MassWildlife introduced a new Deer Damage Permit for 2023. This permit allows farmers and land owners to apply for a permit to hunt deer causing damage on their land out of hunting season. It also allows sub-permittees (hunters other than the land owner or farmer). Only 6 permits were issued state wide, and 2 deer taken.
The information below is not available on the MassWildlife website, so please download the info page about Deer Damage Permits on the Resources pages of the Our Herd website.
The information below is not available on the MassWildlife website, so please download the info page about Deer Damage Permits on the Resources pages of the Our Herd website.
Update regarding new
Deer Damage Permit
From Meghan Crawford - Community Engagement Biologist - Massachusetts Division of Fisheries & Wildlife p: 508-389-6378 |
email: [email protected]
Previous Agricultural Depredation Permits
Chapter 131, Section 37:
Under certain conditions, landowners, tenants, members of their immediate families, or persons permanently employed by them may be able to use lethal measures against wildlife in accordance with provisions of Chapter 131, Section 37, Massachusetts General Laws.
Discharge setbacks and town by-laws still apply. A permit is not required to utilize Section 37 and it can be exercised at any time of the year, however, deer taken in this manner should immediately be reported to the Environmental Police at 1 (800) 632-8075; any deer removed under Sec. 37 must be surrendered to the Environ- mental Police. The MassWildlife deer project leader should be noti ed by email at [email protected] of the number of deer removed by sex with the property address within 24 hours.
New Deer Damage Permit (DDP):
A Deer Damage Permit can be issued to qualified landowners to allow sub-permittees (beyond tenants, family members, and permanent employees - as is the case for utilizing section 37) onto their property to address agricultural damage from deer outside the regulated deer hunting season. This may be considered when damage is “extensive”, and other existing options (regulated hunting, farmer/landowner permit, and CH.131 Sect. 37) are not resolving the issue or are not feasible.
Eligibility
• Applicants should earn at least 50% of their annual income from agricultural practices.
• Applicant properties should not be posted to limit access for hunters.
• There should be clear attempts to address the deer damage issues on the property using existing options or clear reasons why they are not feasible.
• Applicants should be experiencing “extensive” damage that warrants aggressive action.
Application and Review
Property owners can contact MassWildlife (508-389-6320) if they are experiencing agricultural damage from deer. They will be guided through the existing options: regulated hunting, farmer/landowner permit, and Ch. 131 Sec. 37. Based on the unique situation, a DDP consultation may be recommended and, if so, it will be con- ducted by the Deer Project Leader.
• Annual consultations will be required for permit renewal.
Permitting:
If issued a Deer Damage Permit, permittees and sub-permittees may lethally remove deer during the permit period on the approved property. Exact conditions of the permit (# of deer taken, implements, timing, reporting, etc.) will be communicated when the permit is issued.
The permittee must be the property owner, but they may have sub-permittees that include non-employees and people not domiciled on the property. All sub-permittees must have active hunting licenses.
Deer Damage Permit
From Meghan Crawford - Community Engagement Biologist - Massachusetts Division of Fisheries & Wildlife p: 508-389-6378 |
email: [email protected]
Previous Agricultural Depredation Permits
Chapter 131, Section 37:
Under certain conditions, landowners, tenants, members of their immediate families, or persons permanently employed by them may be able to use lethal measures against wildlife in accordance with provisions of Chapter 131, Section 37, Massachusetts General Laws.
Discharge setbacks and town by-laws still apply. A permit is not required to utilize Section 37 and it can be exercised at any time of the year, however, deer taken in this manner should immediately be reported to the Environmental Police at 1 (800) 632-8075; any deer removed under Sec. 37 must be surrendered to the Environ- mental Police. The MassWildlife deer project leader should be noti ed by email at [email protected] of the number of deer removed by sex with the property address within 24 hours.
New Deer Damage Permit (DDP):
A Deer Damage Permit can be issued to qualified landowners to allow sub-permittees (beyond tenants, family members, and permanent employees - as is the case for utilizing section 37) onto their property to address agricultural damage from deer outside the regulated deer hunting season. This may be considered when damage is “extensive”, and other existing options (regulated hunting, farmer/landowner permit, and CH.131 Sect. 37) are not resolving the issue or are not feasible.
Eligibility
• Applicants should earn at least 50% of their annual income from agricultural practices.
• Applicant properties should not be posted to limit access for hunters.
• There should be clear attempts to address the deer damage issues on the property using existing options or clear reasons why they are not feasible.
• Applicants should be experiencing “extensive” damage that warrants aggressive action.
Application and Review
Property owners can contact MassWildlife (508-389-6320) if they are experiencing agricultural damage from deer. They will be guided through the existing options: regulated hunting, farmer/landowner permit, and Ch. 131 Sec. 37. Based on the unique situation, a DDP consultation may be recommended and, if so, it will be con- ducted by the Deer Project Leader.
• Annual consultations will be required for permit renewal.
Permitting:
If issued a Deer Damage Permit, permittees and sub-permittees may lethally remove deer during the permit period on the approved property. Exact conditions of the permit (# of deer taken, implements, timing, reporting, etc.) will be communicated when the permit is issued.
The permittee must be the property owner, but they may have sub-permittees that include non-employees and people not domiciled on the property. All sub-permittees must have active hunting licenses.
