Zone 10, Massachusetts
Unit info
- Game species
- Deer, Turkey
- Group
- Zone 10
- Area
- 1,448 mi²
- Public land
- N/A
White-tailed Deer — season & harvest
- Reported harvest
- 2,602
Draw odds for White-tailed Deeraren't on file for this unit yet. Check your state wildlife agency website for current draw statistics.
Season & harvest data is published for White-tailed Deer so far. Deer, Turkey also occur here — that data can be added as the community contributes.
About this unit
AI-compiled · sourcedZone 10 covers Plymouth and Bristol counties and Cape Cod in southeastern Massachusetts, encompassing the Atlantic white cedar swamps, pitch pine and scrub oak barrens, and coastal plain forests that hold some of the highest deer densities in the state. Antlerless Deer Permits are consistently available here with near-100% award rates and surplus permits sold with no daily or season purchase limit, making this one of the most productive zones for antlerless harvest. Archery is the dominant method given dense suburban development across much of the zone, though shotgun and primitive firearms seasons are open in areas free from safety-zone restrictions.
Southeastern Massachusetts coastal plain dominated by pitch pine and scrub oak barrens (Myles Standish Complex pine barrens — one of the largest north of Long Island), Atlantic white cedar swamps, kettle ponds, cranberry bogs, and coastal thickets. Low-lying and relatively flat with dense understory providing excellent deer cover. Urban/suburban sprawl across Plymouth, Taunton, New Bedford, and Brockton fragments habitat and creates extensive safety-zone acreage.
moderate
Antlerless Deer Permit (ADP) required for all antlerless deer. Zone 10 is one of the highest-demand zones with near-100% lottery award rates; surplus ADPs sold in late September with no daily or season purchase limit. Deer densities among highest in the state. Hunters donating whole deer to the MassWildlife donation program receive a no-cost replacement ADP in Zone 10. One buck per season included with base license; antlerless harvest requires ADP.
DEER: Archery season opens eighth Monday before Thanksgiving through first Saturday after Thanksgiving (~early Oct to late Nov). Shotgun season first Monday after Thanksgiving through second Saturday thereafter (~late Nov to mid-Dec). Primitive firearms season third Monday after Thanksgiving through December 31. Zone 10 is NOT archery-only — shotgun and primitive firearms are permitted outside safety zones, unlike the Cape Cod-specific Zones 12-14. TURKEY: Spring season last Monday in April through fourth Saturday thereafter (Zones 1-13); fall season eighth Monday before Thanksgiving through Saturday after Thanksgiving (Zones 1-13). Wild turkey permit required ($10 resident/$30 nonresident). Hunting prohibited on Sundays. Spring hours sunrise to noon. BEAR: Black bear hunting is restricted to WMZs 1-8 (western Massachusetts — Berkshire, Franklin, Hampshire counties). Zone 10 is NOT open to bear hunting. SUBURBAN RESTRICTIONS: Significant portions of Zone 10 fall within safety zones around occupied buildings; archery-only access common on private parcels near developed areas. Always verify local safety-zone distances before hunting.
Some of the best antlerless deer hunting in Massachusetts with reliable ADP availability and high deer densities. Myles Standish State Forest pine barrens offer large contiguous public access rarely found in southeastern MA. Wild turkeys are abundant statewide including Zone 10. The mosaic of pine barrens, cedar swamps, and agricultural edges creates excellent edge habitat for both deer and turkey.
Questions, tips & discussion
Ask anything about Zone 10— or drop a tip or trick: access points, where game holds, glassing spots, conditions, crowding, gear that worked. This is where the unit's species-specific intel gets built, hunter by hunter.
Nothing posted yet about Zone 10.
Be the first — ask a question (“Best public access on the north end?”) or share a tip (“Glass the burn scars off the main ridge at first light”).
Boundaries: MassWildlife official Wildlife Management Zones. Community info last updated 23d ago.