DCR DWSP Deer Harvest Reporting

Find out how to report deer harvested on DCR Division of Water Supply Protection's Watershed Management lands.

Harvest data is important to understand the deer populations on DCR Division of Water Supply Protection lands.  Information collected about the deer harvest helps DCR with the management and logistics of the hunts held on the Quabbin Reservoir, Wachusett Reservoir, Ware River, and Sudbury Reservoir watersheds, which provide drinking water to 3.1 million people. 

Harvest Data Requirements

Harvest data from deer taken on DCR DWSP property must be submitted to two agencies:

• Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife (MassWildlife)
• DCR Division of Water Supply Protection (DWSP).

It is a LEGAL REQUIREMENT to submit your harvest information to MassWildlife through the MassFishHunt system. It is also required that you submit your harvest information to DWSP’s database. This is for all harvests that occur on any watershed land.

 

Online Deer Harvest Reporting Instructions

• Each deer harvested is legally required to be reported to MassWildlife.
  • Submit data by clicking here (MassFishHunt).
  • When asked about antlered and antlerless deer in the MassFishHunt system, please select the following for all harvests on DWSP lands regardless of whether you harvested in a controlled hunt or under a 5-year permit:
    • “Was this deer harvested during a permitted or special controlled hunt”: Select “YES”
    • “Select the controlled hunt this deer was harvested during”: select “DCR Water Supply Property”

• Once you have your MassFishHunt Confirmation Number for your harvest, you must then submit your data to DWSP.  
  • Please click here to go to the DWSP on-line harvest report form 
  • Please have your MassFishHunt confirmation number available as it is required in the DWSP report.

• Each deer harvested must be reported separately.  If you have two harvests, then two separate reports are required.
• Please answer all of the questions. You will need to examine your deer to answer some of these questions.  Based on the information you provide when submitting your harvest data, DWSP biologists can extrapolate harvest information for the different watersheds and summarize the results.  The results of the harvest are posted here.