Massachusetts hunting and fishing laws
The Massachusetts rules that catch people out, in plain English: hunter education, minimum age, blaze orange, Sunday hunting, shooting hours, baiting, night hunting, tagging and private land. Each one links to the state's own text.
Season dates for 2026-27. Page updated October 12, 2026.
These pages sum up the rules to help you find them. They are not legal advice. The state's own regulations govern, so check them before you go.
Hunter education in Massachusetts
Hunters qualify by either of two paths: I have earned a government-issued Basic Hunter Education certificate (from any jurisdiction), or I held a hunting or sporting license before January 1, 2007 (from any jurisdiction).
Minimum hunting age in Massachusetts
You need a license to hunt in Massachusetts if you are age 15 or older. The minimum age for hunting in Massachusetts is 12. Mentored hunters ages 12 to 14 may hunt only when accompanied by a licensed hunter 18 years or older, provided that a single bag limit is shared and a single firearm or bow is shared between the two people. Only one minor per adult is permitted.
Blaze orange in Massachusetts
Applies to: Deer
500 square inches of blaze orange on the chest, back, and head is required during the shotgun, primitive firearms, winter, and early deer seasons. Archery season requires only a blaze orange hat, and only on WMAs stocked with pheasant and/or quail. Exempt: waterfowl hunting from a blind or boat, and night raccoon or opossum hunting. Blaze pink is not mentioned.
Applies to: Bear
500 square inches of blaze orange on the chest, back, and head is also required while hunting bear during the Youth Deer Hunt, the paraplegic hunt, and the shotgun deer season.
Sunday hunting in Massachusetts
Hunting is prohibited on Sundays statewide, on public and private land alike. Sunday target shooting is restricted to private property or recognized ranges. No recent change to this rule was found.
Shooting hours in Massachusetts
Applies to: Big game
Hunting hours begin 1/2 hour before sunrise and end 1/2 hour after sunset.
Applies to: Furbearers
Coyote is the exception: hours begin 1/2 hour before sunrise and end at midnight, except during shotgun deer season when they end 1/2 hour after sunset. From 1/2 hour after sunset to midnight rifles are restricted to those chambered not larger than .22 long rifle and handguns not larger than .38 caliber.
Baiting in Massachusetts
Baiting migratory game birds, wild turkey, bear, or deer during or within 10 days of the start of their specific hunting seasons is prohibited.
Applies to: Deer
Deer bait means any natural or artificial substance. Standing crops planted and left as wildlife food plots do not constitute baiting.
Applies to: Bear
It is illegal to bait bear. Bait includes the use of lure, scents, or any other substance that may attract a bear.
Night hunting in Massachusetts
It is prohibited to use artificial lights for hunting any bird or mammal except raccoon and opossum. Artificial light is listed as a prohibited method for coyote even though coyote hours run to midnight.
Tagging and reporting a harvest in Massachusetts
The tag must be attached immediately. Hunters who harvest a deer, bear, coyote, fox, or turkey must report or check their game within 48 hours of killing the animal, through MassFishHunt or at a check station.
Hunting on private land in Massachusetts
Hunting, fishing, and trapping are permitted on private land that is not posted against trespass. Permission is required only on posted land.
Can you show your Massachusetts license on your phone?
Phone is fine, until a tag is involved.
Massachusetts accepts an image of the license on a phone. Where a tag is required — deer, bear, turkey — a paper copy of the license, permits and tags must be carried.
Carry paper when hunting tagged species.
Massachusetts hunting season dates, 2026-27
The main seasons, from the state's published dates. Zones and units can differ; each season links to the state's own page for it.
| Season | Dates | Where | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deer — archery | Oct 5 – Nov 28, 2026 | Zones 1-14 | No hunting on Sundays |
| Deer — shotgun | Nov 30 – Dec 12, 2026 | Zones 1-14 | No hunting on Sundays |
| Deer — primitive firearms | Dec 14 – Dec 31, 2026 | Zones 1-14 | Winter season Jan 1-30, 2027 in Zones 9-11 |
| Black bear | Sep 7 – Dec 12, 2026 | Statewide (Zones 1-14) | Now one combined season; bear permit required |
| Spring turkey | Not published yet | Zones 1-13 | 2027 dates not yet published |
| Fall turkey | Oct 5 – Nov 28, 2026 | Zones 1-13 | |
| Pheasant | Oct 17 – Dec 31, 2026 | Zones 1-14 | |
| Ruffed grouse | Oct 17 – Nov 28, 2026 | Zones 1-14 | |
| Ducks — regular season | Oct 10, 2026 – Jan 2, 2027 | Central Zone | Split: Oct 10-Nov 28, Dec 15-Jan 2. Coastal/Berkshire differ |
What you can hunt in Massachusetts
Big game
- White-tailed deer General season Antlerless by zone permit
- Black bear General season Bear permit, not a lottery
- Moose No season No season
Upland and small game
- Wild turkey General season
- Ruffed grouse General season
- Pheasant General season
- Quail General season
- Cottontail rabbit and snowshoe hare General season
- Gray squirrel General season
- Raccoon and opossum General season
- Crow General season
- American woodcock General season 3 a day, 9 in possession
Waterfowl and migratory
- Ducks and geese General season
- Sea ducks General season
- Brant General season
- Snipe General season 8 a day, 24 in possession
- Mourning dove No season No season
- American coot General season 15 a day, 45 in possession
- Sora rail General season 5 a day, 15 in possession
- Virginia rail General season 10 a day, 30 in possession
- Mallard General season 4 a day, no more than 2 females, within the 6-duck bag
- American black duck General season 2 a day, within the 6-duck bag
- Mottled duck General season 1 a day, within the 6-duck bag
- Northern pintail General season 1 a day, within the 6-duck bag
- Wood duck General season 3 a day, within the 6-duck bag
- Canvasback General season 2 a day, within the 6-duck bag
- Redhead General season 2 a day, within the 6-duck bag
- Scaup General season 1 a day, 2 in the coastal zone in late January
- Long-tailed duck General season 3 a day, within the four sea ducks
- Harlequin duck No season No harlequin ducks may be harvested
- Canada goose General season 15 a day early, 2-3 regular by zone, 5 late
- Snow goose General season 15 a day, 45 in possession; Ross’s and blue geese count here
Furbearer and predator
- Coyote General season
- Red and gray fox General season
- Bobcat General season December to March
- Fisher No season Trapping only, no hunting season
What you can fish for in Massachusetts
Freshwater license — no trout stamp; separate saltwater permit
Fishing licenses sold: 3-day, Annual
Trout and char
- Brook, brown, rainbow and tiger trout General season No trout stamp in Massachusetts
- Lake trout General season Quabbin and Wachusett only
Salmon and anadromous
- Landlocked salmon General season
- Rainbow smelt General season
- American shad General season Connecticut and Merrimack rivers; catch and release elsewhere
- Sea-run Atlantic salmon No season Release immediately
- River herring No season State moratorium
Warmwater
- Largemouth and smallmouth bass General season
- Northern pike General season
- Tiger muskellunge General season No true muskellunge fishery
- Walleye General season
- Chain pickerel General season
- Catfish, crappie, sunfish and perch General season No limits
Saltwater and marine
- Striped bass Needs a stamp Recreational Saltwater Fishing Permit
- Bluefish, tautog, black sea bass and scup Needs a stamp
- Flounder, cod, haddock, pollock and mackerel Needs a stamp
- Lobster Tag or permit Recreational lobster permit
- Shellfish Tag or permit Town issued
Other
- Burbot and sturgeon No season No open season
Official Massachusetts links
Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife
Carry your Massachusetts license on your phone
Sportsmen Ledger holds your hunting and fishing licenses and tags, these rules and your harvest log, and it works with no signal. Free to start.
Compare with other states
- Hunter education requirements by state
- Minimum hunting age by state
- Blaze orange requirements by state
- Sunday hunting laws by state
- Legal shooting hours by state
- Baiting laws by state
- Night hunting laws by state
- Tagging and harvest reporting by state
- Hunting on private land, state by state
- Can you show your hunting or fishing license on your phone? Every state