Hunting and Fishing Information

Hunting Prohibitions

  • It is prohibited to hunt on public property (E.g., town parks, forests, reservations, and commons) except with the permission of the authority or persons assigned to manage said land. (MGL Chapter 131 Section 59)
  • In Ashland, it is prohibited to discharge any rifle, shotgun or handgun of 0.22 caliber or larger within the limits of the Town of Ashland, except on a range or area designated for such purpose and approved by the Chief of Police in writing. (Ashland Town Code Chapter 145-1
  • In Ashland, no person shall fire or discharge any bow and arrow within the limits of public property, except with the written permission of the Select Board. (Ashland Town Code Chapter 145-1)
  • In Ashland, no person shall fire or discharge any bow and arrow on any private property except with the written consent of the landowner or legal occupant. (Ashland Town Code Chapter 145-1)
  • In the Ashland Town Forest, hunting and trapping are prohibited without exception (Ashland Town Code Chapter 153-2E)


Additional Hunting Information

Generally speaking, in Ashland, hunting is heavily restricted. In Ashland you must acquire written approval of the landowner  to hunt on any property, including private property, under our bylaws. Public land cannot be hunted, except where authorized by the Select Board, and firearms are generally prohibited. 

Outside of those restrictions and those listed in the previous section on this page, all hunters must follow the state hunting regulations which can vary by season and hunting implement. For more information on state hunting regulations, please refer to MassWildlife by clicking HERE. It is important that in any community, including Ashland, that you confirm with the Conservation Office or equivalent, what the local regulations are in addition to the state regulations. For additional questions on hunting in Ashland, please email the Conservation Agent at bsolomon@ashlandmass.com 


Fishing Information

There is less restriction on fishing in Ashland than there is on hunting; however, there are some important prohibitions and advisories to be aware of. Namely, consumption of fish in the Sudbury River (including Mill Pond, at Marathon Park, and other impoundments) is considered unsafe due to known contamination. The most up to date fish consumption advisories for Massachusetts can be found by clicking HERE. 

Massachusetts also maintains an integrated list of major rivers and waterbodies. For Ashland, these can be viewed by clicking HERE. By clicking on the highlighted water ways and water bodies you can view what uses have been analyzed by the state and what the conclusions were. It should be noted, as the list only is for major water ways and rivers, this is not an exhaustive list, and there still may be contaminations or restrictions on waters that have not been inventoried. If you are uncertain, please contact the Conservation Office or Board of Health for more information on advisories and restrictions. 

All people fishing in Ashland must comply with state regulations. These regulations can be found by clicking HERE, and include requirements for acquiring a fishing license, restrictions on bait and tackle types, and more. 


What to do if you suspect a hunting or fishing violation

If you suspect a hunting or fishing violation is occurring, and there is no immediate threat to human life or safety, please contact the Massachusetts Environmental Police (MEP):

MEP 24/7 statewide dispatch: (800) 632-8075

If there is a threat to human life or safety, please call the Ashland Police Department or dial 911.