Sportsman’s Corner: Immediate impact of new gun law

Published: 08-01-2024 2:24 PM

By Mike Roche

This writer has long been considering making a change from 12-gauge to 20-gauge for deer hunting in Massachusetts. Since Mass does not allow the use of rifles, shotguns have always been the firearm used for deer hunting. It must be noted that an additional season for the use of muzzle-loading firearms was added, and the archery season has been expanded, but the shotgun season traditionally has had the most participation.

My first shotgun, given to me at Christmas when I started hunting on my own at 15, was a 12-gauge Remington 1100 autoloader, also called a semi-automatic. Like so many other hunters here in Massachusetts and across the country, that semi-auto was and still is a favored action. Over time, additional Remington 1100s were purchased, including a 12-gauge 1100 trap gun, a 20-gauge 1100, and a 12-gauge 1100 slug gun (the barrel was 21 inches and had rifle sights). All have served me well, along with the slug gun. It has been my deer gun for probably 40 years with some modifications, including a rifled cantilevered barrel, a Zeiss scope, and a Timney adjustable trigger.

The switch to the 20-gauge does not really change ballistics, as the trajectory of a rifled or sabot slug is almost identical in both gauges. The difference for an old guy is less weight to carry around and something to write about in his column. So, the 20-gauge shotgun, a model SuperX4, was ordered from Winchester (now a subsidiary of Browning Arms) in the spring and it would be delivered to Kittery Trading Post in July. Last week, notification came that it was shipped. After notification of delivery, a call was made to the Kittery Trading Post Gun Department, a very busy place. At the end of the call, the person informed me that the gun needed to picked up before Aug. 2. When asked, he informed that after that the gun would no longer be legal to sell to a Massachusetts resident with the passing of the new gun law in the state.

On the drive to Kittery on Tuesday, my mind tried to understand what had happened. Autoloading shotguns, used commonly by hunters and shooters in most of the hunting and target shooting pursuits, were now illegal. This writer totally understands concerns about gun violence and realizes that Massachusetts already has in place some of the most restrictive gun laws in the country. At Kittery, where I have previously purchased firearms on multiple occasions, there is a wait of 15 minutes or more as the store uses the federal government’s database to do a background check on me to assure that I am a law-abiding person who understands the responsibilities of owning a firearm.

After Aug. 2, I am not sure how my ability to purchase a firearm like several I already own and have used safely for nearly 60 years will make Massachusetts safer or reduce gun violence. At this time, I really do not know the details of the new legislation and will make efforts to get an understanding of what the changes will mean. To that end, there have been multiple conversations with police officials from both the Orange and Athol police departments, which are focused on my writing a column that will contain answers to common questions that everyone has about owning, buying and selling a firearm in Massachusetts. It is my hope to get that ready in the next few weeks. Stay tuned.

Meanwhile, my dog training has hit a bump in the road. Yours truly had forgotten about the “terrible twos” that dogs frequently go through. You think that you have done a great job training and the dog knows what is expected and then suddenly challenges you to get them to do it. Not unlike parenting, right?

Tessie is balking at retrieving dummies to hand. Although not a fan of “force training,” it is what we are doing to get her retrieving to be what I want, when I want. Believe me when I say that I struggle with the concept of force training, as so much effort has always gone into spending time to develop a rapport and close relationship with my bird dogs and that has, over the years, produced great results.

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Working with Pat Perry at Hedgerow is a process and there is plenty of time to get Tessie where she is capable of performing. It still is based on praise and fun for both dog and trainer. Patience is a virtue that this dog trainer needs to remember. There is so much that both dogs do well and the passion that they both have for water retrieving birds is awesome. More work with planted birds for now, but wild birds that hatched this spring are almost developed enough for that work to start soon. My schedule is set and now the next step is to do some shooting.

August is the turning point, but there is still plenty of good fishing time left in summer before fall hunting pursuits are here. Seems like the lawns need mowing every other day! So many summer projects and so little time.

You can check to see if you were selected for an Antlerless Deer Permit by going to the MassWildlife MassFishHunt website any time. It makes no difference when you check, as you either were selected or were not. Good luck! Now to set up the new deer gun with a scope and sight it in.

Mike Roche is a retired teacher who has been involved in conservation and wildlife issues his entire life. He has written the Sportsman’s Corner since 1984 and has served as advisor to the Mahar Fish’N Game Club, counselor and director of the Massachusetts Conservation Camp, former Connecticut Valley District representative on the Massachusetts Fisheries and Wildlife Board, has been a Massachusetts Hunter Education Instructor and is a licensed New York hunting guide. He can be reached at mikeroche3@msn.com.