Antlerless Deer Permit announcements
Check your Antlerless Deer Permit status
If you applied by the July 16 deadline, you can now check to see if you were awarded a permit. Log into MassFishHunt to check your status. Note: You must purchase the permit in order to use it.
Surplus Antlerless Deer Permits
Surplus Antlerless Deer Permits (ADP) will go on sale in late September. Each permit costs $10 for residents and $20 for non-residents. You need a hunting license in order to purchase a surplus ADP. The easiest way to buy a license or a surplus permit is online through MassFishHunt. In-person sales are also available at license vendor locations.
2024 Surplus ADPs will go on sale on the following dates:
- Tuesday, September 24 at 9 a.m.: Surplus ADPs in zones 9, 10, 11, 13, and 14 go on sale.
- Zone 9 are first-come, first-served and limited to 1 permit per day.
- Zones 10, 11, 13, and 14 have no daily or season purchase limit and are available for purchase throughout the entire 2024 season.
- Wednesday, September 25 at 9 a.m.: Surplus ADPs in zones 3, 7, 8, and 12 go on sale.
- Zones 3, 7, 8, and 12 are first-come, first-served and limited to 1 permit per zone per day.
Click here to view a Wildlife Management Zone map
Number of surplus ADP available by zone
| WMZ | Surplus |
|---|---|
| 3 | 567 |
| 7 | 1,331 |
| 8 | 547 |
| 9 | 4,503 |
| 10 | Unlimited |
| 11 | Unlimited |
| 12 | 446 |
| 13 | Unlimited |
| 14 | Unlimited |
Animal athletes go for gold
As we watch the world’s greatest athletes compete in the Summer Olympics, let’s take a look at some Massachusetts wildlife species who could be strong competitors.
Gold medal in diving: Long-tailed ducks
You may say some swimmers live in the water, but these seaducks actually do. When it comes to diving, long-tailed ducks would be the favorite to take home the gold due to their impressive dives of up to 200 feet! These black and white ducks reach the ocean floor to feed on marine crustaceans, mussels, and small fish during their winters on the ocean. To add some style points to their score, long-tailed ducks flap their wings underwater rather than use their feet.
Gold medal in long distance swimming: American eels
American eels may not fit the athlete stereotype, but these slender fish can really go the distance. These eels hatch in the middle of the ocean in a large area called the Sargasso Sea. They are carried around by ocean currents until they reach coastlines throughout the North Atlantic, including traveling 400-2,000 miles to the coast of Massachusetts. From there, they swim upstream and primarily live in rivers and estuaries for most of their lives. When it is time to spawn, these amazing eels will head back to the ocean and swim all the way back to the Sargasso Sea to spawn and die.
Gold medal in long jump: Bullfrogs
Bullfrogs may be iconic for their loud and recognizable call, but their undeniable athleticism is on full display when they use their strong back legs to leap into the air. Even though they average 3.5–6 inches long, these fierce competitors have been recorded jumping over 50 inches! Even if they happened to lose out on gold in the long jump, they may have a chance in the Olympic sport of wrestling. Male bullfrogs are known to be incredibly territorial and will aggressively fight off intruders.
Gold medal in weightlifting: Ants
You may be expecting something big and burly to win the gold in weightlifting, but ants shouldn’t be underestimated in this event. Although they are small in size, ants can carry up to twenty times their bodyweight. Ants have strong jaws to grasp objects to carry and they use their very strong neck muscles to lift objects into the air. To put it in human terms, this would be like a human lifting a 4,000 lb. car with their mouths, lifting it over their heads, and putting it on their back.
Gold medal in breaking: Short-tailed weasels
New to the Olympics this year, “breaking” better known as “breakdancing,” is a fun sport to watch. For wildlife, the short-tailed weasel would undeniably be at the top of the podium. When other tactics don’t work when they are trying to catch rabbits, these weasels have been seen performing a dance where they hop and twist to disorient them. As they are being mesmerized, the weasels will get closer and closer to the rabbit until they can pounce.
Special mention
Gold medal in golf: Canada geese
Not due to any particular skill, but mostly just to time spent on the course, our biologists would award the gold medal in golf to Canada geese.
MA fire crew battles western blazes
MassWildlife prescribed fire crew member and Southeast District Technician John Garofoli, alongside 19 DCR firefighters, deployed in mid-July to help battle wildfires in Montana. This interagency crew is providing much-needed support while gaining experience and skills to apply back home. Read full press release.
Bears camping
Massachusetts is black bear country. If you’re planning a camping trip in an RV or tent, follow these 5 tips to stay safe and keep bears wild.
Are you planning a camping trip in Massachusetts? If so, you are camping in bear country. Massachusetts is home to at least 4,500 black bears. They are commonly found in western and central Massachusetts and the population is growing and moving eastward. Black bears will visit RV parks and campgrounds during the camping season in search of food. If they find food, bears will return more often and can become a danger to people. Your actions while camping have a direct impact on bear behavior. Do your part to keep your campsite clean and keep bears wild.
Here are 5 easy ways you can be “bear aware” and prevent bear problems when camping.
Never feed bears and other wildlife.
Intentional feeding can cause bears and other wildlife to lose their fear of people. When this happens, bears can become a threat to human safety and may need to be euthanized.
Stash trash out of sight, smell, and reach of bears.
Store your trash and recyclables in your RV or put it in a dumpster. Do not leave garbage outside. Use bear-resistant waste containers and dumpsters when available.
Secure all food and never store or eat food in tents.
Store food and beverages in bear-resistant containers where bears cannot see, smell, or reach them. Don’t store food, beverages, or coolers outdoors or on porches or patios. Clean up picnic tables immediately after use and never leave food unattended. Don’t throw food scraps or trash into the campfire or nearby woods. Burn off food on the grill and cover the grill after each use.
Close and lock RV, cabin, and vehicle doors and windows to discourage bear break-ins.
Bears will break into vehicles or through a screen door to access food they can smell or see. When you leave your site, lock doors and windows to RVs, vehicles, and cabins. Always keep exterior doors to RVs and cabins closed, even when you’re there.
Leash and supervise pets outdoors.
Supervise and leash dogs whenever they’re outdoors. Never let dogs chase or interact with bears as the presence of a dog could trigger a bear to be aggressive. Feed your pet indoors or clean up after outdoor feeding.
Black bears are naturally wary of people, but they can become less cautious if they repeatedly find food around people. By being “bear aware” when camping, you help keep bears wild and make the outdoors enjoyable for everyone. Visit mass.gov/bears to learn more about black bears in Massachusetts.
Discover Project WILD: Training for Educators
MassWildlife offers professional development workshops for educators who want to learn more about wildlife and conservation education.
Attention educators: Are you looking for engaging ways to connect children with science and nature? Don’t miss the opportunity to receive training in an award winning, interdisciplinary program! Project WILD is one of the most widely-used environmental education programs among educators of students in kindergarten through high school. The program centers on the intrinsic value of terrestrial and aquatic wildlife and helps educators effectively teach students about ecosystem functions through hands-on activities.
WILD Programs
- Project WILD is an interdisciplinary, conservation and environmental education program emphasizing wildlife, people, and the environment. (Designed for grades K–12.)
- Aquatic WILD is similar to Project WILD with added focus on aquatic wildlife and ecosystems. (Designed for grades K–12.)
- Growing Up WILD is an early childhood education curriculum that builds on children's sense of wonder about nature and invites them to explore wildlife and the world around them. Through a wide range of activities and experiences, it provides a foundation for developing positive impressions about nature while building lifelong social and cognitive skills. (Designed for educators working with ages 3–7.)
Project WILD workshops have applications for school teachers, scout leaders, camp counselors, nature center staff, home educators, and after care teachers. Workshop participants receive a copy of the activity guide(s) and a certificate of completion.
Click here to see scheduled workshops. Workshops may also be scheduled to accommodate in-service trainings at a school or other organization. Contact MassWildlife’s Wildlife Education Coordinator, Pam Landry (pam.landry@mass.gov), for more information.
Massachusetts rattlesnake FAQs
In honor of World Snake Day on July 16, MassWildlife posted a video filmed by our State Herpetologist of a timber rattlesnake displaying its name-sake behavior of rattling the end of its tail. This video prompted many questions from Massachusetts residents about these fascinating snakes. It’s clear from the popularity of the post that people are curious, so we’ve gathered answers to your top rattlesnake questions. Follow MassWildlife on Facebook and Instagram for more wildlife profiles, conservation stories, and tips for enjoying the great outdoors.
I have lived in MA for years and I have never seen a rattlesnake. Why not?
While rattelsnakes are native to Massachusetts, most people have never seen a rattlesnake here. Timber rattlesnakes were once widespread across western, central, and northeastern Massachusetts, but their lower reproductive rates and longer maturation period have made them highly vulnerable to many threats, leading their populations to be small and declining. Today, their statewide population is only in the hundreds and scattered over a small handful of areas, making the chance of seeing one very low. They require a specific habitat which includes mountainous terrains with steep ledges or rockslides close to forested areas with a large population of rodents. Sightings of timber rattlesnakes are also very low because they hibernate for six months of the year. They are usually active from mid-April to mid-October and rarely move or eat the first several weeks after emerging from hibernation.
We have rattlesnakes in MA?! I thought there were no venomous snakes here.
Only two of the fourteen types of snakes in Massachusetts are venomous: the timber rattlesnake and the copperhead. Both live in only a few areas of the state, and both are listed as endangered under the MA Endangered Species Act.
Timber rattlesnakes use venom to immobilize their prey, such as mice, chipmunks, squirrels, rabbits, and birds. Venom is costly for them to produce and they will only use it when needed. Both rattlesnakes and copperheads avoid people and pose no serious threat when left alone.
Learn about snakes in Massachusetts
Why do rattlesnake rattle their tails?
When you hear a rattlesnake’s rattle, it’s time to skedaddle! Rattlesnakes use their rattle to warn you that they are feeling threatened and you should back away. Overall, rattlesnakes try to go unnoticed. They are sneaking up on their prey and don’t want to gather attention of potential predators. They use their camouflage and low position to the ground to stay under the radar. If a rattlesnake continues to feel agitated after warning you with its rattle, they may decide to strike.
What should I do if I see a rattlesnake? How can I avoid them?
If you see a rattlesnake, the best thing to do is to maintain a safe, respectful distance. Do not handle or otherwise disturb them and continue on your way. If you aren’t sure what species of snake you are looking at, treat it as though it is venomous and give it plenty of space. To avoid an encounter, make sure to stay on trails, and keep pets leashed. Because these snakes are rarely seen, please let us know if you happen to see one! Send an email with any photos (taken from a distance) and location to natural.heritage@mass.gov.
How big are rattlesnakes? What do they look like?
Adult timber rattlesnakes range from 35-60 inches long. They have a broad, triangular head and variable color patterns. Some are almost jet black. Others appear sulfur-yellow with black, brown, or rust-colored blotches, which are separated by cross bands on the back and sides. They can sometimes be confused for Northern watersnakes and milksnakes.
Why are rattlesnakes endangered? What is being done to conserve them?
Threats to timber rattlesnakes include habitat loss and fragmentation, road mortality, targeted and incidental killing, collection, harassment, and fungal disease. It is illegal for anyone to kill, collect, possess, import, or move rattlesnakes in Massachusetts. MassWildlife is actively working to conserve rattlesnakes in Massachusetts through land protection, monitoring, habitat management, road mortality reduction, and public education. You can report sightings of rattlesnakes to MassWildlife at natural.heritage@mass.gov, or report any suspected illegal activity directly to the Massachusetts Environmental Police at 1-800-632-8075.
2024 Youth Pheasant Hunt
Hunter Education graduates aged 12–17 are invited to participate in the 2024 Youth Pheasant Hunt. Participants learn hunting basics and firearms safety from experienced adults. Classes are offered on different dates at locations around the state. Register for an event by August 31.
Biodiversity goals
The Department of Fish & Game is developing Biodiversity Goals for Massachusetts and is seeking public input.
Two virtual public listening sessions were held in July. Download the presentation slides and watch the recording in: English | Español | Português | 中文 | Kreyòl Ayisyen | Tiếng Việt | ASL
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