When Is Bear Season in Massachusetts? What State Law Requires for 2026
November 6, 2026
Bear hunting season in Massachusetts 2026 is a single statewide season that runs from September 7 through December 12. That is a change from earlier years, when the black bear season was split into three separate parts.
The dates are the easy part. What you can carry, when you can carry it, and what you have to do after the shot all depend on rules that shift within that one season.
This article walks through each rule in order, from dates and implements to baiting, hounds, tagging and the tooth sample MassWildlife wants from every harvested bear.
Bear Hunting Season Dates in Massachusetts 2026
The 2026 bear hunting season runs Sept. 7 through Dec. 12, 2026, with all dates inclusive. MassWildlife combined the former three-part black bear season into one season for 2026.
Hunting is prohibited on Sundays. So the season gives you fewer days afield than the calendar span suggests.
Pro Tip: Treat the single season as three implement windows (covered next). Your opening day on September 7 and your December finish call for very different gear.
Bear Season by Weapon and Method in Massachusetts: Archery, Muzzleloader and Firearm
The season is continuous, but the legal tools change by date block. From Sept. 7 to Oct. 1, the listed implements are revolver, rifle, muzzleloader and archery. MassWildlife’s regulations page flags that only certain implements are allowed during certain periods, so read its implement table before each outing.
One secondary summary of the 2026 framework breaks the season into three segments: opening through early October for rifle, revolver, muzzleloader and archery; October 5 to November 28 for rifle, muzzleloader and archery; and November 30 to December 12 for shotgun slug, muzzleloader and archery. That tracks the deer season calendar, but confirm exact boundaries on the MassWildlife black bear regulations page, which is the controlling source.
| Season Window (Approximate) | Typical Implements |
|---|---|
| Early September to early October | Revolver, rifle, muzzleloader, archery |
| Early October to late November | Rifle, muzzleloader, archery |
| Shotgun deer season period | Shotgun (slug), muzzleloader, archery |
Spring Bear Season in Massachusetts
Massachusetts has no spring bear season. The state’s black bear season is the one fall-through-early-winter season described above, and the 2026 season summary lists black bear only with the September 7 to December 12 dates.
If you are used to spring hunts in other states, plan your Massachusetts bear effort around the fall calendar.
Bear Hunting Zones, Units and Management Areas in Massachusetts
Bear hunting is open in every Wildlife Management Zone. The regulations list the hunting zones as all Wildlife Management Zones statewide. The season summary lists Zones 1-14 for black bear, Sept. 7 to Dec. 12, 2026.
That matters because bears are no longer confined to the west. Zones still affect other seasons, so check zone boundaries for deer and turkey if you hunt multiple species on the same trip. If you are also chasing whitetails, see the deer hunting season in Massachusetts breakdown.
Bear Hunting License, Tag and Permit Requirements in Massachusetts
You need two things: a base license and a bear permit. Residents need a Hunting or Sporting License, nonresidents need a Non-Resident Big Game Hunting License, and everyone needs a Bear Permit. You buy them through MassFishHunt.
When you kill a bear, you must attach the portion of the permit, license or equivalent document designated “bear tag” to the carcass before moving it. First-time hunters also need hunter education. Basic Hunter Education comes before any license purchase, and MassWildlife runs free courses online and in person.
Fees change by calendar year, so check the current fee schedule on MassFishHunt when you buy.
Bear Permit Draws and Lotteries in Massachusetts
There is no draw or lottery for a bear permit in Massachusetts. The Bear Permit is a standard purchase through MassFishHunt, and no statewide bear quota is posted for the 2026 season.
Lotteries and award systems apply to antlerless deer permits, not bears. You check award status and buy antlerless deer permits through MassFishHunt.
Nonresident Bear Hunting in Massachusetts
Nonresidents can hunt bear in Massachusetts. The requirement is a Non-Resident Big Game Hunting License plus a Bear Permit. The same season dates, zones and bag limit apply to you as to residents.
Nonresidents should also handle hunter education requirements before purchase and carry proof of completion where required. Buy through MassFishHunt, and review the regulations page before you travel.
Bear Bag Limit and Harvest Quota in Massachusetts
You may not kill more than one black bear in any calendar year. That limit comes from the state regulation at 321 CMR 3.02(1), which sets the framework for the bear season.
The limit is per calendar year, not per season, so a bear taken in September counts against the same year as one taken in December. No harvest quota closes the season early.
Key Insight: One bear per calendar year applies no matter which implement you use or which segment of the season you hunt.
Baiting Rules for Bear Hunting in Massachusetts
Baiting is illegal. State regulation prohibits hunting or attempting to hunt black bear by baiting. MassWildlife’s guidance extends that to lures, scents, or any substance that may attract a bear.
Scout for natural food sources instead: oak stands, apple trees, corn fields and beaver-pond edges. Hunters who use food to draw bears risk violating the regulation, so keep attractants out of your setup entirely.
Hunting Bears with Hounds in Massachusetts
It is illegal to use dogs for bear hunting in Massachusetts. That rules out hound hunting entirely, whether for tracking, treeing or pursuit.
The regulation also bars radio-telemetry transmitters, receivers and directional antennas, or any electronic device designed to emit a signal, while bear hunting or accompanying a bear hunter. Leave tracking collars and signal-emitting gear at home.
Legal Weapons and Methods for Bear Hunting in Massachusetts
Legal implements are revolver, rifle, muzzleloader, archery and, during the shotgun deer period, shotgun with slug or single ball. Which of these is legal on a given day depends on the implement table described in the weapons section above.
Methods are limited by what is banned: no baiting, no dogs and no electronic signaling devices. Everything else follows the general implement rules in the regulations.
- Check the implement table before each hunt, because the allowed tools change during the season.
- Skip any lure, scent or food attractant.
- Leave dogs and radio-telemetry gear out of the field.
The full legal text is at 321 CMR 3.02(1).
Legal Bears and Protected Bears in Massachusetts
The only huntable bear in Massachusetts is the American black bear (Ursus americanus). It is the state’s single huntable bear species.
The regulations do not carve out a sex or size restriction in the bag limit language: it is simply one bear per calendar year. Take a clear look at your target, because a mistaken identification gives you no legal cover.
Youth and Special Bear Hunts in Massachusetts
New for 2026, youth hunters ages 12 to 17 can hunt bear with a free permit. The free Youth Bear Permit lets those hunters hunt and harvest a bear during the open bear season.
It also allows youth to hunt bear with a shotgun (slug or single ball only) during the Youth Deer Hunt, with a free Youth Deer Hunt Permit. Mentors should read the youth permit terms on the regulations page before heading out together.
Where to Hunt Bear in Massachusetts: Public and Private Land
Public land gives you real options, since Wildlife Management Areas, Wildlife Conservation Easements, and Access Areas are open to hunting. MassWildlife’s Lands Viewer helps you locate parcels before you scout.
On private land, get landowner permission first and carry it with you. Bear numbers are growing toward the east, so parcels in central Massachusetts and the Connecticut River Valley are worth scouting, not just the Berkshires.
If you are planning a multi-species season, the turkey hunting season in Massachusetts and grouse hunting season in Massachusetts pages cover overlapping fall dates.
Best Time to Hunt Bear in Massachusetts
Early September gives you the longest daylight and bears actively feeding. September heat, though, makes meat care urgent, so plan to field dress and cool a bear quickly.
Later in the season, bears feed hard on acorns before denning, and weekday mornings and evenings near food sources tend to be productive. By the December shotgun-period window, you are hunting colder, quieter woods with fewer bears moving.
| Period | What to Expect |
|---|---|
| Early September | Warm weather, bears on natural foods, heavy meat-care demands |
| October to November | Acorn and apple feeding, cooler temperatures |
| Late November to December 12 | Colder, slower movement, shotgun-period crowds in the woods |
Bear Hunting Hours, Sunday Hunting and Blaze Orange in Massachusetts
Bear hunting is allowed between one-half hour before sunrise and one-half hour after sunset. Sunday hunting is prohibited. Legislation has been proposed to change the Sunday law, but no change has taken effect.
Blaze orange is required during certain seasons and activities, and requirements vary by species, location and method. Overlap with the shotgun deer season is the period when you should wear it without exception, and the safest habit is to wear it any time other hunters are afield.
Pro Tip: Wear blaze orange through the deer-season overlap even if you are bowhunting. Other hunters will thank you, and you will be easier to see on the way out in the dark.
Tagging, Check-In and Reporting a Bear in Massachusetts
Tag first, then move. Before transporting or removing the carcass, attach the designated “bear tag” portion of your permit, license or equivalent document in a conspicuous manner.
You must then report the harvest through the online system. Hunters should report promptly after the harvest, since a 48-hour reporting window is commonly cited in season guides.
MassWildlife also wants a tooth. Teeth help determine the age structure of the harvest and model the black bear population. You will receive a letter with your bear’s age and a MA Bear Hunter sticker in late summer. If you find or take a protected animal by mistake, contact MassWildlife’s Field Headquarters at (508) 389-6300 immediately.
Bear Hunting Season in Massachusetts 2026: Frequently Asked Questions
When Does Bear Season Open in Massachusetts in 2026?
Black bear hunting season opened statewide on September 7. It closes December 12, 2026.
How Many Bears Can You Take?
One black bear per calendar year.
Can You Use Dogs or Bait?
No. Both are illegal, as covered in the baiting and hounds sections above.
Is Sunday Bear Hunting Allowed?
No. Sunday hunting is prohibited statewide.
Can Youth Hunters Take a Bear?
Yes. Ages 12 to 17 need the free Youth Bear Permit, and the permit covers the open season and the Youth Deer Hunt with a slug shotgun.
Where Can You Read the Rules?
The 2026 fall hunting announcements and the 2026 season summary are the official starting points. For other Massachusetts game, see rabbit hunting season in Massachusetts and quail hunting season in Massachusetts.