A new survey shows that 54% of Island residents support allowing hunting on private property on Sundays, a significant shift in local attitudes. The online survey, distributed by the Martha’s Vineyard Times, gathered nearly 300 responses and highlights concerns over the rising deer population, which exceeds 100 deer per square mile in some areas, far above the state’s ideal range of 12 to 18 deer.
Sunday hunting has been a contentious issue, rooted in Massachusetts laws dating back to Puritan times, while most other states permit it. Local hunters emphasize that allowing hunting on Sundays only on private lands, with landowner consent, could help manage the island’s deer problem and reduce the spread of tick-borne diseases. With the state’s consideration of an expanded deer hunting season in January 2026, this survey adds important context to ongoing discussions about wildlife management.
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