Buy a surplus Antlerless Deer Permit

You need a hunting license in order to purchase a surplus antlerless deer permit. The easiest way to buy a license or a surplus permit is online through the MassFishHunt system. In-person sales are also available at license vendor locations. 

All hunters will have the opportunity to buy surplus permits in September for zones 3, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, and 14. MassWildlife makes surplus permits available for zones that have permits remaining after the Application/Award process. Surplus permits provide additional opportunity for hunters and minimize the number of permits that go unused. Anyone with a valid hunting or sporting license can buy a surplus ADP. You do not need to have applied for an ADP by the July 16 deadline to be eligible for surplus permits. The easiest way to buy a license or a surplus permit is online through MassFishHunt. In-person sales are also available at select license vendor locations and MassWildlife offices.  

Limited permits available for Zones 3, 9, and 12
A limited number of Antlerless Deer Permits are available for zones 3, 9, and 12. Surplus ADPs for zones 3, 9, and 12 will be available for purchase on a first-come, first-served basis starting at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, September 28. Limit 1 ADP per zone per day until they sell out.  

TIPS: Limited surplus permits for Zones 3, 9, and 12 will sell out very quickly. In some cases, they may sell out in less than 5 minutes. To improve your chances of getting a limited surplus permit in zones 3, 9, or 12, prepare ahead of time. Purchasing online is your best chance for securing a limited surplus permit.

• Buying online: Make sure you know your email address and password to log in. Have a credit card ready. Log in by 8:50 a.m. on Wednesday, September 28; licenses will become available at 9 a.m. Do not log in on more than 1 internet browser or device. After you add a surplus ADP into your cart, it will be reserved for 15 minutes. If you do not complete the checkout process in 15 minutes, the permit will be removed from your cart and other customers will be able to claim it. Once all permits have been claimed, you won’t see these products available for purchase and you will not be able to add permits to your cart. There is a limit of 1 permit per transaction. This keeps the surplus process fair for all hunters.
• Buying at a MassWildlife office: Arrive on time, as sales will begin promptly at 9 a.m. Make sure you have purchased your hunting or sporting license beforehand. Come with your customer ID written or printed. Cash or check only (credit and debit cards are not accepted). You will only be able to buy one surplus permit at a time per person. If you are planning to buy for someone else, you will be asked to wait in line again to ensure the process is fair for everyone waiting in line. Find a MassWildlife office near you.

Unlimited permits available for Zones 10, 11, 13, and 14
There is no cap set for Antlerless Deer Permits in zones 10, 11, 13, and 14. Surplus ADPs for zones 10, 11, 13, and 14 will go on sale starting at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, September 27 and will be available throughout the entire deer season. Limit 1 ADP per zone per day for Zones 10 and 11; Limit 4 ADPs per zone per day for Zones 13 and 14. 

After purchasing a surplus ADP, you will receive an email with your permit attached so you can print it from the convenience of your home. You can also access your permit to reprint at any time by logging into your MassFishHunt account. To reprint:  

• Log into MassFishHunt

• Once you’ve logged in, click on My Account  

• From the My Account menu, select Active Licenses, Permits & Privileges 

• Select Print Active Licenses (make sure pop-up blockers are turned off) 
   

Number of surplus ADP available by zone

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.