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Massachusetts Zone Finder
Answer six questions and get Massachusetts wildlife management zones ranked by habitat fit, 2026–27 season dates, public land and MassWildlife deer harvest.
How the Massachusetts finder works
MassWildlife reports deer harvest by Wildlife Management Zone in its annual reports. This tool scores all 15 zones using the 2020 and 2022 deer harvest by zone, USGS land-cover and elevation data, and the share of public land such as state forests and wildlife management areas. Bear and turkey harvest are published statewide only, so those zones are ranked without it.
Season fit uses MassWildlife's 2026 hunting season summary: youth, archery, shotgun and primitive firearms deer seasons, the early and winter seasons in Zones 13 and 14, the Sept. 7–Dec. 12 bear season, fall and spring turkey, upland birds and the 2026–2027 migratory bird seasons.
Species covered
- White-tailed deer
- Black bear
- Wild turkey
Upland birds (ranked by county)
- Ring-necked pheasant
- Forest grouse
- Quail
Waterfowl and migratory birds (ranked by county)
- Ducks
- Canada and dark geese
- American woodcock
About every species on the species page →
Data sources
- MassWildlife Annual Reports 2022 (Table B 11) and 2023 (Table W 2): deer harvest by WMZ, via the State Library of Massachusetts
- https://www.mass.gov/info-details/2026-hunting-and-freshwater-fishing-season-summary
- https://services1.arcgis.com/7iJyYTjCtKsZS1LR/arcgis/rest/services/WildlifeManagementZones/FeatureServer/0
- USGS PAD-US 3.0 (Fee); NPS parks and monuments excluded
- USGS NLCD 2021 Land Cover (250 m resample)
- USGS 3DEP elevation service
Massachusetts hunting FAQ
When is Massachusetts' 2026 shotgun deer season?
Nov. 30–Dec. 12, 2026. Archery runs Oct. 5–Nov. 28 and primitive firearms Dec. 14–31. There is no hunting on Sundays.
Which Massachusetts zones have the most deer harvest?
Zones 11, 10 and 9 (eastern and central Massachusetts) lead the total deer harvest; Nantucket (Zone 14) and Martha's Vineyard (Zone 13) have by far the most per square mile.
Can I hunt bears with a rifle in Massachusetts?
Yes, from Sept. 7 to Nov. 28, 2026. During the shotgun deer season (Nov. 30–Dec. 12) only shotguns, muzzleloaders and bows are legal.
Massachusetts harvest leaders
The wildlife management zones with the highest average reported harvest for each species. High totals often reflect large areas and many hunters; the tool above also weighs harvest per square mile, hunter success, habitat and access.
Ducks (USFWS 10-year average)
- Plymouth County: 5,609 per year
- Barnstable County: 5,273 per year
- Bristol County: 3,040 per year
- Essex County: 2,890 per year
- Worcester County: 2,455 per year
Canada and dark geese (USFWS 10-year average)
- Plymouth County: 2,112 per year
- Essex County: 2,076 per year
- Bristol County: 1,781 per year
- Berkshire County: 1,182 per year
- Worcester County: 1,043 per year