HERE Boston
Boston MA
Hunting
Report
Live conditions, season status, solunar ratings, WMA profiles, and community hunting coverage for Suffolk County and Wildlife Management Zone 10.
Hog: Closed
Turkey: Open
Dove: Closed
Deer: Open
Wildlife Management Zone 10
First Look • Hunt Conditions
🌒
Waxing Crescent
Illumination: 80%
6:57 am
6:02 pm
66°F
18 mph
Weather as of 7:55 PM ET
Good — increasing moonlight; deer active morning and evening.
Wildlife Management Zone 10 • Suffolk County
In Season Now: Boston Hunting · Oct. 16
Open now
- Archery Deer Oct 5 – Nov 28, 2026 · Zones 1–14
- Fall Wild Turkey Oct 5 – Nov 28, 2026 · Zones 1–13
- Black Bear Sep 7 – Dec 12, 2026 · Zones 1–14
- Gray Squirrel Sep 8, 2026 – Feb 27, 2027 · Zones 1–14
- Ducks, Mergansers, Sea Ducks and Coot — Coastal Zone Oct 10 – 17, 2026; Nov 27, 2026 – Jan 27, 2027 · Coastal Zone
- Canada Goose (regular) — Coastal Zone Oct 10 – 17, 2026; Nov 27, 2026 – Jan 27, 2027 · Coastal Zone
- American Woodcock Oct 1 – Nov 21, 2026 · Statewide
Coming up
- Pheasant and Quail Oct 17 – Dec 31, 2026 · Zones 1–14
- Ruffed Grouse Oct 17 – Nov 28, 2026 · Zones 1–14
- Cottontail Rabbit and Snowshoe Hare Oct 17, 2026 – Feb 27, 2027 · Zones 1–14
- Coyote Oct 17, 2026 – Mar 8, 2027 · Zones 1–14
From this page's the state wildlife agency season calendar. Always verify current regulations before you hunt.
Boston Hunting Season Status
Whitetail Deer
OPEN
Season Dates2026 MassWildlife: Archery Oct. 5 – Nov. 28; Shotgun Nov. 30 – Dec. 12; Primitive firearms Dec. 14 – 31. New Winter Deer Season Jan. 1 – 30, 2027 in Zones 9, 10 and 11 (archery or primitive firearms; 2027 license required). Youth Deer Hunt was Oct. 2–3. No Sunday hunting.
Bag Limit:2 antlered deer per year statewide (tags come with the hunting/sporting license). Antlerless deer only with an Antlerless Deer Permit for the zone; Zone 10 has unlimited antlerless permits for 2027.
Deer season is OPEN in Zone 10 — check which implement is legal today (archery Oct. 5 – Nov. 28, shotgun Nov. 30 – Dec. 12, primitive Dec. 14 – 31, winter Jan. 1 – 30, 2027). No Sunday hunting.
Archery stamp for archery season, primitive firearms stamp for primitive season; none needed for shotgun or winter season. Rifles and handguns are prohibited for deer. Report harvest within 48 hours; all deer from the first week of shotgun season go to a physical check station. 500 sq. in. of blaze orange in shotgun, primitive, youth and winter seasons.
per MassWildlife · verified 2026-10-16
Feral Hog
CLOSED
Season DatesNo season. Feral hogs are not a listed game species in MassWildlife's 2026 hunting season summary, so Massachusetts has no feral hog season.
Bag Limit:N/A — no feral hog season in Massachusetts.
No feral hog hunting season in Massachusetts.
No feral hog season exists in Massachusetts. Questions: MassWildlife, (508) 389-6300.
per MassWildlife · verified 2026-10-16
Spring Turkey
OPEN
Season DatesFall 2026 (Zones 1–13): Oct. 5 – Nov. 28 — archery only Oct. 5–17 and Nov. 2–28; shotgun, muzzleloading shotgun or archery Oct. 19–31. Spring 2026 ran Apr. 27 – May 23. Spring 2027 dates: UNK — MassWildlife has not posted them yet.
Bag Limit:Fall: 1 turkey of either sex. Spring: 2 bearded birds.
Fall turkey is OPEN Oct. 5 – Nov. 28, 2026 in Zones 1–13 (archery only except Oct. 19–31).
Hunting or sporting license plus turkey permit; safety sticker required on shotguns and muzzleloaders. Report within 48 hours. No Sunday hunting.
per MassWildlife · verified 2026-10-16
Mourning Dove
CLOSED
Season DatesNo season. Mourning dove is not on MassWildlife's 2026–27 migratory game bird season list (ducks, geese, brant, coot, woodcock, rails, snipe only).
Bag Limit:N/A — no mourning dove season in Massachusetts.
No mourning dove hunting season in Massachusetts.
Do not hunt mourning doves in Massachusetts.
per MassWildlife · verified 2026-10-16
Season dates shown are for Wildlife Management Zone 10 private lands. WMA dates, license requirements, and antlerless regulations may differ. Always verify current regulations with MassWildlife before hunting.
Report a Season Update
First Look
Boston Hunting Weather Now
66F
Heavy Rain And Fog/mist
Feels like 66°F
as of 7:55 PM ET
Wind
18 mph WSW
Humidity
93%
Pressure
1003 hPa
Moon
Waxing Crescent
Location
Boston, MA
Field Scout Tips
- Deer season is open — focus today's hunt on deer. Also open: Turkey.
- Gusty conditions (18 mph) make deer nervous. Hunt in protected terrain near thick cover.
- Light rain can suppress your scent and mask your approach noise. Deer often move well in light precipitation.
- High humidity (93%) intensifies scent. Spray down thoroughly and hunt with wind in your face.
Solunar Index
Boston Hunt Conditions Today
Temperature
66°F
Warm
Wind Speed
18 mph
Gusty
Barometric
1003 hPa
Low — Storm
Moon Phase
🌒
Good
Extended Outlook
Boston Hunt Forecast — 5 Days
TONIGHT
Patchy Fog
57° / 47°
13 mph wind • 0% humidity
FAIR
SAT
Slight Chance Rain Showers then Partly Sunny
50° / 33°
17 mph wind • 0% humidity
FAIR
SUN
Patchy Frost then Sunny
51° / 41°
6 mph wind • 0% humidity
GOOD
MON
Mostly Sunny
56° / 45°
7 mph wind • 0% humidity
GOOD
TUE
Partly Sunny
58° / 48°
12 mph wind • 0% humidity
GOOD
Public Hunting Lands
Boston Massachusetts Wildlife Management Areas
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Community
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Trophy harvests, personal bests, and record-book moments from Boston hunters.
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Coverage
Boston Hunting News
Local — Boston and Greater Boston
Massachusetts
Official
Boston hunting
No new Boston-area hunting stories this week. Check current Massachusetts hunting rules from the state wildlife agency, and watch this page for the next local report.
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Fishing, camping, hiking, and all outdoor sports coverage for Boston and Greater Boston, MA
Outfitters and Gear
Hunting Gear Guide
Gear reviews and picks for the Boston hunter — boots, optics, packs, and more.
Gear Reviews — Tested for Greater Boston, MA Hunting
As an Amazon Associate, HERE earns from qualifying purchases. Prices and availability subject to change.
Icotec Nomad+ Programmable Predator Call/Decoy Combo with Bluetooth - 165 Professional Sound…
Decoy
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$13.99
Best for: Recommended by the HERE Hunting desk
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ATN Thor 5 Smart HD Thermal Scope w/Ultra Sensative Gen 5 Sensor, Video Rec, Built in LRF, B…
Optic / Scope
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$1676.85
Best for: Recommended by the HERE Hunting desk
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Pulsar Trail 3 LRF Thermal Riflescope with Laser Range Finder and Mount
Laser Rangefinder
Hand-picked by the HERE Hunting desk this week. Pulsar Trail 3 LRF Thermal Riflescope with Laser Range Finder and Mount.
$2899.97
Best for: Recommended by the HERE Hunting desk
View on Amazon →
Garmin inReach® Mini 3, Rugged Compact Global Satellite Communicator with Color Touchscreen,…
GPS / Navigation
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$399.99
Best for: Recommended by the HERE Hunting desk
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Vortex Optics Fury HD 5000 10x42 Laser Rangefinding Binoculars
Laser Rangefinder
Hand-picked by the HERE Hunting desk this week. Vortex Optics Fury HD 5000 10x42 Laser Rangefinding Binoculars.
$799.00
Best for: Recommended by the HERE Hunting desk
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TACTACAM Reveal X PRO Cellular Trail Camera, Verizon and AT&T, NO Glow, Integrated GPS Track…
Trail Camera
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$99.99
Best for: Recommended by the HERE Hunting desk
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Learn About Gear AdvertisingWildlife Management Zone 10 Key Dates
MA Hunting Season Calendar
Oct 5 – Nov 28, 2026
Archery Deer
Zones 1–14. Archery stamp required. No Sunday hunting.
Nov 30 – Dec 12, 2026
Shotgun Deer
Zones 1–14. First-week deer must go to a physical check station.
Dec 14 – 31, 2026
Primitive Firearms Deer
Zones 1–14. Primitive firearms stamp required.
Jan 1 – 30, 2027
Winter Deer Season (new)
Zones 9, 10, 11 (Boston is Zone 10). Archery or primitive firearms; 2027 license required.
Oct 5 – Nov 28, 2026
Fall Wild Turkey
Zones 1–13. Archery only Oct. 5–17 and Nov. 2–28; shotgun allowed Oct. 19–31. 1 bird.
Sep 7 – Dec 12, 2026
Black Bear
Zones 1–14.
Oct 17 – Dec 31, 2026
Pheasant and Quail
Zones 1–14. Closed during shotgun deer season. Pheasant/quail permit required.
Oct 17 – Nov 28, 2026
Ruffed Grouse
Zones 1–14.
Sep 8, 2026 – Feb 27, 2027
Gray Squirrel
Zones 1–14. Closed during shotgun deer season.
Oct 17, 2026 – Feb 27, 2027
Cottontail Rabbit and Snowshoe Hare
Zones 1–14. Closed during shotgun deer season.
Oct 17, 2026 – Mar 8, 2027
Coyote
Zones 1–14.
Oct 10 – 17, 2026; Nov 27, 2026 – Jan 27, 2027
Ducks, Mergansers, Sea Ducks and Coot — Coastal Zone
Daily duck bag 6 (max 4 sea ducks). HIP, state waterfowl stamp and federal duck stamp required.
Oct 10 – 17, 2026; Nov 27, 2026 – Jan 27, 2027
Canada Goose (regular) — Coastal Zone
2 per day. Late season Jan. 28 – Feb. 13, 2027 in the north coastal zone only.
Nov 27 – Dec 31, 2026
Brant — Coastal Zone
1 per day.
Oct 1 – Nov 21, 2026
American Woodcock
Statewide. 3 per day.
UNK
Spring Turkey 2027
MassWildlife has not posted 2027 spring turkey dates; left UNK.
Dates reflect 2026 Massachusetts hunting regulations for Wildlife Management Zone 10. Always verify with the current MassWildlife Hunting and Fishing Guide. Regulations are subject to change. Hogs are legal year-round on private land with a hunting license — no closed season.
Questions and Answers
Boston Hunting FAQ
Common questions about hunting in the Boston area, answered.
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Deer season dates in Wildlife Management Zone 10 vary by year and land type (private vs WMA). Specific dates for Suffolk County have not been confirmed against current MassWildlife regulations for this guide — see https://www.mass.gov/orgs/division-of-fisheries-and-wildlife for the current Massachusetts Hunting and Fishing Guide.
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Public hunting near Boston is listed in the WMA directory above. MassWildlife manages all WMAs in Massachusetts; a WMA license is required in addition to a basic hunting license.
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Yes. All hunters in Massachusetts need a state hunting license. Deer and turkey require an additional big game permit. Hunting on any Wildlife Management Area (WMA) requires a WMA license. Federal migratory bird hunters age 16 and older need a federal duck stamp for waterfowl. Licenses and permits are available through MassWildlife at https://www.mass.gov/orgs/division-of-fisheries-and-wildlife or at authorized license agents throughout Suffolk County.
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Sunday hunting rules in Massachusetts vary by land type and local ordinance. Verify with MassWildlife and Suffolk County before hunting on Sunday.
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Deer bag limits in Wildlife Management Zone 10 vary by land type (private vs WMA) and by antlered vs antlerless. Limits for Suffolk County have not been confirmed against current MassWildlife regulations for this guide — see https://www.mass.gov/orgs/division-of-fisheries-and-wildlife for the current Massachusetts Hunting and Fishing Guide.
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Bear hunting in Massachusetts is regulated by MassWildlife. Bear populations and seasons vary by Game Zone. Check the current MassWildlife hunting guide for bear zones and tags relevant to Suffolk County.
HUNTING NEWS NEAR BOSTON MA
Hunting coverage from the 10 closest HERE cities.