Hunting

Hunting is allowed at Harold Parker State Forest in season, under MassWildlife's statewide laws plus DCR's own rules: no hunting within 500 feet of any campsite, picnic area, parking lot, residence, service building or swimming area, and no permanent tree stands. In 2026 the archery deer season runs October 5 to November 28 and shotgun season November 30 to December 12. MassWildlife does not allow hunting on Sundays.

DCR Rules for Hunting in State Forests

DCR's page on hunting in state parks and forests says most of them are open to hunting (DCR's Harold Parker page lists hunting), and that hunters must follow every state hunting law and regulation. DCR adds its own limits:

• No hunting, trapping or discharging a firearm within 500 feet of the border of a DCR campsite or camping structure.
• No hunting within 500 feet of any DCR-designated picnic area, camping area, residence, service building, parking lot, camping structure or designated swimming area.
• No permanent tree stands (anything nailed, bolted or wired through the bark), and a stand may not stay in place longer than 30 days.

DCR recommends contacting the park about any special rules before you hunt. Harold Parker's headquarters is (978) 686-3391.

At Harold Parker that 500-foot rule takes in the Lorraine Park Campground, the Berry Pond and Frye Pond beaches, the pavilion and picnic areas, the headquarters and every parking lot. See parking and camping for where those are.

Hunting Hours

DCR's general hunting hours run from 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset. Exceptions: waterfowl hunting ends at sunset, pheasant hunting on stocked properties runs sunrise to sunset, and coyote and fox hunting may continue until midnight. The forest itself is open to the public sunrise to sunset.

2026 Deer Seasons

From MassWildlife's 2026 season summary:

• Youth deer hunt: October 2 and 3.
• Archery: October 5 to November 28 (zones 1 to 14).
• Paraplegic hunt: October 29 to 31.
• Shotgun: November 30 to December 12.
• Primitive firearms: December 14 to 31.
• New winter deer season: January 1 to 30, 2027 in zones 9, 10 and 11 (January 1 to February 13 in zones 13 and 14).

Hunting is prohibited on Sundays.

Other 2026 Seasons

• Wild turkey: April 27 to May 23, and October 5 to November 28.
• Pheasant and quail: October 17 to December 31.
• Ruffed grouse: October 17 to November 28.
• Gray squirrel: September 8, 2026 to February 27, 2027.
• Cottontail rabbit: October 17, 2026 to February 27, 2027.
• Black bear: September 7 to December 12.
• Coyote: October 17, 2026 to March 8, 2027.

MassWildlife closes pheasant, quail, squirrel, rabbit and several other seasons during shotgun deer season. Always confirm on MassWildlife's current summary; this page restates it and is not the regulation.

Blaze Orange

MassWildlife requires deer hunters to wear 500 square inches of blaze orange on the head, chest and back during the youth deer hunt, shotgun season, primitive firearms season, and the early and winter deer seasons. During archery season an orange hat is required only on Wildlife Management Areas stocked with pheasant or quail.

For everyone else, DCR's visitor notes say to be aware of hunting seasons and wear blaze orange when appropriate, and the Friends of Harold Parker ask trail users to wear bright clothing in fall. DCR's management plan recommended hunting-season warning signs at the Jenkins Road lot, the Middleton Road pavilion, the headquarters and the Sharpners Pond Road lot.

If You Are Hiking in Hunting Season

• Wear blaze orange, and put an orange vest or bandana on your dog.
• Stay on marked trails; see trails and hiking.
• Sundays are the one day with no hunting at all.
• Mid-day is not hunting-free. Legal hours run from before sunrise to after sunset.

Licenses

A Massachusetts hunting or sporting license is required. MassWildlife sells licenses online through MassFishHunt; its 2026 sporting license includes two antlered deer tags valid statewide. Fishing license details are on fishing.

Nearby

The Trustees allow limited, permit-only bow hunting at Ward Reservation and no hunting at Weir Hill. Boxford State Forest lists hunting.