Deer hunting in Westborough – 2018 update

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Submitted by Scott Shumway, Past president of the Westborough Community Land Trust

Westborough – It’s fall – the time of year to wear blaze orange in the woods for safety during deer hunting season. People often ask: where, when, and why? Here’s an update about deer hunting in Westborough.

Deer hunting is only allowed in certain locations in Westborough and only with written approval of the property owner. There are three deer hunting seasons in Massachusetts:

  • Archery (Oct 15-Nov 24)
  • Shotgun (Nov 26 – Dec 8)
  • Primitive Firearms (Dec 10 – 31).

All three types may take place at the state’s Wildlife Management Area in Westborough.

Bow hunting is allowed on certain Town properties (Bowman West, Libbey Conservation Area, Orchard Swamp), New England Forestry Foundation’s Wile Forest, certain Sudbury Valley Trustees (SVT) properties, parts of Cedar Swamp, and Westborough Community Land Trust (WCLT) property in Orchard Swamp.

Bow hunting on Town and WCLT properties is strictly regulated by the Chief of Police and requires a special town permit. SVT allows bow hunting on their Cedar Hill property with a permit. SVT also allows bow and shotgun hunting on their property in Cedar Swamp by permit. In some instances, including the SVT properties, bow hunting may be allowed throughout all three periods.

   Why allow deer hunting? The two most important natural predators of white-tailed deer are wolves and humans. Humans killed off almost the entire wolf population long ago and have strictly regulated human hunting activities for most of the past 200 years. The result has been an increase in deer populations largely free of significant predators. In many parts of Massachusetts, the current deer population density is thought to be higher than it was during pre-European settlement.

   Why control deer populations? Deer are vegetarians, consuming leaves, flower buds, fruits, nuts, and tender plant stems. Experiments have demonstrated that high-density deer populations are having a negative impact on many native plant species, some of which have either been eliminated from some forests or are no longer able to regenerate.

Deer also eat ornamental plants, especially in suburban towns like Westborough. A drive through the Wayside neighborhood shows evergreens (yews and arborvitae) that have had all of their lower branches consumed by deer. In extreme cases, deer have such difficulty finding food in the winter that they die of starvation.

Interactions between deer and automobiles are growing increasingly common. The results can be deadly for deer, automobiles, drivers, and passengers. Many more deer are injured or killed by automobiles in Massachusetts than by hunters.

Deer are carriers of bacteria responsible for Lyme disease. This disease can be debilitating for humans and is spread between deer, mice, and humans by deer ticks. Lowering deer populations may help reduce the incidence of Lyme disease in humans and pets.

   Why is bow hunting preferred over other types of hunting? Bow hunters hunt from an elevated tree stand. The shot is aimed toward the ground, the effective range is short, and shots are silent. It is thought to be the safest of all hunting methods.

   What precautions should you take to avoid being mistaken for a deer? Know when and where hunting is likely to occur. All trails in Westborough remain open during hunting season. Most hunting occurs during early morning and late in the day when deer are more active.

Wear blaze orange or other bright colors when walking in the woods during hunting season. Dick’s Sporting Goods and Cabela’s have a fine selection of blaze orange vests and hats. Assume that hunters, legal or otherwise, may be in the woods during open season. Thanks to laws dating back to Puritan times, hunting is not allowed on Sunday in Massachusetts.

   What should you do if you observe illegal hunting? Call 911 and notify the Westborough Police. Please note that it is illegal to harass law-abiding hunters.

Note that this information is correct to the best of my knowledge. Double check to be safe! Wear orange in the woods for the rest of the year.

Trail maps for Westborough: http://westboroughcharm.org/guide/trailmaps.php

   Scott Shumway is professor of biology at Wheaton College and a past president of the Westborough Community Land Trust.

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