March 2026
2026 fishing & hunting seasons
March 1: Turkey Calling Seminar, Westborough – Join MassWildlife and the National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF) for a 3.5-hour class from 8 –11:30 a.m.at MassWildlife Field Headquarters (get directions) to learn all about turkey calling! Participants will learn turkey hunting tips and tricks from turkey hunting experts and have an opportunity to practice calls under the guide of experienced turkey callers. This class will be held prior to the NWTF’s turkey calling contest and all participants are welcome to stay for the contest and hear their instructors compete. Space is limited, register today!
March 3: Intro to Fly Tying, Greenfield – Learn the basic skills of tying your own flies during this free, hands-on course offered at the Greenfield Public Library (get directions) from 4:30–7:30 p.m. This is a single session sampler for beginners, designed to give you a taste of fly tying. We’ll show you the basic equipment and how to use it, while tying some simple but effective patterns. All tools and tying materials provided. *Open to the public, for beginning fly tiers only, minimum age is 15. Pre-registration is mandatory, click here to register.
March 4: Fisheries and Wildlife Board Subcommittee Meeting, Westborough – The preliminary selection subcommittee of the Fisheries and Wildlife Board will hold a public meeting at 2:30 p.m. at the MassWildlife Field Headquarters, 1 Rabbit Hill Road, Westborough, to discuss changes to the job description for the MassWildlife Director position.
March 4: Responding to the Arrival of Southern Pine Beetle, Virtual – Join representatives from MassWildlife and Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation’s (DCR) Waquoit Bay Reserve to learn about a newly arrived pest impacting pitch pine forests in southeastern Massachusetts, the Southern Pine Beetle (SPB). We will discuss the current status of SPB in the region, the impact risk, influence of climate change, and most importantly, what can be done to improve resiliency in our pine forests. You will hear about the work that MassWildlife and DCR have undertaken with their partners and next steps. This presentation is from 6:30–7:30 p.m. Register now!
March 5: Canopy 2026 Forestry Forum: Rooted in Resilience (UMass Amherst) – Please join us for the Canopy Forestry Forum where landowners, foresters, and natural resource professionals come together to explore practical, climate-friendly land management strategies that strengthen both forests and communities. This event will offer space for landowners to share experiences and explore creative ways to keep forests cared for and connected across generations, communities, and changing circumstances. Don’t miss this opportunity to step under the canopy and grow your expertise, expand your network, and invest in the future of our forests. Register Now
March 7: Winter Deer Scouting, Newbury – Come scouting with MassWildlife staff and learn what to look for when scouting for deer during the winter. Participants will walk through the WMA while instructors point out different sign and features to look for when scouting. This free class is from 9 a.m.–noon, at Martin Burns Wildlife Management Area (WMA entrance off Orchard Street). The class will be held in the rain or shine, so please prepare accordingly. Space is limited, register today!
March 8: Winter Deer Scouting, Westborough – Come scouting with MassWildlife staff and learn what to look for when scouting for deer during the winter. Participants will walk through the WMA while instructors point out different sign and features to look for when scouting. This free class is from 9 a.m.–noon, at Wayne F. MacCallum Wildlife Management Area (1 Rabbit Hill Road, Westborough). The class will be held in the rain or shine, so please prepare accordingly. Space is limited, register today!
March 12: Intro to Fly Tying, Westborough – Learn the basic skills of tying your own flies during this free, hands-on course offered at MassWildlife Field Headquarters (get directions) from 6–9 p.m. This is a single session sampler for beginners, designed to give you a taste of fly tying. We’ll show you the basic equipment and how to use it, while tying some simple but effective patterns. All tools and tying materials provided. *Open to the public, for beginning fly tiers only, minimum age is 15. Pre-registration is mandatory, click here to register.
March 18: Fisheries and Wildlife Board Meeting, Westborough and Online – The March monthly business meeting of the Fisheries and Wildlife Board will be held at 1:30 p.m. at the MassWildlife Field Headquarters, 1 Rabbit Hill Road, Westborough. Interested persons can attend the meeting either in person or via a Zoom video webinar. Click to register to join the meeting from PC, Mac, iPad, or Android. After registering, you will automatically receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.
March 19: Intro to Fly Tying, Belchertown – Learn the basic skills of tying your own flies during this free, hands-on course offered at the MassWildlife Connecticut Valley District Office (get directions) from 6–9 p.m. This is a single session sampler for beginners, designed to give you a taste of fly tying. We’ll show you the basic equipment and how to use it, while tying some simple but effective patterns. All tools and tying materials provided. *Open to the public, for beginning fly tiers only, minimum age is 15. Pre-registration is mandatory, click here to register.
March 23: Intro to Fly Tying, Foxborough – Learn the basic skills of tying your own flies during this free, hands-on course offered at Bass Pro Shops (get directions) from 5–8 p.m. This is a single session sampler for beginners, designed to give you a taste of fly tying. We’ll show you the basic equipment and how to use it, while tying some simple but effective patterns. All tools and tying materials provided. *Open to the public, for beginning fly tiers only, minimum age is 15. Pre-registration is mandatory, click here to register.
March 28: Learn to Hunt Turkey Seminar, Plainville – This in-person seminar is from 8:30 a.m.–2:30 p.m. at the Wrentham Sportsman's Club and counts for youth ages 12-17 to obtain their youth turkey permit, as well as provides space for new adult turkey hunters to be introduced to turkey hunting. This seminar will include a combination of classroom learning and outdoor stations led by Wrentham Sportsman's Club instructors, including range time. Please bring your own shotgun and ammunition that you plan to use during turkey season. This class is family friendly and is open to anyone ages 12+. Space is limited, register today!
March 28: Turkey Range Day Practice and Instruction, Plainville – Join instructors from the Wrentham Sportsman's Club from 12:30–2:30p.m. for a class designed to provide new hunters the opportunity to practice patterning your shotgun for turkey season. Participants will learn about shot placement and have time to practice on the range. You must bring your own shotgun and ammunition that you plan to use during the turkey season. This class is family friendly and is open to anyone ages 12+. Click here to register.
April 2026
April 1: Turkey Scouting Class, Virtual – Join us for a virtual Turkey Scouting Class from 6–8 p.m. on Zoom. A group of knowledgeable hunters will teach you the basics of wild turkey biology, finding and scouting public and private land for turkeys, using online tools to scout, identifying turkey sign and some general scouting tips to put to practice. During breakout sessions, MassWildlife staff from across the state will help you identify potential places to scout or hunt near you. Click here to register.
April 4: Learn to Hunt Turkey Seminar, Ashburnham – This in-person seminar is from 8:30 a.m.–2p.m. at the Fitchburg Sportsmen's Club and counts for youth ages 12-17 to obtain their youth turkey permit, as well as provides space for new adult turkey hunters to be introduced to turkey hunting. This seminar will be led by Fitchburg Sportsmen's Club instructors and includes a combination of classroom learning and outdoor stations, including practicing patterning your shotgun for turkey season. This class is family friendly and is open to anyone ages 12+. Space is limited, register today!
April 10: Intro to Fly Tying, Amherst – Learn the basic skills of tying your own flies during this free, hands-on course offered at the Notch Visitors Center (get directions) from 12:30–3:30 p.m. This is a single session sampler for beginners, designed to give you a taste of fly tying. We’ll show you the basic equipment and how to use it, while tying some simple but effective patterns. All tools and tying materials provided. *Open to the public, for beginning fly tiers only, minimum age is 15. Pre-registration is mandatory, click here to register.
April 14: Turkey Calling Seminar, Westborough – Calling all interested turkey hunters! Join MassWildlife and the National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF) for a 1-hour class from 5–6 p.m. at MassWildlife Field Headquarters to learn all about turkey calling! This class will give you an opportunity to practice calling under the guide of experienced turkey callers. For this class, you will spend the hour practicing a specific type of call, either a box call, pot call or mouth call. When you register for the class, please select what type of call you want to work with. If you select mouth call, you must bring your own. Click here to register.
April 18: Learn to Hunt Turkey Seminar, Montague – Join MassWildlife staff from 8 a.m.–12 p.m. at the Bitzer Fish Hatchery for a seminar on turkey hunting. Participants will learn about turkey biology and laws, finding a hunting location/scouting, decoy placement/setting up, and turkey calling. Participants are encouraged to bring their own turkey calls if they would like to practice under the guide of instructors. There will be both indoor and outdoor learning stations, so please dress appropriately. This class is family friendly and open to anyone ages 12+. Click here to register.
April 18: Turkey Range Day Practice and Instruction, Harvard – Join MassWildlife and instructors from the Harvard Sportsmen's Club from 8–9:30 a.m. for a class designed to provide new hunters the opportunity to practice patterning your shotgun for turkey season. Participants will learn about shot placement and have time to practice on the range. You must bring your own shotgun and ammunition that you plan to use during the turkey season. This class is family friendly and is open to anyone ages 12+. Click here to register.
April 18: Turkey Range Day Practice and Instruction, Harvard – Join MassWildlife and instructors from the Harvard Sportsmen's Club from 9:30–11 a.m. for a class designed to provide new hunters the opportunity to practice patterning your shotgun for turkey season. Participants will learn about shot placement and have time to practice on the range. You must bring your own shotgun and ammunition that you plan to use during the turkey season. This class is family friendly and is open to anyone ages 12+. Click here to register.
Questions about an event?
Email Mass.Wildlife@mass.gov
Event accommodations
We will do our best to accommodate any needs to allow community members to participate as fully as possible.
- Reasonable accommodations for people with disabilities are available upon request. To submit a request for an accommodation, please email eeadiversity@mass.gov or call 617-626-1282; an ADA Coordinator will receive your request. Please include a description of the request in as much detail as possible and a way we can contact you if we need more information. Please allow at least 2 weeks’ (14 days) advance notice. Last-minute requests will be accepted but we may be unable to fulfill the request.
- Please let us know of any language interpretation requests by email to susan.sacco@mass.gov at least 72 hours before the event.
- Se pueden solicitar servicios adicionales de traducción o interpretación enviando su solicitud por correo electrónico a susan.sacco@mass.gov al menos 72 horas antes de la reunión.
- Serviços adicionais de tradução ou interpretação podem ser solicitados ao enviar um e-mail para: susan.sacco@mass.gov com pelo menos 72 horas de antecedência da reunião.
- 如需额外的笔译或口译服务，请至少在会议开始前 72 小时发电子邮件至 susan.sacco@mass.gov 提出要求.
- Ou ka mande plis sèvis tradiksyon oswa entèpretasyon lè w adrese demann ou pou imèl susan.sacco@mass.gov omwen 72 èdtan anvan reyinyon an.
- Các dịch vụ biên dịch hoặc phiên dịch bổ sung có thể được yêu cầu bằng cách gửi yêu cầu của quý vị qua email đến susan.sacco@mass.gov ít nhất 72 giờ trước cuộc họp.
- Предоставление дополнительных услуг письменного или устного перевода можно запросить, отправив просьбу по электронной почте на адрес susan.sacco@mass.gov как минимум за 72 часа до начала встречи
- Des services de traduction ou d'interprétation supplémentaires peuvent être demandés en envoyant votre demande par e-mail à susan.sacco@mass.gov au moins 72 heures avant la réunion.