reglab/statecodes huggingface dataset:
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XIX - Agriculture and Conservation › Chapter 131 - Inland Fisheries and Game and Other Natural Resources › Section 5b - Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program; Administration; Advisory Committee

Section 5B. The director shall administer the natural heritage and endangered species program in accordance with clauses (3) and (13A) of section four, and shall promulgate rules and regulations, subject to the procedures established in chapter thirty A, for said program, including criteria for the purchase of lands critical to nongame wildlife and endangered species, and for the use of said land for the protection and enhancement of nongame wildlife and for the encouragement of compatible wildlife uses. The commissioner shall appoint, subject to the approval of the fisheries and wildlife board, a natural heritage and endangered species advisory committee of seven members to advise the director on matters pertaining to nongame wildlife and wild plants. One of the members shall be a board member interested in endangered species appointed pursuant to section seven of chapter twenty-one. Of the remaining six members, three shall have technical training and experience and be drawn in the commissioner's discretion from the fields of ornithology, mammalogy, herpetology, icthyology, and botany, and three shall be persons knowledgeable in the field of natural history. The committee shall select a chairperson annually by majority vote of the members of said committee at a meeting scheduled for such purpose. The members shall serve terms of three years, except for the initial term, three members shall be appointed to serve for one year, two for two years, and two for three years. The committee shall meet at least quarterly and shall also meet at the request of the director or committee chairperson. Committee members shall not receive compensation for their services but shall receive reimbursement from the Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Fund for reasonable expenses necessary to the performance of their duties.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XIX - Agriculture and Conservation › Chapter 131 - Inland Fisheries and Game and Other Natural Resources › Section 5c - Obstruction or Interference With Lawful Taking of Fish or Wildlife; Remedies

Section 5C. No person shall obstruct, interfere with or otherwise prevent the lawful taking of fish or wildlife by another at the locale where such activity is taking place. It shall be a violation of this section for a person to intentionally (1) drive or disturb wildlife or fish for the purpose of interrupting a lawful taking; (2) block, follow, impede or otherwise harass another who is engaged in the lawful taking of fish or wildlife; (3) use natural or artificial visual, aural, olfactory or physical stimulus to effect wildlife in order to hinder or prevent such taking; (4) erect barriers with the intent to deny ingress or egress to areas where the lawful taking of wildlife may occur; (5) interject himself into the line of fire; (6) effect the condition or placement of personal or public property intended for use in the taking of wildlife; or (7) enter or remain upon public lands, or upon private lands without the permission of the owner or his agent, with intent to violate this section. The superior court shall have jurisdiction to issue an injunction to enjoin any such conduct or conspiracy in violation of the provisions of this section. A person who sustains damage as a result of any act which is in violation of this section may bring a civil action for punitive damages. Environmental protection officers and other law enforcement officers with arrest powers shall be authorized to enforce the provisions of this section.
This section shall not apply to the owners of the lands or waters or tenants or other persons acting under the authority of such owners of the lands or waters.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XIX - Agriculture and Conservation › Chapter 131 - Inland Fisheries and Game and Other Natural Resources › Section 6 - Acquisition of Rights, Privileges, Lands and Properties

Section 6. The director, with the approval of the fisheries and wildlife board, may:—
(1) for the purpose of providing public fishing grounds, acquire by gift, lease, easement, purchase, exchange or license or accept by transfer, fishing rights and privileges or lands or interests therein necessary for such purpose, together with rights of ingress and egress;
(2) for the purpose of fish and wildlife management and propagation, acquire by gift, lease, easement, purchase, exchange or license or accept by transfer, properties or interests therein at such places in the commonwealth as he may select.
(3) for the purpose of providing public shooting grounds, acquire by gift, purchase, lease or easement, or without consideration therefor obtain by license or permit the use of lands or waters within the commonwealth, of shooting rights thereon or therein, together with necessary and proper rights of ingress and egress.
The director may, subject to the provisions of section thirty-seven of chapter thirty, make rules and regulations relative to the public rights, privileges and use of lands, waters and properties acquired hereunder.
Nothing in this chapter shall be deemed to prohibit the director from disposing, through sale or exchange, of mammals, birds, birds' eggs, fish, fish eggs or the vegetable products of such lands in connection with propagation or management.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XIX - Agriculture and Conservation › Chapter 131 - Inland Fisheries and Game and Other Natural Resources › Section 7 - Wildlife Sanctuaries; Trusts

Section 7. For the purpose of protecting any species of useful fish, birds or mammals and for aiding the propagation thereof, the director may acquire in fee by purchase, gift or devise, or may lease, or with the consent of the owners, may control, any land, water or shore or the right to use the same, including the right of the public on such land or on or in such water or shore, as a wildlife sanctuary. The director, with the approval of the governor, may receive in trust for the commonwealth any grant or devise of land or any gift or bequest of personal property for the purpose of aiding in the propagation and protection of any useful fish, birds or mammals; provided, that, unless approved by the general court, no obligation shall be imposed on the commonwealth to expend in the carrying out of any trust more than the income of the trust property, or more than the income and principal thereof if by the terms of the trust the principal may be expended. Any such gift or bequest of money or securities shall be transferred forthwith to the state treasurer, who shall administer it as provided in section sixteen of chapter ten.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XIX - Agriculture and Conservation › Chapter 131 - Inland Fisheries and Game and Other Natural Resources › Section 8 - Use of Wildlife Sanctuaries and Preserves; Rules and Regulations

Section 8. In respect to any territory mentioned in section seven or fifty-nine, the director, with the consent of the appropriate authorities may make use of the land, water or shore within the territory as he deems best for the purpose of improving the feeding and nesting environment of birds or mammals, and may from time to time make such rules and regulations relating to such use as he deems proper, and such rules and regulations, when approved by the governor, shall have the force of law. The director with like consent may liberate birds within the limits of said territories, and, when in his opinion such action is advisable, cooperate with land owners within such territory in experiments in the propagation of birds and mammals.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XIX - Agriculture and Conservation › Chapter 131 - Inland Fisheries and Game and Other Natural Resources › Section 9 - Publication of Order Establishing Wildlife Sanctuary; Posting

Section 9. If an order is made by the director establishing a wildlife sanctuary, as provided in section seven, he shall cause a copy of the order to be published once a week for two successive weeks in one or more newspapers published in the counties embracing the territory, and shall cause copies of the order to be posted in conspicuous places within the cities and towns where the territory is situated, and also within the limits of the territory itself. If a great pond or any part thereof, or any seashore, is included within the territory, a copy of the order shall be filed in the office of the clerk of each city and town bordering upon the pond or seashore, and also in the office of the state secretary. An order made by the director in accordance herewith shall take effect when posted as above provided, and shall contain a full description of the territory so established and the period for which it is closed.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XIX - Agriculture and Conservation › Chapter 131 - Inland Fisheries and Game and Other Natural Resources › Section 10 - Hunting or Trapping Within Wildlife Sanctuary; Borders Posted; Adoption of Regulations

Section 10. Whenever such wildlife sanctuary has been established by an order as provided in section nine, no person, except as authorized by the director under clause (2) of section four, shall hunt, trap or take any bird or mammal within said sanctuary, nor shall any person enter such sanctuary with a firearm, trap, snare, or other device of any kind or description adapted to the killing, taking or injuring of birds and mammals, nor shall any person take, molest, disturb or destroy any nest, eggs or young of such birds or mammals or remove the eggs or young from the nest.
The established borders of a wildlife sanctuary, including any entry path or way, shall be posted to provide conspicuous notice to the public of the designation of the land as a wildlife sanctuary and of the prohibitions under this section. If the required notice has not been posted, a person shall have an affirmative defense against an alleged violation of a prohibition under this section.
The director shall adopt regulations regarding the posting of wildlife sanctuary land that shall include a requirement that notice shall be posted in a conspicuous manner for the type of terrain at intervals of not greater than 300 feet in distance along the borders of the land.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XIX - Agriculture and Conservation › Chapter 131 - Inland Fisheries and Game and Other Natural Resources › Section 10a - Nature Preserves; Designation

Section 10A. The executive office of environmental affairs, the department or any other division of the department within said executive office may designate as qualifying as a nature preserve any real property owned by the commonwealth and under the care and control of said department, executive office or any of its divisions or departments. Such a parcel of real property shall be deemed to be a nature preserve upon the following:
The division shall after a determination that said parcel qualifies as a nature preserve hold a public hearing thereon in accordance with the provisions of chapter thirty A.
The division shall file with the secretary of the executive office of environmental affairs a statement dedicating said parcel as a nature preserve. Such statement shall include the reasons said parcel qualifies as a nature preserve and a plan for the preservation and protection of said parcel as a nature preserve.
A nature preserve established in accordance with the provisions of this section shall be monitored and maintained as nearly as possible in its natural condition, and shall be used in a manner and under limitations consistent with its status as a nature preserve, without impairment or artificial development for the public purposes of present or future scientific research and education, and of providing a habitat for plant and animal species, communities and other natural objects and for preservation of areas representative of the significant habitats and ecosystems of the commonwealth.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XIX - Agriculture and Conservation › Chapter 131 - Inland Fisheries and Game and Other Natural Resources › Section 10b - Nature Preserve Council

Section 10B. A nature preserve council, hereinafter referred to as the council, shall be established and shall consist of seven members who shall be appointed by the secretary of the executive office of environmental affairs, four of whom shall be members of the natural heritage and endangered species advisory committee, appointed pursuant to section five B, two of whom shall be trained in plant ecology and shall represent colleges, universities, outdoor education programs, primary and secondary schools, science museums, and arboreta, and one of whom shall be knowledgeable in natural history and shall represent the general public. The members of the council shall be reimbursed for their necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties. Each member shall be appointed for a term of three years, except that for the initial term, three members shall be appointed for one year, two members shall be appointed for two years and two members shall be appointed for three years. Any person appointed to fill a vacancy shall serve for the unexpired term. Any member shall be eligible for reappointment.
The council shall annually select from among its members a chairman. The council shall hold meetings at least quarterly. Special meetings may be called by the chairman and shall be called by him upon written request of at least two members of the council. A written notice of the time and place of each meeting shall be sent to each member.
The council's duties shall include advising the division on policies and rules and regulations concerning nature preserves, consulting with the division regarding the nomination of potential nature preserves, assisting in the preparation of a plan for each nature preserve, and advising the division on budgetary matters related to such nature preserves. The council shall submit a biennial report to the governor on or before May first of such year, describing the condition of each nature preserve, outlining any actions taken by the council since the last report, and making any recommendations related to the nature preserve program which the council deems necessary.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XIX - Agriculture and Conservation › Chapter 131 - Inland Fisheries and Game and Other Natural Resources › Section 10c - Release of Nature Preserves

Section 10C. A nature preserve established pursuant to section ten A shall be released in a manner consistent with the provisions of the constitution of the commonwealth. The division shall, in consultation with any other department or division within the executive office of environmental affairs which has control of said parcel, consider the public interest in the conservation and preservation of such nature preserve and any federal, state or local program in furtherance thereof, any state, regional or local comprehensive land use or development plan affecting said parcel, and any proposal by a governmental body for the use of said parcel.
The provisions of this section shall not be deemed to affect in any manner any power pursuant to any general or special law to acquire by purchase, eminent domain or otherwise any real property for public purposes.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XIX - Agriculture and Conservation › Chapter 131 - Inland Fisheries and Game and Other Natural Resources › Section 10d - Consultation; Rules and Regulations

Section 10D. The division shall consult with the nature preserve council in implementing and effectuating the nature preserve program established pursuant to sections ten A to ten C, inclusive. The division shall promulgate rules and regulations to effectuate said nature preserve program.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XIX - Agriculture and Conservation › Chapter 131 - Inland Fisheries and Game and Other Natural Resources › Section 12 - Licenses; Issuance; Form; Display

Section 12. Upon the application of any person entitled to receive a sporting, hunting, fishing or trapping license and upon payment of the fee specified therefor in this chapter, and the furnishing of an affidavit by any non-resident desiring to be classified under the first paragraph of section eleven, the director, the clerk of any city or town, persons employed in the department of fisheries, wildlife and environmental law enforcement, the Massachusetts office of business development and the division of fisheries and wildlife and persons authorized by the director to issue such licenses at their place of business located within or without the commonwealth provided such persons are duly bonded, shall issue to such person a sporting, hunting, fishing or trapping license, as the case may be, in such form as the director shall prescribe and furnish. Subject to existing laws, a sporting license shall authorize the licensee to hunt birds and mammals and to fish, a fishing license shall authorize the licensee to fish only, a hunting license shall authorize the licensee to hunt only, and a trapping license shall authorize the licensee to trap mammals only. Each license issued hereunder shall bear a written declaration, signed by the licensee, under penalty of perjury, that data and statements contained in the license are true, and such other data as the director requires. The holder of a hunting, fishing, sporting or trapping license shall, while hunting, fishing or trapping, carry on his person and wear in a visible manner on his outer clothing his license authorizing him to do so in accordance with such rules and regulations as the director may from time to time prescribe.
At such time as the division of fisheries and wildlife has instituted an automated licensing system, the holder of a hunting, fishing, sporting or trapping license shall carry said license on his person and shall not be required to wear it in a visible manner.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XIX - Agriculture and Conservation › Chapter 131 - Inland Fisheries and Game and Other Natural Resources › Section 13a - Wildlands Conservation Stamps

Section 13A. Except as hereinafter provided, no person shall fish, trap, or hunt in the commonwealth without first having obtained a wildlands conservation stamp, which shall be issued by the director or his duly authorized agent upon the payment of five dollars; provided, however, that persons who are exempted from licensing requirements need not purchase such a stamp; provided, further, that persons issued fishing, sporting, trapping, or hunting licenses without charge shall be issued said stamp without charge; and provided, further, that no person who has purchased a stamp with any current resident license to fish, trap, or hunt shall be required to pay the fee for a wildlands conservation stamp for any additional current license or any duplicate license. The director is hereby authorized to issue stamps in such form as he may prescribe and may issue rules and regulations necessary for the implementation of this section. The stamp may be imprinted directly on fishing, sporting, trapping, or hunting licenses or issued separately at the discretion of the director.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XIX - Agriculture and Conservation › Chapter 131 - Inland Fisheries and Game and Other Natural Resources › Section 15 - Issuance of Special Complimentary Certificate to Officials of Other States

Section 15. An executive or administrative public official of any state granting similar privileges to such an officer of this commonwealth may hunt any bird or mammal or may fish in any of the inland waters of the commonwealth if he holds a special complimentary certificate entitling him so to do, which certificate the director, with the approval of the governor, is hereby authorized to issue, and the holder of such certificate shall have the same rights and privileges and be subject to the same duties and penalties as if he held a sporting license.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XIX - Agriculture and Conservation › Chapter 131 - Inland Fisheries and Game and Other Natural Resources › Section 16 - Loss or Destruction of License; Duplicates

Section 16. Whoever loses or by mistake or accident destroys his license, permit, or certificate issued under this chapter may, upon application to the director, clerk of the city or town or any person duly authorized under the provisions of section twelve issuing the same, and upon payment of a fee, the amount of which shall be determined annually by the commissioner of administration under the provision of section three B of chapter seven, receive a duplicate license, permit or certificate; provided, that such application is accompanied by an affidavit setting forth the circumstances of said loss, and also, if application is made to the director in any case where he did not issue the original license, permit or certificate, by a statement from the person who issued the original license, permit or certificate, or his successor in office, which statement shall contain the number and form of the license, permit or certificate, the date of its issue, and a personal description of the licensee. A person shall not, while he knowingly has a valid license, permit or certificate, obtain, have in possession or use any duplicate license, permit or certificate. A person shall not, while he knowingly has a valid fishing, hunting, sporting or trapping license, obtain for himself, have in possession or use any license which purports to afford him any of the privileges of the original license for any part of the period for which such original license was valid.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XIX - Agriculture and Conservation › Chapter 131 - Inland Fisheries and Game and Other Natural Resources › Section 17 - Retention of Part of License Fee by Issuing Officer or Person

Section 17. Any city or town clerk or any person duly authorized by the director to issue licenses at their place of business located outside the commonwealth, provided such persons are duly bonded, issuing any license under authority of any provision of this chapter may, except as otherwise provided by law, retain for his own use fifty cents from the fee for each such license; provided, however, that if no fee is required to be paid for the issuance of a license, the issuing officer shall make no charge for the issuance thereof nor retain any part of the fee therefor, as the case may be.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XIX - Agriculture and Conservation › Chapter 131 - Inland Fisheries and Game and Other Natural Resources › Section 17a - Municipal Processing Fee for Sale of Licenses

Section 17A. Any city or town clerk issuing any license under the authority of any provision of this chapter shall, except as otherwise provided by law, charge a municipal processing fee of one dollar, and where applicable retain such fee; provided, however, that such fee shall be in addition to the fee provided under section seventeen of this chapter. Any other person duly authorized by the director to issue licenses at their place of business, provided such persons are duly bonded, may charge a service fee of up to one dollar and fifty cents for the sale of each such license. No person issuing any license under the authority of this chapter shall make a charge for the issuance thereof nor charge any service charge if no fee is required to be paid for the issuance of a license. The director is authorized to enter into agreements for the sale of licenses through other means that shall be subject to a service charge which shall be determined annually by the secretary of administration and finance under the provisions of section three B of chapter seven. The director shall cause to be printed and otherwise published upon its licenses and within its publications a notice of the fees charged pursuant to this section and section seventeen.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XIX - Agriculture and Conservation › Chapter 131 - Inland Fisheries and Game and Other Natural Resources › Section 17b - Notice of Intent Not to Sell Licenses

Section 17B. Notwithstanding the provisions of any general or special law, or rule or regulation to the contrary, no city or town clerk shall be required to sell the licenses established under this chapter. Each city or town clerk shall, on or after July first of each year, give annual notice of an intention not to sell said licenses to the director on a form prescribed by the director. Said notice not to sell licenses shall only be effective if received by the director by July thirty-first each year; provided, however, that the failure of a city or town clerk to so notify the director of an intention not to sell shall be construed as an intention to sell said licenses during the next calendar year. Where said notice not to sell licenses is received in a timely manner, the director shall not forward for sale in the next year any licenses to the sender of such notice.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XIX - Agriculture and Conservation › Chapter 131 - Inland Fisheries and Game and Other Natural Resources › Section 18 - License Record Books; Payment of Monies by Issuing Officer to Director; Surety Bonds

Section 18. The director, each city or town clerk and each person duly authorized under the provisions of section twelve shall make a record in books kept therefor of all licenses issued by him, respectively, and shall indicate on each license the date and time of issue; and, except as hereinafter provided, no other date or time shall be placed on such license. Such books shall be supplied by the director, shall be the property of the commonwealth, shall be open to public inspection during the usual office hours of the issuing officer and shall be subject at all times to audit and inspection by the director, the state auditor, or the comptroller, or by their respective agents. Each such issuing officer shall, on the first Monday of every month, pay to the director all monies received by him for licenses issued during the month preceding, except the fees retained under sections eleven and seventeen. All such remittances shall be by check, United States post office money order, express money order, or in lawful money of the United States. Persons authorized to issue licenses under the provisions of section twelve who are not employees of the commonwealth shall furnish the commonwealth with a surety bond in the amount of six thousand dollars principal sum for the faithful performance of his duties and with surety satisfactory to the director. Each such issuing officer shall, within thirty days next succeeding January first in each year, return to the director all license books received during the year preceding, including all stubs and void and unused licenses.
Nothing herein shall be construed to prohibit the sale of licenses during the month of December in any year to be valid for use only on and after January first next succeeding. Any license so sold shall have the date of sale endorsed thereon.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XIX - Agriculture and Conservation › Chapter 131 - Inland Fisheries and Game and Other Natural Resources › Section 19 - License to Put Fish or Spawn Into Inland Waters; Permit to Import Live Fish or Viable Eggs, Certification, Inspection for Disease, and Disposition

Section 19. A person shall not put into any of the inland waters of the commonwealth any species of fish or spawn thereof unless he possesses a valid license so to do issued under section twenty-three, or unless he has secured the written approval of the director.
A person shall not bring or cause to be brought into the commonwealth any live fish or viable eggs of fish protected by this chapter unless he first obtains a permit so to do from the director. Any application for such permit shall be received not less than fifteen nor more than thirty days prior to shipment. Upon payment of a fee of five dollars, a permit may be issued if the director determines that such importation is not detrimental to the inland fisheries resources of the commonwealth and provided that the immediate source of fish or eggs is certified by a person recognized by the director as qualified to diagnose fish diseases to be free of infectious diseases and parasites. Fish or viable eggs imported under this permit shall be subject to inspection by agents of the director at any time or place. Such inspections may include the taking of fish or egg samples for biological examination. The cost of such inspection shall be paid by the permittee.
Any such fish or viable eggs of fish which is brought into the commonwealth in violation of this section, or which is so brought under authority of a permit granted hereunder and is found upon inspection to be diseased, may be confiscated by an officer empowered to enforce this chapter and shall be forfeited to the commonwealth and shall be disposed of by the director of law enforcement for the best interest of the commonwealth.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XIX - Agriculture and Conservation › Chapter 131 - Inland Fisheries and Game and Other Natural Resources › Section 19b - Transporting Mammals for Purpose of Euthanasia; Putting Animal to Death by Drowning Prohibited

Section 19B. Any person authorized under section 4 to take and possess mammals may transport them within the commonwealth for the purpose of euthanasia.
A person authorized under this chapter to take and possess birds, reptiles, amphibians or mammals shall not put an animal to death by the use of drowning. Any such person who intentionally or knowingly puts an animal to death by the use of drowning shall, for a first offense, be punished by imprisonment in the state prison for not more than 7 years or in a jail or house of correction for not more than 21/2 years, by a fine of not more than $5,000 or by both such fine and imprisonment and, for a second or subsequent offense, by imprisonment in the state prison for not more than 10 years, by a fine of not more than $10,000 or by both such fine and imprisonment.
The paragraph above shall not take effect until the department of Fish and Game, in consultation with the Environmental Police; the division of Animal Health; and the department of Agricultural Resources, file a report with the clerks of the senate and house of representatives, the house and senate chairs of the joint committee on municipalities and regional government, and the house and senate committees on ways and means, identifying best practices related to trapping and pest control, to include alternatives to drowning. Such report shall be filed on or before June 1, 2019. Provided that if said report is not filed on or before June 1, 2019, the above paragraph shall take effect on June 1, 2019.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XIX - Agriculture and Conservation › Chapter 131 - Inland Fisheries and Game and Other Natural Resources › Section 20 - Field Trials for Retriever or Bird Dogs

Section 20. Upon application to the director by an incorporated or unincorporated club or organization having a membership of citizens who have been residents of the commonwealth for at least six consecutive months immediately prior to making application, and upon payment of a fee by the applicant, the amount of which shall be determined annually by the commissioner of administration under the provision of section three B of chapter seven for the filing thereof, the director may issue a license to such club or organization to hold a field trial under the rules and regulations of the American Kennel Club, Inc., American Field or other bird dog or kennel association as recognized by the director for retriever or bird dogs at the time and place stated in the license. The license shall authorize members of the licensee to shoot and kill with firearms, under the supervision of an environmental police officer of the division of law enforcement except that, in the case of such a field trial conducted on property under the ownership or control of the division, under the supervision of an employee of the division, pheasants, quail, chukar partridge, mallard ducks, or other species authorized by the director, which are propagated or legally acquired by members of the licensee, and released by members of the licensee at the field trial held at the time and place specified in the license. The license shall be valid only during the daylight hours, and the written consent of the owner of or the person having legal control of, the land on which such field trial is held shall first be obtained. Before any pheasant, quail, chukar partridge, mallard duck, or other species so shot is removed from the premises, the environmental police officer of the division of law enforcement or the employee of the division, as the case may be, shall attach to it a tag, which shall be furnished by the director for a reasonable fee, and which shall remain attached to the bird until the bird is prepared for consumption. A licensee shall pay to the environmental police officer of the division of law enforcement or the employee of the division, as the case may be, a fee for services rendered at such a field trial, the amount of which shall be determined pursuant to the aforementioned chapter seven provision. Such environmental police officer shall be designated by the director of the division of law enforcement or such employee of the division shall be designated by the director, as the case may be, to supervise such a field trial. Persons participating in any such field trial pursuant to the provisions of this section shall not be required to secure hunting or sporting licenses for this purpose.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XIX - Agriculture and Conservation › Chapter 131 - Inland Fisheries and Game and Other Natural Resources › Section 21 - Training of Hunting Dogs; Field Trials

Section 21. Except as provided in sections 21A, 70, 81 and 82, nothing in this chapter shall be construed to prohibit the training of hunting dogs, so-called, or conducting or engaging in a field trial with such dogs; provided, however, that except during other open seasons promulgated by the director, no firearms may be carried by any person so training or conducting or engaging in such field trials. A person shall not conduct any field trial where the use of buildings of the division, the services of any personnel of the division are deemed necessary by the director or birds or mammals are provided by the director without first obtaining a permit so to do from the director, which permit may be issued upon payment of a fee, the amount of which shall be determined annually by the commissioner of administration under the provision of section three B of chapter seven for the filing thereof. Such field trials shall be conducted in accordance with such rules and regulations as the director may prescribe, authority to issue such permits and make, alter, amend and rescind such rules and regulations being hereby granted to him. Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to require a person attending or participating in such a field trial or such training to obtain a hunting or sporting license; provided, that no firearm other than a pistol or revolver and blank cartridges are used or possessed by such person; and provided further, that no birds or mammals are taken or killed.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XIX - Agriculture and Conservation › Chapter 131 - Inland Fisheries and Game and Other Natural Resources › Section 21a - Unfair Hunting Practices Prohibited

Section 21A. It shall be unlawful to pursue or hunt bear or bobcat with the aid of a dog.
It shall be unlawful to hunt bear by the aid of baiting or knowingly to hunt bear in a baited area. ''Baiting'' means the placing, exposing, depositing, distributing, or scattering of any substance so as to constitute for bears a lure or attraction to areas where hunters are attempting to take them.
The prohibition on the use of a dog or baiting may be waived by the director upon written application (1) for the control of individual animals specifically identified as posing a threat to human safety or individual animals that have destroyed livestock, property or crops, and (2) for legitimate scientific research projects that are conducted in a humane manner.
Whoever violates the provisions of this section, or any rule or regulation made under the authority thereof, shall be punished by a fine of not less than $300 nor more than $1,000, or by imprisonment for not more than 12 months, or by both such fine and imprisonment for each violation. A person found guilty of, or convicted of, or assessed in any manner after a plea of nolo contendere, or penalized for, a second violation of this section shall surrender to an officer authorized to enforce this chapter all hunting and dog training licenses and permits issued to him and shall be barred forever from obtaining any such licenses and permits.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XIX - Agriculture and Conservation › Chapter 131 - Inland Fisheries and Game and Other Natural Resources › Section 22 - Sale of Fish and Game

Section 22. A person, except as provided in sections twenty-three to twenty-eight, inclusive, shall not buy, sell, barter, exchange, offer or expose for sale or have in his possession for the purpose of sale, or in any way deal in or trade with respect to, any trout, salmon, horned pout, yellow perch, pickerel, white perch, great northern pike or muskellunge, wall-eyed pike, pike perch or any member of the family centrachidae (sunfish), taken from the waters of the commonwealth, or any black bass taken from waters within or outside the limits of the commonwealth, or the bodies of dead or living birds or mammals, or parts thereof, except those named in section five, or the bodies of dead or living reptiles or amphibians, whenever or wherever taken or killed; but a person who has lawfully killed a deer during the prescribed open season on deer, and has reported such killing as required by any rule or regulation promulgated by the director, may sell the head and hide thereof to any person licensed as a fur buyer under section twenty-eight, or licensed as a taxidermist under section twenty-seven, and may sell the hoofs and shinbones to any person.
Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit the sale of white perch taken from the coastal waters of the commonwealth or from the waters of Dukes or Nantucket counties, or from waters now or hereafter held under lease from the department.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XIX - Agriculture and Conservation › Chapter 131 - Inland Fisheries and Game and Other Natural Resources › Section 22a - Disposition of Deer; Rules and Regulations; Permits; Fees

Section 22A. Notwithstanding the provisions of sections twenty-two, twenty-three and twenty-four, the director, with the approval of the fisheries and wildlife board, may make, alter, amend and rescind rules and regulations relative to the disposition of deer killed by means other than sport hunting. Such rules and regulations shall include, but not be limited to, the procedures for acquiring and possessing such deer, categories of persons authorized to acquire and possess such deer, and procedures and time limits for timely and accurate administration of such disposition. The director is hereby authorized to issue a permit, the cost of which shall not exceed twenty-five dollars, to each person authorized to possess such deer, and each such deer or carcass thereof shall be tagged with an official seal, of such a nature and in such a manner as the director shall prescribe. Fees accrued under this section shall be deposited in the Inland Fisheries and Game Fund, pursuant to the provisions of section 2C. Any deer killed by means other than sport hunting and not acquired by an individual under provisions of this section shall be disposed of by the director of law enforcement in the best interest of the commonwealth, including but not limited to, donations to civic associations, sportsmen's clubs, and churches. The commonwealth or any of its subdivisions or any employee thereof shall not assume liability for any acts leading to or arising from disposition of deer under this section.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XIX - Agriculture and Conservation › Chapter 131 - Inland Fisheries and Game and Other Natural Resources › Section 24 - Dealers' Licenses; Sale for Food Purposes

Section 24. The director, upon written application to him, may issue to any person a dealer's license under clause (6) of section twenty-three, authorizing the holder thereof to engage in the business of buying, selling or offering for sale, for food purposes, the carcasses, or parts thereof, of fish, birds or mammals protected by this chapter and tagged in accordance with the provisions of sections twenty-five and twenty-six and, as to fish, in accordance with such rules and regulations as the director may lawfully make; provided, that any person holding a propagator's license may sell or offer for sale, birds or mammals, alive or dead, or parts thereof, in accordance with section twenty-three without procuring a dealer's license; and provided, further, that any person licensed under clause (3) of section twenty-three, to propagate, cultivate and maintain fish, or to sell, or offer the same for sale, alive or for food purposes, may do so without procuring a license under said clause (6).
No license shall be required of any person purchasing any such fish, bird or mammal, or part thereof, for his own personal use for food, from a person holding a license under section twenty-three.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XIX - Agriculture and Conservation › Chapter 131 - Inland Fisheries and Game and Other Natural Resources › Section 25 - Possession of Live Birds, Mammals, Reptiles or Amphibians; Sale; Tags; Labels; Accounts

Section 25. Except as provided in sections four and twenty-three, a person shall not have in his possession at any time a live bird or mammal other than those named in section five, or a live reptile or amphibian. Birds and mammals had in possession under any license issued under clause (4) or (6) of section twenty-three may be sold at any time, except if sold for food they shall be killed, and tagged as follows:—To the carcass of each bird or mammal or part thereof shall be affixed a numbered tag, to be supplied by the director at a cost to be determined annually by the commissioner of administration under the provision of section three B of chapter seven and in accordance with rules and regulations which the director is hereby authorized to make. Every package containing birds or mammals killed under authority of this section, or parts of such birds or mammals, shall be plainly labelled with the name of the holder of the license, by whom, or under whose authority such birds or mammals were killed, with the name of the consignee, and with a statement of the number of birds or mammals, or parts thereof, contained therein. All carcasses or parts thereof shall remain entire and unplucked until such time as they are prepared for consumption as food. Reptiles and amphibians had in possession under any license issued under clause (4) of section twenty-three may be sold at any time.
Nothing herein shall be construed to permit the possession of a live bird, mammal, reptile or amphibian, other than those named in section five and those on the special exemption list provided for in section twenty-three by a person purchasing or receiving such a bird, mammal, reptile or amphibian from a holder of a propagator's license or a dealer's license issued under section twenty-three, unless such purchaser or receiver shall also hold a license under this chapter authorizing him so to possess.
An accurate account of all dealings subject to this section shall be kept by each licensee, including the names of persons from whom any birds, mammals, reptiles or amphibians, alive or dead, or parts thereof, have been obtained or to whom any such birds, mammals, reptiles or amphibians, or parts thereof, have been sold or otherwise disposed of, and said records shall be open for inspection at all reasonable times by the director or his agents, the director of law enforcement, his deputy directors of enforcement, chiefs of enforcement, deputy chiefs of enforcement and environmental police officers.
A person licensed under the authority of section twenty-three shall not transfer any live bird, or the eggs thereof, or any live mammal, reptile or amphibian, to any person by means of sale, gift, donation or otherwise, unless such last mentioned person shall first be thereunto licensed under said section.