Hunting

Hunting Season Information

Hopkinton has a wealth of beautiful open spaces and the Trails Club encourages everyone to get out and use them. Autumn is a particularly wonderful time to be out in the woods, but extra caution is needed. This is the fall hunting season, and many of the areas we love to explore in Hopkinton are open for hunting. Here are the dates for 2026:

There are five hunting seasons for deer in Massachusetts:

• Youth hunting days: October 2 and 3

• Bow & Arrow: October 5 thru November 28

• Paraplegic hunt: October 29, 30, 31

• Shotgun: November 30 thru December 12

• Muzzleloaders: December 14 thru December 31

Note: There is an additional deer hunting season for Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket

• September 21 thru October 1

Black bear hunting season:

• September 7 thru December 12

Other seasons:

• Pheasant/Quail: October 17 thru December 31 (except November 30 - December 12)

• Turkey: October 5 thru November 28

• Coyote: October 17 thru March 8, 2027

Hopkinton's trails are NOT closed to non-hunters during hunting season. You can still enjoy the woods during this time if you use common sense and take a few precautions:

• Be aware of which areas are open for hunting and when (no hunting on Sundays!)

• Wear brightly colored clothing, preferably blaze orange (at least a hat)

• Keep your dog leashed, and have it wear blaze orange as well

• Pay attention to your surroundings. Don't wear earpods/headphones, or use your phone while walking.

• Avoid visiting during prime hunting times (dawn & dusk)

For more information about hunting seasons and safety in the woods, visit the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries & Wildlife (Mass Wildlife) webpage.

Photo: Webmaster's grandfather and great-uncles at their hunting camp in the Adirondacks in the 1920s