In an effort to reduce deer populations on the Islands, state fish and wildlife officials have approved a one-month extension of hunting on Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard for the upcoming season.
The new regulations were approved by the Massachusetts Fisheries and Wildlife Board in February of this year, and then promulgated in May. The new, extra month of winter primitive firearms season will begin in January 2026.
The state proposed the added month with deer populations rapidly increasing on the islands, while the number of licensed hunters has declined. The state estimates there are 30 to 50 deer per square mile open to hunting on the islands, far denser than the goal of fewer than 18 in a square mile. Where hunting access is restricted, the state estimates that deer densities can be more than 100 deer in a square mile.
Fish and Wildlife approved the new month after hearing feedback from the public. Vineyard residents were overwhelmingly supportive of the measure; some 100 residents wrote in support, noting that deer are a host of ticks. Only a handful opposed the measure.
Still, some hunters and residents say that adding another month may not make a significant impact on the deer population. Instead, they have pushed to open hunting on Sundays in addition to providing another month of hunting.
Primitive firearms, bows, and crossbows with permits may be used during this extra month. There will also be a new, free winter deer permit available that allows for the harvest of one additional antlered or antlerless deer, and may only be used during the winter.
A summary of deer-hunting regulations can be found at mass.gov/info-details/deer-hunting-regulations.
Yay! Extended season! Which means bucks with no antlers, and gutting out fetus out of does. Thanks for being one of two states in this country that doesn’t allow Sunday hunting.
Most bucks still have antlers in January. What about December.
They wouldn’t have to reduce thr deer population if they would stop reducing places they can live. Live trap them and move them to a wooded area on the ofcthe islands
There are approximately 4 square miles of deer habitat on Chappaquiddick. State estimates of 30 – 50 deer per square mile on Chappy would indicate 120 – 200 deer are living here. Imagine 12 – 20 ten deer herds/groups of deer working their way through their grazing areas all at once across the island. Is it happening? I doubt it, not even close, but I’m looking forward to someone with good drone skills to do a survey, find the deer and take some pictures.
Roger. Do you include people’s yards? I’ve hunted chappy. There are a lot of deer. Everywhere. Ask the people who live there.
Coyotes would solve this problem naturally. Also, keeps the disease at bay.
True, but a large enough coyote population would bring a host of other problems. No more calling animal control when your backyard chickens or pet lamb disappears. Also, the coyotes would host ticks as much as deer. It’s the white footed field mouse that is the problem, not the deer. They don’t even get Lyme. Exchanging one host for another is senseless.
I don’t mind the extension of the season into January, gives us a better chance of hunting after a snowfall, which I love but I do agree with Grayson with his concerns.
I also agree with Scott , that the deer aren’t the reason we have such a tick problem here. Years ago the coyotes basically wiped out the deer population on the Elizabeth islands and the tick population never decreased there , in fact it seemed to get worse.
Some bucks do shed their antlers in mid /late December , so it will lead to more bucks unknowingly getting harvested.
I’ll take the extended season,so it looks like I won’t be getting much work done until February now?