Zone 3, Massachusetts
Unit info
- Game species
- Deer, Turkey, Bear
- Group
- Zone 3
- Area
- 422 mi²
- Public land
- N/A
White-tailed Deer — season & harvest
- Reported harvest
- 548
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, Bear also occur here — that data can be added as the community contributes.
About this unit
AI-compiled · sourcedMassachusetts Wildlife Management Zone 3 covers the southern Berkshire County hill country in western Massachusetts, encompassing the Housatonic River valley towns of Lee, Stockbridge, Great Barrington, Monterey, and Otis, bounded by the New York border to the west and Route 8/I-90 to the east. This rugged, forested zone offers excellent deer and turkey hunting on vast public land including October Mountain and Beartown State Forests, with black bear hunting also permitted as one of the state's designated western bear zones. Antlerless deer permits are limited/restricted in Zone 3 and must be applied for by July 16, with surplus ADPs available first-come first-served in late September.
Southern Berkshire County hill country — forested ridgelines, Housatonic River valley bottomlands, mixed hardwood and conifer forest with agricultural clearings. Rugged glaciated terrain with significant elevation changes. Mast-producing hardwoods (oak, beech) in uplands, wetland edges and agricultural fringe in valley bottoms. Prime big-game habitat.
moderate
Antlerless deer permits (ADP) in Zone 3 are limited/restricted — not unlimited. Apply by July 16 via MassFishHunt for initial lottery draw; award results available August 1. Surplus ADPs available first-come first-served starting late September (historically around September 27), limit 1 per zone per day until sold out. One antlerless tag per ADP; cannot be used outside Zone 3. Bucks may be taken without an ADP during any open deer season. No daily antlerless bag limit once ADP is held (2025 regulation change); season limit still applies.
DEER: Archery Oct 5 – Nov 28 (2026 dates); Shotgun Nov 30 – Dec 12; Primitive Firearms (muzzleloader) Dec 14 – Dec 31. No Sunday hunting. Standard buck tag included with license; antlerless requires ADP (restricted in Zone 3). TURKEY: Spring season late April – late May (Zones 1–13); fall season Oct 5 – Nov 28 (Zones 1–13). Spring limit 2 bearded birds; fall limit 1 bird either sex. Spring hours dawn to noon; fall hours dawn to sunset. BEAR: Black bear hunting permitted in Zone 3 (Zones 1–8 open for bear). Season Sept 7 – Dec 12 (2026). Requires black bear permit in addition to hunting license. Best opportunities in October Mountain and Beartown State Forest mast areas. Western MA bear population centered in Berkshire, Franklin, and Hampshire counties. No Sunday hunting.
Western Massachusetts bear country with big public land deer and turkey opportunity. October Mountain State Forest is one of the premier public deer hunting destinations in New England. Agricultural valley edges along the Housatonic provide classic early-season bowhunting setups. Turkey populations strong in mixed farm-forest edge. Black bear incidental harvest common during deer season. Remote mountain terrain reduces pressure relative to eastern Massachusetts zones.
Questions, tips & discussion
Ask anything about Zone 3— 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 3.
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.