Hunting Season is always a special time of the year. Whether you are planning on waiting patiently in a deer stand to bag that trophy buck or sitting knee deep in the marsh hoping to bag a band. Being able to take advantage of all the hunting seasons is why The Waterfowl Hunter has put together the hunting dates for Massachusetts.
These dates serve as a general guide for more specific hunting visit Massachusetts Wildlife.Â
Black Bear
| Zones | Season | First Day | Last Day |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-14 | First Season | Sept. 5 | Sept. 23 |
| 1-14 | Second Season | Nov. 6 | Nov. 25 |
| 1-14 | Shotgun Season | Nov. 27 | Dec. 9 |
Upland Game Birds
Upland game bird hunting is closed during shotgun deer season.
Wild Turkey
| Season | Zones | First Day | Last Day |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 1-13 | April 24 | May 20 |
| Fall | 1-13 | Oct. 23 | Nov. 4 |
| Youth Hunt | 1-13 | April 22 | April 22 |
Crow
| Zones | First Day | Last Day |
|---|---|---|
| 1-14 | Jan. 2 | April 10 |
| 1-14 | July 1 | April 10, 2018 |
Pheasant
| Zones | First Day | Last Day |
|---|---|---|
| 1-14 | Oct. 14 | Nov. 25 |
Quail
| Zones | First Day | Last Day |
|---|---|---|
| 11-14 | Oct. 14 | Nov. 25 |
Ruffed Grouse
| Zones | First Day | Last Day |
|---|---|---|
| 1-14 | Oct. 14 | Nov. 25 |
Deer
| Season | First Day | Last Day |
|---|---|---|
| Youth Deer Hunt | Sept. 30 | Sept. 30 |
| Paraplegic Hunt | Nov. 2 | Nov. 4 |
| Archery | Oct. 16 | Nov. 25 |
| Shotgun | Nov. 27 | Dec. 9 |
| Primitive Firearms | Dec. 11 | Dec. 30 |
Rabbits and Squirrel
Cottontail rabbit, snowshoe hare, jackrabbit, and gray squirrel hunting are closed during shotgun deer season.
Cottontail Rabbit
| Zones | First Day | Last Day |
|---|---|---|
| 1-12 | Jan. 2 | Feb. 28 |
| 1-12 | Oct. 14 | Feb. 28, 2018 |
| 13 and 14 | Jan. 2 | Feb. 28 |
| 1-12 | Nov. 15 | Feb. 28, 2018 |
Snowshoe Hare
| Zones | First Day | Last Day |
|---|---|---|
| 1-4 | Jan. 2 | Feb. 28 |
| 1-4 | Oct. 14 | Feb. 28, 2018 |
| 5-12 | Jan. 2 | Feb. 4 |
| 5-12 | Oct. 14 | Feb. 5, 2018 |
| 13-14 | Jan. 2 | Feb. 4 |
| 13-14 | Nov. 14 | Feb. 5, 2018 |
Jackrabbit
| Zones | First Day | Last Day |
|---|---|---|
| 14 | Nov. 15 | Dec. 30 |
Gray Squirrel
| Zones | First Day | Last Day |
|---|---|---|
| 1-9 | Sept. 11 | Jan. 2, 2018 |
| 10-14 | Oct. 14 | Jan. 2, 2018 |
Furbearers
All furbearer hunting seasons are closed during the shotgun deer season except for Coyotes.
Bobcat
| Zones | First Day | Last Day |
|---|---|---|
| 1-8 | Jan. 2 | March 8 |
| 1-8 | Dec. 20 | Mar. 8, 2018 |
Coyote
| Zones | First Day | Last Day |
|---|---|---|
| 1-14 | Jan. 2 | Mar. 8, 2018 |
| 1-14 | Oct. 14 | Mar. 8, 2018 |
Fox (red or gray)
| Zones | First Day | Last Day |
|---|---|---|
| 1-14 | Jan. 2 | Feb. 28 |
| 1-14 | Nov. 1 | Feb. 28, 2018 |
Raccoon
| Zones | First Day | Last Day |
|---|---|---|
| 1-14 | Jan. 2 | Jan. 31 |
| 1-14 | Oct. 2 | Jan. 31, 2018 |
Opossum
| Zones | First Day | Last Day |
|---|---|---|
| 1-14 | Jan. 2 | Jan. 31 |
| 1-14 | Oct. 2 | Jan. 31, 2018 |