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2017 Massachusetts Hunting Seasons

A tradition for many families, hunting is an exciting escape into nature. Your reward of patiently waiting in a tree stand or hunting blind is the satisfaction of taking responsibility for your own food, or finally bagging that trophy buck. Discount Ramps has all the hunting dates for Massachusetts, and the necessary hunting equipment to ensure a successful year.

This is a general guide to season dates. For more information, visit the MassWildlife website.

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

Other Helpful Resources

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