New deer hunting regulations are in effect this fall. Review all deer hunting regulations carefully.
Note: Deer hunting web pages have been updated, but printed regulations do not reflect recent changes.
Early Deer Season (Sept. 21 – Oct. 1)
The Early Deer Season in WMZ 13 and 14 is open September 21 – October 1, 2026.
- You need a 2026 hunting or sporting license, which includes two antlered deer tags.
- You may use primitive firearms or archery equipment. You may not use shotguns.
- You do not need a primitive firearms or archery stamp.
- You can buy unlimited antlerless deer permits at any time for Zones 13 and 14.
- You can take as many antlered or antlerless deer as you have valid permits for.
Click here for all deer hunting regulations.
Winter Deer Season (Jan. 1 – Feb. 13)
The Winter Deer Season in zone 13 and 14 is open January 1 – February 13, 2027.
- You need a 2027 hunting or sporting license*, which includes two antlered deer tags that are valid statewide through Dec. 31, 2027.
- Licensed hunters may use archery equipment or primitive firearms during the winter deer season; no archery or primitive stamps are needed.
- You can get one free Winter Deer Permit*, which allows you to take 1 additional deer of either sex to be used only during the Winter Deer Season in zones 13 and 14 only. Valid Jan. 1–Feb. 13, 2027. (The winter deer permit is free, but must be added to your account in order to use it.)
- You can buy unlimited 2027 Antlerless Deer Permits* at any time for zones 13 and 14. Antlerless Deer Permits are valid through Dec. 31, 2027.
- During the winter season, you can take as many antlered or antlerless deer as you have valid tags or permits for.
- All hunters must wear 500 square inches of blaze orange on their head, chest and back during the winter deer season regardless of hunting implement used.
*2027 licenses and permits are available starting December 1, 2026.
Click here for all deer hunting regulations.
Find a place to hunt
There are both publicly- and privately-owned lands open to hunting on the islands.
- Manuel F. Correllus State Forest on Martha’s Vineyard is open to hunting.
- Most of the land open to hunting on Nantucket is owned by the Nantucket Conservation Foundation. Learn about hunting on NCF lands.
- Nantucket Land Bank has over 3,000 acres of public property open to hunting. Learn about hunting on NLB lands.
- Mass Audubon’s Sesachacha Heathlands Wildlife Sanctuary on Nantucket is open to deer hunting.
- Click here for tips on hunting private property.
Donate venison
MassWildlife’s Hunters Share the Harvest Program has added new partners on the islands! Hunters can donate venison to Massachusetts residents facing food insecurity. Since the program's inception in 2022, more than 100,000 meals have been distributed to families in need.
Whole deer donations will be accepted at:
- Nantucket Land Bank Agricultural Processing Center on Nantucket (opens Oct. 5, 2026)
- Island Grown Initiative and MV Hunt Club on Martha’s Vineyard
Venison is donated locally to IGI Island Food Pantry, Kinship Heals, Nourishing Nantucket, and the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah).
If you’re not planning to donate your whole deer, see our list processors to find the most convenient off-island butcher that will accept partial donations.
Lodging and transportation
Lodging:
- Local realtors and vacation rental websites can help you find short-term rentals.
- Search the Martha's Vineyard lodging directory or the Nantucket lodging directory for hotels and other accommodations.
Transportation:
- You must report your harvest within 48 hours either online or at a regular check station. You are not required to check your deer in on the islands.
- New regulations change visibility requirements for transporting deer prior to being reported. Hunters, including those using the ferry, will no longer be required to transport deer in a visible fashion but will be able to conceal them, reducing conflicts and making transport options more flexible.
- The Steamship Authority runs daily, year-round trips from Woods Hole to Vineyard Haven and Hyannis to Nantucket. Make reservations early to bring your vehicle.
Tick protection
Island residents and visitors should be aware of the presence of ticks and consistently take steps to prevent tick bites, even in colder months. Black-legged ticks, sometimes called deer ticks, are responsible for spreading Lyme disease, babesiosis, anaplasmosis, Borrelia miyamotoi, and Powassan virus. Lone star ticks, known for the potential of causing a red-meat allergy, are active March through October on the islands. Because tick bite risk is year-round, always use tick repellents, perform daily tick checks, and let your healthcare provider know about tick exposure if you develop any illness. Learn more about types of ticks, various tick-borne diseases, and prevention.
Keep Nantucket clean
All field dressing remains should be removed from Nantucket lands. There are no scavengers on Nantucket to consume gut piles, so deer remains can build up quickly and last for weeks or even months. You can dispose of deer remains for free at several waste stations—see map below for waste station locations or download the list of waste station locations (CSV).
Expanding hunting opportunities and deer management
Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket are facing rapidly increasing deer populations. Overabundant deer negatively impact forest health, increase deer-vehicle collisions on roadways, and increase public health risks through tick-borne illness. MassWildlife continues to work with local partners to expand hunting opportunities to achieve healthier deer populations.