Pheasant stocked areas
Every year, MassWildlife stocks about 40,000 ring-necked pheasants statewide. These birds are stocked on public and private lands open to hunting. MassWildlife also stocks bobwhite quail at Myles Standish State Forest in Plymouth and Francis Crane WMA in Falmouth.
Hunting hours
Hunting hours begin at sunrise and end at sunset. Click here for a sunrise/sunset table.
Required licenses, permits, and stamps
To hunt pheasant in Massachusetts you must have certain licenses and permits, which you can buy through MassFishHunt.
Pheasant/Quail Permit: Required by all hunters aged 15 years or older (including falconers) to hunt, take or possess pheasants or bobwhite quail, except for those hunting or possessing pheasants or quail harvested on licensed commercial shooting preserves.
Massachusetts residents:
- Hunting or sporting license
- Pheasant/Quail Permit
Non-residents:
- Small game or big game license
- Pheasant/Quail Permit
If you hunt on a licensed commercial shooting preserve, you need a resident or non-resident license, or a 1-day license for commercial shooting preserves.
Bag limits
- 2 per day
- 4 in possession
- No season limit
Hunting implements
Shotguns (including smoothbore muzzleloaders): No larger than #1 birdshot (pellet diameter equal to or less than 0.160 inches) can be used for pheasant hunting.
Archery: Archery equipment is legal. Crossbows may only be used by permit. Poisoned arrows, explosive tips, bows drawn by mechanical means, or any device that propels an arrow, dart, or bolt by gunpowder, compressed air, or by any other means except by the flexing and release of a bowstring are prohibited.
Hunting methods
Wanton waste: It is unlawful for hunters to intentionally or knowingly leave a wounded or dead game animal in the field or the forest without making a reasonable effort to retrieve and use it. Each retrieved animal shall be retained or transferred to another until processed or used for food, pelt, feathers, or taxidermy. This does not apply to animals unfit for consumption or use—animals and their parts that are damaged, destroyed, decayed, rotting, diseased, or infected.
Blaze orange requirements
When hunting for pheasant on WMAs where pheasant or quail are stocked during the pheasant or quail season, you need to wear a hunter orange cap.
Tagging, transporting, and reporting requirements
Harvest reporting is not required for pheasant.
Hunting season framework
The first Saturday after Columbus Day to December 31. All dates inclusive. Hunting is prohibited on Sundays. Pheasant hunting is closed during the shotgun deer season.
Pheasant hunting regulations
This page is to be used as a reference, it is not the entire law and is subject to change. You can refer to the pheasant, quail, and ruffed grouse hunting regulations in the Code of Massachusetts Regulations, 321 CMR 3.02(6) and to several provisions of the Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 131 for more information about pheasant hunting.
Special pheasant and quail hunt
Licensed hunters may submit an application to MassWildlife district offices for a free 1 day permit that allows the private purchase, liberation, and hunting of ring-necked pheasants and/or bobwhite quail on selected WMAs from Jan. 1 – March 31.
WMAs include:
- Frances A. Crane WMA and Erwin Wilder WMA (SE District)
- Bolton Flats WMA and Winnimusset WMA (Central District)
- Martin Burns WMA (NE District)
- Herm Covey WMA (CT Valley District)
- Housatonic Valley WMA (Western District)
Permits are issued on a first-come, first-served basis. Only one party can hunt on each WMA per day. There are no stocking limits, or bag limits. You will need a separate importation permit from the MassWildlife Boston Office (617) 626-1575 to purchase birds from out of state.