Skip to content
2026-2027

Massachusetts Deer Hunting Seasons 2026-2027

Massachusetts combines general wildlife-management-zone deer seasons with early island-zone opportunities and permit-only Blue Hills and Quabbin controlled hunts.

Last checked: 2026-08-10 Source: Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife, Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation, Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation, Division of Water Supply Protection 24 season records
Trip checker

Can I hunt here?

1. When are you hunting?
2. Where are you hunting?

County lookup loads from the active map layer.

or
Use the map Select a county or zone to see matching seasons.
3. How are you hunting?

Matching season windows

Start with all methods, or narrow the answer by method.

Your answer

Choose a date, place, and method.

We will show matching season windows here before you dig into maps or source records.

Method Dates Where Action
Early deer season — first segment Special
Wildlife Management Zones 13 and 14 Legal Deer under Early-season Rules
Early deer season — second segment Special
Wildlife Management Zones 13 and 14 Legal Deer under Early-season Rules
Youth Deer Hunt Day Youth
Wildlife Management Zones 1–14 Legal Deer under Youth Hunt Rules
Archery deer season — segment 1 Archery
Wildlife Management Zones 1–14 Legal Deer under Archery and WMZ Rules
Archery deer season — segment 2 Archery
Wildlife Management Zones 1–14 Legal Deer under Archery and WMZ Rules
Archery deer season — segment 3 Archery
Wildlife Management Zones 1–14 Legal Deer under Archery and WMZ Rules
Archery deer season — segment 4 Archery
Wildlife Management Zones 1–14 Legal Deer under Archery and WMZ Rules
Archery deer season — segment 5 Archery
Wildlife Management Zones 1–14 Legal Deer under Archery and WMZ Rules
Archery deer season — segment 6 Archery
Wildlife Management Zones 1–14 Legal Deer under Archery and WMZ Rules
Archery deer season — segment 7 Archery
Wildlife Management Zones 1–14 Legal Deer under Archery and WMZ Rules
Archery deer season — segment 8 Archery
Wildlife Management Zones 1–14 Legal Deer under Archery and WMZ Rules
Deer hunt for hunters with paraplegia Special
Designated paraplegic deer hunt sites Legal Deer under Special-hunt Rules
Blue Hills permitted archery hunt — segment 1 Archery
Permitted areas of Blue Hills Reservation Legal Deer under Program Rules
Blue Hills permitted archery hunt — segment 2 Archery
Permitted areas of Blue Hills Reservation Legal Deer under Program Rules
Blue Hills permitted archery hunt — segment 3 Archery
Permitted areas of Blue Hills Reservation Legal Deer under Program Rules
Blue Hills permitted archery hunt — segment 4 Archery
Permitted areas of Blue Hills Reservation Legal Deer under Program Rules
Shotgun deer season — segment 1 Firearm
Wildlife Management Zones 1–14 Legal Deer under Shotgun and WMZ Rules
Shotgun deer season — segment 2 Firearm
Wildlife Management Zones 1–14 Legal Deer under Shotgun and WMZ Rules
Primitive firearms deer season — segment 1 Muzzleloader
Wildlife Management Zones 1–14 Legal Deer under Primitive-firearms and WMZ Rules
Primitive firearms deer season — segment 2 Muzzleloader
Wildlife Management Zones 1–14 Legal Deer under Primitive-firearms and WMZ Rules
Primitive firearms deer season — segment 3 Muzzleloader
Wildlife Management Zones 1–14 Legal Deer under Primitive-firearms and WMZ Rules
Quabbin controlled deer hunt — Hardwick and Quabbin Park Firearm
Hardwick and Quabbin Park controlled-hunt areas Legal Deer under Controlled-hunt Rules
Quabbin controlled deer hunt — Petersham Firearm
Petersham controlled-hunt area Legal Deer under Controlled-hunt Rules
Quabbin controlled deer hunt — Prescott Firearm
Prescott controlled-hunt area Legal Deer under Controlled-hunt Rules

Season data compiled and verified against official state sources. Regulations can change. Confirm current rules before hunting.

? Field Honest summarizes official hunting regulations for convenience. Official agency regulations remain controlling.
Season map

Massachusetts deer map

Click a county or zone to see what seasons match that place.

Loading map...

Select a mapped area for details. Map layers simplify official geography for web use.

Source detail Open official-source records Detailed notes, harvest classes, eligibility flags, and agency links.
Underlying records

Official-source season details

The quick finder above is the main view. These records keep the supporting geography, harvest notes, and source links together.

Archery

Bow, crossbow, or archery-only windows where listed. 12 seasons
Season Dates Geography Notes
Archery deer season — segment 1 Legal Deer under Archery and WMZ Rules General hunters
Wildlife Management Zones 1–14 statewide_wmz_group

The official October 5–November 28 season is split into Monday–Saturday records because hunting on Sundays is prohibited.

Official source
Archery deer season — segment 2 Legal Deer under Archery and WMZ Rules General hunters
Wildlife Management Zones 1–14 statewide_wmz_group

The official October 5–November 28 season is split into Monday–Saturday records because hunting on Sundays is prohibited.

Official source
Archery deer season — segment 3 Legal Deer under Archery and WMZ Rules General hunters
Wildlife Management Zones 1–14 statewide_wmz_group

The official October 5–November 28 season is split into Monday–Saturday records because hunting on Sundays is prohibited.

Official source
Archery deer season — segment 4 Legal Deer under Archery and WMZ Rules General hunters
Wildlife Management Zones 1–14 statewide_wmz_group

The official October 5–November 28 season is split into Monday–Saturday records because hunting on Sundays is prohibited.

Official source
Archery deer season — segment 5 Legal Deer under Archery and WMZ Rules General hunters
Wildlife Management Zones 1–14 statewide_wmz_group

The official October 5–November 28 season is split into Monday–Saturday records because hunting on Sundays is prohibited.

Official source
Archery deer season — segment 6 Legal Deer under Archery and WMZ Rules General hunters
Wildlife Management Zones 1–14 statewide_wmz_group

The official October 5–November 28 season is split into Monday–Saturday records because hunting on Sundays is prohibited.

Official source
Archery deer season — segment 7 Legal Deer under Archery and WMZ Rules General hunters
Wildlife Management Zones 1–14 statewide_wmz_group

The official October 5–November 28 season is split into Monday–Saturday records because hunting on Sundays is prohibited.

Official source
Archery deer season — segment 8 Legal Deer under Archery and WMZ Rules General hunters
Wildlife Management Zones 1–14 statewide_wmz_group

The official October 5–November 28 season is split into Monday–Saturday records because hunting on Sundays is prohibited.

Official source
Blue Hills permitted archery hunt — segment 1 Legal Deer under Program Rules Selected Permit Holders Special rules
Permitted areas of Blue Hills Reservation controlled_hunt_area

The program operates Monday through Thursday only; required permits, assigned areas and program conditions remain controlling.

Official source
Blue Hills permitted archery hunt — segment 2 Legal Deer under Program Rules Selected Permit Holders Special rules
Permitted areas of Blue Hills Reservation controlled_hunt_area

The program operates Monday through Thursday only; required permits, assigned areas and program conditions remain controlling.

Official source
Blue Hills permitted archery hunt — segment 3 Legal Deer under Program Rules Selected Permit Holders Special rules
Permitted areas of Blue Hills Reservation controlled_hunt_area

The program operates Monday through Thursday only; required permits, assigned areas and program conditions remain controlling.

Official source
Blue Hills permitted archery hunt — segment 4 Legal Deer under Program Rules Selected Permit Holders Special rules
Permitted areas of Blue Hills Reservation controlled_hunt_area

The program operates Monday through Thursday only; required permits, assigned areas and program conditions remain controlling.

Official source

Firearm

General rifle, gun, and firearm framework seasons. 5 seasons
Season Dates Geography Notes
Shotgun deer season — segment 1 Legal Deer under Shotgun and WMZ Rules General hunters
Wildlife Management Zones 1–14 statewide_wmz_group

The official November 30–December 12 season is split around the statewide Sunday hunting prohibition.

Official source
Shotgun deer season — segment 2 Legal Deer under Shotgun and WMZ Rules General hunters
Wildlife Management Zones 1–14 statewide_wmz_group

The official November 30–December 12 season is split around the statewide Sunday hunting prohibition.

Official source
Quabbin controlled deer hunt — Hardwick and Quabbin Park Legal Deer under Controlled-hunt Rules Selected Controlled-hunt Permit Holders Special rules
Hardwick and Quabbin Park controlled-hunt areas controlled_hunt_area_group

Access is limited to selected hunters and the official site, permit and orientation conditions.

Official source
Quabbin controlled deer hunt — Petersham Legal Deer under Controlled-hunt Rules Selected Controlled-hunt Permit Holders Special rules
Petersham controlled-hunt area controlled_hunt_area

Access is limited to selected hunters and the official site, permit and orientation conditions.

Official source
Quabbin controlled deer hunt — Prescott Legal Deer under Controlled-hunt Rules Selected Controlled-hunt Permit Holders Special rules
Prescott controlled-hunt area controlled_hunt_area

Access is limited to selected hunters and the official site, permit and orientation conditions.

Official source

Muzzleloader

Muzzleloader-only or late muzzleloader opportunities. 3 seasons
Season Dates Geography Notes
Primitive firearms deer season — segment 1 Legal Deer under Primitive-firearms and WMZ Rules General hunters
Wildlife Management Zones 1–14 statewide_wmz_group

The official December 14–31 season is split around the statewide Sunday hunting prohibition.

Official source
Primitive firearms deer season — segment 2 Legal Deer under Primitive-firearms and WMZ Rules General hunters
Wildlife Management Zones 1–14 statewide_wmz_group

The official December 14–31 season is split around the statewide Sunday hunting prohibition.

Official source
Primitive firearms deer season — segment 3 Legal Deer under Primitive-firearms and WMZ Rules General hunters
Wildlife Management Zones 1–14 statewide_wmz_group

The official December 14–31 season is split around the statewide Sunday hunting prohibition.

Official source

Youth

Youth-only, apprentice, or early youth windows. 1 season
Season Dates Geography Notes
Youth Deer Hunt Day Legal Deer under Youth Hunt Rules Qualified Youth Hunters with Required Supervision Special rules
Wildlife Management Zones 1–14 statewide_wmz_group

Youth eligibility, supervision and licensing requirements remain controlling.

Official source

Special

Antlerless, CWD, urban, holiday, or other special rules. 3 seasons
Season Dates Geography Notes
Early deer season — first segment Legal Deer under Early-season Rules General hunters
Wildlife Management Zones 13 and 14 wmz_group

Primitive firearms and archery equipment are allowed under the official early-season rules; the Sunday closure is excluded by splitting the record.

Official source
Early deer season — second segment Legal Deer under Early-season Rules General hunters
Wildlife Management Zones 13 and 14 wmz_group

Primitive firearms and archery equipment are allowed under the official early-season rules; Sunday September 27 is excluded.

Official source
Deer hunt for hunters with paraplegia Legal Deer under Special-hunt Rules Qualified Hunters with Paraplegia Special rules
Designated paraplegic deer hunt sites special_site_group

Participation is limited to hunters who meet the official eligibility and registration requirements.

Official source