HUNTING SEASONS IN NEW HAMPSHIRE 2025–26: Deer Hunting, Big Game and Small Game, Licenses, and Regulations Guide

Plan your 2025–26 New Hampshire hunt with our state‑by‑state guide—season dates, bag limits, licenses, bow & rifle rules, and key game species from whitetail deer to wild turkey to ducks. Whether you’re drawing a compound bow at dawn for a rutting buck in the White Mountains, slipping into cedar swamps for moose, or running decoys for mallards on a tidal river, New Hampshire’s forests, ponds, and fields deliver premier big game and small game opportunities under clear regulations. What Is There to Hunt in New Hampshire? New Hampshire supports a rich variety of game: Big Game: Whitetail deer, black bear, wild turkey, moose (limited draw), elk (reintroduced; rare permits) Small Game & Upland Birds: Cottontail rabbit, snowshoe hare, gray squirrel, ruffed grouse, woodcock Waterfowl & Migratory Birds: Ducks (mallard, teal, wood duck), Canada geese, rails, coots, mourning dove Furbearers & Predators: Coyote, fox, raccoon, beaver, bobcat From the northern peaks to southern lowlands, hunters pursue healthy state animals across distinct seasons. What Animals Can You Hunt Year‑Round in New Hampshire? On private lands with landowner permission, you may harvest unprotected or nuisance species such as coyote, raccoon, and opossum without closed seasons or bag limits—ideal for off‑season predator control. Public Wildlife Management Areas enforce posted season and method restrictions. New Hampshire Big Game Hunting Seasons 2025–26 Whitetail Deer Archery: Sept 12 – Nov 10, 2025 Youth Firearms Weekend: Oct 25–26, 2025 General Firearms: Nov 15 – Dec 1, 2025 Muzzleloader: Dec 2 – Dec 6, 2025 Late Antlerless: Jan 3 – Jan 11, 2026 Bag limit: one buck per season; antlerless tags by permit regulate herd health. Black Bear Spring Archery: Apr 15 – May 31, 2025 Fall Archery & Firearms: Sept 1 – Sept 30, 2025 (draw only) Bear tags issue via lottery; harvest reporting and proper tagging maintain sustainability. Wild Turkey (Spring) Spring Youth Hunt: Apr 5 – Apr 11, 2026 Spring General: Apr 12 – May 31, 2026 Fall Archery: Sept 1 – Sept 30, 2025 (limited draw) Spring turkey hunts blend bow and shotgun; youth days foster the next generation of hunters. Moose & Elk Moose (Draw): Sept 17 – Sept 30, 2025 Elk (Permit): Oct 1 – Oct 31, 2025 Moose and elk hunts are limited‑entry; one animal per successful applicant’s lifetime. New Hampshire Small Game & Waterfowl Seasons 2025–26 Upland Game & Small Mammals Rabbit & Hare: Oct 1 – Feb 15, 2026 Squirrel: Sept 15 – Feb 28, 2026 Ruffed Grouse & Woodcock: Oct 1 – Nov 30, 2025 Shotguns with non‑toxic shot required; forest edges and pond shorelines offer flush opportunities. Waterfowl & Migratory Birds Duck & Geese: Nov 15 – Jan 31, 2026 (Zones A & B) Youth Waterfowl Day: Oct 25, 2025 Rails & Coots: Sept 1 – Nov 7, 2025 Mourning Dove: Sept 1 – Nov 20, 2025 Shooting Hours: Sunrise – sunset; Federal Duck Stamp, HIP, and state waterfowl permit required Tidal rivers and inland impoundments bring peak migrations; bag limit is 6 ducks/day with sub‑limits. Bag Limits by Species Whitetail Deer: 1 buck per season; antlerless by permit Black Bear: 1 per permit Wild Turkey: 2 per spring; 1 fall archery Moose & Elk: 1 per draw permit Ducks: 6/day; species sub‑limits Geese: 5/day Rails & Coots: 15 & 25/day Rabbit & Squirrel: 8/day each Coyote & Furbearers: No limits on private lands Bag limits preserve healthy populations and fair‑chase principles. License & Tags Information for New Hampshire Hunters (2025–26) All hunters must carry a valid NH Fish & Game license and appropriate permits: Resident Small Game License: $26; Combination License: $57 Nonresident Combo License: $240 Deer Permit: $29; Antlerless: $15 Turkey Permit: $15; youth tags free Waterfowl Permit: $15; Federal Duck Stamp & HIP required Bear/Moose/Elk Permits: $30–$100 (draw only) Hunter Education: Certification mandatory for all first‑time hunters Licenses fund wildlife management, habitat conservation, and enforcement; draws open mid‑summer. Hunting Methods: Bow, Rifle, Muzzleloader New Hampshire authorizes: Archery: Compound, recurve bows, crossbows (archery seasons) Firearms: Center‑fire rifles, shotguns (slugs & buckshot) Muzzleloaders: Single‑shot black‑powder firearms Dogs & Bait: Allowed for waterfowl retrievers; predator hunts on private lands Confirm caliber and draw weight requirements for each season. Regulations & Resources NH Fish & Game regulations cover: Shooting Hours: Sunrise – sunset (special dawn/dusk allowances in spring turkey) Hunt Zone Maps: Online GIS maps for WMAs and townships Harvest Reporting: Mandatory for deer, turkey, moose within 48 hrs Special Areas: Wildlife refuges, CWD zones, and bear hound management areas Before you head out, always verify season dates, bag limits, and license requirements on the official New Hampshire Fish and Game website to stay compliant and ensure a legal, ethical hunt. This guide was created based on information from New Hampshire Fish and Game (NHFG): https://www.wildlife.nh.gov/hunting-nh/dates-and-seasons With structured seasons, clear bag limits, and accessible license systems, New Hampshire delivers exceptional hunting for whitetail deer, moose, turkey, ducks, and predators. Prepare your bow or rifle, secure proper tags, and experience the Granite State’s wild beauty on your 2025–26 hunt.