Select Board Denies Hunting on Conservation Land

Conservation · Meeting of October 7, 2026

Norfolk's Select Board denied two residents' bids to bow hunt on conservation land, citing a policy gap. The board voted unanimously to deny hunting on six parcels controlled by the Conservation Commission, while postponing a decision on two DPW-adjacent parcels, Lot 19 and Lot 27, to a mid-December meeting. Applicant Mitchell Harrison, of 2 Overly Road, said "I've been hunting for almost a decade now and I've never taken a shot further than 20 yards." Officials noted just 0.7 percent of Norfolk residents hold hunting permits even as deer populations rise.

Abutter Judy Beck warned she would post no-trespassing signs on family land if hunting is approved near Grove Street, while board members said "the system has to have some sort of accountability." Both boards plan to use a citizens committee and the town's open space consultant to draft permitting and setback rules before any parcel opens to hunting.

In the full story:

• Who Was There
• Organizations And Documents Referenced
• The complete report — 2,486 words

Source: the Conservation meeting of October 7, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.