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Hunting & Shooting Opportunities

This section provides specific places to hunt and shoot beyond the Places to Go area of the website. These hunting opportunities may be relatively new to hunters or require some kind of registration or permit. Information about shooting ranges with public shooting hours or beginning hunting programs are also found here.

Hunting on State Forest/Park Lands

This is a Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) link that details state forests and parks open to hunting in the Bay State. Hunting is permitted in most state forests and parks. This link is a listing of many of the state parks and forests open to regulated hunting. You must contact the Forest and Parks phone number listed for that property to learn about any specific restrictions.

Hunting on DCR Wachusett Watershed Lands

Hunting is allowed on designated DCR Wachusett Watershed Lands in central Massachusetts by permit. Permit applications and a map of open lands for hunting may be obtained and dropped off at the DCR office in West Boylston. Department of Conservation and Recreation, Division of Water Supply Protection, Office of Watershed Management, 180 Beaman Street West Boylston, MA 01583. Permits will be mailed to hunters. There is no fee for the permit and the permit is valid for 5 years. Hunting Permit applications are available online.

Archery Hunting at Templeton Development Center

The Department of Mental Retardation (DMR), Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) and the Division of Fisheries and Wildlife (MassWildlife) have worked together to provide a bowhunting-only opportunity for turkey and deer during the fall at DMR's Templeton Developmental Center (TDC). Through legislation and a Memorandum of Agreement between DMR and DCR, a Cooperative Management Plan for TDC property has been developed delegating certain land management responsibilities to DCR while ensuring the well-being and rights of TDC residents. Property beyond the TDC campus and agricultural fields, and otherwise not utilized by TDC residents, is being managed cooperatively to benefit both natural resources and the public. The hunting activity being permitted is also designed to address high deer and turkey densities and the related agricultural damage these species have caused. (Fall only)

Camp Edwards (Massachusetts Military Reservation / Otis) Controlled Deer and Turkey Hunts

Deer: In 2008, deer hunting at the MMR will be allowed on the following dates:

Archery--November 12 - 14 (Wed. - Fri.) -- Nov. 15 is no longer available due to a military training excercise scheduled on this date.
Shotgun--December 1 - December 6
Muzzleloader-- December 17 - 20

Deer hunters who wish to hunt on this Cape Cod military installation must fill out the registration form and send it to the MassWildlife Southeast District by November 1.

There is a limit of 600 hunters allowed on the base at any one time and space is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Deer hunters are reminded that a valid Firearms Identification Card or License to Carry is required by MMR to hunt Camp Edwards/Otis during the shotgun and muzzleloader seasons. A valid photo ID is required for the archery season. Specific details about the hunt are found on the registration form. Permission to hunt at Camp Edwards is at the discretion of the Camp Commander.

For further information, contact the MassWildlife Southeast District Office at (508) 759-3406.

Turkey: The dates for the 2008 Spring controlled wild turkey hunting opportunity are May 5th - May 9th. Hunters wishing to participate must check in at the Otis Fish & Game Club (directions below) each day and receive a daily hunting permit (pre-registration not required as with the deer hunt). Hunters must provide their valid 2008 hunting or sporting license and FID or LTC card in order to participate in the hunt. The Otis Fish and Game Club will open at 4:00 a.m. daily for the turkey hunt.

Attention prospective Camp Edwards hunters. Please review the following brief presentation on Unexploded Ordnance (UXO's) and your safety. Portions of the hunting area at Camp Edwards may contain UXO's from former military training operations. This presentation will help you learn how to identify UXO's and explain the proper procedures for keeping yourself and friends safe.

Directions to the Otis Fish and Game Club check-in:

From the north: Take Route 3 south to the Sagamore Rotary, then take Route 6 west to the Buzzards Bay Rotary, cross the Cape Cod Canal and take Route 28 south to the Massachusetts Military Reservation Rotary. At the Massachusetts Military Reservation rotary, take the base entrance road, Connery Avenue (inbound), then take the first left, and then left onto Connery Avenue (Outbound). The next right is the unpaved access road to the Otis Fish and Game Club. Follow the dirt road until you see the Otis Fish and Game Club building. Google Map

Quabbin Hunt Application & Information

Application is available at Quabbin and DFW offices after July 1 each year as well as online. Go to the Division of Water Supply Protection website for more information on the Quabbin Hunt. Deadline for submission of applications is August 16. Call the Quabbin Visitor's Center at (413) 323-7221 for more information.

Young Adult Pheasant Hunt Program

The Young Adult Pheasant Hunt Program was developed to:

provide interested young adults with an opportunity to practice skills (learned in the Hunter Education course) in a program that includes shotgun shooting, pre-hunt field practicum and culminating in a pheasant hunt while supervised by responsible, licensed adult hunters in an enjoyable environment.
provide local sporting clubs who want to pass on the traditions of hunting and the great outdoors with tools and guidance in implementing a successful young adult hunting experience.

Becoming an Outdoorswoman Program (BOW)

Shooting skills workshops, hunting seminars and hunts designed for adult women who are novice hunters are scheduled throughout the year. A BOW schedule is posted in the Education area of the agency website.

Massachusetts Junior Conservation Camp

A two-week overnight outdoor skills camp for teens 13-17 who are interested in the outdoors. Shooting sports are a big part of the curriculum, with teens learning to shoot handguns, shotguns, rifles as well as bow and arrows and muzzleloaders.

Shooting Range Development, Enhancement and Public Access

A listing of sporting clubs providing public access to shooting ranges through a grant program funded by MassWildlife's Hunter Education Program.

Paraplegic Season for Deer Hunters

The 2008 dates for this deer hunt by paraplegic hunters are October 30-November 1.