Keep The Prohibition On Hunting On Sundays

To the editor: MassWildlife is considering proposals that would permit Sunday hunting in Massachusetts, a change that would have serious and lasting consequences for how residents and visitors safely use Nantucket’s open space.

Sundays have long served as the one predictable day when families, walkers, runners, cyclists, and others can enjoy conservation lands without the presence of active hunting. For many residents, Sunday is the only day when outdoor recreation feels universally accessible and safe during hunting season.

The Commonwealth’s longstanding prohibition on Sunday hunting provides a reasonable balance between public safety, shared land use, and tradition. Nantucket already allows approximately 121 days of deer hunting each year, providing substantial opportunity for population management while preserving one guaranteed day of non-hunting access.

Eliminating this safeguard would erode trust in public lands and disproportionately affect non-hunting users who rely on Sundays for recreation, wellness, and family time, especially in the Fall and Winter months. Maintaining the current balance respects both hunters and the broader community.

I urge readers who value safe, shared access to public lands to contact Senator Julian Cyr and Representative Thomas Moakley and make their voices heard before this long-standing protection is removed.

James F. Meehan
Nantucket