Division of Fisheries and Wildlife (Massachusetts)
Encyclopedia
The Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife, sometimes referred to as MassWildlife, is an agency of the Massachusetts Department of Fish and Game, within the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs
. MassWildlife is overseen by a seven-member Fisheries and Wildlife Board appointed by the Governor; it has authority to make regulations, sets policy, and oversees personnel appointments.
MassWildlife manages over 100 Wildlife Management Areas (WMA) and 13 wildlife sanctuaries with responsibility for over 160000 acres (647.5 km²) of lands and waters. WMAs are all open to hunting, fishing, trapping and other outdoor recreation activities. Sanctuaries are more restrictive—camping, hunting, fishing and trapping is prohibited.
MassWildlife runs fish hatcheries in Sandwich
, Belchertown
, Montague
and Sunderland
. Rainbow, brown, brook and tiger trout are raised to stock various state waters.
Mass Wildlife's website has information on regulations and permits for hunting, fishing, trapping and recreational land use. In addition there are maps of wildlife management locations and information on wildlife viewing. The agency also publishes the quarterly magazine Massachusetts Wildlife which has excellent photos and articles on state flora and fauna.
MassWildlife also publishes the following:
Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (Massachusetts)
The Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairsconsists of the Department of Agricultural Resources, the Department of Conservation and Recreation, the Department of Environmental Protection, the Department of Energy Resources, the Department of Fish and Game, the ...
. MassWildlife is overseen by a seven-member Fisheries and Wildlife Board appointed by the Governor; it has authority to make regulations, sets policy, and oversees personnel appointments.
MassWildlife manages over 100 Wildlife Management Areas (WMA) and 13 wildlife sanctuaries with responsibility for over 160000 acres (647.5 km²) of lands and waters. WMAs are all open to hunting, fishing, trapping and other outdoor recreation activities. Sanctuaries are more restrictive—camping, hunting, fishing and trapping is prohibited.
MassWildlife runs fish hatcheries in Sandwich
Sandwich, Massachusetts
Sandwich is a town in Barnstable County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 20,675 at the 2010 census. The Town Hall is located right next to the Dexter Grist Mill, in the historic district of town....
, Belchertown
Belchertown, Massachusetts
As of the census of 2000, there were 12,968 people, 4,886 households, and 3,517 families residing in the town. The population density was 245.9 people per square mile . There were 5,050 housing units at an average density of 95.8 per square mile...
, Montague
Montague, Massachusetts
Montague is a town in Franklin County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 8,489 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Springfield, Massachusetts metropolitan statistical area....
and Sunderland
Sunderland, Massachusetts
Sunderland is a town in Franklin County, Massachusetts, part of the Pioneer Valley. The population was 3,777 as of the 2000 census. It is part of the Springfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area....
. Rainbow, brown, brook and tiger trout are raised to stock various state waters.
Mass Wildlife's website has information on regulations and permits for hunting, fishing, trapping and recreational land use. In addition there are maps of wildlife management locations and information on wildlife viewing. The agency also publishes the quarterly magazine Massachusetts Wildlife which has excellent photos and articles on state flora and fauna.
MassWildlife also publishes the following:
- Booklets
- Field Guide to Animals in Vernal Pools
- Wildlife Sanctuaries
- Living Waters
- Town Core Habitat Reports, 2004
- Classification of the Natural Communities of Massachusetts Reprinted 2004
- Maps/Atlases
- Natural Heritage Rare Species & Habitat Atlas
- Town Core Habitat Maps
- Aerial Photo Survey of Potential Vernal Pools in Massachusetts (CD Viewer)
- Pond Maps
- Wildlife Management Area Maps
- Posters
- Living Waters Poster
- BioMap Poster
- Flyers/Lists
- Landowner Incentive Program
- Rare Species List