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Lawmakers consider deer‑management package: hunters, farmers and safety advocates weigh in
Summary
Legislators heard testimony on a package of bills aimed at managing deer populations — including proposals to form a multi‑stakeholder commission, permit Sunday bow hunting, broaden crossbow use and shorten setback distances for archery — with witnesses stressing agriculture losses, vehicle collisions and Lyme disease.
A group of bills addressing deer population management drew testimony about public safety, agriculture losses and public health at the committee hearing. The measures included a request to establish a stakeholder commission (identified in testimony as House Bill 999), a proposal to allow bow hunting on Sundays (S.576), to expand crossbow access during archery seasons (S.577), and to shorten the required setback for bow hunting from dwellings (S.578).
Representative Markey opened public testimony urging a commission to bring insurers, farmers, public‑health officials and transportation authorities together to address crop damage, vehicle collisions and tick‑borne disease. "We need to kill more deer," he said in blunt testimony describing high local collision rates and rising Lyme disease cases in Southeastern Massachusetts; he described agricultural losses and anecdotal counts of multiple deer in suburban yards as evidence the population exceeds management goals.
Representative Armini, sponsor of the outdoor‑heritage package including Sunday bow hunting, told the committee the bills will increase fair access for working people and improve wildlife management. He noted the legal bow season dates and proposed reducing the 500‑foot dwelling setback for elevated tree‑stand archery to 250 feet.
Questions from committee members focused on whether the commission approach duplicates existing Division of Fisheries and Wildlife authorities and how changes would be coordinated with existing migratory and hunting regulations. Some members sought clarification on whether proposals would allow more antlerless harvest and how livestock and suburban safety would be ensured.
No vote was taken. Sponsors asked the committee to report the measures out favorably and to direct staff to draft technical language for regulatory alignment with MassWildlife rules.
