*The season schedules have been updated for 2026.
Massachusetts is a good place for big game hunting, and it has a variety of hunting seasons to explore. In this guide, we’ll provide you with all the information you need to know about the newest Mass Hunting Seasons, including the dates, fees, and regulations.
We’ll guide you through the essential details, so you can plan your next adventure and make the most of your time in the great outdoors. With the right knowledge and preparation, you’ll be able to prepare yourself well in the wild this year.
So, grab your Kalkal hunting boots, check your gear, and let’s get started on your hunting journey!
2026 Latest Updates:
Massachusetts is finally changing some very old rules. In early 2026, Governor Healey proposed several big updates to help hunters:
- Sunday Hunting: For a long time, hunting on Sunday was illegal in MA. This new bill wants to allow it, giving you more time in the woods.
- Crossbows for Everyone: Right now, only people with disabilities can use crossbows. The new rule would let every hunter use them during archery season.
- Hunting Closer to Houses: Currently, you must be 500 feet away from a house to hunt with a bow. The state wants to change this to 250 feet. This makes it much easier to hunt in suburban areas where deer are overpopulated.
Note: These rules are being discussed right now. Check the MassWildlife website for the final information before you head out.
Mass Hunting Season Schedules for 2026
Deer Hunting Seasons
Massachusetts wildlife hunting zones map
Massachusetts deer seasons normally start from late September to Late December. However, in 2026, the winter deer hunting is extended to February. And, there is a new Early Deer Season added this year, which provides more chances for hunters to enjoy the activity.
Each of the season has its own dates and limits. Here is the summary:
- Winter Deer Season (WMZs 13 and 14 only): Jan. 1 – Feb. 14, 2026
- Early Deer Season (WMZs 13 and 14 only): Sept. 21 – Oct. 1, 2026
- Youth Deer Hunt Day: Oct. 3, 2026
- Paraplegic Hunt: Oct. 29 – 31, 2026
- Archery Deer Season: Oct. 5 – Nov. 28, 2026
- Shotgun Deer Season: Nov. 30 – Dec. 12, 2026
- Primitive Firearms Deer Season: Dec. 14–31, 2026
If you hunt in Zones 13 or 14, you can get a free Winter Deer Permit. This allows you to harvest one additional deer of either sex, helping the state manage the increasing deer population.
In Mass, your base hunting license only comes with two tags for antlered bucks. If you want to hunt does (antlerless deer), you must apply for a special antlerless deer permit (ADP). The deadline is July 16, 2026.
⚠️Usually, you can report your deer online within 48 hours. However, for 2026, there is one major exception you must remember:
During the first week of Shotgun Season (Nov 30 – Dec 5), you must take your deer to an official physical check station, because the state biologists need to examine the deer in person to check their health and age.
Mass Bear Hunting Seasons
In 2026, the number of black bears in Massachusetts reached its highest population.
Date: Sept. 7 – Dec. 12, 2026 (No Sunday Hunting)
To hunt black bear, you need to get a hunting license as well as a bear permit. The most exciting part is that the bear season often overlaps with deer season, giving you a chance to follow two big game species in one trip.
Remember to bring these two permits, and you never know which one you might successfully hunt.
Black bear meat is delicious, but like wild pigs, bears can carry Trichinosis (a tiny parasite).
It requires careful cooking before you consume it. Never eat “medium-rare” bear steaks. In 2026, experts remind all hunters to cook bear meat to an internal temperature of 160°F.
▶Read More: Can You Eat Bear Meat? Things To Know Before Eating
Mass Turkey Hunting Season
According to official turkey harvest data, over 2,800 turkeys were harvested in the 2024 spring season, and only about 200 were harvested in the fall. Spring is a great time to hunt turkey, and the odds of success are much higher.
If you want the best chance, plan your hunt for the spring season. The 2026 turkey season dates are one day earlier than last year. Here are the details:
- Youth Turkey Hunt: Apr. 25, 2026
- Spring season: Apr. 27 – May 23, 2026
- Fall season: Oct. 5 – Nov. 28, 2025 (The 2026 season is to be released)
Bag Limits: Each hunter can harvest a total of 2 bearded birds in the spring season, and only one turkey of either sex in the fall season.
⚠️Spring is a peak season for Lone Star ticks. These ticks carry a dangerous condition called Alpha-gal Syndrome (AGS).
You might usually sit still against a tree or in tall grass, waiting for a turkey. This makes you an easy target for ticks crawling on the ground or in the brush.
The scary part is that AGS makes you allergic to a lot of things, such as “red meat” from mammals (deer meat, beef, pork), certain dairy products, and medications, etc. Though turkey meat does not contain alpha-gal, if you get bitten while turkey hunting in May, you might lose the ability to eat a lot of daily foods.
Bring yourself a Permethrin spray and wear tall hunting boots before you go out to prevent this from happening. You don’t want a spring turkey hunt to end your fall deer dinners.
▶Keep updated with any changes: Official Wild Turkey Hunting Regulations
Mass Upland Bird Hunting Season
| Species | Zones | Dates | Bag Limit | Possession Limit | Annual Limit |
| Crow | Zones 1–14 | Jan. 1 – April 10, 2026 July 1, 2026 – April 10, 2027 |
/ | / | / |
| Pheasant | Youth Hunt | Sept 6, 13, 20, and Oct. 4, 11, 2025 | 2 | 4 | No limit |
| Zones 1-14 | Oct.17 – Dec.31, 2026 | 2 | 4 | No limit | |
| Quail | Zones 11-14 | Oct.18 – Dec.31, 2025 | 4 | 8 | No limit |
| Ruffed Grouse | Zones 1-14 | Oct.18 – Nov.29, 2025 | 3 | 6 | 15 |
Some of the game bird seasons for 2026 haven’t been released yet. Stay tuned!
Mass Furbearer Hunting Season
- Bobcat Season: Jan. 1 – Mar.8, 2025 and Dec.20, 2025 – Mar.7, 2026
- Coyote Season: Jan.1 – Mar.8, 2025 and Oct. 18, 2025 – Mar.7, 2026
- Fox Season: Jan. 1 – Feb.28, 2025 and Nov.1, 2025 – Feb.28, 2026
- Opossum Season: Jan.1 – Jan.31, 2025 and Oct.1, 2025 -Jan.31, 2026
- Raccoon Season: Jan.1 – Jan.31, 2025 and Oct.1, 2025 – Jan.31, 2026
The Bobcat season is only available in Zones 1 – 8. While the rest seasons are open in Zones 1 – 14.
There is a daily bag limit of 3 raccoons and no limit for the rest wildlife animals. So, hunters can enjoy the season as much as they want.
Except for the hunting season, there are also different Trapping Seasons for Furbearer animals. The details are as follows:
- Beaver: Jan. 1 – April 15, 2025 and Nov. 1, 2025 – April 15, 2026
- Bobcat, Coyote1, Fox1, Weasel: Nov. 1 – Nov. 30, 2025
- Mink, River Otter: Nov. 1 – Dec. 15, 2025
- Muskrat, Opossum, Raccoon, Skunk: Jan. 1 – Feb. 28, 2025 and Nov. 1, 2025 – Feb. 28, 2026
Mass Small Game Hunting Season
The table below shows the 2026 – 2027 small game hunting seasons, bag limits, and possession limits by species across the state.
| Species | Zones | Dates | Bag Limit | Possession Limit | Annual Limit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cottontail Rabbit | Zones 1–14 | Jan. 1, 2026 – Feb. 28, 2026 | 5 | 10 | No Limit |
| Oct. 17, 2026 – Feb. 27, 2027 | |||||
| Snowshoe Hare | Zones 1–14 | Jan. 1, 2026 – Feb. 28, 2026 | 2 | 4 | No Limit |
| Oct. 17, 2026 – Feb. 27, 2027 | |||||
| Gray Squirrel | Zones 1–14 | Jan. 1, 2026 – Feb. 28, 2026 | 5 | 10 | No Limit |
| Sept. 2, 2026 – Feb. 27, 2027 | |||||
| Raccoon and Opossum | Zones 1–14 | Jan. 1 – Jan. 31, 2026 | 3 | No Limit | No Limit |
| Oct. 1, 2026 – Jan. 30, 2027 | No Limit | No Limit | No Limit |
To keep updated with all the season schedules easily at all times, you can check this official resource: Mass Hunting Seasons 2026 PDF.
Massachusetts Hunting Licenses Costs
Who Will Need a License to Hunt In Massachusetts?
If you’re 15 or older, you’ll need a hunting license in Massachusetts. The minimum age for hunting is 12, and if you’re between 12 and 14, you can hunt with a licensed hunter who’s at least 18 years old. You can only hunt with one minor per adult.
How to Buy a Hunting License？
To get a license, you can either show proof of completing a government-issued Basic Hunter Education course or prove that you had a hunting or sporting license in another state before January 1, 2007.
The license fees are different each year. In 2025, the fees are increased a little. The following are the types of licenses available and their costs.
| License Type | Price |
| Resident Hunting | $36.5 |
| Resident Minor Hunting (Age 15–17) | $6.50 |
| Resident Hunting (Age 65–69) | $18.25 |
| Resident/Non-resident Hunting, Paraplegic | FREE |
| Non-resident (age 15 and over) Hunting, Big Game | $108.50 |
| Non-resident (age 15 and over) Hunting, Small Game | $74.50 |
| Resident Commercial Shooting Preserve (1-day) | $9.00 |
| Non-resident Commercial Shooting Preserve (1-day) | $17.00 |
Except for the normal hunting license, you will need to buy extra trapping licenses or stamps:
| License Type | Price |
| Resident Trapping | $38 |
| Resident Minor Trapping (Age 12–17) | $7 |
| Resident Trapping (Age 65–69) | $19 |
| Non-resident Trapping Permit | $212 |
| Resident Fur Buyer Permit | $42 |
| Non-resident Fur Buyer Permit | $102 |
| License Type | Price |
| Wildlands Stamp, Resident | $5 |
| Wildlands Stamp, Non-resident | $5 |
| Antlerless Deer Permit (when issued), Resident | $10 |
| Antlerless Deer Permit (when issued), Non-resident | $25 |
| Archery Deer Season Stamp, Resident | $10 |
| Archery Deer Season Stamp, Non-resident | $25 |
| Primitive Firearms Deer Season Stamp, Resident | $10 |
| Primitive Firearms Deer Season Stamp, Non-resident | $25 |
| Bear Permit, Resident | $10 |
| Bear Permit, Non-resident | $25 |
| Pheasant/Quail Permit, Resident | $16 |
| Pheasant/Quail Permit, Non-resident | $24 |
| Turkey Permit, Resident | $10 |
| Turkey Permit, Non-resident | $25 |
| Massachusetts Waterfowl Stamp, Resident | $10 |
| Massachusetts Waterfowl Stamp, Non-resident | $25 |
Massachusetts General Hunting Regulations You Should Know
If you are going to hunt in Massachusetts, there are some common rules that you should know to ensure a legal hunt.
- No hunting on Sunday.
- You need to have a specific permit to hunt game such as deer, bear, pheasant, or turkey. Permits are not transferable. You can only use the one you are issued.
- You need hunting stamps with your state hunting license, depending on the type of animal you want to hunt and the season, such as an Archery Stamp for deer hunting during archery deer season.
- For hunting deer, bears, and turkeys with archery bows (excluding crossbows), the minimum draw weight must be 40 pounds at 28 inches or at peak draw. Arrows used should have steel blades at least 7/8 inches wide, and expanding broadheads are allowed.
- Blaze orange clothing is required to enhance visibility for hunters during Shotgun, Muzzleloader, and Youth seasons. You must wear 500 square inches of blaze orange on your chest, back, and head.
- During the Primitive Firearms Season, all deer hunters must meet the 500 square inches blaze orange requirement.
- Dogs can be used to hunt waterfowl during the shotgun deer season and Youth Deer Hunt Day. However, they must be trained off-leash using pistols or revolvers with blank cartridges.
- You need to ensure you attach the paper tag from your permit or license to the animal you hunt immediately. The animal should remain intact (with basic preparation) until reporting.
- Non-Massachusetts residents require a special hunting license.
- Obtain written permission from the landowner first to use a tree stand.
- Rifles and handguns are prohibited during the youth deer hunt.
- It is illegal to abandon a wounded or dead animal without attempting retrieval and utilization.
- Electronic calls for hunting migratory game birds, wild turkeys, or deer are prohibited.
- To keep the forest healthy, it is illegal to bring whole deer carcasses into MA from states where Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) is present.
Conclusion
Massachusetts offers a diverse and thrilling experience for every hunter. We hope this guide has provided you with the knowledge and excitement to embark on your next adventure in mass hunting seasons.
Each season may have its requirements. Remember to respect the land, honor the game, and follow the rules made for the Mass hunting seasons.
May your shots be true, your experiences unforgettable, and your connection to the wild continue to deepen.
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