News  2026 Fall hunting announcements

ADP award period underway

Hunters who applied for an Antlerless Deer Permit (ADP) before the July 16 deadline can now return to MassFishHunt to see if they were awarded the permit. Check your status anytime between August 1 and December 31; odds of winning a permit are the same regardless of when you check. If you are awarded an ADP, you must purchase it in order to use it. The easiest way to check the award status and purchase an ADP is online through MassFishHunt. In-person sales are also available at select license vendor locations and MassWildlife offices.

Surplus ADPs

Surplus ADPs in zones 10, 11, 13, and 14 are available now and have no daily or season purchase limit. Surplus ADPs in zones 1, 3, 4S, 5, 7, 8, 9, and 12 go on sale at 9 a.m. Wednesday, September 16, 2026. These are first-come, first-served and limited to 1 permit per zone per day.

MassWildlife makes surplus ADPs available for zones that have permits remaining after the application/award process. Surplus permits provide additional opportunity for hunters and minimize the number of permits that go unused. Anyone with a valid hunting or sporting license can buy a surplus ADP. You do not need to have applied for an ADP by the July 16 deadline to be eligible for surplus permits. The easiest way to buy a license or a surplus permit is online through MassFishHunt. In-person sales are also available at select license vendor locations and MassWildlife offices.

New deer hunting regulation changes take effect this fall

Note: Deer hunting web pages have been updated, but printed regulations do not reflect recent changes.

• Early deer season in zones 13 and 14 added: Sept. 21 – Oct. 1, 2026
  A 10-day deer season in zones 13 and 14 has been added.  Licensed hunters can use primitive firearms and archery equipment only.
• Youth Deer Hunt expanded: Oct. 2 and Oct. 3, 2026
  Youth Deer Hunt now includes the fourth Friday and subsequent Saturday following Labor Day.
• Only synthetic and non-deer-based lures may be used while hunting.
  The use or possession of any scent attractants derived from deer tissues or fluids is prohibited, including urine, scent glands, and bladders. Restricting deer urine and deer-based lures is one way to help prevent the spread of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) to Massachusetts.
• Visibility requirement for harvested deer during transport removed.
  Harvested deer no longer need to remain visible before being reported and tagged with a confirmation number or metal seal.
• On-island deer reporting requirement removed.
  Hunters who harvest deer in zones 13 and 14 are no longer required to report their deer before transporting it off-island. During the first week of shotgun deer season, all harvested deer must still be reported in person, but island-harvested deer may be reported at any official check station.
• Winter deer season expanded.
  A winter deer season in zones 9, 10, and 11has been added. The existing winter deer season in zones 13 and 14 has been expanded by 2 weeks. Licensed hunters can use primitive firearms and archery equipment only.
  • Winter deer season (zones 9, 10, 11): January 1–30, 2027
  • Winter deer season (zones 13, 14): January 1–February 13, 2027

Review all deer hunting regulations.

About the Winter Deer Season

Starting December 1, 2026, hunters can purchase the following to hunt the 2027 winter deer season:

• 2027 Hunting/Sporting License: Includes 2 antlered tags. Valid Jan. 1–Dec. 31, 2027.
• 2027 Antlerless Deer Permits: You can buy 1 ADP for zone 9 and unlimited ADPs for zones 10, 11, 13, and 14. Valid Jan. 1–Dec. 31, 2027.
• Free Winter Deer Permit (zone 13/14): Can be used to harvest 1 additional deer of either sex during the Winter Deer Season in zones 13 and 14 only. Valid Jan. 1–Feb. 13, 2027.

Licensed hunters may use archery equipment or primitive firearms during the winter deer season; no archery or primitive stamps are needed. 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 Winter Season dates: 
Zones 9,10,11: Jan. 1–30, 2027
Zones 13 and 14: Jan. 1–Feb. 13, 2027

Migratory game bird seasons and limits

The 2026–2027 season dates and bag limits are available online. Review all migratory game bird regulations.

Black bear hunting updates

• New single season: The three-part black bear season has been combined into one season from September 7–December 12, 2026.
• Youth bear permit: Youth hunters ages 12–17 can now hunt black bear during the youth deer hunt and throughout the bear season after obtaining a free youth bear hunt permit.
• Bear hunters, your help needed! MassWildlife is requesting a tooth from your harvested black bear. Teeth are used to determine the age structure of the MA bear harvest and to model the black bear population. Learn how to extract and submit a bear tooth.
  Review all bear hunting regulations.