to the public, pre-registration required, contact Jennifer Lapis at jennifer_lapis@fws.gov or (413) 256-5502 for more information or to register.

April 28:  Brookline Reservoir Family Fishing Festival, Brookline – This family friendly, learn to fish event will be held at Brookline Reservoir (get directions) from 9 a.m. – noon. Bring your fishing equipment or borrow ours; limited equipment and bait will be provided. Pre-registration is required, click here to register. This event is in cooperation with MassWildlife's Angler Education Program and the Brookline Recreation Department. A $5 fee per family will be charged by the Recreation Department and can be paid during online registration or in person at the event.

April 28 – Bird Walk at High Ridge WMA, Westminster – The Forbush Bird Club is hosting a bird walk at 7 a.m. at MassWildlife’s High Ridge Wildlife Management Area. The WMA offers a variety of habitats including old fields, mature woods, wetlands, and a heron rookery. Meet at 7:00 a.m. at the parking area off East Gardner Road, 3 miles north of the Rte. 2/Rte. 140 intersection (Exit 92). Wear sturdy shoes or boots and bring your own binoculars. Also consider packing a bird ID field guide, water/snack, insect spray, and sunglasses. This walk is open to the public and all birding experience levels are welcome. Registration is required. Email Tom Pirro (tpirro2010@gmail.com) with your name and contact information to sign up.

2024 fishing and hunting season summary

May 2: Bird Walk at Wayne F. MacCallum WMA, Westborough — The Forbush Bird Club is hosting a bird walk from 6–8 a.m. at MassWildlife’s Wayne F. MacCallum Wildlife Management Area in Westborough. Meet at 6:00 a.m. on the north side of Lake Chauncy off Hospital Road off Lyman Street. Wear sturdy shoes or boots and bring your own binoculars. Also consider packing a bird ID field guide, water/snack, insect spray, and sunglasses. This walk is open to the public and all birding experience levels are welcome. Registration is required. Email Nick Paulson (grendelpgill@yahoo.com) with your name and contact information to sign up.

May 4: Carbuncle Pond Family Fishing Festival, Oxford – Join the fun at this family friendly, learn to fish event at the beach area off Main Street in Oxford (get directions) from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. Bring your fishing equipment or borrow ours; limited equipment and bait will be provided. This event is being held in cooperation with MassWildlife's Angler Education Program and the Oxford Conservation Department. Open to the public, no pre-registration required. Contact Jim Lagacy at jim.lagacy@mass.gov or (508) 389-6309 for more information.

May 7: Family Fishing Clinic, Lexington – Join the fun at this family friendly, learn to fish clinic at Old Reservoir in Lexington (Parking area off of Rt. 2A; get directions) from 5 – 7 p.m. Bring your fishing equipment or borrow ours; limited equipment and bait will be provided. Open to the public, pre-registration is required; click here to register or call (781) 698-4800 for more information. This event is being held in cooperation with MassWildlife's Angler Education Program and the Lexington Recreation Department.

May 8: Family Fishing Clinic, Andover – Join the fun at this family friendly, learn to fish clinic at Pomps Pond in Andover (147 Abbot Street; get directions) from 4:30 – 6:30 p.m. Bring your fishing equipment or borrow ours; limited equipment and bait will be provided. Open to the public, pre-registration is required; click here to register or call (978) 623-8340 for more information. This event is being held in cooperation with MassWildlife's Angler Education Program and the Andover Recreation Department.

May 9: Family Fishing Clinic, Lincoln/Sudbury – Join the fun at this family friendly, learn to fish clinic at Camp Sewataro Fishing Pond (1 Liberty Ledge Road; get directions) from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. All equipment and bait will be provided. Open to the public, pre-registration is required; click here to register or call (978) 443-9961 x3326 for more information. This event is being held in cooperation with MassWildlife's Angler Education Program and the Lincoln-Sudbury Adult and Community Education Program.

May 9: Coexisting with Coyotes in Suburban Communities, Online – Join MassWildlife for a webinar to learn about eastern coyote biology, how coyotes use suburban areas, and how communities can take effective steps to coexist with coyotes. This talk will be presented by MassWildlife’s Black Bear and Furbearer Biologist, Dave Wattles, PhD. The webinar begins at 7 p.m. Presented in collaboration with Memorial Hall Library of Andover. Registration is required; click here to register.

May 9: Bird Walk at Wayne F. MacCallum WMA, Westborough — The Forbush Bird Club is hosting a bird walk from 6–8 a.m. at MassWildlife’s Wayne F. MacCallum Wildlife Management Area in Westborough. Meet at 6:00 a.m. on the north side of Lake Chauncy off Hospital Road off Lyman Street. Wear sturdy shoes or boots and bring your own binoculars. Also consider packing a bird ID field guide, water/snack, insect spray, and sunglasses. This walk is open to the public and all birding experience levels are welcome. Registration is required. Email Nick Paulson (grendelpgill@yahoo.com) with your name and contact information to sign up.

May 14: Family Fishing Clinic, Shrewsbury – Join the fun at this family friendly, learn to fish clinic at Jordon Pond in Shrewsbury (805 Main Street; get directions) from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. Bring your fishing equipment or borrow ours; limited equipment and bait will be provided. Open to the public, pre-registration is required; click here to register or call (508) 841-8503 for more information. This event is being held in cooperation with MassWildlife's Angler Education Program and the Shrewsbury Recreation Department.

May 18: Veterans Family Fishing Festival, Marlborough – Veterans and their families are invited to this family friendly fishing event at the Marlboro Fish and Game Club (1 Muddy Lane; get directions) from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. No pre-registration is required; contact Jim Lagacy at (508) 389-6309 or jim.lagacy@mass.gov for more information. This event is being held in cooperation with MassWildlife's Angler Education Program and the Marlboro Fish and Game Club.

May 21: Family Fishing Clinic, Wellesley – Join the fun at this free, family friendly, learn to fish clinic at Morses Pond (204 Oakland Street; get directions) from 5 – 7 p.m. Bring your fishing equipment or borrow ours; limited equipment and bait will be provided. Open to the public, pre-registration is required; call  (781) 235-2370 for more information and to register. This event is being held in cooperation with the MassWildlife's Angler Education Program and Wellesley Recreation Department.

May 22: Family Fishing Clinic, Leominster – Join the fun at this family friendly, learn to fish clinic at Barrett Park (get directions) from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. Bring your fishing equipment or borrow ours; limited equipment and bait will be provided. Open to the public, pre-registration is required; click here to register or call (978) 534-7529 for more information. This event is being held in cooperation with MassWildlife's Angler Education Program and the Leominster Recreation Department.

May 23: Family Fishing Clinic, Medway – Join the fun at this learn to fish clinic at Choate Park Pond (7 Oak Street; get directions) from 5 – 7 p.m. Bring your fishing equipment or borrow ours; limited equipment and bait will be provided. Open to the public, pre-registration required; click here to register or call (508) 321-4740 for more information. This event is being held in cooperation with MassWildlife's Angler Education Program and the Medway Parks and Recreation Department.

May 29: Family Fishing Clinic, Milton – Join the fun at this family friendly, learn to fish clinic at Turners Pond (off of Central Ave.; get directions) from 5 – 7 p.m. Open to the public, pre-registration required; call the Milton Recreation Department at (617) 898-4940 for more information and to register. This event is being held in cooperation with MassWildlife's Angler Education Program and the Milton Recreation Department.

May 30: Family Fishing Clinic, Canton – Join the fun at this family friendly, learn to fish clinic at Bolivar Pond in Canton (get directions) from 4:30 – 6:30 p.m. Bring your fishing equipment or borrow ours; limited equipment and bait will be provided. Open to the public, pre-registration is required; click here to register or call (781) 821-5030 for more information. This event is being held in cooperation with MassWildlife's Angler Education Program and the Canton Recreation Department.

Email Mass.Wildlife@mass.gov

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