Massachusetts Hunting - 2023 Seasons, Licenses, & Maps (2024)

FAQs

Can I hunt on my own land without a license in Massachusetts? ›

Farmers who earn at least 50% of their annual income from agricultural practices or landowners who own more than 300 contiguous acres of undeveloped property qualify to hunt on their own property during the legal seasons without a hunting license.

Possession of a loaded firearm, discharge of a firearm, or hunting on the land of another within 500 feet of any dwelling or building in use, unless permitted by the owner or occupant.

Prohibited: Possession or use of rifles and handguns in any woodland or field, or use on any game during the shotgun deer season, including the Youth Deer Hunt Day.

The following species may be taken year-round (except during shotgun deer season) by licensed hunters with no daily or seasonal bag limit: English sparrow, flying squirrel, red squirrel, chipmunk, porcupine, skunk, starling, weasel, woodchuck.

Barring a town regulation, in Massachusetts you don't need permission to hunt on private land that is not posted against trespass.

Farmers and other property owners are allowed by law to destroy coyotes or other wildlife causing damage to their crops or property. Pet owners may also take lethal action against coyotes that are attacking pets on their property.

Depending on where you live, you may be able to practice right in your own backyard. If you're target shooting with a bow, you must be at least 150 feet from a road. If you are less than 150 feet from a road, consider using the property of a friend or family or joining a sporting club with a range.

Under current state law, the Commonwealth's sportsmen are limited to hunting only six days a week. Massachusetts and Maine are the only states remaining with a Sunday hunting ban, after Pennsylvania changed their rules in 2020.

NOTE: You shall not possess or discharge a loaded rifle or shotgun within 500 feet of a building or dwelling in use without the owner or occupant's permission. Also, you shall not discharge a rifle or shotgun upon or across any state or hard surfaced highway or within 150 feet of a highway.

Know Hunting Laws

It's best to look at the states that don't allow deer hunting with . 223 diameter bullet or an AR-15 rifle. Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Iowa, Massachusetts, Virginia, Ohio, New Jersey, Washington, and West Virginia require larger bullets to be used to hunt game.

Can you bait deer on private land in Massachusetts? ›

Caution: In Massachusetts it is illegal to bait deer during the hunting season. Bait is defined as anything the deer can ingest, so if you spray an apple scent on something deer would eat, it is considered baiting and is illegal. Deer urine is the most often used during the rut.

The use of air/pellet guns is prohibited for the purposes of taking/harvesting deer, bear, turkey, crow, pheasant, quail, and migratory game birds. Air/ pellet guns may be used for all other species during their respective legal open seasons.

Now that mountain lions and wolves are absent in the Commonwealth, deer populations are able to grow in numbers in areas without regulated hunting, despite vehicle collisions and predation by black bears, bobcats, and coyotes.

Hunting hours are from a half hour before sunrise to a half hour after sunset on each day of open season (see MassWildlife Sunrise-Sunset table) except for: Hunting for rabbit, hare, fox and coyote which closes at midnight. Migratory birds a half hour before sunrise to sunset. Raccoon and opossum hunting.

Many towns allow hunting on municipal lands, which are sometimes called “conservation lands.” Some town bylaws do not allow hunting and others restrict the use of firearms. You have to contact the town to know for sure. Many town lands are open to hunting.

Discharging a firearm (including a bow and arrow) is prohibited in or within 150 yards of a developed recreation site, a residence, or any place where people are likely to be. Shooting across bodies of water or a Forest Service road is prohibited. Shooting into or within any cave, mine or open shaft is prohibited.

Many towns allow hunting on municipal lands, which are sometimes called “conservation lands.” Some town bylaws do not allow hunting and others restrict the use of firearms. You have to contact the town to know for sure. Many town lands are open to hunting.

Resident landowners and their minor children under the age of 16 may hunt and trap on their own land in season without a license.

Yes, you may hunt without a license on any privately owned adjacent lands as long as you secure written consent of the adjacent owner or lessee. Yes, if you own fifty or more contiguous acres within a county, you may apply for, at the regular fee, a doe license in advance of the general public.