No Refunds for Hunters

[GOALJim]

MA Fish & Wildlife Tells Hunters No Refunds Because there are other Options!?​

Since the enactment of Chapter 135 hunters, especially non-resident hunters, have been bombarding the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife (MassWildlife) with demands of refunding their license fees. This is because Chapter 135 greatly restricted the people and methods for hunting.

According to MassWildlife’s web page, a non-resident (age 15 and over) Hunting, Big Game license is $105. This is not only a big investment, but also dangerously misleading. Under the new laws, law enforcement is being directed that any non-resident under 18 is banned from hunting in the Commonwealth.

MassWildlife has posted the following notice on their website in response to the refund demands. It is an incredibly disturbing response:

Is MassWildlife issuing refunds for 2024 hunting licenses, permits, or stamps?

• No, MassWildlife is not issuing refunds as a result of the new firearms laws. Hunting laws have not been changed, and options still exist for both residents and non-residents to hunt with firearms and archery equipment in Massachusetts. Please review the information on this page to understand changes to firearms laws and what type of firearms license, if any, is required for the hunting implement you plan to use.

“Can anyone imagine the Commonwealth telling any other community in the state: ‘Ya we know we made your normal activities illegal, but you still have options’, said Jim Wallace Executive Director of Gun Owners’ Action League. “The other disturbing piece is when they state that the hunting laws themselves haven’t changed. What is that supposed to mean? Maybe the hunting laws themselves have not been changed, but the gun laws have drastically changed things for the hunting community. At every turn, the administration consistently tries to cover up, or ignore, the devastating effects of Chapter 135.”

GOAL is consulting attorneys on this, and an endless list of other civil rights atrocities caused by the supporters of these new laws.

Look under FAQs: https://www.mass.gov/info-details/hunting-with-a-firearm-in-massachusetts

 

[Drix]

Sounds like class action lawsuit time?

Though, MA's bullshit laws is why I hunt over the borders.

 

[Joeldiaz]

Sounds like class action lawsuit time?

Lawsuit sure, but not a class action one. Here is why, from the words of Mark Smith of the Four Boxes Diner:
View: https://x.com/fourboxesdiner/status/1698574637813076122?s=46

 

[Drix]

Lawsuit sure, but not a class action one. Here is why, from the words of Mark Smith of the Four Boxes Diner:
View: https://x.com/fourboxesdiner/status/1698574637813076122?s=46

The 2a has little to nothing to do with hunting.

A class action would be to pull back the funds for falue to deliver on a promised contract. The laws changed and a class action won't fix that, but they should be able to claw their money back.

 

[GL2020]

My step son is a duck hunter. Also wildlife biology grad who'll probably end up working for RI DEM. His roommate is already working there. He told me over dinner RI is getting slammed with hunters who won't go into MA. He said he'd like to hunt in MA but not buying a shotgun specially for MA and can't be bothered with having his current semi inspected by the local PD multiple times.

MA may lose a fair amount of money on license fees from out of state hunters who chose to go elsewhere or not at all.

 

[VTski4x4]

My step son is a duck hunter. Also wildlife biology grad who'll probably end up working for RI DEM. His roommate is already working there. He told me over dinner RI is getting slammed with hunters who won't go into MA. He said he'd like to hunt in MA but not buying a shotgun specially for MA and can't be bothered with having his current semi inspected by the local PD multiple times.

MA may lose a fair amount of money on license fees from out of state hunters who chose to go elsewhere or not at all.

Pretty sure the DFW said they expect to lose something like $9M over this.

 

[sig shooter]

Pretty sure the DFW said they expect to lose something like $9M over this.

All part of the culture war against any form of self sufficiency and/or conservatism.

 

[sig shooter]

My step son is a duck hunter. Also wildlife biology grad who'll probably end up working for RI DEM. His roommate is already working there. He told me over dinner RI is getting slammed with hunters who won't go into MA. He said he'd like to hunt in MA but not buying a shotgun specially for MA and can't be bothered with having his current semi inspected by the local PD multiple times.

MA may lose a fair amount of money on license fees from out of state hunters who chose to go elsewhere or not at all.

I don’t blame them. Why give money as a non-resident to a state that actively hates you? I only hunt MA because I live here.

 

[Agnotology]

Pretty sure the DFW said they expect to lose something like $9M over this.

Just have the illegals pay taxes, should make up about 9m

 

[HorizontalHunter]

Pretty sure the DFW said they expect to lose something like $9M over this.

Pretty sure Maura doesn’t care.

 

[APFSDS]

Though, MA's bullshit laws is why I hunt over the borders.

I bought a hunting license the first year I lived here, but never went hunting because a) after looking at all the state and local regulations it was too complicated and b) if I commit some paperwork crime I could have all my rights taken away forever. I will not be buying one again and am about to escape to NC/TN.

 

[Chevy 2 65]

mAss SUCKS for any outdoor activities, hunting, camping, 4wheeling, etc.. The king wants you in 15min cities with soy drinks.

 

[milktree]

Pretty sure the DFW said they expect to lose something like $9M over this.

$9M is a big number. Is that per year, or over 10 years?

$100/licence comes out to 90,000 hunters, which seems (to my non-hunter brain) to be an implausibly large number of hunters who can't (or won't) hunt in Mass. anymore.

Am I way off base?

 

[GM-GUY]

Don’t worry - they will raise the fees to offset it.

 

[robjax]

This is an easy fix for me.

Do not buy hunting or fishing licenses anymore.

 

[VTski4x4]

$9M is a big number. Is that per year, or over 10 years?

$100/licence comes out to 90,000 hunters, which seems (to my non-hunter brain) to be an implausibly large number of hunters who can't (or won't) hunt in Mass. anymore.

Am I way off base?

It was over a period of time, I just can't remember how long. I believe it was 3yrs but someone will have to fact check me. It's buried in a thread somewhere here.

 

[Mark from ?]

This is an easy fix for me.

Do not buy hunting or fishing licenses anymore.

This. Not buying any Hunting licenses for MA anymore. Simple as that.

Honestly with what I will hunt down here, won't need one here either.....All I get is the WMA permit because they have a great rifle, pistol and shotgun range about 1/2 hour or so from the house, cost 26 bucks per year. I can camp there if I wanted too as well.

 

[HorizontalHunter]

This is an easy fix for me.

Do not buy hunting or fishing licenses anymore.

That happened in Connecticut 7-8 years ago. They doubled the cost of licenses and even more for non-residents. License sales plummeted. Two weeks before fishing season opened they were forced to roll the price increases back to a more reasonable level.

The problem here is that people just take it and pay the vig.

 

[milktree]

It was over a period of time, I just can't remember how long. I believe it was 3yrs but someone will have to fact check me. It's buried in a thread somewhere here.

Is 30,000 out of state hunters every year a big number? It feels like a big number.

 

[Mark from ?]

That happened in Connecticut 7-8 years ago. They doubled the cost of licenses and even more for non-residents. License sales plummeted. Two weeks before fishing season opened they were forced to roll the price increases back to a more reasonable level.

The problem here is that people just take it and pay the vig.

I remember that one. My CT bow lisc went from like 75 a year to 140 a year or something.

I paid it because I could shoot unlimited does and 3 bucks a year off of it in the zone I hunted.

But this is worse than that....your now telling hunters the same license you buy does not have the same hunting opportunities. Changes the whole dynamic.

 

[whacko]

Sounds like class action lawsuit time?

Though, MA's bullshit laws is why I hunt over the borders.

I'm a mass resident and haven't hunted deer in mass for 5 years. I buy the license (for now) in mass cuz small game is open longer than nh. But out may stop even buying a license in mass now.

 

[Rob Boudrie]

The 2a has little to nothing to do with hunting.

A class action would be to pull back the funds for falue to deliver on a promised contract. The laws changed and a class action won't fix that, but they should be able to claw their money back.

A non-class action approach is for one in-duh-vidual to sue, win, collect and then have others file claims. It may be necessary for a second applicant to file since the state will likely argue the decision applied to the one in-duh-vidual, but they will get the hint. BTDT (Fletcher v. Haas, MJ case) You can also sue to declarative relief requesting the court order all such fees be refunded to any user providing information that they are precluded from using the license.

This is not a 2A case, as no gun law is effected but rather a case about a "taking" without compensation.

 

[Mark from ?]

I'm a mass resident and haven't hunted deer in mass for 5 years. I buy the license (for now) in mass cuz small game is open longer than nh. But out may stop even buying a license in mass now.

I bought it for bowhunting and pheasant this last year but I was also in state. Won't next year.....out of state NFW.

 

[whacko]

I bought it for bowhunting and pheasant last year but I was also in state. Won't next year.....out of state NFW.

Nh is better anyway. Better access to private land......Sunday hunting.....muzzle loader during rut and beginning of fire arms season. It's a win win and easier to fill my freezer.

 

[The Anchor]

just bought my NH non resident, and it also says the department has no provision for refunds, MA really sucks, with the bait and switch they pulled, but they are not alone...

 

[Bigfudge16]

The state doesnt care, theyll pass the cost onto those of us who bowhunt or fish. Only reason I continue to do that is that there are unlimited anterless permits in my zone reliably

 

[Broc Tuah]

Why do people come to MA to hunt?

Tiny State, packed with people all over the woods. I go out of my way to hunt OUTSIDE of MA.

Anyway, this s*cks for the hunters, but I love the mess this law is creating.

 

[GL2020]

Why do people come to MA to hunt?

Tiny State, packed with people all over the woods. I go out of my way to hunt OUTSIDE of MA.

Anyway, this s*cks for the hunters, but I love the mess this law is creating.

In the situation with my step son it's because the difference in seasons. He would have been able to hunt duck longer in MA. I guess there's a distinction between ducks near the ocean and ducks inland. I don't know all the ins and outs, but the season is closed for what he wants here now in RI and doesn't reopen until late November, and then only for a few weeks. He would have had the month of November in MA

 

[Mark from ?]

Why do people come to MA to hunt?

Tiny State, packed with people all over the woods. I go out of my way to hunt OUTSIDE of MA.

Anyway, this s*cks for the hunters, but I love the mess this law is creating.

MA has a great put and take pheasant program......and some clubs really benefit with great stocking for 3 grand a year in feed...and its the best hunt your gonna get without paying a private preserve. State land hunting less so, but they put out plenty of nice birds.

Turkey hunting is great in Central MA...if you can't fill a tag there your not hunting.

That's about all I can say for MA. Deer hunting is well below average the further west your go for the most part.

 

[tuna]

I thought the 2A was about hunting ducks and deer?

What is the 2A about, then?