Healey-Driscoll Administration Expands Deer Hunting Season on Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket
Administration Considering Additional Actions to Provide More Access for Hunters, Including Sunday Hunting
MARTHA’S VINEYARD – Today, the Healey-Driscoll Administration announced new regulations to expand the deer hunting seasons on Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket, with a six-week winter primitive firearms and bowhunting season from January 1 through February 14. The Islands have the highest deer densities in Massachusetts, which can lead to the spread of tick-borne disease, increased deer/vehicle collisions, habitat damage, and coastal erosion.
The administration co-hosted an informational gathering with State Senator Julian Cyr and State Representative Thomas Moakley on Martha’s Vineyard today to discuss the new regulations. These regulations will also establish 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 September 21 through October 1 in 2026.
Additionally, Department of Fish and Game (DFG) Commissioner Tom O’Shea announced at the Fisheries and Wildlife Board meeting today 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.
“Hunting has always been woven into Massachusetts’ history – supporting families, boosting local economies, and helping keep our deer populations healthy,” said Governor 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.”
“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 DFG Commissioner Tom 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.”
“Tickborne diseases spread by the black-legged or deer tick, including Lyme disease, anaplasmosis, babesiosis, borreliosis caused by Borrelia miyamotoi and Powassan virus have been, and continue to be a significant public health concern on the Islands,” said State Epidemiologist Catherine M. Brown, DVM. “Since any measurable impacts in disease burden are likely to take time, it is important that residents and visitors on the Islands be aware of the presence of ticks and consistently take steps to help prevent tick bites. Prevention steps include use of tick repellents, daily tick checks and letting your healthcare provider know about tick exposure if you develop any illness.”
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.
“Protecting biodiversity is especially important on the Islands because they have unique habitats and species not found elsewhere in the state and they are already vulnerable to climate change,” said MassWildlife Deer Project Leader Martin Feehan. “High deer numbers also worsen coastal erosion along the shorelines of Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard.”
Licensed hunters play an important role in wildlife management in Massachusetts, positively contributing to forest health and biodiversity, public health and safety, and food security. Through MassWildlife's Hunters Share the Harvest program, hunters can donate venison to Massachusetts residents facing food insecurity. Since the program's inception in 2022, more than 90,000 meals have been distributed to families in need.
“Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket continue to face some of the highest rates of tick-borne illness in the Commonwealth, including the alarming rise of alpha-gal syndrome. With deer density driving much of this public-health crisis, expanding deer hunting opportunities is a necessary step to protect our communities,” said Senator Julian Cyr (D–Truro). “Addressing tick-borne disease requires coordination and action across all levels of government, and this announcement helps move us in the right direction.”
"The plan is to bring together experts, local leaders and policy makers to discuss what’s possible,” said Representative Thomas W. Moakley (D-Falmouth). “The solution may not be simple, but islanders deserve action."
Last week, Nantucket Land Bank opened a new meat processing facility, enabling hunters to donate venison to residents facing food insecurity.
On Martha’s Vineyard, hunters can process deer for donation at the MV Hunt Club and Island Grown Initiative. Through Hunters Share the Harvest, venison is donated locally to IGI Island Food Pantry, Kinship Heals, Nourishing Nantucket, and the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah).
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.
