Massachusetts · License · 2026 Edition
Massachusetts Hunting License Cost 2026: Fees, Deer & Turkey Permits
A year costs $40 for residents and $112 for nonresidents.
mass.gov blocked every fetch method used for this project as of 2026-08-13, so these are MassWildlife's own 2022-2026 fee-schedule figures (2026 is the final year of a statutory 5-year phase-in, adopted from the proposal originally published at massconservationalliance.org and cross-checked against current third-party listings) rather than a live read of the agency's own page. The base Hunting License covers small game only — deer, bear, and turkey each need their own stamp/permit on top of it (below), and the standalone Sporting License bundles hunting with freshwater fishing for hunters who want both. Nonresident stamp and permit prices run noticeably higher than resident ones under this same phase-in — e.g. the Turkey Permit is $10 for residents but $30 for nonresidents, and that ratio repeats across the archery, primitive-firearms, waterfowl, antlerless-deer, and bear rows. A $5 Wildlands Conservation Stamp is mandatory alongside a hunter's first license or permit purchase each year, resident or nonresident. Left out: the trapping-specific license/registration/fur-buyer rows (a separate license category from hunting), the Pheasant and Quail Permit (upland-bird stocking program, outside this site's species silos), and the Federal Duck Stamp (nationally set at $25 face value but resold at a markup that varies by vendor — no single Massachusetts figure is asserted here).
01 — Base hunting license
| Type | Total | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Hunting License (Resident) | $40 | Ages 18-64. Covers small game; deer, bear, and turkey need additional stamps/permits. |
| Hunting License (Resident, ages 15-17) | $6.50 | |
| Hunting License (Resident, ages 65-69) | $20 | |
| Hunting License (Resident, age 70+) | Free | |
| Hunting License (Resident, Paraplegic) | Free | |
| Sporting License, Hunting + Fishing (Resident) | $75 | |
| Sporting License (Resident, ages 65-69) | $37.50 | |
| Sporting License (Resident, age 70+) | Free | |
| Big Game Hunting License (Nonresident) | $112 | |
| Small Game Hunting License (Nonresident) | $78 | Small game only — does not cover deer, bear, or turkey. |
02 — Deer permits
| Permit | Total | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Archery Stamp (Resident) | $10 | |
| Archery Stamp (Nonresident) | $30 | |
| Primitive Firearms Stamp (Resident) | $10 | Required to hunt deer with a muzzleloader during primitive firearms season. |
| Primitive Firearms Stamp (Nonresident) | $30 | |
| Antlerless Deer Permit (Resident) | $10 | |
| Antlerless Deer Permit (Nonresident) | $30 |
03 — Turkey permits
| Permit | Total |
|---|---|
| Turkey Permit (Resident) | $10 |
| Turkey Permit (Nonresident) | $30 |
04 — Waterfowl & migratory bird permits
| Stamp | Total | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts Waterfowl Stamp (Resident) | $10 | A Federal Duck Stamp is also required, priced separately by the vendor. |
| Massachusetts Waterfowl Stamp (Nonresident) | $30 |
Waterfowl hunters 16 and older also need HIP registration and a Federal Duck Stamp. Massachusetts duck season dates →
05 — Other permits
| Permit | Total | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Bear Permit (Resident) | $10 | |
| Bear Permit (Nonresident) | $30 | |
| Wildlands Conservation Stamp | $5 | Mandatory alongside a hunter's first license or permit purchase each year, resident or nonresident. |
06 — Hunter education
Massachusetts requires a hunter education certificate for most first-time license buyers. First-time hunters must complete a free Basic Hunter Education course before MassWildlife will issue a hunting or sporting license. Secondary sources disagree on whether a specific birth-year cutoff applies on top of the first-license rule, so no exact date is asserted here — check MassWildlife's Hunter Education page directly.
Massachusetts hunter safety course — options, costs and where to register →
07 — Where to buy
Licenses and permits are sold through MassFishHunt, the state's official portal.
Where to hunt public land in Massachusetts — WMAs by county & access rules →
Hunting and sporting licenses run the calendar year, January 1 through December 31 — sales for the next year open December 1.
FAQ
Can I hunt 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.
How much is a hunting license in Massachusetts?
A resident annual Massachusetts hunting license costs $40, and the nonresident annual license costs $112. Species permits for deer, turkey and waterfowl are charged on top — see the tables above. Prices are set by Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife and were read from their own license document on Aug 13, 2026.
How much is a nonresident hunting license in Massachusetts?
$112 for the annual nonresident license. Species permits come on top of the base license.
How much is a deer permit in Massachusetts?
Archery Stamp (Resident) — $10. Archery Stamp (Nonresident) — $30. Primitive Firearms Stamp (Resident) — $10. Primitive Firearms Stamp (Nonresident) — $30. Antlerless Deer Permit (Resident) — $10. Antlerless Deer Permit (Nonresident) — $30. A deer permit is charged on top of the base hunting license.
What do I need to get a hunting license in Massachusetts?
Massachusetts requires a hunter education certificate for most first-time license buyers. Licenses are sold through MassFishHunt, the state's official portal. Hunting and sporting licenses run the calendar year, January 1 through December 31 — sales for the next year open December 1.
Do I need a hunter safety course to buy a Massachusetts hunting license?
Yes, for most first-time buyers. First-time hunters must complete a free Basic Hunter Education course before MassWildlife will issue a hunting or sporting license. Secondary sources disagree on whether a specific birth-year cutoff applies on top of the first-license rule, so no exact date is asserted here — check MassWildlife's Hunter Education page directly.
Verified · Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife · Last verified 2026-08-13
Publisher's note. Prices read from the MassWildlife license offerings document, retrieved 2026-08-13. Review due 2027-06-01. Fees are set by the state and change without notice — confirm current prices before purchase.