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Massachusetts Hunting

Everything you need to plan your hunting trips in Massachusetts, from maps and regulations to season dates, game animals, quotas, and hunting zones. Plus much more! Start your research right here.

Overview

Known For

Certainly Massachusetts has whitetail deer and black bears, but it also has an earned reputation for quality waterfowl, turkey, and small game hunting.

Terrain

Massachusetts has wooded rolling hills, streams, and plains in much of the center of the state. On its westward side hills become mountainous. On the eastern side of the state are coastal plains.

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Massachusetts Hunting Seasons

Filter By:
Season
Start Date
End Date
Bear
Sep 5, 2023 – Sep 23, 2023
Bear – 1st

Zones 1-14.

See regulations for more information.

Sep 5, 2023
Sep 23, 2023
Bear
Nov 6, 2023 – Nov 25, 2023
Bear – 2nd

Zones 1-14.

See regulations for more information.

Nov 6, 2023
Nov 25, 2023
Bear
Nov 27, 2023 – Dec 9, 2023
Bear – 3rd

Zones 1-14.

See regulations for more information.

Nov 27, 2023
Dec 9, 2023
Deer
Sep 30, 2023 – Sep 30, 2023
Deer – Youth Hunt Day

See regulations for more information.

Sep 30, 2023
Sep 30, 2023
Deer
Oct 2, 2023 – Nov 25, 2023
Deer – Archery – Zone 10-14

See regulations for more information.

Oct 2, 2023
Nov 25, 2023
Deer
Oct 16, 2023 – Nov 25, 2023
Deer – Archery – Zone 1-9

See regulations for more information.

Oct 16, 2023
Nov 25, 2023
Deer
Nov 2, 2023 – Nov 4, 2023
Deer – Paraplegic

See regulations for more information.

Nov 2, 2023
Nov 4, 2023
Deer
Nov 27, 2023 – Dec 9, 2023
Deer – Shotgun

See regulations for more information.

Nov 27, 2023
Dec 9, 2023
Duck
Oct 9, 2023 – Nov 25, 2023
Duck – Berkshire (Early)
Daily bag limit of 6 in aggregate.
Oct 9, 2023
Nov 25, 2023
Duck
Oct 14, 2023 – Nov 25, 2023
Duck – Central (Early)
Daily bag limit of 6 in aggregate.
Oct 14, 2023
Nov 25, 2023
Duck
Oct 14, 2023 – Oct 21, 2023
Duck – Coastal (Early)
Daily bag limit of 6 in aggregate.
Oct 14, 2023
Oct 21, 2023
Duck
Dec 11, 2023 – Dec 14, 2023
Goose – Berkshire (Late)

Bag Limit: 3

See regulations for more details and exceptions.

Dec 11, 2023
Dec 14, 2023
Goose
Sep 1, 2023 – Sep 22, 2023
Goose – Canada (Early)

Bag Limit: 15

See regulations for more details and exceptions.

Sep 1, 2023
Sep 22, 2023
Goose
Oct 10, 2023 – Nov 25, 2023
Goose – Berkshire (Early)

See regulations for bag limits and exceptions.

Oct 10, 2023
Nov 25, 2023
Goose
Oct 14, 2023 – Nov 25, 2023
Goose – Central (Early)

Bag Limit: 2

See regulations for more details and exceptions.

Oct 14, 2023
Nov 25, 2023
Goose
Oct 14, 2023 – Oct 21, 2023
Goose – Coastal (Early)

Bag Limit: 2

See regulations for more details and exceptions.

Oct 14, 2023
Oct 21, 2023
Grouse
Oct 14, 2023 – Nov 25, 2023
Ruffed Grouse
Bag limit of 3 daily.
Oct 14, 2023
Nov 25, 2023
Turkey Game Type
Apr 23, 2023 – Apr 23, 2023
Turkey – Spring Youth
Apr 23, 2023
Apr 23, 2023
Turkey Game Type
Apr 24, 2023 – May 20, 2023
Turkey – Spring
Zones 1-13
Apr 24, 2023
May 20, 2023
Turkey Game Type
Oct 2, 2023 – Nov 25, 2023
Turkey – Fall

Zones 10-13

Oct 2, 2023
Nov 25, 2023
Turkey Game Type
Oct 16, 2023 – Nov 25, 2023
Turkey – Fall

Zones 1–9

Oct 16, 2023
Nov 25, 2023

Massachusetts Licenses, Permits, and Regulations

Massachusetts hunting licenses, permits, and regulations for resident and non-resident hunters can be purchased on the Commonwealth of Massachusetts website. Click below to view the website.

Hunting GPS Maps

Every Massachusetts hunter should have hunting GPS maps on hand. Massachusetts hunting maps are available from onX Hunt. With a paid membership you can access Satellite, Topo, or Hybrid Basemaps, over which you can view maps of hunting zones, along with State, Forest Service, and other public and private property boundaries. You can view trails and roads, and even download maps to the Hunt App for use offline. Click below to get onX Hunt for Massachusetts.

Hunting Zones

Massachusetts hunting zones are part of a total of 40 square miles of public hunting lands and nearly 150 state forests, reservations, and parks. Each hunting zone has its own set of regulations, season restrictions, and quotas. Click below to view Massachusetts’s hunting zones in more detail through an interactive map.

Hunting Layers

MA Private Lands Preview

MA Private Lands

Over 2,300,000 parcels mapped by the onX team, this layer shows property owners in Massachusetts. Tap any parcel to learn more info about the owner and acreage.

MA Gov Lands Preview

MA Gov Lands

onX has the most accurate maps of Gov Lands, covering over 1,000,000 acres in Massachusetts. Not all Gov Lands offer access opportunities, check regulations before recreating.

MA Wildlife Mgmt Zones  Preview

MA Wildlife Mgmt Zones

Massachusetts Wildlife Management Zones. Please hunt responsibly, obey all signage and have a safe legal hunt.

MA Possible Access Preview

MA Possible Access

onX has mapped 6,300 acres of possible access lands in Massachusetts including timber and land conservation groups. Research rules on these private lands before recreating.

 MA DWSP Huntable Lands Preview

MA DWSP Huntable Lands

DCR Division of Water Supply Protection’s Watershed Lands open to hunting by DWSP access permit only. Check the DCR website for information on how to obtain a DWSP access permit.

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