Hunting on Land Bank Properties

approved by vote of the land bank commission: September 10, 1990

amended through: August 3, 2020

The Martha’s Vineyard land bank commission encourages public use of its properties. It manages its properties in a manner which accommodates to the maximum extent possible the interests of hunters and non-hunters alike, while protecting any sensitive and/or rare habitats.

Hunting shall only be permitted on those properties cited herein, which are both owned by the land bank commission and are of a size, shape and location making them appropriate sites for such use.

These regulations should always be considered to be in a “trial” state; they will be changed if they do not prove successful or if circumstances change.

Part 1. General Rules Applying to All Hunters

Part 1.1 Permits

No one shall hunt on land bank property without a hunting permit issued by the land bank commission. There is no charge for this permit.

In order to be eligible to apply for a permit a hunter must possess a valid Massachusetts hunting license. Applicants are expected to obey all federal and commonwealth regulations and comport themselves according to the highest standards of responsibility and citizenship; failure to do so is grounds for denial or revocation of permits (see Part 1.13).

Hunters who were issued a land bank permit the previous year must have returned the “mandatory hunting survey” for that year prior to receiving a new hunting permit.

A land bank hunting permit shall specify a hunter’s name; address; hunting license number; date(s) for which it is valid; telephone number; and vehicle make and license number of vehicle likely to be used during hunting.

With the exception of the two-week deer-shotgun season (see Part 2) and on certain properties during deer-archery season (see Part 3.3 [a] and [e] and [g]), the land bank makes no effort to coordinate the number of hunters on any one property at any one time.

Part 1.2 Display of Permit while Hunting

Land bank hunting permits shall be on each hunter’s person at all times so as to be readily identifiable to Massachusetts environmental police officers or other law enforcement officers or land bank commission personnel.

Likewise, hunters shall place their “vehicle placard”, supplied by the land bank, in the upper right corner of their vehicle’s dashboard.

Part 1.3 Conformance with Prevailing Laws

All federal, commonwealth and municipal hunting regulations, including all game limits and all restrictions as to types of firearms which may be used, shall be observed at all times by hunters using land bank properties.

Part 1.4 Protection of Endangered and Threatened Species

Endangered and/or threatened species and habitats are given special protection by the land bank commission. No species which appears on any endangered, threatened or “of special concern” list of the federal or com-monwealth government shall be hunted or possessed or disturbed on land bank commission property.

The land bank commission reserves the right to amend these regulations to prohibit the hunting of species which it in its judgment deems worthy of protection, even if these species do not appear on federal or commonwealth protection lists. The land bank commission also reserves the right to restrict hunting to those areas of each property which are least sensitive to disturbance.

Part 1.5 Co-Existence of Hunters and Non-Hunters

Properties shall be open to the general public for hiking and other passive recreation during all game seasons, with the exception of deer-shotgun season (all properties listed in Part 2 will be closed to all visitors except permitted hunters). No hunting is allowed within direct sight of any hiking trail — except during deer-shotgun season, as all hiking trails on deer-shotgun properties are closed to hikers.

Part 1.6 Signage

The land bank’s management staff shall erect signs each year at all public accesses into, and at regular intervals around, those properties where hunting is allowed; the signs shall read “Hunting by Written Permission Only”. During deer-shotgun season, additional signs will be erected notifying the general public that those particular properties are closed entirely.

Part 1.7 Trespassing on Adjacent Private Property

Hunters shall confine themselves to land bank properties and shall not enter on abutting private property without the prior written permission of the abutting landowners. Each land bank hunting permit will specifically warn hunters not to trespass.

Part 1.8 Enforcement of Hunting Regulations

No land bank hunting permit shall be issued without the recipient’s first having signed the release which appears as Appendix A to this policy. This release certifies that the permit-holder has read, understood and agrees to abide by these regulations and, further, that the permit-holders will hold the land bank commission harmless from any liability in the event of injury.

The Massachusetts environmental police and all island police departments will be provided with a list of all hunters who have been issued land bank commission hunting permits. These and all other law-enforcement officers, including any special officers whom the land bank may hire, are hereby authorized to rescind any permit if they find that its holder has violated any of these regulations or any applicable law.

Part 1.9 Maps

Prior to hunting, hunters must print from the hunting sidebar on the land bank website hunting maps of all of the properties they will be using so as to be able (1.) to orient themselves so that they are confident that they will not trespass on abutting private properties; and (2.) to note the locations of those specially-regulated areas cited in Parts 2.4, 3.3, 4.2, 5.3, 6.2 and 7.3.

Part 1.10 Tree Stands

Hunters may erect tree stands and related climbing pegs, provided:

[a] that they are portable and are designed — i.e., by using straps or chains — to prevent damage to the tree;
[b] that no nails, bolts or screws are used;
[c] that they are each registered with the land bank and bear a visible tag supplied by the land bank at the time of registration;
[d] that they are erected no earlier than September 15 of each year; and are removed no later than February 1 of each year; and
[e] that any unregistered stands or pegs, or any such registered items not removed by February 1 in any year, will be considered abandoned and will become the property of the land bank, which may, at its discretion, dispose of or destroy them.

Part 1.11 Property Cleanliness

Hunters shall collect their spent shells and other litter, including viscera and all innards, prior to leaving land bank properties, although viscera may be buried on the property provided that they are buried no closer than 100 feet from any trail or trailhead.

Part 1.12 Public Notification Concerning Hunting Permits

A list of those hunters who have received permits shall be compiled each year. This list shall identify those properties and dates when particular hunter have been permitted to hunt. The list will be distributed to all island police departments and to anyone who requests it.

Part 1.13 Penalty for Violation of Hunting Regulations

The land bank reserves the right to deny the issuance of a permit to any hunter on grounds of previous misconduct, whether occurring on or off land bank property; hunters aggrieved by such denial may appeal to the land bank commission for redress. Any hunter who violates any provision of these regulations may permanently lose the privilege of hunting on land bank properties.

Part 2. Deer-Shotgun

Part 2.1 Lottery

A lottery will be conducted each year to assign the following number of permits for each hunting date for each property:

Brine’s Pond Preserve, Edgartown: 15
Blackwater Pond Reservation, West Tisbury: 6
Chappy Five Corners Preserve, Edgartown: 12
Gay Head Moraine, Aquinnah: 4
John Presbury Norton Farm, West Tisbury: 8
Middle Line Woods Preserve, Chilmark: 4
Peaked Hill Reservation, Chilmark: 10
Poucha Pond Reservation, Edgartown: 20
Quammox Preserve, Edgartown: 4
Ripley’s Field Preserve, Tisbury: 2
Sepiessa Point Reservation, West Tisbury: 14
Southern Woodlands Reservation, Oak Bluffs: 8
Tiasquam Valley Reservation, Chilmark: 10
Tisbury Meadow Preserve, Tisbury: 4
Wapatequa Woods Reservation, Oak Bluffs & Tisbury: 4
Waskosim’s Rock Reservation, Chilmark & West Tisbury: 10

Public notices will be printed in the Vineyard Gazette and the Martha's Vineyard Times, and on the land bank website, identifying the first and last dates that lottery entries will be accepted. No late entries will be accepted.

Hunters shall submit their names for each hunting property desired, and both individual and party requests may be made; a party shall be defined as any group containing six or more individuals. Parties may have to be made smaller if granting permission to a full party would exceed the total number of permits available for each property. No name may appear on more than one request for each hunting date; should this occur, such requests shall be disqualified and removed from the lottery.

Permits may be transferred to other hunters but only with the express consent of the land bank. The original permit shall be submitted to the land bank and a substitute permit for the new hunter issued in its place.

Part 2.2 Special Property-Specific Regulations

In addition to the above regulations, the following special regulations are in effect (see Part 1.9):

[a] Brine’s Pond Preserve: No hunting shall take place on the 16.4 acres of the preserve south of Old Indian Trail; nor in the field surrounding the pond; nor on the 7.6 acres on the northeast edge of the preserve.
[b] Chappy Five Corners Preserve: No hunting shall take place on the 28 acres of the preserve southeast of the Chappaquiddick Road.
[c] Gay Head Moraine: Hunters using this property shall, in addition to the vehicle placard placed on their dashboard, post a “Hunter On Property” sign at the trailhead logo post while they are actively hunting.
[d] Sepiessa Point Reservation: No hunting is allowed from the shoreline of the northerly portion of the Tiah’s Cove that is directly opposite and/or within 500 feet of houses across the cove. The management staff shall mark this area as off-limits to hunting.
[e] Tisbury Meadow Preserve: No hunting is allowed in the State Road field.
[f] Wapatequa Woods Reservation: No hunting is allowed in the vicinity of the land bank’s goat barn and pasture.
[g] Waskosim’s Rock Reservation: Unless elderly or handicapped, hunters using this property shall park only in the land bank trailhead on the North Road in Chilmark, per the request of local law enforcement officers. Elderly and handicapped hunters may instead park in a designated trailhead off the Old Farm Road if they display on their dashboards a special placard issued by the land bank.

Part 3. Deer-Archery

Part 3.1 Permits During Deer-Archery Season

Permits will be issued upon request (except as described in Part 3.3 [a] and [e] and [g]) and will entitle hunters to archery-hunt on the following properties during deer-archery season:

* Bare Hill Preserve, Tisbury
* Brine’s Pond Preserve, Edgartown
Blackwater Pond Reservation, West Tisbury
* Chappy Five Corners Preserve, Edgartown
* Gay Head Moraine, Aquinnah
* Great Rock Bight Preserve, Chilmark
John Presbury Norton Farm, West Tisbury
* Manaquayak Preserve, West Tisbury
Middle Line Woods Preserve, Chilmark
Middle Ridge Preserve, Chilmark
North Farm, Edgartown
* Ocean View Farm Preserve, Chilmark
Peaked Hill Reservation, Chilmark
Pennywise Preserve, Edgartown
Poucha Pond Reservation, Edgartown
Quammox Preserve, Edgartown
Quansoo Preserve, Chilmark
Ripley’s Field Preserve, Tisbury
Sepiessa Point Reservation, West Tisbury
Southern Woodlands Reservation, Oak Bluffs
* Tea Lane Farm, Chilmark
Tiasquam Valley Reservation, Chilmark
Tisbury Meadow Preserve, Tisbury
* Toms Neck Preserve, Edgartown
Wapatequa Woods Reservation, Oak Bluffs & Tisbury
* Waskosim’s Rock Reservation, Chilmark & West Tisbury

* see Part 3.3

Part 3.2 Archery Permits during Deer-Muzzleloader and Deer-Shotgun Season

Archery permits will be issued upon request (except as described in Part 3.3 [a] and [e] and [g]) and will entitle hunters to archery-hunt on the following properties during deer-muzzleloader and deer-shotgun season:

Bare Hill Preserve, Tisbury
Great Rock Bight Preserve, Chilmark
* Manaquayak Preserve, West Tisbury
Middle Ridge Preserve, Chilmark
North Farm, Edgartown
* Ocean View Farm Preserve, Chilmark
Pennywise Preserve, Edgartown
Quansoo Preserve, Chilmark
* Tea Lane Farm, Chilmark
* Toms Neck Preserve, Edgartown

* see Part 3.4

Part 3.3 Special Property-Specific Regulations During Deer-Archery Season

In addition to the above regulations, the following special regulations are in effect during deer-archery season (see Part 1.9):

[a] Bare Hill Preserve:
- One permit will be issued for the season. Applications will be accepted until noon on the third Friday in September; if more than one hunter applies a lottery will be conducted.
- Permits may be transferred to other hunters but only with the express consent of the land bank. The original permit shall be submitted to the land bank and a substitute permit for the new hunter issued in its place.
[b] Brine’s Pond Preserve: No hunting shall take place on the 16.4 acres of the preserve south of Old Indian Trail nor in the field surrounding the pond.
[c] Chappy Five Corners Preserve: No hunting shall take place on the 28 acres of the preserve southeast of the Chappaquiddick Road.
[d] Gay Head Moraine: Hunters using this property shall, in addition to the vehicle placard placed on their dashboard, post a “Hunter On Property” sign at the trailhead logo post while they are actively hunting.
[e] Great Rock Bight Preserve:
- Three permits will be issued for the season. Applications will be accepted until noon on the third Friday in September; if more than three hunters apply a lottery will be conducted.
- Permits may be transferred to other hunters but only with the express consent of the land bank. The original permit shall be submitted to the land bank and a substitute permit for the new hunter issued in its place.
[f] Manaquayak Preserve: Hunting is permitted only in the vicinity of Pepperbush Way; consult website map.
[g] Ocean View Farm Preserve:
- Three permits will be issued for the season. Applications will be accepted until noon on the third Friday in September; if more than three hunters apply a lottery will be conducted. Hunters may park adjacent to this property’s cottage, which is off Trails End.
- Permits may be transferred to other hunters but only with the express consent of the land bank. The original permit shall be submitted to the land bank and a substitute permit for the new hunter issued in its place.
[h] Tea Lane Farm: No hunting shall take place on any of the open farmland.
[i] Toms Neck Preserve: Parking is available on the Dike Road; consult website map.
[j] Waskosim’s Rock Reservation: Unless elderly or handicapped, hunters using this property shall park only in the land bank trailhead on the North Road in Chilmark, per the request of local law enforcement officers. Elderly and handicapped hunters may instead park in a designated trailhead off the Old Farm Road if they display on their dashboards a special placard issued by the land bank.

Part 3.4 Special Property-Specific Regulations for Archery Hunting during Deer- Muzzleloader and Deer-Shotgun Season

In addition to the above regulations, the following special regulations are in effect during deer-muzzleloader and deer-shotgun season (see Part 1.9):

[a] Manaquayak Preserve: Hunting is permitted only in the vicinity of Pepperbush Way; consult website map.
[b] Ocean View Farm Preserve: Hunters may park adjacent to this property’s cottage, which is off Trails End.
[c] Tea Lane Farm: No hunting shall take place on any of the open farmland.
[d] Toms Neck Preserve: Parking is available on the Dike Road; consult website map.

Part 4. Deer-Muzzleloader

Part 4.1 Permits

Permits will be issued upon request and will entitle hunters to use any of the following properties:

* Brine’s Pond Preserve, Edgartown
Blackwater Pond Reservation, West Tisbury
* Chappy Five Corners Preserve, Edgartown
* Gay Head Moraine, Aquinnah
John Presbury Norton Farm, West Tisbury
Middle Line Woods Preserve, Chilmark
Middle Ridge Preserve, Chilmark
Peaked Hill Reservation, Chilmark
Pennywise Preserve, Edgartown
Poucha Pond Reservation, Edgartown
Quammox Preserve, Edgartown
Quansoo Preserve, Chilmark
Ripley’s Field Preserve, Tisbury
Sepiessa Point Reservation, West Tisbury
Southern Woodlands Reservation, Oak Bluffs
Tiasquam Valley Reservation, Chilmark
Tisbury Meadow Preserve, Tisbury
* Toms Neck Preserve, Edgartown
Wapatequa Woods Reservation (North), Oak Bluffs
* Waskosim’s Rock Reservation, Chilmark & West Tisbury

* see Part 4.2

Part 4.2 Special Property-Specific Regulations

In addition to the above regulations, the following special regulations are in effect (see Part 1.9):

[a] Brine’s Pond Preserve: No hunting shall take place on the 16.4 acres of the preserve south of Old Indian Trail; nor in the field surrounding the pond; nor on the 7.6 acres on the northeast edge of the preserve.
[b] Chappy Five Corners Preserve: No hunting shall take place on the 28 acres of the preserve southeast of the Chappaquiddick Road.
[c] Gay Head Moraine: Hunters using this property shall, in addition to the vehicle placard placed on their dashboard, post a “Hunter On Property” sign at the trailhead logo post while they are actively hunting.
[d] Toms Neck Preserve: Parking is only available on the Dike Road; consult website map.
[e] Waskosim’s Rock Reservation: Unless elderly or handicapped, hunters using this property shall park only in the land bank trailhead on the North Road in Chilmark, per the request of local law enforcement officers. Elderly and handicapped hunters may instead park in a designated trailhead off the Old Farm Road if they display on their dashboards a special placard issued by the land bank.

Part 5. Ducks and Geese

Part 5.1 Permits

Permits will be issued upon request and will entitle hunters to use any of the following properties:

Blackwater Pond Reservation. West Tisbury
* Cove Meadow Preserve, Edgartown
Edgartown Great Pond Beach, Edgartown
* Pecoy Point Preserve, Oak Bluffs
Poucha Pond Reservation, Edgartown
Quammox Preserve, Edgartown
Quansoo Preserve, Chilmark
* Sepiessa Point Reservation, West Tisbury
Short Cove Preserve, West Tisbury
Tashmoo Preserve, Tisbury
Tisbury Great Pond Beach, West Tisbury
Toms Neck Preserve, Edgartown

* see Part 5.3

Part 5.2 Erection of Hunting Blinds

Hunters may erect portable waterfowl blinds provided (1.) that the blind is constructed in a manner which does not damage any wetland; and (2.) that any blind erected on any property during any particular day is removed no later than one half-hour after sunset.

Part 5.3 Special Property-Specific Regulations

In addition to the above regulations, the following special regulations are in effect (see Part 1.9):

[a] Cove Meadow Preserve: Hunting may take place only along the shoreline of Cape Poge Pond. No hunting may take place outside this designated zone or anywhere within the property’s interior.
[b] Pecoy Point Preserve:
- Hunting may take place only along the shoreline of the Sengekon-tacket Pond. No hunting may take place within the property’s interior.
- Hunters using this property shall post a “Hunter On Property” sign at the trailhead logo post while they are actively hunting.
[c] Sepiessa Point Reservation: No hunting is allowed from the shoreline of the northerly portion of the Tiah’s Cove that is directly opposite and/or within 500 feet of houses across the cove. The management staff shall mark this area as off-limits to hunting.

Part 6. Turkey and Pheasant and Raccoon

Part 6.1 Permits

Permits will be issued upon request and will entitle hunters to use any of the following properties:

* Brine’s Pond Preserve, Edgartown
Blackwater Pond Reservation, West Tisbury
* Chappy Five Corners Preserve, Edgartown
* Gay Head Moraine, Aquinnah
John Presbury Norton Farm, West Tisbury
Middle Line Woods Preserve, Chilmark
Peaked Hill Reservation, Chilmark
Poucha Pond Reservation, Edgartown
Quammox Preserve, Edgartown
Quansoo Preserve, Chilmark
Ripley’s Field Preserve, Tisbury
* Sepiessa Point Reservation, West Tisbury
Southern Woodlands Reservation, Oak Bluffs
Tiasquam Valley Reservation, Chilmark
Tisbury Meadow Preserve, Tisbury
Wapatequa Woods Reservation, Oak Bluffs & Tisbury
* Waskosim’s Rock Reservation, Chilmark & West Tisbury

* see Part 6.2

Part 6.2 Special Property-Specific Regulations

In addition to the above regulations, the following special regulations are in effect (see Part 1.9):

[a] Brine’s Pond Preserve: No hunting shall take place on the 16.4 acres of the preserve south of Old Indian Trail; nor in the field surrounding the pond; nor on the 7.6 acres on the northeast edge of the preserve.
[b] Chappy Five Corners Preserve: No hunting shall take place on the 28 acres of the preserve southeast of the Chappaquiddick Road.
[c] Gay Head Moraine: Hunters using this property shall, in addition to the vehicle placard placed on their dashboard, post a “Hunter On Property” sign at the trailhead logo post while they are actively hunting.
[d] Sepiessa Point Reservation: No hunting is allowed from the shoreline of the northerly portion of the Tiah’s Cove that is directly opposite and/or within 500 feet of houses across the cove. The management staff shall mark this area as off-limits to hunting.
[e] Tisbury Meadow Preserve: No hunting is allowed in the State Road field.
[f] Wapatequa Woods Reservation: No hunting is allowed in the vicinity of the land bank’s goat barn and pasture.
[g] Waskosim’s Rock Reservation: Unless elderly or handicapped, hunters using this property shall park only in the land bank trailhead on the North Road in Chilmark, per the request of local law enforcement officers. Elderly and handicapped hunters may instead park in a designated trailhead off the Old Farm Road if they display on their dashboards a special placard issued by the land bank.

Part 7. Rabbits

Part 7.1 Permits

Permits will be issued upon request and will entitle hunters to use any of the following properties:

* Brine’s Pond Preserve, Edgartown
* Chappy Five Corners Preserve, Edgartown
Peaked Hill Reservation, Chilmark
Poucha Pond Reservation, Edgartown
* Sepiessa Point Reservation, West Tisbury
* Waskosim’s Rock Reservation, Chilmark

* see Part 7.3

Part 7.2 Limitation

Hunting shall only take place during daylight hours on Saturdays during January and February.

Part 7.3 Special Property-Specific Regulations

In addition to the above regulations, the following special regulations are in effect (see Part 1.9):

[a] Brine’s Pond Preserve: No hunting shall take place on the 16.4 acres of the preserve south of Old Indian Trail; nor in the field surrounding the pond; nor on the 7.6 acres on the northeast edge of the preserve.
[b] Chappy Five Corners Preserve: No hunting shall take place on the 28 acres of the preserve southeast of the Chappaquiddick Road.
[c] Sepiessa Point Reservation: No hunting is allowed from the shoreline of the northerly portion of the Tiah’s Cove that is directly opposite and/or within 500 feet of houses across the cove. The management staff shall mark this area as off-limits to hunting.
[d] Waskosim’s Rock Reservation: Unless elderly or handicapped, hunters using this property shall park only in the land bank trailhead on the North Road in Chilmark, per the request of local law enforcement officers. Elderly and handicapped hunters may instead park in a designated trailhead off the Old Farm Road if they display on their dashboards a special placard issued by the land bank.

Part 8. Trapping

Part 8.1 General

Trapping shall be prohibited on all land bank properties, except by special permit.

Special permits shall only be issued following a public hearing of both the land bank commission and the appropriate town advisory board. Applicants shall be expected to describe the purpose and proposed method of such trapping, as well as the proposed means of protecting the animals' welfare (i.e., the use of humane traps) and the safety of humans.

Agreement

I hereby certify that I have read, understood and agree to abide by the land bank commission hunting policy, receipt of which is hereby acknowledged.

In consideration for permission to enter and use land bank commission property for the purpose of hunting, I hereby release the land bank commission and any of its employees and agents from any liability for damage or injury to me or my property arising out of my use of such land bank commission property.

I further agree on behalf of myself, my heirs, successors and assigns to indemnify and otherwise hold harmless the land bank commission and any of its employees and agents from any loss, injury, damage, claim or expense arising out of my use of land bank commission property, including reasonable legal expenses in connection therewith.

signed: _________________________________ witness: ____________

date: _________________________________ date: ____________

please print:

name: _________________________________

address: _________________________________

telephone number: _________________________________

hunting license number: _________________________________