Massachusetts hunting regulations

Massachusetts Hunting Regulations

The Massachusetts hunting regulations are easy to follow. We have compiled the license costs, dates and other information on this page. The state has some solid public land access through state parks and forests, municipal lands, federal land and MASS wildlife lands. Deer and turkey are staple species. Hunters can also chase bears, upland birds, waterfowl, small game and predators.

Massachusetts Hunting License Costs

Resident:

  • Hunting license – $27.50
  • Senior hunting 65-69 – $16.25
  • Minor hunting – $11.50
  • Trapping – $35.50
  • Archery stamp – $5.10
  • Waterfowl stamp – $5
  • Primitive firearms – $5.10
  • Antlerless deer – $5
  • Bear – $5
  • Turkey – $5

Non-resident:

  • Small game – $65.50
  • Big game hunting – $99.50
  • Shooting preserve 1-day – $10

Massachusetts Hunting Season Dates

Deer:

  • Youth – Sept 30
  • Paraplegic hunt – Nov 2-4
  • Archery – Oct 16 – Nov 25
  • Shotgun – Nov 27 – Dec 9
  • Primitive Firearms – Dec 11 – Dec 30

Black Bear:

  • 1st Season – Sept 5 – Sept 23
  • 2nd Season – Nov 6-25
  • Shotgun – Nov 27 – Dec 9

Turkey:

  • Spring  – April 24 – May 20
  • Fall – Oct 23 – Nov 4
  • Youth – April 22

Upland:

  • Pheasant – Oct 14 – Nov 25, 2 daily, 4 in possession, 6 anually
  • Quail – Oct 14 – Nov 25, 4 daily, 8 in possession, 20 anually
  • Ruffed grouse – Oct 14 – Nov 25, 3 daily, 6 in possession, 15 anually

Small Game:

  • Cottontail Rabbit – Zones 1-12 – Jan 2 – Feb 28 and Oct 14 – Feb 28, 5 daily, 10 in possession
  • Jackrabbit – Zone 15 – Nov 15 – Dec 30, 1 daily, 2 in possession
  • Gray squirrel – Zones 1-9 – Sept 11 – Jan 2, Zones 10-14 – Oct 14 – Jan 2

Furbearer:

  • Bobcat – Jan 2 – March 8
  • Coyote – Jan 2 – March 8
  • Fox – Jan 2 – Feb 28
  • Raccoon – Jan 2 – Jan 31
  • Opossum – Jan 2 – Jan 31

Public Access:

The MassWildlife offers Wildlife Management Area access with special regulations. Over 200,000 acres are open to hunting. You can only hunt after sunrise and before sunset in these zones. They are not open for target shooting and are closed to alcoholic beverages. A complete list of rules is accessible on the main site. You can use the interactive map to locate WMA’s here – http://gisprpxy.itd.state.ma.us/MassWildlifeLands/index.html. There is also a ton of private lands in the state and having a lease for turkey and deer is a game changer.

The majority of hunting is done with primitive weapons. There is not a modern rifle season for deer. Look to the Gilbert Hills State Forest, Myles Standish State Forest, Savoy Mountain State Forest, Erving State Forest and the Harold Parker State Forest for larger blocks of land with good access.

 

Return to Hunting Regulations Main Page