DCR DWSP Hunting and Trapping Access Permits

Find out how to obtain a free five year permit to hunt or trap on DCR Division of Water Supply Protection's Watershed lands. Information also on one year Quabbin Shotgun Season permit and two-day Controlled Hunt permits. All DCR DWSP hunt permits are free.

You must have a current, valid Massachusetts hunting or trapping license to hunt/trap on all DCR Water Supply land. All hunting/ trapping on Water Supply land requires a DWSP access permit. There are three different permit types depending on the area and/or game you plan to hunt/trap. Below is a list of the current types of hunting access permits for which you can apply for on Water Supply land.  Please read each description to apply.  You can apply to one or all of the permits below.  All DWSP permits are free.

All MassWildlife hunting regulations are in place on DWSP properties. Please refer to the MassWildlife Hunting Regulations website for annual license requirements, bag limits, hunt dates and other pertinent information. Additional rules are in place on DWSP lands to protect  watershed resources.

Five-Year Watershed Hunting/Trapping Access Permit

This free permit is required for hunting/trapping in the Sudbury, Wachusett (including the Reservoir Zone) and Ware River watersheds, and in Off-Reservation areas at Quabbin (e.g., Macedonia region). These areas are marked in green on the DWSP Hunting Map .  This permit allows you access on watershed lands to hunt/trap most game during any season for five years.

• DCR Watershed lands in the Wachusett Reservoir Zone are now included in the five-year Watershed permit.  If you already have a five-year permit, no additional DCR permits are needed.  Reservoir Zone Antlerless permits have been replaced by the regular Zone 9 antlerless permits available on MassFishHunt.  Please use these tags to harvest a doe. 
• Since 2023, DWSP lands in the Ware River Watershed require the free, five-year Watershed Hunting permit. This permit will allow vehicle access through interior gates during archery, shotgun and primitive deer seasons.
• Please note there are significant restrictions on waterfowl hunting in some watersheds due to boat-use, dog, and wading-restrictions in wet areas including many lakes/ponds.
• Apply for the Watershed Hunting/Trapping Access Permit from this link.  You can apply any time and there is no limit on the number of permits.  You will receive an email from DWSP with your permit.  If you need to re-print the permit, please go back to that email with the permit; if you have any additional questions about the permits, email [e-mail].

Quabbin Shotgun Season Controlled Deer Hunt

This permit is for deer hunting only in designated Quabbin Zones and is good for one year only. You can apply for this permit from July 1 to the last day of shotgun season each year, but the permit only allows you access during the two weeks of shotgun season. There is no cap to the number of people that can apply for this permit. Drive-in access is not permitted except in specific gates (see map). A Shotgun Season Controlled Hunt permit will allow you access to any zone in yellow on the Hunting Map. Please visit the Quabbin hunt page for more information.

Use this link to apply for the 2-week Quabbin Shotgun Season Hunt.

Quabbin Two-Day Controlled Deer Hunt Permit

This permit is for deer hunting only in designated Quabbin zones and is good for the current year only.

• Hunters can apply in July to hunt in any zone that is open for a two-day controlled hunt.
• The application period for 2024 closed on August 31.
• If there are more applicants than there is space for hunters in a specific zone, a lottery will be held at the Quabbin Visitor Center on a designated date. Hunters can only participate in the two-day controlled hunt if they submit their application in time and their hunting license # is pulled during the lottery.
• You may have up to four hunters in a group.  If one hunter gets picked to hunt by the lottery, the rest in his/her group is admitted as well.
  • There is only one application for both the controlled hunts.
  • If there are more than one zone open to a controlled hunt, please provide your hunt zone preferences for each hunt zone.  If your first choice is full, you will be put into your second choice.
• Two-day controlled hunt zones are marked in orange on the Hunting Map and this hunt may not be open every year.
• Drive-in access is permitted for hunters with this permit.
• Please visit the Quabbin Hunt page for more information about this hunt and associated important dates.

Note: The application period for the 2024 hunt is closed.  Check back on July 1, 2025 for next year's hunt.

Quabbin Off-Reservation Vehicle Access Permit

This is for gate access on "Macedonia" lands on the northwest side of Quabbin Off-Reservation regions (north side of Rt 202) during deer hunt seasons. Hunters must also have a 5-year Access Permit.

• Vehicle Access Permits are valid for access through the following gates:
  • Gate NS4 on West Main Street in New Salem
  • Gate SH6 off Cooleyville Road in Shutesbury
  • Gate SH8 on New Boston in Shutesbury
  • Gate SH9 off Cooleyville Road in Shutesbury
• Macedonia is open for all seasons and all game with a DWSP 5-year Hunting Permit, however the vehicle access permit is only good for deer hunting season. 
• These areas allow you to rent a key that gives gate access during deer hunting season. You must return the key at the end of the season.
• NOTE:  You do not need a Vehicle Access Permit to hunt this area.  You may access this area on foot from the gates. 
• Please visit the Quabbin Hunt page for more information about this area and an application for the drive-in access permit.
• You can apply for this Vehicle Access Permit online, but will need to pick up your gate key at the Quabbin Visitor’s Center.  
  • Click here for the Vehicle Access Permit application.
  • If you have any questions email the Visitor Center at [e-mail] or call 413-323-7221.
• You do not need this vehicle access permit for the Quabbin Shotgun Season or Two-day Controlled hunt at Quabbin. 

Ware River Night Access Permit

Night access (one hour after sunset to one hour before sunrise) is mostly prohibited on DWSP property.  However, a night access hunting permit will be issued to licensed hunters specifically to hunt only the following species in the Ware River watershed: coyote, fox, raccoon, or opossum. All state-wide hunting regulations for these species must be followed. Hunters must also have a Five-Year Watershed Hunting/Trapping Access Permit.  Access permits must be visibly displaced on vehicle dashboards and also carried on person while present on DWSP property after dark.

Click here for the Ware River Watershed Night Access Hunting Permit application.