You must apply for a permit by July 16. Then, check back any time between August 1 and December 31 to see if you won the right to buy a permit.
- This page, Apply for an Antlerless Deer Permit, is offered by
- Division of Fisheries and Wildlife
Apply for an Antlerless Deer Permit
To hunt antlerless deer, you need an Antlerless Deer Permit (ADP). You'll have to apply each year for the chance to buy a permit.
Contact for Apply for an Antlerless Deer Permit
MassWildlife
The Details of Apply for an Antlerless Deer Permit
What you need for Apply for an Antlerless Deer Permit
You need a valid hunting or sporting license to apply for an Antlerless Deer Permit in Massachusetts. An antlerless deer is any deer without antlers or any deer with both antlers less than 3 inches long measured on a straight line from the center of the front base of the antler burr to the tip.
How to apply Apply for an Antlerless Deer Permit
You can apply for an ADP through the MassFishHunt online system. You must apply by the July 16 deadline. If you try to apply for an ADP again after you have already applied, you will get an error message. To adjust your ADP application zone, follow the directions at the bottom of the page.
- Log into MassFishHunt
Note: The MassFishHunt online licensing system is now upgraded! Your existing account information, including customer ID, will automatically transfer to the new system. When you visit for the first time, MassFishHunt will invite you to claim your account and add an email address and password. Requiring a unique email is an important way to keep your information secure. Once logged in, you can renew licenses, permits, and stamps, as well as view your purchase and harvest history. - Once logged in, click on Apply for an Antlerless Deer Permit in the top menu and click Apply. (If you’re on a mobile device, click on the 3 lines in the top left to access the main menu.)
- Select the zone you want to apply for and click Submit All Choices.
- Click Checkout to complete the process. There is no fee to apply.
If you don't want to apply online through MassFishHunt, you can apply in person at a license agent location. You must apply by the July 16 deadline.
Next steps for Apply for an Antlerless Deer Permit
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Check permit award status
If you apply for an Antlerless Deer Permit by the July 16th deadline, you still must check to see if you have been awarded the right to purchase the permit. The award period begins August 1st at 8 a.m. and ends on December 31st. Your odds of obtaining a permit are the same regardless of when you check your permit status. You can check the status of your permit through MassFishHunt, or by visiting a MassWildlife office or license agent location.
Surplus Antlerless Deer Permit sales
Starting in September, surplus Antlerless Deer Permits will be available for sale in select Wildlife Management Zones, until they have all sold out. You can purchase a surplus permit through MassFishHunt, at authorized license vendor locations, or at a MassWildlife office.
More info for Apply for an Antlerless Deer Permit
About Antlerless Deer Permits
Antlerless Deer Permits (ADP) are required to harvest antlerless deer (deer without antlers or antlers less than 3” long) in Massachusetts. Hunters can only harvest antlerless deer in the zone specified on their ADP.
Each year, MassWildlife allocates a certain number of ADPs for each wildlife management zone to meet deer management goals in different areas of the state. Hunters with a valid hunting or sporting license can apply for an ADP in the wildlife management zone of their choice; the deadline for applying is July 16 each year. The difference between allocation and demand determines the odds of winning an ADP.
In some years, and in some zones, hunter demand is lower than the number of allocated ADPs. When this happens, the odds of winning a permit in that zone are 100% and MassWildlife can offer Surplus Antlerless Deer Permits. Hunters with a valid hunting or sporting license can buy Surplus ADPs even if they did not previously apply for a permit. Surplus ADPs usually go on sale in late September and provide additional opportunity for hunters and minimize the number of permits that go unused.
Learn more about deer management in Massachusetts.
Contact for Apply for an Antlerless Deer Permit
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