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.

2026 Blue Hills Deer Hunt

The 2026 Blue Hills Archery Deer will take place Mondays through Thursdays, November 2–25. To participate, licensed hunters must apply and be selected through a lottery. The application is open now through September 20. After the application closes, selected hunters will receive an online orientation and hunt rules to acknowledge before receiving a hunt permit. Learn more about the Blue Hills Hunt and get a link to the application.

Learn about other controlled hunts in Massachusetts.

Squirrel hunting season date error

Gray squirrel hunting season is September 8, 2026 through February 27, 2027. Squirrel season dates in the printed Hunting and Fishing Guide are incorrect but have been corrected in the online version of the Guide. Review all squirrel hunting regulations. 

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.

Review all bear hunting regulations.