With the outcry over the demise of a black bear affectionately dubbed “Pumpkin” at the hands of a hunter in Hanson in early November — it got us wondering when it’s legal to hunt bears, as well as other wildlife, like turkeys and deer, in Massachusetts.
It’s well into hunting season and black bears, white-tailed deer, and wild turkeys are currently fair game to the many hunters in the state.
With all the different hunting hours, dates, permits, restrictions on hunting implements, required attire, bag limits, and more, it can can be a challenge to figure out how to legally hunt in Massachusetts.
Here’s an easy comprehensive guide of what Massachusetts residents should know before they hunt bears, deer, and wild turkeys this year.
How many bears, deer and turkeys live in Massachusetts?
Considering Massachusetts is the third most densely populated state in the country, the animal population is actually quite healthy. The black bear population is estimated to be more than 4,500 and growing, deer densities range from 12-18 deer per square mile to 30-50, and the turkey population is estimated to be between 30,000 and 35,000 birds, according to MassWildlife.
How many bears, deer and turkeys were killed by hunters last year?
Last year, Massachusetts hunters killed 223 bears, 15,853 deer, and 2,988 turkeys, according to harvest data from MassWildlife Division of Fisheries and Wildlife.
Why Pumpkin was killed Hunter kills black bear with bow and arrow in Hanson
Bearing hunting rules in Massachusetts
When is black bear hunting season in Massachusetts?
Here are the 2023 bear hunting season dates, according to MassWildlife:
- First season: Sept. 5 – Sept. 23
- Second season: Nov. 6 – Nov. 25
- Shotgun season: Nov. 27 – Dec. 9
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What time of day can I hunt bears?
Bear hunting hours begin 30 minutes before sunrise and end 30 minutes after sunset. Find sunrise and sunset times for specific towns in Massachusetts using the National Weather Service (NWS)’s Sun Tables. Many smartphone weather apps also show sunrise and sunset times according to the phone’s geolocation.
Hunting is prohibited in Massachusetts on Sundays.
What permits do I need to hunt bears?
To legally hunt black bears in Massachusetts, residents are required to have a hunting license ($29.50) or a sporting license ($54). A bear permit ($10) is also required.
Licenses, stamps and permits can be purchased through MassFishHunt.
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What kinds of implements can I use when hunting bears?
Rifles can only be used during the first and second season, handguns can only be used during the first season, shotguns can only be used during the third season, and muzzleloaders and archery equipment can be used during all three bear hunting seasons.
Requirements for each type of hunting implement can be found at https://www.mass.gov/info-details/black-bear-hunting-regulations.
It is illegal for bear hunters to use dogs or bear bait, which includes dead animals and scents tempting to bears.
Do I have to wear ‘blaze’ orange when hunting bears?
Bear hunters are not required to wear blaze orange — also known as safety orange — during the first bear hunting season. A blaze orange hat is required during the second bear hunting season when hunting on Wildlife Management Zones that contain pheasants and quail. Five-hundred square inches of hunter orange on the head, chest and back is required during the third (shotgun) bear hunting season.
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How many bears can I legally kill?
Each hunter may kill only one bear per year.
What should I do after I kill a bear?
Hunters must take the following steps after killing a bear:
- Fill out and attach a harvest tag (included with bear permit) to the bear carcass.
- Within the first 48 hours of a kill, hunters must inform MassWildlife online or in person at an official game check station, where a confirmation number or metal seal will be issued.
- Write the confirmation number or attach the metal seal to the harvest tag on the bear. The confirmation number must stay on the deer until it is processed.
Deer hunting regulations in Massachusetts
When is deer hunting season in Massachusetts?
Here are the 2023 deer hunting season dates, according to MassWildlife:
- Archery season, wildlife management zones 10–14: Oct. 2 – Nov. 25
- Archery season, wildlife management zones 1–9: Oct. 16 – Nov. 25
- Shotgun season: Nov. 27 – Dec. 9
- Primitive firearms season: Dec. 11 – Dec. 30
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What time of day can I hunt deer?
Deer hunting hours begin 30 minutes before sunrise and end 30 minutes after sunset. Find sunrise and sunset times for specific towns in Massachusetts using the National Weather Service’s sun tables. Many smartphone weather apps also show sunrise and sunset times according to the phone’s geolocation.
Hunting is prohibited in Massachusetts on Sundays.
What permits do I need to hunt deer?
To legally hunt deer in Massachusetts, residents are required to have a hunting license ($29.50) or a sporting license ($54). Additional stamps are required for archery season ($10) and for primitive firearms season ($10). To hunt deer without any antlers or with antlers less than three inches in length, an antlerless deer permit ($10) is required. No stamp is required for shotgun season.
Licenses, stamps, and permits can be purchased through MassFishHunt.
What kinds of implements can I use to hunt deer?
Archery equipment can be used during all three deer hunting seasons, but shotguns can only be used during shotgun season, and primitive firearms can only be used during primitive firearms season.
Requirements for each type of hunting implement can be found here.
Rifles, handguns, electronic calls, dogs and decoys are not allowed.
Do I have to wear blaze orange to hunt deer?
Orange blaze requirements, while mandatory for all deer hunters, are different depending on the hunting season. A blaze orange hat is required during archery season when hunting in wildlife management zones stocked with pheasants and quail. Five-hundred square inches of orange on the chest, back and head is required during shotgun season and primitive firearms season.
How many deer can I kill?
A hunter can only kill two antlered deer annually. An antlerless deer permit allows for an unlimited number of antlerless deer or deer with antlers less than three inches long.
What should I do after I kill a deer?
Hunters must take the following steps after killing a deer:
- Fill out and attach a harvest tag (included with permit or license) to the deer carcass.
- Within the first 48 hours of a kill, hunters must inform MassFishHunt online or in person at an official game check station. Officials will provide a confirmation number for the deer.
- Write or attach the confirmation number to the tag on the deer. The confirmation number must stay on the deer until it is used for food or other purposes.
- During the first week of shotgun season, hunters must bring the deer to one of MassWildlife’s official game check stations so staff can collect biological data.
Turkey hunting rules in Massachusetts
When is turkey hunting season?
Here are the 2023 turkey hunting season dates, according to MassWildlife:
Spring season, wildlife management zones 1–13: April 24 – May 20
Fall season, wildlife management zones 1–9: Oct. 16 – Nov. 25
Fall season, wildlife management zones 10–13: Oct. 2 – Nov. 25
When time of day can I hunt turkey?
During the spring turkey hunting season, hours began 30 minutes before sunrise and ended at noon. During the fall turkey season, hours begin 30 minutes before sunrise and end 30 minutes after sunset. Find sunrise and sunset times for a specific town in Massachusetts using the National Weather Service’s sun tables. Many smartphone weather apps also show sunrise and sunset times according to the phone’s geolocation.
Hunting is prohibited in Massachusetts on Sundays.
What permits do I need to hunt turkeys?
To legally hunt turkeys in Massachusetts, residents are required to have a hunting license ($29.50) or a sporting license ($54). A turkey permit ($10) is also required.
If hunting turkey with a shotgun or muzzleloader, an official safety sticker must be placed on the gun. Visit any MassWildlife office or email mass.wildlife@mass.gov to get a new or replacement sticker.
Licenses, stamps and permits can be purchased through MassFishHunt.
What kinds of implements can I use to hunt turkeys?
During the spring season, a shotgun, muzzleloader and archery equipment can be used.
During the fall season, in all wildlife management zones, hunters can use shotguns, muzzleloading shotguns, and archery equipment from Oct. 16 – Oct. 28; and archery equipment only from Oct. 30 – Nov. 25. From Oct. 2 – 14, in wildlife management zones 1-9, there was no turkey hunting, while in wildlife management zones 10-13, only archery equipment was allowed.
Requirements for each hunting implement can be found at https://www.mass.gov/info-details/wild-turkey-hunting-regulations and the wildlife management zone map can be found at https://www.mass.gov/info-details/wildlife-management-zone-map.
It is illegal to use electronic calls, dogs, bait and live decoys to hunt turkeys in Massachusetts.
Do I have to wear blaze orange to hunt turkeys?
Turkey hunters are not required to wear blaze orange during the spring season. A blaze orange hat is required during the fall season when hunting in wildlife management zones containing pheasants and quail.
How many turkeys can I legally kill?
Two bearded turkey kills are allowed in the spring season and one turkey of either sex in the fall season.
Tips for identifying the different types of turkeys can be found at https://www.mass.gov/info-details/identifying-female-and-male-turkeys-in-the-spring.
What should I do after I kill a turkey?
Hunters must take the following steps after killing a turkey:
- Fill out and attach a harvest tag (included with turkey permit) to the turkey carcass.
- Within the first 48 hours of a kill, hunters must inform MassWildlife online or in person at an official game check station.
- If reported online, write the confirmation number on the harvest tag on the turkey.
Hunting other animals in Massachusetts
Regulations for hunting pheasants, coyotes, foxes, bobcats, and other small game can be found at https://www.mass.gov/hunting-regulations.
