A citizens’ petition has been filed in Southwick to prohibit hunting on private property without the landowner’s consent, prompted by a trustee’s alarming experiences with unsolicited hunting activities. Janet Prifti, who oversees a 55-acre property on Granville Road, detailed her frustrations in a letter to the Select Board after hunters set up an unauthorized deer stand, resulting in a costly small claims court dispute over its removal.
The conflict highlights a gap in local laws, as Massachusetts lacks a bylaw requiring written permission for hunting on private property, unlike neighboring states. Despite initial support for the proposed bylaw from some board members, feedback from a community meeting indicated significant opposition, leading to the decision to exclude it from the upcoming Town Meeting ballot. Amidst concerns over safety and property rights, the situation raises critical questions about hunting regulations in the area.
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