Massachusetts hunting
Public hunting land in Massachusetts
Caliber maps 251 public hunting areas in Massachusetts, with Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife (MassWildlife)'s license fees, hunter education rules and official links in one place. Find the closest land to you on a list or a map, free.
Massachusetts · 251 areas
Monomoy National Wildlife Refuge
Wildlife refuge · 15,898 acres
Camp Edwards Wildlife Management Area
State wildlife area · 14,344 acres
Parker River National Wildlife Refuge
Wildlife refuge · 9,144 acres
Hockomock Swamp Wildlife Management Area
State wildlife area · 8,775 acres
Great Meadows National Wildlife Refuge
Wildlife refuge · 7,706 acres
Largest areas shown. Caliber sorts all 251 by distance from you.
- 240
- State wildlife areas
- 11
- National wildlife refuges
Massachusetts hunting licenses and rules
- Wildlife agency
- Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife (MassWildlife)
- Phone
- (508) 389-6300
- Resident license
- $40.00 — Resident Hunting License (2026, ages 18-64; includes 2 antlered deer tags)
- Nonresident license
- $78.00 — Non-resident Small Game Hunting License (2026); big game $112.00
- Hunter education
- Basic Hunter Education is mandatory for first-time hunters; prior license before 2007 or a certificate from any state qualifies.
- Good to know
- A $5 Wildlands Conservation Stamp is added to the first resident license each year and all non-resident licenses; fees shown exclude it.
Fees and rules as published by Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife (MassWildlife), checked Oct 31, 2026. They change, so confirm on the agency's site. This isn't legal advice.
Official links
- Hunting licenses
- Season dates
- Regulations
- Public hunting lands
- Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife (MassWildlife) website
Practicing for hunter ed?
Caliber has unofficial hunter education practice questions with explanations.
Try sample questions →Largest public hunting areas in Massachusetts
The 12 biggest of 251 areas. Caliber has every one, with a map, and sorts them by distance from you.
| Area | Type | Acres | Access |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monomoy National Wildlife Refuge | Wildlife refuge | 15,898 | Restricted: permit, reservation or special rules |
| Camp Edwards Wildlife Management Area | State wildlife area | 14,344 | Restricted: permit, reservation or special rules |
| Parker River National Wildlife Refuge | Wildlife refuge | 9,144 | Restricted: permit, reservation or special rules |
| Hockomock Swamp Wildlife Management Area | State wildlife area | 8,775 | Open |
| Great Meadows National Wildlife Refuge | Wildlife refuge | 7,706 | Restricted: permit, reservation or special rules |
| Chalet Wildlife Management Area | State wildlife area | 6,170 | Open |
| Fox Den Wildlife Management Area | State wildlife area | 5,831 | Open |
| Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge | Wildlife refuge | 4,714 | Restricted: permit, reservation or special rules |
| Birch Hill Wildlife Management Area | State wildlife area | 4,637 | Open |
| Millers River Wildlife Management Area | State wildlife area | 4,572 | Open |
| Haskell Swamp Wildlife Management Area | State wildlife area | 4,562 | Open |
| Peru Wildlife Management Area | State wildlife area | 4,524 | Open |
State wildlife areas · 240
Run for wildlife and, usually, hunting. Many need a state license plus a land-use permit or have their own season dates, draw hunts or weapon limits.
National wildlife refuges · 11
Refuges allow hunting only where and when each refuge opens it, often with its own permit and rules. Check the refuge's hunt page before you go.
Massachusetts hunting FAQ
Where can I find public hunting land in Massachusetts?
Caliber lists 251 public hunting areas in Massachusetts: 240 state wildlife areas, 11 national wildlife refuges. Open Caliber, enter your ZIP and see the closest areas on a list or a map. Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife (MassWildlife) also publishes its own public hunting land information on its website.
How much is a hunting license in Massachusetts?
As published by Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife (MassWildlife) (checked Oct 31, 2026): resident, $40.00 — Resident Hunting License (2026, ages 18-64; includes 2 antlered deer tags); nonresident, $78.00 — Non-resident Small Game Hunting License (2026); big game $112.00. Fees change, so confirm on the agency's licensing page before you buy.
Do I need hunter education to hunt in Massachusetts?
Basic Hunter Education is mandatory for first-time hunters; prior license before 2007 or a certificate from any state qualifies. Check Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife (MassWildlife) for exemptions and current rules.
When is hunting season in Massachusetts?
Seasons vary by species, zone and year, so Caliber links to Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife (MassWildlife)'s official season-date page instead of listing dates. Always check current regulations before you hunt.
Find Massachusetts hunting land near you
All 251 Massachusetts areas on a list or a map, sorted by distance, plus a free bullet drop calculator and DOPE book. Free on iPhone.
Free download · Optional Caliber Pro upgrade · iPhone and iPad
Public hunting land in other states
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
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Area data: USGS Protected Areas Database of the United States (PAD-US) 4.1, public domain. Access as recorded in PAD-US. Always check current regulations, seasons and access rules with Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife (MassWildlife) and the managing agency before you hunt.
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