About Hunting In Massachusetts
There are so many different opportunities in the MA area for great hunting.
Masswildlife owns and mangers over 200,000 acres of land all open to hunting fishing tapping and other outdoor recreation activities. They help conserve fresh fish and protect land so it can thrive for people to enjoy, we help outdoorsmen just like you with presentations, workshops and you can keep protecting land as well by continuing to do what you do best, which is hunting!
Massachusetts Hunting Seasons Offered
Big Game: Deer, Black Bear
Small Game: Rabbit, Hare Squirrel, Furbearers, Bobcat, Coyote, Fox, Oposum, Raccoon
Bird: Turkey, Upland Game Birds, Pheasant, Quail, Ruffed Grouse, Crow
Massachusetts Deer Hunting Season Dates 2021
| Season | Opening Date | Closing Date | Zone | Notes |
| Youth Deer Hunt Day | 10/2/21 | One Day Only | Antlered or antlerless | |
| Shotgun | 11/29/21 | 12/11/21 | *See below for limit specifications | |
| Archery | 10/18/21 | 11/27/21 | 1-9 | *See below for limit specifications |
| 10/4/21 | 11/27/21 | 10-14 | *See below for limit specifications | |
| Primitive Firearms | 12/13/21 | 12/31/21 | *See below for limit specifications | |
| Paraplegic Hunt | 10/28/21 | 10/30/21 | *See below for limit specifications |
Antlerless deer (any deer without antlers or antlers less than 3 inches in length) Hunters may take as many antlerless deer as they have valid antlerless deer permits for the specified permitted zones.
Black Bear hunting Season 2021
| Hunting Implement | Opening Date | Closing Date | Limit per year |
| Rifle | 9/7/2021 | 9/25/2021 | 1 |
| 11/1/21 | 11/20/21 | 1 | |
| Handgun | 9/7/2021 | 9/25/2021 | 1 |
| Muzzleloader | 9/7/2021 | 9/25/2021 | 1 |
| 11/1/21 | 11/20/21 | 1 | |
| 11/29/21 | 12/11/21 | 1 | |
| Archery | 9/7/2021 | 9/25/2021 | 1 |
| 11/1/21 | 11/20/21 | 1 | |
| 11/29/21 | 12/11/21 | 1 | |
| Shotgun | 11/29/21 | 12/11/21 | 1 |
Fall Turkey Season 2021
| Season | Opening Date | Closing Date | Zones | Limits |
| No fall turkey hunting | 10/4/21 | 10/16/21 | WMZ 1-9 | |
| Shotgun, Muzzleloading, Archery | 10/18/21 | 10/30/21 | WMZ 1-13 | 1 turkey of either sex |
| Archery Equipment Only | 10/4/21 | 10/16/21 | WMZ 10-13 | 1 turkey of either sex |
| 11/1/21 | 11/27/21 | WMZ 1-9 | 1 turkey of either sex | |
| 11/1/21 | 11/27/21 | WMZ 10-13 | 1 turkey of either sex |
Massachusetts Hunting License Info
Purchase Licenses and Permits at: MassFishHunt
| License | Resident | Non Resident |
| Resident hunting* | $22.50 | $94.50 |
| Permits / Stamps | Fee |
| Archery stamp | $5.10 |
| Antlerless deer permit (when issued) | $5.00 |
| Turkey permit | $5.00 |
| Bear permit | $5.00 |
Find a Hunting Guide
Hunting Guides in Massachusetts
Massachusetts Hunting News
Masswildlife will be stocking about 40,000 ring necked pheasants statewide on private and public lands open to hunting, there are many places to hunt in Mass as it home to multiple NWR, hunting is allowed on the eastern refuge complex in certain areas of the assabet river, great meadows NWR and Oxbow NWR. Parker river and Silvio O. Conte refuges are also available according to the US Fish and Wildlife Service.
There are definitely a lot of choices to hunt in MA, including Masswildlife lands, state parks and forests, municipal and federal lands as well as private or controlled public hunts. The site where you can find more about each particular option is listed at the bottom of this page.