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.
Massachusetts Hunting Seasons
| Season | Start Date | End Date | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Bear – 1st
Zones 1-14. See regulations for more information. |
Sep 5, 2023 | Sep 23, 2023 |
|
|
Bear – 2nd
Zones 1-14. See regulations for more information. |
Nov 6, 2023 | Nov 25, 2023 |
|
|
Bear – 3rd
Zones 1-14. See regulations for more information. |
Nov 27, 2023 | Dec 9, 2023 |
|
|
Bobcat
Zones 1-14 |
Dec 20, 2023 | Mar 8, 2024 |
|
|
Coyote
No limit.
|
Oct 14, 2023 | Mar 8, 2024 |
|
|
Deer – Youth Hunt Day
See regulations for more information. |
Sep 30, 2023 | Sep 30, 2023 |
|
|
Deer – Archery – Zone 10-14
See regulations for more information. |
Oct 2, 2023 | Nov 25, 2023 |
|
|
Deer – Archery – Zone 1-9
See regulations for more information. |
Oct 16, 2023 | Nov 25, 2023 |
|
|
Deer – Paraplegic
See regulations for more information. |
Nov 2, 2023 | Nov 4, 2023 |
|
|
Deer – Shotgun
See regulations for more information. |
Nov 27, 2023 | Dec 9, 2023 |
|
|
Deer – Primitive Firearms
See regulations for more information. |
Dec 11, 2023 | Dec 30, 2023 |
|
|
Duck – Berkshire (Early)
Daily bag limit of 6 in aggregate.
|
Oct 9, 2023 | Nov 25, 2023 |
|
|
Duck – Central (Early)
Daily bag limit of 6 in aggregate.
|
Oct 14, 2023 | Nov 25, 2023 |
|
|
Duck – Coastal (Early)
Daily bag limit of 6 in aggregate.
|
Oct 14, 2023 | Oct 21, 2023 |
|
|
Duck – Coastal (Late)
Daily bag limit of 6 in aggregate. (Check regulations for Scaup limit)
|
Nov 28, 2023 | Jan 27, 2024 |
|
|
Duck – Berkshire (Late)
Daily bag limit of 6 in aggregate.
|
Dec 11, 2023 | Dec 30, 2023 |
|
|
Goose – Berkshire (Late)
Bag Limit: 3 See regulations for more details and exceptions. |
Dec 11, 2023 | Dec 14, 2023 |
|
|
Duck – Central (Late)
Daily bag limit of 6 in aggregate.
|
Dec 12, 2023 | Jan 6, 2024 |
|
|
Duck – Coastal (Scaup)
Coastal Zone only. Bag Limit: 2 |
Jan 9, 2024 | Jan 27, 2024 |
|
|
Goose – Canada (Early)
Bag Limit: 15 See regulations for more details and exceptions. |
Sep 1, 2023 | Sep 22, 2023 |
|
|
Goose – Berkshire (Early)
See regulations for bag limits and exceptions. |
Oct 10, 2023 | Nov 25, 2023 |
|
|
Goose – Central (Early)
Bag Limit: 2 See regulations for more details and exceptions. |
Oct 14, 2023 | Nov 25, 2023 |
|
|
Goose – Coastal (Early)
Bag Limit: 2 See regulations for more details and exceptions. |
Oct 14, 2023 | Oct 21, 2023 |
|
|
Goose – Coastal (Late)
Bag Limit: 2 See regulations for more details and exceptions. |
Nov 29, 2023 | Jan 27, 2024 |
|
|
Goose – Central (Late)
Bag Limit: 2 See regulations for more details and exceptions. |
Dec 12, 2023 | Jan 6, 2024 |
|
|
Goose – Canada – berkshire (Late)
Bag Limit: 5 See regulations for more details and exceptions. |
Jan 1, 2024 | Feb 15, 2024 |
|
|
Goose – Canada – Central (Late)
Bag Limit: 5 See regulations for more details and exceptions. |
Jan 15, 2024 | Feb 12, 2024 |
|
|
Goose – Canada – Coastal Zone* (Late)
*North Portion of Coastal Zone Bag Limit: 5 See regulations for more details and exceptions. |
Jan 29, 2024 | Feb 15, 2024 |
|
|
Ruffed Grouse
Bag limit of 3 daily.
|
Oct 14, 2023 | Nov 25, 2023 |
|
|
Pheasant
Zones 1-14. |
Oct 14, 2023 | Dec 30, 2023 |
|
|
Quail
Zones 11-14. Daily bag limit of 4.
|
Oct 14, 2023 | Dec 30, 2023 |
|
|
Rabbit – Cottontail
Zones 1-14. Daily bag limit of 5. |
Oct 14, 2023 | Feb 29, 2024 |
|
|
Rabbit – Snowshoe Hare
Zones 1-14. Daily bag limit of 2. |
Oct 14, 2023 | Feb 29, 2024 |
|
|
Turkey – Spring Youth
|
Apr 23, 2023 | Apr 23, 2023 |
|
|
Turkey – Spring
Zones 1-13
|
Apr 24, 2023 | May 20, 2023 |
|
|
Turkey – Fall
Zones 10-13 |
Oct 2, 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
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
onX has the most accurate public lands maps with over 1,000,000 acres in Massachusetts to help you plan your next adventure. Tap any public land parcel to learn more.
MA Wildlife Mgmt Zones
Massachusetts Wildlife Management Zones. Please hunt responsibly, obey all signage and have a safe legal hunt.
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.
Huntable Lands
The #1 GPS Hunting App
- 975 million acres of public land
- 10,668 unique hunting units
- 421 map overlays and counting
- 5,000 game wardens approve