Massachusetts · Deer · 2026 Edition
Massachusetts Deer Season 2026: Dates, Zones & Bag Limits
01 — Seasons by method
| Method | Zones | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Early Deer Season | WMZs 13 & 14 only | Sep 21 – Oct 1 |
| Youth Deer Hunt Day | Statewide | Oct 3 – Oct 3 |
| Archery | Statewide | Oct 5 – Nov 28 |
| Paraplegic Hunt | Statewide (permit required) | Oct 29 – Oct 31 |
| Shotgun | Statewide | Nov 30 – Dec 12 |
| Primitive Firearms | Statewide | Dec 14 – Dec 31 |
02 — Bag limits
| Antlered — statewide | 2 per year (any deer with at least one antler 3+ inches long) — 2 tags included with every hunting/sporting license. A Youth Deer Permit or Winter Deer Permit allows additional antlered deer. |
|---|---|
| Antlerless — statewide | As many as the hunter holds valid Antlerless Deer Permits for, in the permitted zone each permit was drawn for |
| Possession | As many deer as the hunter holds valid tags and permits for |
03 — Shooting hours
Legal light on opening day (September 21, 2026) 06:03 — 19:14
Rule: Half an hour before sunrise to half an hour after sunset (per MassWildlife). Sunrise/sunset shift daily — the times above are computed for opening day; use your local Massachusetts sun times for any other date.
04 — License
A Massachusetts hunting license and deer permit are required. Costs, age rules and where to buy are on our license page below.
Massachusetts hunting license cost & deer permits →
Where to hunt public land in Massachusetts — WMAs by county & access rules →
05 — Scouting gear
Scouting a property before Massachusetts's opener usually means glassing terrain and running a trail camera through the summer and early fall.
- Hunting binoculars on Amazon →
- Trail cameras on Amazon →
- Trail camera SD cards — class, capacity & format explained →
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. These are category links, not a single named pick — we run no product tests of our own.
06 — FAQ
When does deer season start in Massachusetts?
The earliest 2026 opener is September 21, 2026 — Early Deer Season, limited to WMZs 13 & 14 only. Other weapons and zones start later — see the table above.
When does deer season end in Massachusetts?
The latest 2026 closing date is December 31, 2026. Individual methods and zones close on their own dates.
When does bow season start for deer in Massachusetts?
Archery opens October 5, 2026 (Statewide). Later segments may follow — see the seasons table.
When does rifle season start for deer in Massachusetts?
Primitive Firearms opens December 14, 2026 (Statewide). Later segments may follow — see the seasons table.
How many deer can you shoot in Massachusetts?
2026 bag limits: Antlered — statewide — 2 per year (any deer with at least one antler 3+ inches long) — 2 tags included with every hunting/sporting license. A Youth Deer Permit or Winter Deer Permit allows additional antlered deer. Antlerless — statewide — As many as the hunter holds valid Antlerless Deer Permits for, in the permitted zone each permit was drawn for. Possession — As many deer as the hunter holds valid tags and permits for. Limits are set per zone and per permit — check the agency's own regulations before you hunt.
What time can you start shooting deer in Massachusetts?
On opening day (September 21, 2026) legal light runs 06:03 to 19:14. The rule is: Half an hour before sunrise to half an hour after sunset (per MassWildlife). Sunrise and sunset shift daily, so work the offset against your local Massachusetts sun times for any other date.
Can I hunt deer on my own land in Massachusetts without a license?
A Massachusetts landowner with 300 or more contiguous undeveloped acres, or a farmer earning at least half their income from farming, may hunt small game on that land without a license. Deer, turkey, or bear on the same land needs a separate Farmer/Landowner permit, which also covers immediate family and resident tenants.
Verified · Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife (MassWildlife) · Last verified 2026-08-12
Publisher's note. Dates from MassWildlife's own deer hunting regulations page. Massachusetts also runs a Winter Deer Season (WMZs 13 & 14 only) each January-February, but it is published under the SAME calendar-year label as the fall season it precedes — the page currently shows 'Jan. 1-Feb. 14, 2026', which is this year's already-past window, not the one that will follow this fall's season. The 2027 winter dates were not yet published as of this check, so that season is left out here rather than guessed at — MassWildlife typically posts it in December. A Paraplegic Hunt (Oct. 29-31) runs during archery season for permit holders and is not a separate weapon season, but is listed as its own row since it has its own dates.