There are many chances to put your abilities to the test and feel the rush of the hunt, from the majesty of the White Mountain National Forest to the various state holdings and privately held areas. This page will explore the dates, regulations, and key details that will help you make the most of your upcoming hunting trips in the Granite State.
New Hampshire Hunting Seasons 2025-2026
Popular games in the state include bears, deer, and turkeys. Late October through December is deer and turkey season.
🦌 Big Game
White-Tailed Deer
| Season Type | Dates | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Archery | Sep 15 – Dec 8 (WMU A) Sep 15 – Dec 15 (WMUs B-M) | Crossbows allowed |
| Muzzleloader | Nov 1 – Nov 11 | WMU-dependent |
| Firearms | Nov 12 – Dec 7 | Zone-specific |
| Youth Weekend | Oct 25-26 | Statewide |
| Tag Info | Antlerless permits: – Unit L (lottery) – Unit M (4,000 permits, first-come) | Registration within 24hrs |
Black Bear
| Season Type | Dates | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| General | Sep 1 – Nov 11 (select WMUs) Sep 1 – Nov 30 (remaining) | |
| Baiting | Sep 1-28 or Oct 5 | Zone-dependent |
| Hound Hunting | Sep 22 – Nov 11 | Closed in WMUs H2, K, L, M |
| License Info | Extra tag in WMUs C1, D2, E, F | First bear must be registered |
Moose
🫎 Permit Only
- Season: Oct 18-26, 2025
- System: Lottery-based (applications due summer 2025)
🦃 Turkey
Spring Season
- Dates: May 1 – May 31, 2026
- WMUs Allowing 2nd Bird: Check zone regulations
Fall Season
| Method | Dates | WMUs |
|---|---|---|
| Archery | Sep 15 – Dec 8/15 | Follows deer archery |
| Shotgun | Oct 13-19 | D2, H1, H2, I1, J2, K, L, M |
Youth Season
- Dates: Apr 25-26, 2026
- 2nd Bird Allowed In: H1, H2, J2, K, L, M
🦊 Furbearers
| Species | Dates | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Coyote | No closed season | Night hunting Jan 1 – Mar 31 |
| Fisher | Dec 1, 2025 – Jan 31, 2026 | Limit: 2 (hunting/trapping combined) |
| Fox/Raccoon/Skunk | Sep 1, 2025 – Mar 31, 2026 | |
| Mink/Muskrat | WMUs A-F: Oct 15, 2025 – Apr 10, 2026 WMUs G-M: Nov 1, 2025 – Apr 10, 2026 | |
| Closed Species | Bobcat, Lynx, Pine Marten | Protected |
New Rule: Online registration required for all harvested furbearers.
🐦 Upland Birds
Ruffed Grouse
- Season: Oct 1 – Dec 31
Pheasant
| Season Type | Dates | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Regular | Oct 1 – Dec 31 | |
| Youth | Sep 27-28, 2025 | New for 2025 |
Other Upland Species
- Quail/Chukar/Partridge: Oct 1 – Dec 31
- Woodcock: Oct 1 – Nov 14
🐿️ Small Game
| Species | Dates | Daily Limit |
|---|---|---|
| Gray Squirrel | Sep 1, 2025 – Jan 31, 2026 | 6 |
| Snowshoe Hare | Oct 1, 2025 – Mar 1, 2026 | 4 |
| Cottontail Rabbit | Oct 1, 2025 – Mar 15, 2026 | 4 (WMUs H2, K, L, M only) |
🦆 Waterfowl
Zones & Dates
| Zone | Dates |
|---|---|
| Northern | Oct 2 – Nov 30 |
| Inland & Connecticut River | Oct 13 – Nov 11 Nov 27 – Dec 26 |
| Coastal | Oct 2-8 Nov 27, 2025 – Jan 18, 2026 |
Special Hunts
- Youth Weekend: Sep 27-28, 2025
- Veterans/Military: Jan 24-25, 2026
Bag Limits
| Species | Daily Limit | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Ducks | 6 | Species restrictions apply |
| Canada Geese | Sep 1-25: 5 Regular: 2 | |
| Snow Geese | 25 | No possession limit |
🎯 Other Opportunities
Falconry
- Season: Dec 1, 2025 – Mar 10, 2026
Trapping
- Fisher: Dec 1-31, 2025
Note: Always verify WMU-specific regulations before hunting.
Hunting Location
All public, municipal, county, and private land is open to hunting. On private land, it is required to acquire permission.
| NH Hunting Locations | Type | Hunting Permission |
|---|---|---|
| Federal Public Lands: | ||
| White Mountain National Forest | National Forest | Allowed |
| State Property: | ||
| Wildlife Management Areas | State Property | Allowed |
| Additional Tracts | State Property | Allowed |
| State Forests | State Property | Allowed |
| Few Prohibited Zones during hunting season | State Property | Prohibited |
| Forestry and Paper Firms: | ||
| Paper and Timber Company lands | Private Lands | Allowed |
| Privately, County, or Municipality Owned Lands: | ||
| Privately owned lands | Private Lands | Seek permission |
| County owned lands | County Lands | Seek permission |
| Municipality owned lands | Municipality Lands | Seek permission |
Regulations
General
- All New Hampshire deer must have a license or permit-issued deer tag. There’s no limit on passenger luggage. Tags restrict the quantity of deer you can kill.
- You may hunt 30 minutes before sunrise or after dark. Outside these hours, it’s prohibited to have a loaded or unloaded weapon in a hunting area.
- Anybody using a rifle or bow must wear hunter orange, visible from 200 feet.
- Within 300 feet of a school, medical institution, company, or outdoor public gathering place, it is illegal to fire a gun, bow, or crossbow without authorization.
- Firearms, bows, and crossbows cannot be fired from or across a roadway.
- Tree stands, ladders, and observation blinds need the landowner’s written permission to use.
- It’s prohibited to use a remote-controlled aircraft to pursue deer.
- Vehicle-based pursuing is forbidden. All mechanical propulsion must be deactivated for canoe or boat hunting.
- Always prioritize your personal safety. Carefully aim your bow and arrow to hit your target. Explore your destination’s surroundings. Before shooting, make sure the animal has antlers.
- Watch what’s beyond the deer you wish to kill and what you could hit. Large-caliber bullets may kill a deer. Think beyond your goal. Without a permission, you may shoot two deer at once.
- Most think firearms cause most injuries. Falling from tree stands injures more people than stray gunfire from other hunters. Always wear the tree stand’s safety strap. Know how to utilize your gear.
Fines & Penalties
There is a potential for a fine of $250,000 and imprisonment of up to 5 years. If you are found guilty of taking over one deer in a year, you would be charged with a Class A Misdemeanor.
A two-year revocation of the hunter’s license, a $750 fine, and a 12-month suspended sentence in exchange for the same three years of good behavior are all possible outcomes.
You should familiarize yourself with New Hampshire’s deer laws and restrictions before setting out on your adventure.
Hunting License
- License is mandatory to hunt and you may get it through a licensed agency, Fish and Game in Concord, or huntnh.com.
- Non-residents need a license. A non-state license is invalid. Hunting/fishing combination permits are available. License fees are reduced for seniors. NHFG’s main office sells lifetime licenses.
- First-timers must be 16 and complete hunter ed. In-person and online versions of this course include an over-15 field day. Current curriculum includes weapons and bows.
- Students may choose a guns or archery course before 2014. Certain seasons may need confirmation of hunter and bow hunter schooling. Out-of-state hunting or archery licenses or course completion certificates work.
- A one-year apprentice license is available.
- Deer permits may be needed. Tag every in-season deer. Basic hunting license contains one deer tag for firearms schedule.
- You’ll need extra tags if you want to pursue outside of season. Archery tags allow one of each sexe. Muzzleloader licenses lack deer tags. Muzzleloader or crossbow is legal with a basic hunting license’s weapons deer tag during muzzleloading period.
- Special approval is needed for additional deer tags. With a Special Archery Deer Permit, you may take one more antlered deer. One per hunter.
- Unit L Special Permit authorizes one antlerless deer. The licensee may hunt with it (archery, muzzleloader, or firearm). 2022 July applications might yield 2,000 licenses.
- Unit M Special Permit enables taking two antlerless deer. Valid permits may be used anytime throughout game period (archery, muzzleloader, or firearm). 2022 NHFG first-come, first-served.
What are the dates for the New Hampshire Hunting Season?
September through December are designated the archery, muzzleloader, and firearm deer. A permit received during the April application period is necessary for shooting moose. Pheasant hunting occurs from October to December, while waterfowl is offered in various zones from October to December. Woodcock game occurs between October and November, while crow lasts from September to March.
When are New Hampshire's deer shooting seasons?
It has distinct bow-and-arrow, muzzleloader, and gun seasons. There’s also a deer baiting time and a Youth weekend. Archery begins September 15 and ends December 15. (14th for WMU-A).
What happens you take a deer?
Deer tags should be removed from licenses and permits after the animal has been harvested. Then complete the tag and affix it to the deer. The label must remain until the procedure is complete. Within 24 hours after harvest, deer must be registered.
Archery-killed deer must be presented to a conservation officer within 48 hours with a healthy head and skin. After registering your deer, you may take it to a processor or taxidermist of your choice.
Do you need a license to hunt on your New Hampshire property?
Property owners who hunt just on their own land do not require a basic firearm license, even though they are prohibited from hunting elsewhere in the state without one. However, they are on their own when it comes to acquiring licenses for archery, muzzleloading, turkey, etc.
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