How to Get Your Massachusetts Hunting License
A Massachusetts hunting license starts with the Resident Hunting License, which covers hunters ages 18 to 64 for $40, while non-residents pay $112 for a Big Game license or $78 for Small Game. A $5 Wildlands Conservation Stamp gets added to the first license you buy each year, on top of whichever base license fits you.
Massachusetts requires a Basic Hunter Education course for any first-time adult hunter before that person can purchase a license, unless they held a hunting or sporting license anywhere before January 1, 2007. Licenses are sold through the MassFishHunt online system, through license vendors, or at a MassWildlife office, and they run on a calendar year, so last year's license doesn't carry over into January.
This guide walks you through how to get your Massachusetts hunting license and Hunter Education Certificate, step by step.
What Is a Hunting License in Massachusetts?
A Massachusetts hunting license authorizes you to hunt legal birds and mammals in season, though deer, bear, turkey, and migratory birds each require an additional permit or stamp on top of the base license. The Resident Sporting License bundles hunting and freshwater fishing together for $75 if you want both.
The license itself is separate from your Hunter Education Certificate. The certificate proves you completed a MassWildlife-approved course and, once earned, it's recognized for life across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. The license, by contrast, is only good for the calendar year it's issued in and has to be purchased again every January.
Who Needs a Hunting License in Massachusetts?
Massachusetts requires a hunting license for anyone age 15 or older, and hunter education runs on first-time-adult status rather than a birth-year cutoff. Age brackets below that threshold follow their own separate rules.
Anyone 18 or older buying a Massachusetts hunting license for the first time must complete Basic Hunter Education, unless they can affirm they held a license anywhere before January 1, 2007. Depending on your age, one of these categories applies:
- Under 12: may not legally hunt in Massachusetts under any circumstances.
- Ages 12–14: no license needed, but you must hunt alongside a licensed adult 18 or older, sharing one firearm or bow and a single bag limit, with only one minor allowed per adult.
- Ages 15–17: the Resident Minor Hunting License ($6.50) is required; hunters with a Basic Hunter Education Certificate may hunt unsupervised, while those without it must stay with a licensed adult.
- Ages 65 and older: the discounted Resident Hunting License ($20 for ages 65–69) applies, and hunters 70 and older qualify for a free license.
Whichever category applies to you, keep your license and Hunter Education Certificate, if required, on hand while hunting.
How to Get Your Massachusetts Hunting License (Step-by-Step)
Getting licensed in Massachusetts means confirming your hunter education status first, since Massachusetts bases the requirement on whether you've ever held a license rather than your age. Here's the full process from start to finish.
- Study the Massachusetts hunter safety material if you're a first-time adult hunter, then register for a free Basic Hunter Education course through MassWildlife.
- Purchase your license through MassFishHunt, a license vendor, or a MassWildlife office.
- Select your license type: Resident, Resident Minor, Resident Senior, Nonresident Big Game, or Nonresident Small Game.
- Add permits and stamps as needed: Archery ($10 resident / $30 nonresident), Primitive Firearms ($10 / $30), Waterfowl Stamp ($10 / $30), or the Turkey Permit ($10 / $30).
- Carry your license and Hunter Education Certificate, if required, any time you hunt, either on paper or displayed digitally on your phone.
Once you've completed these steps, you're fully licensed and ready for the field. The sections below cover the hunter education course and license purchase in more detail.
Step 1: Complete Basic Hunter Education
Massachusetts runs its hunter education program directly through MassWildlife, free of charge, in two formats depending on your schedule.
- Blended format: Complete the free online Massachusetts Hunter Study Guide, then attend one in-person Field Day to finish hands-on skills and take the final exam.
- Traditional classroom: Attend an entirely in-person, instructor-led course spread across multiple sessions, covering the same material as the blended format.
However you complete it, your certificate is mailed roughly two weeks after the course and stays valid for the rest of your hunting life.
Step 2: Purchase Your License
Once you have your Hunter Education Certificate, or can affirm you held a license before 2007, you can buy your license through the state's licensing and fee information via MassFishHunt or an authorized vendor.
You'll need a government-issued photo ID, proof of hunter education if required, and payment.
Step 3: Add Permits and Go Hunting
A Resident or Nonresident Hunting License doesn't cover everything. Bear, turkey, antlerless deer, and migratory birds each require their own permit or stamp, purchased after your base license.
Once your license and any needed permits are in hand, you're ready to hunt. Before you head out, review general hunting safety practices to make sure you're field-ready.
Massachusetts Hunting License Requirements by Age
Let's take a look at the requirements for hunting licenses in Massachusetts by age.
Massachusetts Hunting License Requirements (by Age) | ||
| Age | Requirement | Supervision/Hunter Education |
| Under 12 | May not hunt No exceptions | Not applicable |
| 12–14 | No license required | Must hunt with a licensed adult 18+. One firearm/bow and bag limit shared. |
| 15–17 | Resident Minor Hunting License ($6.50) | Hunters with Basic Hunter Education may hunt unsupervised. Others must stay with an adult. |
| 18–64 | Resident Hunting License ($40) / Nonresident Big Game ($112) or Small Game ($78) | Basic Hunter Education required for first-time adult hunters |
| 65–69 | Resident Hunting License, discounted rate ($20) | Hunter education still applies if never previously licensed |
| 70 and older | Free Resident Hunting License | Available by statutory mandate |
Permits and stamps: Archery ($10 resident / $30 nonresident), Primitive Firearms ($10 / $30), Bear Permit ($10 / $30), and Turkey Permit ($10 / $30) each require separate purchase, along with the Waterfowl Stamp ($10 / $30) and Federal Duck Stamp for migratory bird hunters.
Season dates and bag limits vary by species and wildlife management zone, so check the current summary before you plan a hunt.
Hunter Safety Course: Format and Cost
Massachusetts stands out for running its entire Basic Hunter Education Program free of charge, directly through MassWildlife, rather than through a paid online provider. The chart below offers a quick overview of those formats.
Massachusetts Hunter Safety Course Formats Comparison | ||||
| Format | Provider | Cost | Time | Exam |
Blended (Study Guide + Field Day) | MassWildlife through HunterCourse | Free | 6–8 hours self-paced, plus one Field Day | Final exam at Field Day |
Traditional Classroom | MassWildlife volunteer instructors | Free | Multiple in-person sessions | Final exam included in course |
Whichever format you choose, the certificate you earn travels with you for life, recognized across every U.S. state, Canada, and Mexico. Only your hunting license needs replacing, and in Massachusetts that happens every December 31.
What to Bring When Buying Your License
Make sure you have the right documentation handy to purchase your Massachusetts hunting license. You'll need:
- Government-issued photo ID
- Hunter Education Certificate, if you're a first-time adult hunter
- Payment (credit or debit card online, or check or card in person)
- Written parental or guardian consent, if you're a minor applying for a Resident Minor Hunting License
Massachusetts Hunting Laws and Penalties
Hunting without a required license in Massachusetts carries a fine of $200 to $500, up to 90 days in jail, or both, under Massachusetts hunting regulations. A third or subsequent violation involving certain protected species within a 10-year period escalates sharply, carrying a fine of $1,000 to $15,000 and up to five years in state prison.
What About Reciprocity?
Massachusetts accepts hunter education certificates from any other U.S. state, Canadian province, or Mexican jurisdiction, since the state's own program is built to IHEA-USA standards. A Massachusetts Hunter Education Certificate is likewise recognized in every U.S. state, Canada, and Mexico.
The hunting license itself, however, is not transferable. Hunters visiting from out of state still need to purchase a Massachusetts non-resident license.
Out-of-State Visitors
Non-residents can hunt in Massachusetts with a Nonresident Big Game license ($112) covering deer, bear, and turkey, or a Nonresident Small Game license ($78) for everything else. Non-resident minors ages 15 to 17 qualify for the same big game or small game categories as adults, with parental consent required to purchase.
Start Your Massachusetts Hunter Safety Course Today
MassWildlife's Basic Hunter Education Program is free, approved for first-time hunters statewide, and offered in both blended and traditional classroom formats. Study the material, register for a course near you, and earn your lifetime Massachusetts Hunter Education Certificate.
Approved by Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife (MassWildlife) | Last verified August 11, 2026
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: Do I need a hunting license in Massachusetts?
A: Yes, anyone age 15 or older needs a hunting license to hunt in Massachusetts. Hunters ages 12 to 14 can hunt without one, but only while directly accompanied by a licensed adult 18 or older.
Q: How old do you have to be to get Massachusetts hunter education certification?
A: There's no minimum age to take Massachusetts hunter education, but the requirement itself only applies to first-time hunters 18 or older. Younger hunters can start in the field through the supervised or minor-license pathways instead.
Q: How much does a Massachusetts hunting license cost?
A: A Resident Hunting License in Massachusetts costs $40 for ages 18 to 64, and a Nonresident Big Game license costs $112. A $5 Wildlands Conservation Stamp is added to whichever license you buy first each year.
Q: Does a Massachusetts hunting license expire?
A: Yes. Massachusetts hunting licenses run on a calendar year, so a license purchased in 2026 expires December 31, 2026 regardless of when during the year you bought it.
Q: Can I complete Massachusetts hunter education entirely online?
A: No. Massachusetts always requires an in-person component, either a Field Day after the online study guide or the fully in-person classroom format, and both options are free.
Q: Do I need hunter education in Massachusetts?
A: Yes, if you're 18 or older and have never held a hunting or sporting license anywhere before January 1, 2007. Hunters who can affirm they held a license before that date are exempt from the requirement.
Q: What's the penalty for hunting without a license in Massachusetts?
A: Hunting without a license in Massachusetts carries a fine of $200 to $500, up to 90 days in jail, or both. Repeat violations involving certain protected species within a 10-year period can raise the penalty to as much as $15,000 and five years in state prison.
