Massachusetts

Historic Bay State hunting, thriving spring wild turkey flocks, and coastal sea duck gunning.

Public Access & WMAs

Public Lands to Hunt in Massachusetts

Official Regulatory Authority

Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife (MassWildlife)

MassWildlife (Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife) and the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) manage over 225,000 acres across more than 100 designated Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs), alongside nearly 450,000 acres of state forests, parks, and watershed reservations open to public hunting. From the rugged northern hardwood ridges of the Berkshires to the pine barrens of Plymouth and the rich marshes of the Connecticut River Valley, Massachusetts provides diverse public hunting for whitetail deer, black bear, wild turkey, and waterfowl.

Western Appalachian Uplands | 45,000+ Public Acres

Berkshire Hills & October Mountain State Forest

October Mountain State Forest (16,500 acres) near Washington and Lee is the largest state forest in Massachusetts. Together with surrounding Berkshire WMAs (Stafford Hill, Hiram H. Fox, and Chalet), steep northern hardwood ridges, spruce bogs, and rocky summits support premier black bear, whitetail deer, and ruffed grouse hunting.

Central Massachusetts Hardwoods | 80,000+ Public Acres

Quabbin & Ware River Watershed Reservations

Quabbin Reservoir lands feature controlled, permit-lottery public deer hunts designed to protect forest regeneration around Boston's primary drinking water supply. Ware River Watershed (25,000 acres) in Barre and Oakham is open to standard hunting regulations, offering prime whitetail deer, turkey, and small game opportunities.

Herm Covey & Bennett Meadows | 12,000+ Acres Combined

Connecticut River Valley WMAs

Herm Covey WMA (1,400 acres) in Belchertown features extensive pine plains, hardwood woodlots, and stocked pheasant cover. Bennett Meadows and surrounding Pioneer Valley WMAs provide rich alluvial soils, agricultural edges, and wetland backwaters for waterfowl, woodcock, and archery deer.

Plymouth & Cape Cod Pine Plains | 25,000+ Acres Combined

Myles Standish & Southeast Pine Barrens WMAs

Myles Standish State Forest (12,400 acres) and adjacent Frances A. Crane WMA (2,000 acres) in Falmouth feature classic pitch pine-scrub oak barrens and coastal plain kettle ponds. Highly popular for stocked pheasant hunting, quail, whitetail deer, and rabbit hunting.

Essex County Salt Marshes & Drumlin Forests | 8,000+ Acres Combined

Crane Pond & Northeast Coastal WMAs

Crane Pond WMA (2,600 acres) in Groveland and Georgetown features hardwood swamps, beaver ponds, and drumlin hills for deer and turkey. Surrounding coastal salt marsh WMAs along the Great Marsh in Newbury and Rowley offer exceptional Atlantic Flyway duck and goose shooting.