Massachusetts
Historic Bay State hunting, thriving spring wild turkey flocks, and coastal sea duck gunning.
Big Game Hunting in Massachusetts
Official Regulatory Body
Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife (MassWildlife)
White-tailed Deer
Massachusetts provides outstanding whitetail hunting characterized by high deer densities and world-class archery potential.
MassWildlife manages deer through Wildlife Management Zones (WMZs). Archery hunters in eastern zones capitalize on suburban woodlots and watershed lands, while western hunters pursue big-woods bucks across the rugged Berkshire mountains. The state enforces a progressive antlerless permit allocation that provides ample opportunity for meat and trophy hunting alike.
American Black Bear
Massachusetts holds over 4,500 black bears, with high densities in the Berkshires and Pioneer Valley. MassWildlife offers split early and late seasons with rising harvest numbers as bears feed in agricultural cornfields and oak ridges.