Background
Winter Buck, Photo by Dale Monette, courtesy of North Quabbin Photography
Since its creation in the 1930s, hunting had not been permitted on the Quabbin Reservation. This allowed deer populations to grow immensely.
Two-day controlled hunts with hunters selected through a lottery began in 1991 in the Pelham area and expanded to the other four management blocks (Prescott, New Salem, Hardwick and Petersham) during the next three years. As deer populations were lowered, yearly hunting effort was reduced so that by 1996 only one hunting segment was used in each hunt area. This was in keeping with DWSP’s intent to scale back hunting effort as the program moved from the initial deer reduction phase to a population maintenance phase. The goal of this latter phase is to maintain deer populations at levels that allow for forest regeneration.
It was decided in 2019 that one zone (Pelham) would be open to deer hunting during the two-week shotgun season. Hunters who applied for a one-year access permit could hunt this zone. Due to the success of this program, it was expanded to New Salem and Hardwick zones starting in 2020. Two-day controlled hunts are still scheduled on a rotating (non-annual) basis in all Quabbin Zones, and Quabbin Park, Prescott and Petersham zones are currently only accessible during these two-day controlled hunts. While hunter success has been lower during the deer maintenance phase of the program than in earlier reduction phases, the exceptional scenery and habitat of Quabbin Reservation still makes for a quality hunting experience.
Quabbin hunting is still largely centered around the protection of its forest through a managed deer hunt. However, there are several other opportunities for hunting and trapping within the Quabbin Watershed. Below is some information about what hunting and trapping opportunities currently exist and how sportsmen and sportswomen can participate.
Quabbin Shotgun Season Deer Hunt
This hunt occurs annually during the two-week shotgun season in specific Quabbin zones (such as Hardwick, New Salem and Pelham). Hunters are required to apply online for a one-year DWSP Hunting permit to hunt these zones and there is no limit to the number of hunters that can receive a permit. PLEASE NOTE: these zones may rotate in-and-out of the two-day controlled deer hunt programs in future years to get hunters into difficult-to-access areas.
2026 Shotgun Season Quabbin Hunt Zones
- There is no lottery for the two-week shotgun DWSP Hunting permits. Each hunter must apply for their own hunting permit.
- Application dates for the hunting permit are from July 1 to the last day of shotgun season. Permits are processed by staff and not issued automatically. Therefore, we recommend applying in advance of shotgun season to allow time to receive your permit. Please visit the Hunting Access Permits page for an application.
- Each hunter will be able to use the two buck tags issued with their hunting license as well as up to two Quabbin Antlerless Deer Permits that will be available for purchase through the MassFishHunt website starting on Monday, November 16. Permits will be on sale through the last day of shotgun season.
Quabbin Shotgun Hunt Zones: Pelham and New Salem
Pelham and New Salem will be open for the entire two-week 2026 shotgun season (Monday, November 30 – Saturday, December 12, 2026). If Sunday hunting legislation passes and is in place for shotgun season, Sunday hunting will be permitted in the Quabbin shotgun season hunts. Access is by foot from DCR gates or designated access points. There may be increased vehicle access for parking on interior roads at designated gates in each section.
Quabbin Shotgun Hunt Zone: Hardwick
Important Notice for 2026 Hardwick Hunters!Although Hardwick is usually open for the full two-week shotgun season, this year DCR is holding a two-day Controlled Hunt here on December 2 and 3, 2026.
Here are the shotgun season hunt rules for Hardwick in 2026:
- Gate 41 south to Gate 49: closed first week of shotgun season to accommodate the two-day hunt. Please view the DWSP Hunting Map for the boundaries. This area reopens to all shotgun season hunters on Monday, December 7 through Saturday, December 12, 2026. Increased vehicle access through Gate 43 and Gate 45 will be allowed as in past years during this second week of shotgun season.
Quabbin Two-Day Controlled Deer Hunts
This is a two-day hunt that may occur in any given year in the historic Quabbin hunting zones of Hardwick, New Salem, Pelham, Petersham, Prescott, and Quabbin Park. For two-day controlled hunts, participants are selected from an applicant pool in a special lottery. Applications for the two-day controlled hunt must be submitted online. Applications for all hunts open on July 1 and close on August 31. Applications can be found on the Hunting Access Permit webpage. Watching an online orientation and passing a knowledge check is required in order to receive your permit.
2026 Hardwick, Quabbin Park, Petersham, and Prescott Controlled Hunt
DCR DWSP will hold a two-day controlled hunt in theHardwick Zone, Quabbin Park Zone, Petersham Zone, and Prescott Zone..
- Hardwick and Quabbin Park hunts will be on Wednesday, December 2 and Thursday, December 3, 2026.
- Please Note: Hardwick will reopen for shotgun season hunters on Monday, December 7 through Saturday, December 12.
- Please Note: Quabbin Park will be closed to the public during this hunt.
- Petersham hunt will be on Monday, December 7 and Tuesday, December 8, 2026.
- Prescott hunt will be on Thursday, December 10 and Friday, December 11, 2026.
These hunts will be administered the same as past Quabbin two-day controlled hunts. Hunters can apply in groups of up to four hunters and the number of permits will be capped for each Zone. If that cap is reached, there will be a lottery.
The Petersham and Prescott hunts share an application where hunters can specify their preferred hunting zone. No hunter will be able to hunt both Petersham and Prescott hunts. Quabbin Park and Hardwick hunts also share an application. Similarly, no hunter will be able to hunt both Quabbin Park and Hardwick. Hunters have the option to apply for both the Petersham/Prescott hunt and the Quabbin Park/Hardwick hunt.
The Lottery for the Prescott/Petersham and Quabbin Park/Hardwick hunts will be held on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, at 1pm at the Quabbin Visitor’s Center (see contact info below). It will be live and open to the public. As in the past, the selection process will issue permits based upon the last two digits of all Customer ID numbers (hunting license number) listed on the application. If a Customer ID number is selected, all hunters on the application receive permits for that hunt zone. For Prescott/Petersham and Quabbin Park/Hardwick, you will get placed into your preferred zone as indicated on your application until that zone is full. Once the hunter’s/hunting group’s preferred zone is full, they will be placed in their second choice if one of their Customer IDs is selected.
Les and Terry Campbell Quabbin Visitor Center: 485 Ware Road (Route 9 - GPS address: 100 Winsor Dam Rd), Belchertown, MA 01007; 413-323-7221.
You do not have to be at the lottery to find out if you were selected. The winning Customer ID numbers will be emailed and posted on the DCR webpage after the lottery.
Permitted hunters for each zone will be allowed vehicle access for the two-day hunts. Hunters will check in and out of the hunt each day.
Hunter Orientation
In order to be authorized to hunt in the two-day controlled hunts, selected hunters are required to watch the DCR hunter orientation recording and answer knowledge check questions (link provided in email to selected hunters). This is an annual requirement for all hunters, regardless of whether hunters have completed an orientation in the past. The link to the online orientation and knowledge check will be sent to hunters around Friday, October 2, 2026 and will be due on Monday, November 2, 2026.
A few important notes:
- Hunters will not be granted access to hunt if they fail to complete the orientation and knowledge check with a passing grade by November 2, 2026. Hunters who get more than two questions wrong will be required to retake the knowledge check before receiving their access permits to hunt. DSWP staff will email you to retake the test if this is the case.
- All Hunters are required to take the Orientation and complete the Knowledge Check regardless of whether they plan to purchase an antlerless permit.
Note: If you have been selected for the Quabbin Two-Day Controlled hunts in Petersham, Prescott, Hardwick or Quabbin Park and have not received an email with the link to the Orientation and Knowledge Check after the lottery is completed, please email: quabbin.hunt@mass.gov.
Antlerless Permits
You must use Quabbin-zone-specific antlerless deer permits to harvest antlerless deer for any of the above hunts. Hunters will be able to purchase up to two Antlerless Deer Permits for these controlled hunts on the MassFishHunt website starting on Monday, November 16 at 8 am. The permits will remain on sale through the duration of the hunt. Zone 6 permits will not be accepted in Quabbin Two-Day controlled hunts or Quabbin shotgun season hunts.
Scouting
Scouting is allowed year-round at Quabbin with the exception of the Prescott Zone. There will be a special scouting weekend on Saturday, November 21 and Sunday, November 22, 2026, from 8 am to 3 pm with drive-in access to Prescott, Petersham and Hardwick. Permitted hunters will be allowed to drive in to scout the Zones. Hunters must check in and check out each day that they scout. Only permitted hunters for each Hunt Zone will be admitted. Quabbin Park is open year-round to vehicle access, therefore hunters may scout at any time during open gate hours.
2026 Quabbin Park, Hardwick, Prescott and Petersham Controlled Hunt Permits
Please visit the Hunting Access Permits page for an application.
Other Quabbin Hunting or Trapping Opportunities
Male Turkey, Photo by Dale Monette, courtesy of North Quabbin Photography
Off-Reservation Hunting at Quabbin
There are areas managed by the Division of Water Supply Protection that are outside of the traditional Quabbin Deer Hunt Zones. These "Off-Reservation" lands are open for hunting and trapping for all game during the state hunting seasons with a DWSP permit. You can view these other areas within the Quabbin watershed that are not part of a Controlled Deer Hunt on theDWSP Hunting Map. Click on any location to find additional information about rules, regulations, and contact information. All State Fish and Wildlife Regulations are in effect for these properties. Note: A free five-year Watershed Hunting Permit is required to hunt these properties; click here to apply.
Turkey Hunting at Quabbin
Turkey hunting is permitted on Off-Reservation lands during the Spring and Fall seasons with a free five-year Watershed Hunting Permit (click here to apply).
Waterfowl Hunting at Quabbin
Waterfowl hunting is not permitted on any Quabbin watershed property due to 313 CMR 11.00, which states that bodily contact with surface waters are prohibited. This restricts the ability of a hunter to retrieve his or her game. Waterfowl hunting is permitted in other watershed lands in designated areas. Please visit the DWSP Hunting Map for these locations.
Additional Vehicle Access on Off-Reservation Lands
There are some additional areas off-reservation in the towns of New Salem and Pelham where vehicle access is allowed with a permit during the deer hunt season. These areas, collectively known as "Macedonia," are open for all seasons and all game, however the vehicle access permit is only good for deer hunting season.Please visit the Hunting Map to see these areas in the northwest section of the Quabbin Watershed. These areas allow you to rent a key that gives gate access.
For more information and a link to the vehicle permit application, go to the a Vehicle Access Permit page or contact the Quabbin Visitor’s Center.
NOTE: You do not need a Vehicle Access Permit to hunt this area. You may access this area on foot from the gates. However, a free five-year Watershed Hunting Permit is required.If you have any questions email the Visitor Center at QuabbinVisitor.Center@mass.gov or call 413-323-7221.
Paraplegic Hunt
Each year MassWildlife holds a special three-day deer hunting season for paraplegic hunters at Quabbin. Staff and volunteers place hunters in safe areas at several hunt locations. When a hunter shoots a deer, volunteers assist the hunter by retrieving the deer, field dressing it, and getting it checked in. Please go to the Deer Hunt for Hunters with Paraplegia web page for more information about this special hunt and how to take part.
Hunting Maps
DWSP has developed a user-friendly interactive Hunting Map with information about hunting and trapping areas on DWSP property.
This expertly detailed, interactive map shows everything you need for hunting on DWSP property. Features include parking areas, access points, topographic contours, water bodies/wetlands, fields, recent timber harvests, hunting setbacks and road types and road names. You can also filter DWSP property to find places where hunting/trapping is allowed, where dogs can be used, what type of permit is needed and what game you can hunt. This map also can show you where previous deer harvests have been and what was harvested (Quabbin Deer Harvest tab).
You can use this map in two ways. You can begin scouting from the comfort of your home on your desktop computer and identify areas you want to scout in the field. You can then print a custom map from this webpage and bring it into the field. Additionally, you can open the map on your smartphone’s web browser in the field and see your real-time location on the map.
NO Service, NO Problem- Take the DWSP Sportsman Map with you!
Using the free app ArcGIS Field Maps (iPhone or Google Play), you can download a copy of the Hunting Map to take in the woods with you on your mobile device. This is great when you are hunting somewhere remote with no cell service. Click here for Instructions for Using DCR Division of Water Supply Protection's Deer Hunt Interactive Maps Mobile App.
Printable Maps
Printed maps of Hardwick, New Salem, Pelham, Prescott, Petersham, and Quabbin Park are available upon request. Please contact the Quabbin Visitor Center by email or phone at (413) 323-7221.