Expanding Deer Hunting Season On Martha's Vineyard, Nantucket Will Help Overpopulation, Officials Say

MARTHA'S VINEYARD, MA — Deer hunting season has been expanded on Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket, which will now see hunting stretch through mid-February.

The Healey-Driscoll Administration announced the new regulations, with a six-week winter primitive firearms and bowhunting season from Jan. 1 through Feb. 14.

The Islands have the highest deer densities in Massachusetts, which can lead to the spread of tick-borne disease, increased deer and vehicle collisions, habitat damage and coastal erosion, officials said.

The administration co-hosted an informational gathering with State Senator Julian Cyr and State Representative Thomas Moakley on Martha’s Vineyard last week to discuss the new regulations, which also established an early fall deer season on the Islands, allowing an additional ten days of hunting with primitive firearms and archery equipment.

The season will run from Sept. 21 through Oct. 1 in 2026.

“Hunting has always been woven into Massachusetts’ history – supporting families, boosting local economies, and helping keep our deer populations healthy,” said Gov. Maura 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.”

Department of Fish and Game (DFG) Commissioner Tom O’Shea announced at a recent Fisheries and Wildlife Board meeting that the administration will hold public listening sessions in early 2026 to consider additional tools to manage the deer population, including allowing for expanded hunting season or hunting on Sundays.

Massachusetts is one of two states in the country that does not allow Sunday hunting.

“Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket are facing rapidly increasing deer populations. Overabundant deer negatively impact forest health, increase deer-vehicle collisions on roadways, and increase public health risks through tick-borne illness,” said O’Shea.

"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," he added.

While the statewide goal for deer across Massachusetts is 12–18 deer per square mile, MassWildlife estimates there are over 100 deer per square mile on the Islands in areas closed to hunting.

When deer populations are too high, they eat too many young trees and plants. This harms forest health and negatively impacts many other wildlife species.

While MassWildlife was already scheduled to implement the January hunt for the first time on the islands in 2026, the emergency regulations announced today add an additional 2 weeks into February and an early season in September.

Public hearings will be scheduled early in 2026 to determine if these changes will be made permanent.