BOSTON — Two hunting bills, one which would legalize hunting with crossbows for the general population and another that seeks to crack down on poachers, passed the state Senate Thursday.
“I thought yesterday was a good day,” said Sen. Don Humason, R-Westfield.
Humason said that he’s introduced bills that would legalize crossbow hunting for the non-disabled since he was in the Massachusetts House of Representatives from 2001-2013. Currently, only people with a documented medical disability can use a crossbow to hunt in the state.
“It’s been before the Legislature for a number of terms,” Humason said.
The bill that passed Thursday was introduced by Sen. Anne Gobi, D-Spencer.
“Crossbows have been used for years and this commonsense change will allow sportsmen, who have been unable to hunt, due in part to father time, get back outdoors and do what they love,” Gobi said, in an emailed release.
Humason noted that the hunting population in the commonwealth is older, and that using a crossbow is easier on the joints than a traditional bow. He also said that they are easier to aim, and characterized them as a more humane way to hunt.
Humason believes crossbow season will be made the same as the season for other bows, though the legislation include such a change.
He also related an anecdote about a western Massachusetts resident who owned a crossbow company out west, but said that he would not open operations in the commonwealth because of the hunting ban. Humason expressed hope that the bill becoming law could help with economic development.
The bill has until the end of the year to pass the House and be signed by Gov. Charlie Baker, if it is to go into effect.
“I’m optimistic,” Humason said of the bill’s changes.
The other Senate hunting bill passed, also unanimously, updated penalties for poaching, to what Humason characterized as 2018 levels.
Additionally, it would sign Massachusetts up for the Interstate Wildlife Violator Compact, which establishes reciprocity so that those with a suspended license in one state can’t hunt in another. Massachusetts is one of the last remaining states that is not part of the compact.
“For whatever reason, Massachusetts wasn’t a part of that,” Humason said.
Humason also successfully added an amendment to the bill that would allow hunters to carry unloaded firearms on ATVs in the woods without locking them in cases.
On other hunting issues, Humason said that he would support the introduction of a rifle season for deer in Massachusetts, and he noted that bills have been introduced that would do this.
“It would make us a more attractive state,” he said.
He also said that he supported reversing the ban on hunting on Sundays, while acknowledging the controversy around it, a lot of which he said stemmed from misunderstanding.