New Bowhunter, MA Crowded?
Massachusetts
Contributors to this thread:
I'm new to bowhunting and wanted to know how crowded land is in the Worcester County area with other hunters during bow season. Is it manageable or should I look elsewhere? Are there any things I should keep in mind if I run into another hunter in the field?
Plenty of woods... But you will bump into folks. Respect them, and hopefully you receive the same in return.
I hunt all along the 190 corridor west into Princeton / Rutland, Hubbardston, Barre, Petersham. The further west you go, historically, the fewer deer and hunters you see. This year was odd, I saw a fair number of folks hunting everywhere.
There is a ton of public land to explore.
Have you hunted historically (gun) or is this a new venture overall?
MA_Bowhunter's Link
There’s a five-year permit for hunting on DCR watershed property both west and east of Interstate 190. This area is open for the entire hunting season and for all game species. I hunt on this land occasionally and rarely run into too many hunters. See the link to apply for a permit.
Welcome to the MA Forum... great place with a lot of good people.
I suggest you try to find private land to hunt. It isn't easy... unless you already know some landowners. But, it's more than worth it when you do get permission.
Back when I hunted on public land, I would see one or two other hunters during an entire season. So, it wasn't much of an issue. Now that I hunt only on private land, I never see another hunter.
MA_Bowhunter's Link
Also, the maps showing the huntable land are totally cool.
The land MA Bowhunter noted is a big part of what I hunt. This year there were a TON of guys all over... Not horrible early archery, but mid November it picked up, and shotgun and ML were similar to the stands in arrowhead last Sunday night. I still found solo spots to hunt, and am sure you could as well...
Didn’t see a single hunter in my spots this year nor a single deer! Pick your poison.
Welcome to the forum. You’ll be fine it’s not crowded here. Only 3% in mass hunt and most use guns
Too many hunters not enough land. The real problem in Central Mass is access.
plenty of land...not nearly as many towns barring access to town lands as in the east. been hunting central ma for 30 years.
the only issue I've heard is a few years ago there was a 'dude' in grafton trying to claim all town land for himself...pulling $#% like cutting other peoples stands down, putting up fake posted signs, ruining guys hunts and getting personally threatening. but that's it. I've run into many many other hunters on public lands and as Will said, be respectful and hopefully they'll return it.
Come to the Berkshires.......No Hunters......No Deer.