Massachusetts Extends Deer Hunting Season on Martha’s Vineyard, Nantucket

Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey's administration has expanded the deer hunting season on Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket, approving a six-week winter primitive firearms and bowhunting period from Jan. 1 to Feb. 14.

According to a Patch of Martha's Vineyard report, the Healey administration co-hosted an informational gathering with state Sen. Julian Cyr and Rep. Thomas Moakley on Martha's Vineyard last week to discuss the new regulations. These regulations also created an early fall deer season on the Islands, allowing an additional 10 days of hunting with primitive firearms and archery equipment. The season runs from Sept. 21 through Oct. 1, 2026.

Officials cited deer overabundance contributing to forest health decline, more deer-vehicle collisions, higher tick-borne disease risk, and coastal erosion as rationale for the expansion.

“Hunting has always been woven into Massachusetts' history — supporting families, boosting local economies, and helping keep our deer populations healthy,” said Healey. “These expanded regulations carry that tradition forward, creating more opportunities for hunters while protecting public health and ensuring we're maintaining balance in our wildlife populations.”

The Patch also reported that Massachusetts Department of Fish and Game Commissioner Tom O'Shea has announced public listening sessions will be held in early 2026 to explore additional deer management tools, including the potential for Sunday hunting.

“By expanding opportunities for licensed hunters to harvest deer, we can achieve healthier deer populations while protecting biodiversity and increasing public health, safety, and food security,” O'Shea explained in a statement.

Although MassWildlife had planned to implement the January hunting period for the first time on the Islands in 2026, the emergency regulations added two weeks to February and an early season in September.

MassWildlife's statewide goal is 12 to 18 deer per square mile. Currently, certain island areas exceed 100 deer per square mile in zones closed to hunting.