Hunting Season Dates

Massachusetts Hunting & Fishing

For further information regarding specific bag limits and seasons please visit the pages noted below. No hunting on Sunday.

		Open Season (All Dates Inclusive)
BLACK BEAR
Black Bear (Big Game)	Zones 1–14	Sept. 4 – Sept. 22 Nov. 5 – Nov. 24 Nov. 26 – Dec. 8
UPLAND GAME BIRDS*
Wild Turkey (Big Game)	Spring: Zones 1–13	April 30 – May 26
	Fall: Zones 1–13	Oct. 22 – Nov. 3
	Youth Hunt: Zones 1–13	April 28 (special restrictions apply**)
Crow	Zones 1–14	Jan. 1 – April 9 July 2 – April 10, 2019
Pheasant	Zones 1–14	Oct. 13 – Nov. 24
Pheasant	Youth Hunt
Quail	Zones 11–14	Oct. 13 – Nov. 24
Ruffed Grouse	Zones 1–14	Oct. 13 – Nov. 24
* Upland game bird hunting is closed during shotgun deer season. Migratory game birds (includes waterfowl, woodcock, snipe, rails): Seasons and bag limits set annually. For Migratory Game Bird Regulations visit mass.gov/dfw/migratory-bird-hunting. ** Must have completed the youth turkey hunt program.
DEER
Deer (Big Game)	Youth Deer Hunt	Sept. 29
	Paraplegic Hunt	Nov. 1 – Nov. 3
	Archery	Oct. 15 – Nov. 24
	Shotgun	Nov. 26 – Dec. 8
	Primitive Firearms	Dec. 10 – Dec. 31
RABBITS & SQUIRRELS
Cottontail Rabbit	Zones 1–12	Jan. 1 – Feb. 28 Oct. 13 – Feb. 28, 2019
Cottontail Rabbit	Zones 13 and 14	Jan. 1 – Feb. 28 Nov. 15 – Feb. 28, 2019
Snowshoe Hare	Zones 1–4	Jan. 1 – Feb. 28 Oct. 13 – Feb. 28, 2019
	Zones 5–12	Jan. 1 – Feb. 5 Oct. 13 – Feb. 5, 2019
	Zones 13 and 14	Jan. 1 – Feb. 5 Nov. 15 – Feb. 5, 2019
Gray Squirrel	Zones 1–9	Sept. 10 – Jan. 2, 2019
Gray Squirrel	Zones 10–14	Oct. 13 – Jan. 2, 2019
Rabbit, hare, and squirrel hunting are closed during shotgun deer season.
FURBEARERS
Bobcat	Zones 1–8	Jan. 1 – Mar. 8 Dec. 20 – Mar. 8, 2019
Coyote	Zones 1–14	Jan. 1 – Mar. 8 Oct. 13 – Mar. 8, 2019
Fox (red or gray)	Zones 1–14	Jan. 1 – Feb. 28 Nov. 1 – Feb. 28, 2019
Raccoon	Zones 1–14	Jan. 1 – Jan. 31 Oct. 1 – Jan. 31, 2019
Opossum	Zones 1–14	Jan. 1 – Jan. 31 Oct. 1 – Jan. 31, 2019
All furbearer hunting seasons are closed during shotgun deer season except for coyotes. Special restrictions apply. 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.