Massachusetts publishes deer harvest in a form FDR could rank for 5 public hunting areas and 15 hunt units. DCR Quabbin Park Zone (two-day controlled hunt) is highest at 5.9 deer harvested per square mile in 2025. DCR Quabbin Petersham Zone (two-day controlled hunt) has 5.7 in 2025 and DCR Quabbin Prescott Zone (two-day controlled hunt) has 2.4 in 2024. The rankings describe reported harvest and do not measure access or hunting pressure.
KEY FINDINGS
- DCR Quabbin Park Zone (two-day controlled hunt) has the highest harvest per square mile at 5.9. The agency reported 24 deer on 2,616 acres in 2025.
- 5 public hunting areas are ranked. Ranks compare areas measured between 2022 and 2025 and each row shows its own newest year.
- 15 hunt units are ranked too. MassWildlife Wildlife Management Zone 14 has the highest harvest per square mile at 22.2 in 2025.
Massachusetts public land rankings
Best public land in Massachusetts
Derived FDR figures from state agency numbers. Seasons measured 2022 through 2025. Captured October 18, 2026. Harvest per square mile is the agency's deer harvest divided by the area's size. Success rate is the agency's published rate or harvest divided by hunters. Areas smaller than one square mile are left out of the rankings. Order uses the unrounded values and tied values share a rank. Blank cells mean the agency did not publish the figure.
Download all ranked rows (CSV)
Public hunting areas
Top 5 of 5 ranked public hunting areas by deer harvest per square mile. Each row shows its own newest year.
5 of 5 areas shown
| 1 | DCR Quabbin Park Zone (two-day controlled hunt) | 2,616 | 2025 | 24 | 5.9 | 26% | 2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | DCR Quabbin Petersham Zone (two-day controlled hunt) | 7,061 | 2025 | 63 | 5.7 | 33% | 1 |
| 3 | DCR Quabbin Prescott Zone (two-day controlled hunt) | 12,020 | 2024 | 46 | 2.4 | 15% | 3 |
| 4 | DCR Quabbin Pelham Zone (two-day controlled hunt) | 8,240 | 2025 | 31 | 2.4 | 15% | 4 |
| 5 | DCR Quabbin Reservation watershed, New Salem zone | 6,871 | 2022 | 2 | 0.2 |
Hunt units
Top 15 of 15 ranked hunt units by deer harvest per square mile. Hunt units include private land, so the public share column shows how much of each unit is public land open to hunting.
15 of 15 hunt units shown
| 1 | MassWildlife Wildlife Management Zone 14 | 28,865 | 2025 | 1,003 | 22.2 | 4.0 | 8.8% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | MassWildlife Wildlife Management Zone 13 | 65,457 | 2025 | 935 | 9.1 | 12.2 | 12.0% |
| 3 | MassWildlife Wildlife Management Zone 11 | 876,764 | 2025 | 4,153 | 3.0 | 153.7 | 11.2% |
| 4 | MassWildlife Wildlife Management Zone 7 | 249,825 | 2025 | 945 | 2.4 | 45.5 | 11.7% |
| 5 | MassWildlife Wildlife Management Zone 1 | 117,706 | 2025 | 414 | 2.3 | 52.2 | 28.4% |
| 6 | MassWildlife Wildlife Management Zone 9 | 459,031 | 2025 | 1,534 | 2.1 | 94.9 | 13.2% |
| 7 | MassWildlife Wildlife Management Zone 8 | 354,205 | 2025 | 1,004 | 1.8 | 71.6 | 12.9% |
| 8 | MassWildlife Wildlife Management Zone 10 | 889,807 | 2025 | 2,515 | 1.8 | 157.4 | 11.3% |
| 9 | MassWildlife Wildlife Management Zone 3 | 264,592 | 2025 | 706 | 1.7 | 73.5 | 17.8% |
| 10 | MassWildlife Wildlife Management Zone 4N | 273,624 | 2025 | 727 | 1.7 | 46.7 | 10.9% |
| 11 | MassWildlife Wildlife Management Zone 5 | 366,735 | 2025 | 917 | 1.6 | 132.3 | 23.1% |
| 12 | MassWildlife Wildlife Management Zone 6 | 173,427 | 2025 | 351 | 1.3 | 107.1 | 39.5% |
| 13 | MassWildlife Wildlife Management Zone 4S | 252,673 | 2025 | 479 | 1.2 | 53.5 | 13.6% |
| 14 | MassWildlife Wildlife Management Zone 2 | 367,623 | 2025 | 617 | 1.1 | 154.3 | 26.9% |
| 15 | MassWildlife Wildlife Management Zone 12 | 244,538 | 2025 | 381 | 1.0 | 122.3 | 32.0% |
01Public hunting areas
5 areas ranked on harvest per square mile
DCR Quabbin Park Zone (two-day controlled hunt) has the most deer harvested per square mile at 5.9 in 2025. DCR Quabbin Petersham Zone (two-day controlled hunt) has 5.7 in 2025 and DCR Quabbin Prescott Zone (two-day controlled hunt) has 2.4 in 2024.
The top 5 run from 5.9 down to 0.2 deer harvested per square mile.
02Hunt units
15 hunt units ranked on harvest per square mile
MassWildlife Wildlife Management Zone 14 has the most deer harvested per square mile at 22.2 in 2025. MassWildlife Wildlife Management Zone 13 has 9.1 in 2025 and MassWildlife Wildlife Management Zone 11 has 3.0 in 2025.
Harvest in a hunt unit includes private land, so the public share is shown next to each unit. The public share is the part of each unit that is public land open to hunting.
03Basis of this report
Sources and method
FDR divided the agency's deer harvest by the area's size to get harvest per square mile. Areas smaller than one square mile are left out of the rankings. Ranks compare areas measured between 2022 and 2025 and each row shows its own newest year.
Success rate is the agency's published figure or harvest divided by hunters. Tied values share a rank and the order uses the unrounded values.
A ranking does not evaluate an individual property and does not confirm that it is open to hunting for you.
Sources
NOTES AND SOURCES
- Derived FDR figures from state agency numbers. Seasons measured 2022 through 2025. Captured October 18, 2026. Harvest per square mile is the agency's deer harvest divided by the area's size. Success rate is the agency's published rate or harvest divided by hunters. Areas smaller than one square mile are left out of the rankings. Order uses the unrounded values and tied values share a rank. Blank cells mean the agency did not publish the figure.
Fully Drawn Research is an independent data analysis desk, not affiliated with any state wildlife agency, transportation agency, mapping provider or outfitter. FDR rankings are independent analysis of state agency numbers. A ranking does not evaluate an individual property.
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