This is Massachusetts's published 2026-27 season, the whole state at once. A pin reads its wildlife management zone off the map and cuts this to the seasons, arms and limits that apply there.

Massachusetts deer seasons

2026-27

2 antlered deer per licence year. Two antlered deer a year — a deer with at least one antler three inches long, measured straight from the centre of the front base of the burr to the tip. Both tags come with the licence and are good in any zone. A Youth Deer Permit or a Winter Deer Permit each allow one more antlered deer on top. Antlerless deer are unlimited in principle: a hunter may take as many as they hold valid zone-specific antlerless deer permits for. Possession is capped only by the tags and permits you hold. A doe that grows antlers is an antlered deer and needs an antlered tag. Guide, printed pp. 30-32.

Early Deer Season
Archery equipment or muzzleloaderPrinted in 1 column — check which covers your wildlife management zone.
Eleven days in late September, on Cape Cod and the islands only.
Zones 13 and 14
Sep 21 – Oct 1Either sex
Two antlered deer a year on the licence's tags; antlerless deer one per permit, and permits here are unlimited.
- "Early Deer Season (WMZs 13 and 14 only): Sept. 21 - Oct. 1, 2026." MassWildlife, Deer hunting regulations. The framework sets it as beginning the second Monday before the Youth Deer Hunt and ending on the Thursday before it.
- The printed 2026 guide does not carry this season at all — it went to press before the Board added it. If your paper copy has no early season in it, the paper copy is the one that is wrong.
- No stamp is required for this season, but an antlerless deer permit is required for any antlerless deer — which in Zones 13 and 14 may be bought without limit.
- 500 square inches of blaze orange on chest, back and head are required in this season, as in every Massachusetts deer season except archery.
- Decoys are prohibited in this season.
Youth Deer Hunt
Shotgun, muzzleloader, or bow and arrow
Two days in early October for hunters aged twelve to seventeen.
Statewide
Oct 2–3Either sex
One deer, antlered or antlerless, on the Youth Deer Permit — statewide, no antlerless permit needed for it.
- "Youth Deer Hunt: Oct. 2 and 3, 2026." MassWildlife, Deer hunting regulations. The printed guide carries a single day, 3 October; the department's page carries two.
- The free Youth Deer Permit allows one deer, antlered or antlerless, statewide — and it is valid during any open deer season, not only these two days. Guide, printed p. 30.
- A hunter of 15 to 17 also needs a Resident Minor Hunting licence or a Non-Resident Big Game licence. A hunter of 12 to 14 needs no licence but must be accompanied by an appropriately licensed adult.
- 500 square inches of blaze orange on chest, back and head are required.
- Shotgun, muzzleloader or bow and arrow. A young hunter may use only the implements the season allows.
- Decoys are prohibited.
Archery Season
Bow, or crossbow with a crossbow permit
Eight weeks statewide — the longest season Massachusetts has, and the only one without an orange rule.
Statewide
Oct 5 – Nov 28Either sex
Two antlered deer a year on the licence's tags; one antlerless deer per antlerless permit held.
- "Archery Deer Season: Oct. 5 - Nov. 28, 2026." An Archery Stamp is required on top of the licence. MassWildlife, Deer hunting regulations.
- Blaze orange is not required in this season generally — but a blaze orange hat is required when hunting on a Wildlife Management Area stocked with pheasant or quail during the pheasant and quail season. Guide, printed p. 31.
- Bows other than crossbows need a draw weight of at least 40 pounds at 28 inches or at peak draw. Crossbows may be used only with a crossbow permit. Arrows need well-sharpened steel broadheads at least 7/8 inch wide; expanding broadheads and hand-held releases are allowed.
- Poisoned arrows, explosive tips, airbows and bows drawn by mechanical means are prohibited.
- Decoys are permitted during the archery-only season and prohibited in every other deer season.
- An antlerless deer needs a zone-specific antlerless deer permit in this season as in all others.
Paraplegic Hunt
As the hunt authorises
Three days set aside at the end of October.
Statewide
Oct 29–31Either sex
As the ordinary limits allow: two antlered on the licence, antlerless one per permit.
- "Paraplegic Hunt: Oct. 29 - 31, 2026." A paraplegic hunting or sporting licence is free to both residents and non-residents. MassWildlife, Deer hunting regulations; Guide, printed p. 12.
- The hunt is run by MassWildlife with volunteer assistance; contact the district office to take part.
- 500 square inches of blaze orange on chest, back and head are required.
Shotgun Season
Shotgun no larger than 10 gauge, muzzleloader, or bow and arrow
A fortnight from the Monday after Thanksgiving — and twelve huntable days inside it, because Sundays are closed.
Statewide
Nov 30 – Dec 12Either sex
Two antlered deer a year on the licence's tags; one antlerless deer per antlerless permit held.
- "Shotgun Deer Season: Nov. 30 - Dec. 12, 2026." No stamp is required for this season. MassWildlife, Deer hunting regulations.
- Hunting is prohibited on Sundays in Massachusetts, so the two Sundays inside this season are closed. Guide, printed p. 30.
- Shotgun no larger than 10 gauge; rifled barrels are legal. A rifle or handgun may not be possessed in any woodland or field during a season when deer may be hunted with a shotgun, and a handgun may not be in your possession while deer hunting at all. Guide, printed pp. 31-32.
- 500 square inches of blaze orange on chest, back and head — and if you are in a blind, you wear it in the blind. MassWildlife recommends orange on the outside of the blind too.
- Every deer taken in the first week of the shotgun season must be brought to a physical check station so MassWildlife can collect biological data. Guide, printed p. 33.
- Decoys are prohibited.
Primitive Firearms Season
Muzzleloader, or bow and arrow
The back half of December, to the last day of the year.
Statewide
Dec 14–31Either sex
Two antlered deer a year on the licence's tags; one antlerless deer per antlerless permit held.
- "Primitive Firearms Deer Season: Dec. 14-31, 2026." A Primitive Firearms Stamp is required, and it covers the winter season in Zones 13 and 14 as well. MassWildlife, Deer hunting regulations; Guide, printed p. 30.
- Hunting is prohibited on Sundays, so the two Sundays inside this season are closed.
- Muzzleloader or bow and arrow only — no shotgun.
- 500 square inches of blaze orange on chest, back and head.
- Decoys are prohibited.
- A baited area stays baited, legally, from ten days before the archery season opens to the day after the primitive firearms season closes — so bait put out in September still taints a stand on 31 December. Guide, printed p. 33.
Winter Deer Season
Muzzleloader, or bow and arrowPrinted in 1 column — check which covers your wildlife management zone.
Six weeks after New Year, on Cape Cod and the islands alone.
Zones 13 and 14
Jan 1 – Feb 14Either sex
One additional deer of either sex on the free Winter Deer Permit, plus antlerless deer on permits — unlimited in these two zones.
- "Winter Deer Season (WMZs 13 and 14 only): Jan. 1 - Feb. 14." MassWildlife's own framework sets it as January 1 through February 14 in those two zones; the printed 2026 guide carries the older January-only dates. MassWildlife, Deer hunting regulations.
- The free Winter Deer Permit allows one additional deer of either sex, in Zones 13 and 14 only, and it has to be added to your MassFishHunt account before you can use it. Guide, printed p. 30.
- A Primitive Firearms Stamp is required — the same stamp as the December season.
- Antlerless permits for Zones 13 and 14 go on sale on 1 December, ahead of this season, and any unused ones carry over to the following autumn.
- Hunting is prohibited on Sundays.
- 500 square inches of blaze orange on chest, back and head.
- These dates are for the winter that follows the 2026 seasons — the 2027 guide was not published when this was transcribed, so they come from the standing framework rather than a printed calendar.

New This Season

What changed since last year, and is therefore easiest to get wrong.

The department's own deer page now carries a Winter Deer Season running to 14 February, a two-day Youth Deer Hunt on 2 and 3 October, and an Early Deer Season in Zones 13 and 14 from 21 September — none of which is in the printed 2026 guide.

Legal Arms

2026 Massachusetts Official Freshwater Fishing, Hunting, and Trapping Laws weapon specifications, as the digest prints them.

Archery

MassWildlife, Deer hunting regulations

Recurve, long or compound bow with a draw weight of at least 40 pounds at 28 inches or at peak draw
Crossbow, with a crossbow permit
Well-sharpened steel broadheads at least 7/8 inch wide, expanding broadheads included
Hand-held releases

Poisoned arrows
Explosive tips
Airbows
Bows drawn by mechanical means

Primitive firearms

Guide, printed p. 32

Muzzleloader
Bow and arrow

Shotgun, in the primitive firearms season

Shotgun

Guide, printed pp. 31-32

Shotgun no larger than 10 gauge, rifled barrels included — shotgun season only
Muzzleloader
Bow and arrow

Any rifle
Any handgun — it may not even be in your possession while deer hunting

Hunting Hours and Orange

What the state defines as legal light, and what has to be worn in it.

Legal Shooting Hours

Guide, printed p. 30

"Hunting hours begin ½ hour before sunrise and end ½ hour after sunset." No seasonal variation. Remember that Sunday is closed whatever the light is doing.

Fluorescent Orange

Guide, printed p. 31; MassWildlife, Deer hunting regulations

500 square inches of blaze orange on the chest, back and head, in every deer season except archery. In the archery season, a blaze orange hat when hunting a Wildlife Management Area stocked with pheasant or quail during the pheasant and quail season. It binds every deer hunter regardless of the implement in use, in the youth hunt, shotgun, primitive firearms, winter and early deer seasons. If you are in a blind during a season or on a WMA with an orange requirement you still wear the full amount inside the blind, and MassWildlife recommends orange be visible on the outside of the blind as well.

Sundays

Guide, printed p. 30

Hunting is prohibited on Sundays in Massachusetts. The guide prints it directly under the season dates — "All dates inclusive. Hunting is prohibited on Sundays" — and it applies to every weapon and every deer season, so a Sunday inside a season shows as closed here. The thirteen-day shotgun season is twelve huntable days.

Standing Rules

The parts of the digest that are true every day of the season.

Bag and possession limits

Guide, printed pp. 30-32

Two antlered deer a year. An antlered deer is one with at least one antler three inches long, measured on a straight line from the centre of the front base of the antler burr to the tip.
A Youth Deer Permit and a Winter Deer Permit each allow one more antlered deer.
A hunter may take as many antlerless deer a year as they hold valid antlerless deer permits for — one deer per permit, in the zone printed on the permit.
Possession is limited only by the tags and permits you hold.
It is legal to take a doe with antlers, and it must be tagged with an antlered deer tag.

Baiting

Guide, printed p. 33; MassWildlife, Deer hunting regulations

Bait is any natural or artificial substance placed to lure or entice deer — corn, wheat or other grain, hay, silage, apples or other fruit or vegetables, salt and similar compounds. A baited area stays a baited area for the whole period from ten days before the archery season opens to the day after the primitive firearms season closes, so bait put down in late September makes a stand illegal on New Year's Eve. Food from natural vegetation, from agricultural or gardening practice, and standing crops left as wildlife food plots are not bait.

Decoys

MassWildlife, Deer hunting regulations

Legal during the archery-only season.
Prohibited during the youth, shotgun, primitive firearms, winter and early deer seasons.

Rifles and handguns

Guide, printed pp. 31-32

Handguns are not allowed for deer hunting and may not be in your possession while deer hunting. Rifles and handguns may not be possessed in any woodland or field, or used on any game, during any season when deer may be hunted with a shotgun.

Tagging and Reporting

The clock that starts the moment the deer is down.

Guide, printed pp. 30 and 33

Every deer must be reported report and tag with a confirmation number; check station in the first week of shotgun season.

Report the deer and tag it with a confirmation number
Every deer taken during the first week of the shotgun season must be brought to a physical check station so MassWildlife staff can collect biological data
To donate through Hunters Share the Harvest, recover and field-dress within four hours of the shot unless the air stays below 37°F, report and tag it, and drop it off whole at a participating processor within 24 hours

Where This App Is Coarser Than the Digest

Said plainly, because an absence is easy to read as a permission.

Hunting is prohibited on Sundays in Massachusetts, and this app closes every Sunday of every season for that reason. If a season looks shorter here than its printed first and last dates suggest, that is why.
The printed 2026 guide and MassWildlife's own deer page disagree on three dates, and this app follows the page: it carries a Winter Deer Season to 14 February rather than 31 January, a two-day Youth Deer Hunt rather than one, and an Early Deer Season in Zones 13 and 14 that the guide does not mention at all. The department's own standing framework corroborates the page. If your paper guide differs, the paper guide is the older document.
The winter season dates are for the winter after the 2026 seasons and come from the standing framework rather than a published 2027 calendar, because the 2027 guide was not out when this was transcribed. Confirm before hunting in January.
An antlerless deer needs a zone-specific permit in every season, archery included. The app cannot know which permits you hold, so it shows either-sex where the season allows a doe at all.
A baited area stays legally baited from ten days before the archery opener to the day after the primitive season closes. If somebody baited your stand in September it is still a baited area on 31 December.
Handguns may not be in your possession while deer hunting, and rifles may not be in any woodland or field during a shotgun-season-on-deer. That is broader than a weapon restriction and the app cannot enforce it.
Massachusetts' peak breeding date is the middle of MassWildlife's own window, 6-20 November; the rut meter uses 13 November.
MassGIS publishes standardised statewide parcels, but as town-by-town downloads rather than a service this app can query, so there are no property lines on the map here.

Useful Numbers

The agency, when the app cannot answer it.

MassWildlife: mass.gov/masswildlife
Licences and permits: mass.gov/massfishhunt
Hunters Share the Harvest: mass.gov/sharetheharvest
Check stations: mass.gov/info-details/find-a-check-station

Transcribed from the published 2026-27 Massachusetts digest. Where this app and the digest disagree, the digest is the law. Read the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife digest.