This is a Preview of New Hampshire Hunting Regulations.
For The complete New Hampshire Hunting Regulations Summary Guidebook Click Here
This is a preview of New Hampshire hunting Information and Regulations. For the New Hampshire state rules and regulations guidebook Click link above.
You can also access each individual state regulation guidebook by clicking the links below to the main state Regulations page. There you will find the official State regulation Guidebooks for New Hampshire and the other 50 states and lower canadian providences.
These are just the overviews of the official state regulations.
The Actual state New Hampshire hunting regulation guidebooks are accessible by clicking on the state you would like to see from the home page map then clicking on the New Hampshire state hunting regulations books.
They are also accessible by clicking on the New Hampshire hunting reg. books below and accessing the New Hampshire hunting regs link in the New Hampshire Guidebooks listed below.
Enjoy be safe and have a great time exploring the site and remember to check back often to keep updated on all the new laws, rules, and New Hampshire regulations pertaining to the hunting, Hunting, trapping, and wildlife sports. Also remember New Hampshire hunting Licenses, hunters education Information, hunting maps and much more are available at the New Hampshire Home Page.
New Hampshire Hunting Regulations Preview
Hunting licenses are required for persons 16 years of age and older.
Some licenses and permits are required for all ages, see page 10.
Buying a License
Hunting licenses, valid Jan. 1 to Dec. 31 of each year, may be
purchased online via www.huntnh.com, from license agents, Fish
and Game Department headquarters in Concord, Fish and Game
Region 1, 2 and 4 offices and some town or city clerks. Trapping
and fur buyer licenses, valid July 1 to June 30 of each year, are only
available at Fish and Game’s Concord headquarters.
Regular NH Hunting License
Wherever the term “Regular NH Hunting License” is used in this
Hunting Digest, it is understood to include the Combination NH
Hunting and Fishing License.
Residenc y Requirements
To obtain a license at resident rates, the person must present to
the issuing agent a valid New Hampshire driver's license or nondriver's
picture identification card issued by the NH Department
of Safety, Div. of Motor Vehicles. Whenever the applicant is under
18 years of age, the parent or guardian of the applicant shall be a
resident and present their valid NH driver's license or non-driver's
picture identification.
Hunter Education Requirements
Anyone applying to hunt with a firearm or bow must present a
previous hunting or archery license or a Certificate of Completion
from an approved Hunter or Bowhunter Education course.
Duplicates of lost certificates are $2.00 (call 603-271-3214); date
of birth must be included if applying by mail.
Youth Hunters
Any hunter under 16 years of age may only hunt when
accompanied by a properly licensed adult who is at least 18 years
of age. Accompanied means within sight and hearing, excluding
electronic devices, when actual physical direction and control can
be affected. A properly licensed adult is one who possesses any
and all licenses/permits needed for the species being hunted and
the method being used by the youth hunter.
No archery license is required for archers under 16 years of age,
but they must be accompanied by a properly licensed person at
least 18 years of age.
Lost Licenses
Lost licenses can be replaced at Fish and Game’s Concord headquarters,
or at the license agency that issued the original license.
The cost of a duplicate license is $6.00 per license form.
Military Licenses
NH residents who are regular active duty in the U.S. Army, Navy,
Marines, Air Force, or Coast Guard permanently stationed outside
the state may be eligible for free temporary hunting and fishing
licenses. Available at NH Fish and Game Headquarters in Concord;
Region 1, 2 and 4 offices; or by mail or fax (603) 271-5829
(download an Active Duty Military License application from the
Fish and Game website and send with duty orders). A copy of duty
orders must be presented for verification. Call (603) 271-3422 for
information.
Arch ery
An archery license allows a hunter to hunt with bow and arrow
during the archery or any other open season, and to take one deer
of either sex during the archery deer season. To hunt moose, bear,
turkey, pheasant or migratory waterfowl using bow and arrow, you
must also have the appropriate license or permit.
The Special Archery Deer Permit allows the taking of a second
antlered-only deer with bow and arrow during the archery deer
season. This permit must be purchased at the same time you
purchase your archery license.
It is legal to hunt deer with bow and arrow during the firearms
deer season under a Regular NH Hunting License without an archery
license, and in compliance with Wildlife Management Unit
restrictions for deer during the firearms deer season.
Crossbows
The Deer Crossbow Permit allows the hunter to use a crossbow
during the firearms deer season only. The hunter must have a
valid firearms deer tag and follow all Wildlife Management Unit
restrictions for deer during the firearms deer season. Any deer
taken shall be tagged with a valid firearms deer tag.
Disabled Crossbow Permit: allows the use of crossbows during
any season where use of a bow and arrow is allowed. This permit
must be applied for at Concord Headquarters. This permit does
not include separate tags (all ages).
Prohibited Ac ts
Hunting, trapping or guiding, or the purchase
or possession of a license for same,
is unlawful if the person has a license revocation
or suspension in any other state/
province for big game, furbearer or guiding
violations.
It is unlawful to possess more than one of
any type of regular hunting license or permit,
use another person’s license or permit,
allow another person to use your license
or permit, or not show your license upon
demand.
Exceptions
(license not required)
• Resident landowners and their minor
children under the age of 16 may hunt and
trap on their own land in season without
a license. This exception does not apply
to activities requiring a special license or
permit (i.e. archery, muzzleloader, pheasants,
turkey, etc.).
• Children under 16 years of age while
hunting, when accompanied by a properly
licensed person 18 years of age or
older, excluding turkey permit, special
Unit M deer, special archery deer, bear,
nonresident muzzleloader and nonresident
trapping.
General Hunting Regulations
Baiting
A baiting permit is required for any bait site, with the exception
of a landowner placing bait on his or her own property. A baiting
permit application (no fee) may be picked up at any Fish and Game
office or from your local Fish and Game Conservation Officer (CO).
Applications for permits to bait wildlife on private property must be
signed by the private landowner. No bait shall be placed until the
bait permit and map have been presented to the CO in person, or
until 3 days have elapsed after date of postmark, if mailed. Bait may
not be placed at any site until September 1. Landowners shall
meet all other requirements listed below regarding the use of bait.
• No person, except a licensed NH Hunting Guide, shall have
more than 2 active bait sites statewide. A licensed NH Hunting
Guide shall have no more than 6 active bait sites. A bait site is
considered active if the season for the listed species is open or
if no specific beginning and/or expiration date is noted on the
permit form.
• A baiting permit has 4 copies. It is the permittee’s responsibility
to see that copies are held by: (1) the landowner; (2) the CO
on whose patrol the bait is located; (3) the NH Fish and Game
office in Concord; and (4) the permittee.
• The copy of the baiting permit given to the CO must have a detailed
topographical map, including a description of the location
of the bait site and how to locate it. (If the map is so vague that
the CO cannot find the site, the permit is invalid.)
• Only the person to whom the permit is issued is permitted to
place bait at the site.
• The permittee must post a 3" x 6" durable sign at the site with the
name and address of the permittee and up to 2 subpermittees.
These 3 individuals are the only persons allowed to hunt with
aid of the bait site. A licensed NH Hunting Guide must post a
sign with his or her own name and address, but is not required
to post the names of paying clients. The sign must be clearly
visible not higher than 6 feet off the ground. If no subpermittees
are identified on the sign, they may not be included at a
later date. Once the sign has been posted, it may not be altered
at a later date. No person other than the permittee authorized
to place bait at a site shall remove, alter, or destroy said sign.
• Bait may not be placed less than 300 feet from a dwelling, public
roadway, pathway, or trail.
• No person shall place bait in public waters or on ice-covered
public waters.
• It is illegal to bait for turkey or migratory waterfowl.
• Permits expire at the end of the calendar year, unless an earlier
date has been specified on the permit form, or the season has
ended for the species identified on the baiting permit.
• When requested by a CO, a permittee or an applicant to bait
must accompany the officer to the proposed or existing site.
Additional Baiting Rules for
State-owned and State-managed Lands
In addition to the General Baiting Rules, the following rules apply
to State-owned and State-managed lands:
• A baiting permit is required for any bait site on State-owned or
State-managed lands, including White Mountain National Forest.
• Applicants may apply for bait sites on State-owned or State-managed
lands beginning April 1. Applications must be received before
August 1. The application must be filled out completely, and
must include a detailed map and directions to the bait site to be
considered. Baiting permits are issued on a first-come, first-served
basis. Applications shall be mailed into the nearest Regional Office
or to Fish and Game in Concord, Attn: Law Enforcement.
• No person including a licensed NH Hunting Guide shall have
more than 1 active bait site within an individual trapping unit.
Visit www.huntnh.com for details regarding trapping units.
• Permanent stands are illegal. All debris, litter, and temporary
tree stands or blinds must be removed after the baiting season
has ended.
• Non-edible or non-digestible materials shall not be used as bait.
• A total maximum of 30 active bait sites are allowed on the Connecticut
Lakes Headwaters property in Pittsburg, NH.
Additional Baiting Rule for Bear
In addition to all other applicable baiting rules, the following rule
applies to baiting for bear:
• No person except a licensed NH Hunting Guide shall place
bait for the purpose of attracting and taking bear at more than
2 bait sites statewide.
• No person except a licensed NH Hunting Guide shall have more
than one bait site in WMUs A, B, D1, H1, H2, I2, K, L, or M.
Dead An imals
If you find a dead deer, bear, moose or turkey you did not kill, do
not tag or move it. Road killed wildlife may not be taken without
permission of a law enforcement officer. Call Law Enforcement
Dispatch at (603) 271-3361.
Disch arge Restrictions/
Compact Areas (RSA 207: 3-a & 644:13)
• It is illegal to discharge a firearm or shoot with a bow and arrow
or crossbow and bolt within 300 feet of a permanently occupied
dwelling without permission of the owner or occupant, or from
the owner of the land on which the person shooting the firearm,
bow and arrow, or crossbow and bolt is situated. A firearm may
not be discharged within 300 feet of any commercial, educational
or medical building, or outdoor public gathering place.
• Firearms may not be discharged within the compact area of any
town or city (any contiguous area containing 6 or more buildings
used as part time or permanent dwellings where each is
within 300 feet of one of the other buildings, plus a 300 foot
wide perimeter around all of the buildings).
• Hunters should check with city or town offices regarding local
ordinances on the discharge of firearms.
• It is unlawful to discharge a firearm, bow and arrow, or crossbow
and bolt within 15' of the traveled portion of, or across any
class I through V highway, or from or across the following public
highways (including the rights of way): I-93, I-89, I-95, 293, 393,
Rte. 202/9 (from Rte. 114 in Henniker to Rte. 31 in Hillsboro),
Rte. 16 (from I-95 to Milton/Middleton town line), Rte. 3/F.E.
Everett Turnpike (from Mass. line to Rte. 101 Bedford), Rte. 101
(from Bedford town line to Rte. 1 Hampton).
General Hunting Regulations
It Is Un lawful To:
• negligently shoot, wound or kill a human being while hunting, or abandon a wounded
or killed human being;
• negligently discharge a firearm or cause death, injury or damage to domestic animals
or property while hunting;
• shoot a domestic dog in pursuit of wildlife;
• possess a firearm with ammunition, bow and arrow, or crossbow and bolt while attempting
to locate or illuminate wild animals at night at any time of the year;
• illuminate wild animals from Sept. 1 through Dec. 31. Moose, however, may be illuminated
between 9 a.m. and 11 p.m. from Sept. 1 through the second Monday of October
in Coos County on Class I, II and III state highways, and, with city or town permission,
on Class IV, V and VI town roads;
• take wildlife by the use of a spring gun or set gun;
• hunt from inside of, or upon, any type of motorized vehicle, including aircraft, motor
vehicle, snowmobile or OHRV;
• hunt from a boat or canoe before all movement from mechanical power has stopped;
• carry a loaded firearm with ammunition in the chamber, clip or magazine, or cocked crossbow,
while the firearm or crossbow is in or on (includes leaning on or contact with) any
type of motorized vehicle, moving or stationary; a muzzleloader is considered unloaded if
the ignition source (i.e.: primer cap or flint or primer powder) is removed from the firearm;
• enter posted land without permission of the owner or fail to leave when requested;
• willfully tear down, obstruct or leave open any fence, gate or bar belonging to, or enclosing
land of, another person, or remove or deface any posted sign or property;
• hunt with a fully automatic firearm. It is also illegal to hunt with a semi-automatic rifle
with a clip or magazine holding more than five cartridges (except rimfire rifles and
pistols), or use full-jacketed metal case bullets;
• use telemetry equipment from ½ hour before sunrise through ½ hour after sunset to
locate trail or tree hounds while in a motorized vehicle or within 300 feet (as measured
from the center of the traveled portion) of any public highway or any private road open
to public use;
• buy, sell or offer for sale a deer, bear, moose or any part thereof, other than the head,
hide or feet;
• possess a deer, bear, moose or turkey that hasn’t been properly tagged;
• possess a detached deer, bear, moose or turkey tag. Upon killing a deer, bear, moose or
turkey, the tag shall be immediately filled out and attached;
• assist another in taking a deer or bear after you have taken one, unless you possess a
valid unused tag or are accompanying a minor;
• tag, steal, take or carry away any game belonging to another person.
Wildlife Management Units
NOTE: Whenever a wildlife management unit (WMU) is referenced
with only a letter, and that WMU has been divided into sub-wildlife
management units with a number, or further divided into smaller
units, the single letter reference includes all of the area enclosed
by those sub-units. For example, WMU D would mean WMUs
D1 and D2.
Unit A: From the Colebrook/Lemington bridge in Colebrook, north
along the NH/VT state line to the NH/Quebec border, north along
the U.S. border to NH/ME state line, south along the ME/NH state
line to Rte. 16 in Wentworth’s Location, south on Rte. 16 to Rte. 26
in Errol, west on Rte. 26 to Rte. 3 in Colebrook, north on Rte. 3 to
Lemington Rd. in Colebrook, west on Lemington Rd. to Colebrook/
Lemington bridge & the NH/VT state line.
Unit B: From the junction of the Connecticut River & the Upper
Ammonoosuc River in Northumberland, north along the NH/VT
state line to the Colebrook/Lemington bridge in Colebrook, east on
Lemington Rd. to Rte. 3 in Colebrook, south on Rte. 3 to Rte. 26
in Colebrook, east on Rte. 26 to Rte. 16 in Errol, south on Rte. 16
to Rte. 110-A in Dummer, west on Rte. 110-A to Rte. 110 in West
Milan, west on Rte. 110 to Rte. 3 in Groveton, north on Rte. 3 in
Groveton to the Upper Ammonoosuc Bridge, west along the Upper
Ammonoosuc River to its junction with the Connecticut River.
Unit C1: From the junction of the Lost Nation Rd. in Northumberland
and Rte. 110, east along Rte 110 to Rte. 16 in Berlin, south on
Rte. 16 to Rte. 2 in Gorham, west on Rte. 2 to North Rd. in Jefferson,
north along North Rd. to Grange Rd., north on Grange Rd. to Lost
Nation Rd., north on Lost Nation Rd. to the junction of Lost Nation
Rd. and Rte. 110 in Northumberland.
Unit C2: From the junction of Rte. 16 in Wentworth's Location and
the ME/NH line, south on Rte. 16 to Rte. 110-A in Dummer, west
on Rte. 110-A to Rte. 110 in Milan, south on Rte. 110 to Rte.16 in
Berlin, south on Rte. 16 to Rte. 2 in Gorham, east on Rte. 2 to the
NH/ME state line, north on the NH/ME state line to its junction
with Rte. 16 in Wentworth's Location.
Unit D1: From the junction of the Lost Nation Rd. in Northumberland
& Rte. 110, south along Lost Nation Rd. to Grange Rd.,
south on Grange Rd. to North Rd., south on North Rd. to Rte. 2 in
Jefferson, east on Rte. 2 to Rte. 115 in Jefferson, south on Rte. 115
to Rte. 3 in Carroll, south on Rte. 3 to I-93 in Franconia, north on
I-93 to the NH/VT state line, north on the NH/VT state line, to
the junction of the Connecticut and Upper Ammonoosuc River in
Northumberland, east along the Upper Ammonoosuc River to the
Groveton/Rte. 3 bridge, south along Rte. 3 in Groveton, east on Rte.
110 to the junction of Rte. 110 and the Lost Nation Rd.
Unit D2: From the junction of Rte. I-93 and the Vermont border
in Littleton, south on I-93 to Rte. 118 in Woodstock, southwest
on Rte. 118 to Rte. 25 in Warren,south on Rte. 25 to Rte. 25-A in
Wentworth, west on Rte. 25-A to Rte. 10 in Orford, north on Rte.
10 to Rte. 25-A, west on Rte. 25-A to the NH/VT border, north on
the NH/VT border to it's intersection with Rte. I-93 in Littleton.
Unit E: From the junction of Rte. 115 & Rte. 2 in Jefferson, east on Rte.
2 to NH/ME state line in Shelburne, south along the NH/ME state line
to Rte. 302 in Conway, west on Rte. 302 to Rte. 16 in Conway, south
on Rte. 16 to Rte. 112 in Conway, west on Rte. 112 to I-93 (exit 32) in
Woodstock, north on I-93 to Rte. 3 (Franconia Notch) in Lincoln, north
on Rte. 3 to Rte. 115 in Carroll, north on Rte. 115 to Rte. 2 in Jefferson.
Unit F: From the junction of Rte. 25-A & Rte. 25 in Wentworth, north
on Rte. 25 to Rte. 118 in Warren, north on Rte. 118 to Rte. 112 in North
Woodstock, east on Rte. 112 to Rte. 16 in Conway, south on Rte. 16
to Rte. 113 in Chocorua, west on Rte. 113 to Rte. 113-A in Tamworth,
west on Rte. 113-A to Rte. 113 in North Sandwich, west on Rte. 113
to Rte. 3 in Holderness, south on Rte. 3 to Exit 24 of I-93, north on
I-93 to Rte. 25 (exit 26) in Plymouth, west on Rte. 25 to the junction
with Rte. 25-A in Wentworth.
Unit G: From the NH/VT state line at the Fairlee/Orford bridge in
Orford, east on Rte. 25-A to Rte. 25-A/Rte. 10 in Orford, south
on Rte. 25-A/Rte. 10 to Rte. 25-A, east on Rte. 25-A to Rte. 25 in
Wentworth, south on Rte. 25 to I-93 in Plymouth (exit 26), south
on I-93 to Rte. 104 (exit 23) in New Hampton, south on Rte. 104
to Rte. 4 in Danbury, south on Rte. 4 to Rte. 11 in Andover, west
on Rte. 11 to I-89 in New London, north on I-89 to NH/VT state
line in Lebanon, north along NH/VT state line to the Fairlee/Orford
bridge in Orford.
Unit H1: From the junction of I-89 and the NH/VT state line in
Lebanon, south on I-89 to Rte 10 in Grantham, south on Rte 10 to
Rte 123 in Marlow, west on Rte 123 to its junction with the Cold
River in Walpole, west on Cold River to the NH/VT border (Connecticut
River), north on the NH/VT border to I-89 in Lebanon.
Unit H2: From the junction of Cold River and NH/VT border (Connecticut
River) in Walpole, east on Cold River to Rte 123, east on
Rte 123 to Rte 9 in Stoddard, east on Rte 9 to Rte 202 in Hillsborough,
south on Rte 202 to the NH/MA border, west on the NH/
MA border to the NH/VT border (Connecticut River), north on
the NH/VT border (Connecticut River) to its intersection with the
Cold River in Walpole.
Unit I1: From the junction of I-89 and Rte 11 in New London, north
on Rte 11 to Rte 4 in Andover, north on Rte 4 to Rte 104 in Danbury,
north on Rte 104 to I-93 in New Hampton, south on I-93 to I-89
in Concord, north on I-89 to Rte 11 in New London.
Unit I2: From the junction of I-89 and Rte 10 in Grantham, south
on I-89 to Rte 9 in Hopkinton, south on Rte 9 to Rte 123 in Stoddard,
west on Rte 123 to Rte 10 in Marlow, north on Rte 10 to I-89
in Grantham.
Unit J1: From the junction of Rte. 113 and Rte. 3 in Holderness,
north on Rte. 113 to Rte. 113-A in Sandwich, north on Rte. 113-A
to Rte. 113 in Tamworth, east on Rte. 113 to Rte. 16 in Chocorua,
north on Rte. 16 to Rte. 302 in Conway, east on Rte. 302 to the
ME/NH line, south on ME/NH line to Rte. 109 west on Rte. 109
to Rte. 28 in Wolfeboro Center, south on Rte. 28/109 to Rte. 109
in Wolfeboro, north on Rte. 109 to Rte. 25 in Moultonboro, west
on Rte. 25 to Rte. 25B in Center Harbor, along Rte. 25B to Rte. 3,
north on Rte. 3 to its junction with Rte. 113 in Holderness.
Unit J2: From the junction of Rte. I-93 and Rte. 3 in Ashland, south
on Rte. 3 to Rte. 25B in Center Harbor, east on Rte 25B to Rte. 25 in
Center Harbor, east on Rte. 25 to Rte. 109 in Moultonboro, southeast
on Rte. 109 to Rte. 28/109 in Wolfeboro, north on Rte. 28/109 to Rte.
109 in Wolfeboro Center, east on Rte. 109 to its intersection with
the ME/NH border, south along the ME/NH border to Rte. 202 in
Rochester, south on Rte. 202 to Rte. 4 in Northwood, west on Rte.
4 to I-393 in Concord, west on I-393 to I-93 in Concord, north on
I-93 to the junction of Rte. 3 in Ashland.
Deer are New Hampshire’s most popular game animal, with a total of more than
80,000 deer in all areas of the state. We have a long archery season starting September
15. The NH muzzleloader season is a special attraction for hunters given its
timing, with a start 11 days before the firearms season. Firearms season begins November
11 statewide; see the chart for “any deer” days, when hunters may take a doe or a buck.
(NH Fish and Game uses “any deer” days to manage deer populations.) A Special Unit M
permit allows hunters to take an additional deer—see below.
Deer Hunting
Licensing Requirements
All hunters, with the exception of those eligible
to use the special deer tag (see page 22),
must have a valid deer tag that has not been
detached from their license/permit. Deer
may be hunted using a variety of licenses
and tags as described below.
Archery License: allows the taking of one
deer of either sex during the archery deer
season. See special WMU A requirement
(bottom left).
Regular Hunting or Combination License:
allows the taking of one deer during the
regular firearms deer season (Wildlife Management
Unit restrictions apply).
Muzzleloader License: allows the holder
of a Regular NH Hunting License to take a
deer during the special muzzleloading deer
season, using the firearms deer tag. Nonresident
youths must purchase this license
to participate in the muzzleloader season.
This license does not include a separate tag.
Deer Crossbow License: allows the holder of
a Regular NH Hunting License to take a deer
with a crossbow during the regular firearms
deer season, using the firearms deer tag. This
license does not include a separate tag.
Special Archery Deer Permit: allows the
taking of one additional antlered deer using
bow and arrow during the archery deer
season. Each hunter is limited to one of these
permits. Archery hunters may only buy this
permit when purchasing their regular archery
license. This permit may be used to
tag the first deer taken by archery if it is
legally antlered. All ages.
Special Unit M Permit: allows the taking of
one antlerless deer in WMU M, in addition
to deer taken using a Regular NH Hunting
or Archery License. It may be used on any
day during any deer season the hunter holds
a license for (archery, muzzleloader or firearm).
All ages.
Long Island and Governor’s Island Deer
Permits: allows the taking of deer on Long
and Governor’s Islands, respectively.
Written landowner permission required
on forms available at the Region 2 office
in New Hampton or at Headquarters in
Concord. Many special restrictions apply;
see www.huntnh.com. All ages.
Archery
Antlerless and
Antlered
Sept. 15–Dec. 8 A*
Any deer Sept. 15–Dec. 15 B – M
Muzzleloader
Antlered only Oct. 31–Nov. 10 C1, C2, E, F, J1
Any deer Oct. 31 ONLY
D1, G, I1, I2
Antlered only Nov. 1–Nov. 10
Any deer Oct. 31–Nov. 1
B, D2, J2
Antlered only Nov. 2–Nov. 10
Any deer Oct. 31–Nov. 2
H1, H2, K
Antlered only Nov. 3–Nov. 10
Any deer Oct. 31–Nov. 10 L, M
Antlerless and
Antlered
Nov. 2–Nov. 3
A*
Antlered only Nov. 4–Nov. 10
Firearm
Antlered only Nov. 11–Dec. 6
C1, C2, D1, E, F, I1,
I2, J1
Any deer Nov. 11 ONLY
G
Antlered only Nov. 12–Dec. 6
Antlerless and
Antlered
Nov. 11–Nov. 12
A*
Antlered only Nov. 13–Nov. 29
Any deer Nov. 11–Nov. 12
B, D2, J2
Antlered only Nov. 13–Dec. 6
Any deer Nov. 11–Nov. 13
H1, H2, K
Antlered only Nov. 14–Dec. 6
Any deer Nov. 11–Nov. 20
L,M
Antlered only Nov. 21–Dec. 6
Youth Hunt Oct. 24 & 25 any deer statewide; see page 14 for details.
Deer Hunting Regulations
Hunting Hours: ½ hour before sunrise to ½ hour after sunset.
Deer must be registered at the closest open registration station within 24 hours. See
page 24 for a listing of stations. A conservation officer may request to see the head and
hide of a deer taken under an archery license within 48 hours of killing. It is unlawful to
hunt deer with a rimfire firearm. No shotgun ammunition, other than slugs or 00 or larger
buckshot, may be used to take deer. Exception: Buckshot is prohibited for taking deer in
Auburn, Chester, Greenland, Newington, Portsmouth and Stratham.
To hunt deer during the muzzleloader season, a person needs a Regular NH Hunting
License, plus a Muzzleloader License. A muzzleloader is defined as a single barrel, single
shot firearm (40 caliber or greater) that can only be loaded from the muzzle. Only one deer
may be taken with a muzzleloader or firearm with the firearm tag. No person shall have
in possession, while taking deer during the muzzleloader season, more than one muzzleloading
rifle and one muzzleloading handgun. No separate muzzleloader tag is issued.
Arch ery
Archers must have their name and address on arrows. Fixed blade broadheads cannot be
less than ⅞ inches wide and not more than 1-½ inches wide. Retractable blade broadheads
are permitted (must be not less than ⅞ of an inch wide when open). Minimum draw
weight for deer is 40 lbs.
An tLered An d An tLerless Deer—Definitions
• Antlered Deer: Deer with at least one antler three (3) inches long, except in WMU A
only: Antlered deer must have a minimum of 2 points on one side (at least one antler
3 inches long, plus at least one point that branches off the main beam and is at least 1
inch long).
• Antlerless Deer: A deer without antlers or with antlers less than 3 inches long.
• Any Deer: All deer regardless of sex or age.
Bear Brook Refuge
Deer may be hunted in the Bear Brook Refuge with bow and arrow only by persons holding
a valid Archery License. No firearms are allowed in Bear Brook Refuge.
Crossbows
A crossbow means a device consisting of a bow mounted to a rigid stock for discharging
quarrels, bolts, or arrows and having a mechanical means to hold and release the drawn
string. A bolt means a short projectile for a crossbow that resembles an arrow.
A crossbow shall have a minimum pull of 125 pounds, a working mechanical safety
and a stock no less than 25 inches in length.
Hunter Orange
This Has Been a Preview of The New Hampshire Hunting Regulations.
To View The Full Hunting Regulations Guidebook For New Hampshire Click Here
To go to the New Hampshire Hunting and Fishing Regulations Home Page Click Here