I looked into this last year with a friend of mine who bow hunts. He said that for him to pick off some of the deer that come onto my property I would have to get permission from all of my surrounding neighbors to cross their property for him to follow the deer that apparently can go quite a ways before they drop if they are not killed instantly. I decided that it wouldn't be worth it. Is it different in Massachusetts?

I think there are town laws in addition to any state laws in MA. In my town, there is a bow-hunting season in the fall BUT it can't be within 500 yards of a dwelling, which eliminates a lot of woodland. No firearms, ever. There may be other laws as well. I wish we could make it work somehow--the deer population is out of control.

Hunting is very restricted in my immediate area, too. But the people across the street were allowed to open their yards to bowhunters IF their neighbors agreed. We gave our permission... on the condition we were given a piece of venison.

Sadly, the guy was not fortunate enough to bring one down. DRAT! (I love venison).

In Ma you must be atleast 500 ft from a dwelling inless you have the premission of the owner to be closer. That includes both gun and bow. You must also be atleast 150 ft from a road. I am not sure what the laws are in Ct but NH the distances are even closer. In terms of it running off after it being shot....all depends on the hunter and how good of a shot they are.