New Hampshire Hunting Guide 2026
Complete New Hampshire hunting guide for 2026: seasons, license costs, draw odds, GMU boundaries, bag limits, and regulations. Compare every game species at a glance.
Wildlife Agency
New Hampshire Fish and Game Department
Hunter safety course required for first-time buyers
New Hampshire Hunting Seasons
Whitetail Deer
| Season Type | Opens | Closes |
|---|---|---|
| Archery | Sep 15 | Dec 15 |
| Rifle | Nov 8 | Dec 3 |
| Muzzleloader | Oct 28 | Nov 7 |
Typical season windows, not 2026 dates — this table carries no year and has not been verified against the agency for the current season. Confirm with New Hampshire Fish and Game Department before you plan around them.
Bag limits: daily: 1, season: 1 antlered + antlerless in select WMUs
Antlerless permits by lottery in select Wildlife Management Units. Growing deer herd in the southern part of the state.
Turkey
| Season Type | Opens | Closes |
|---|---|---|
| Shotgun | May 1 | May 31 |
| Archery | Sep 15 | Dec 15 |
Typical season windows, not 2026 dates — this table carries no year and has not been verified against the agency for the current season. Confirm with New Hampshire Fish and Game Department before you plan around them.
Bag limits: daily: 1, season: 2 (1 spring, 1 fall)
Spring bearded turkey. Fall archery concurrent with deer. Growing turkey populations throughout the state.
Moose
| Season Type | Opens | Closes |
|---|---|---|
| Rifle | Oct 14 | Oct 22 |
Typical season windows, not 2026 dates — this table carries no year and has not been verified against the agency for the current season. Confirm with New Hampshire Fish and Game Department before you plan around them.
Bag limits: daily: 1, season: 1
Lottery draw only. Very limited permits. Northern New Hampshire (Coos County) has the best populations.
Bear
| Season Type | Opens | Closes |
|---|---|---|
| Rifle | Sep 1 | Nov 7 |
| Archery | Sep 15 | Dec 15 |
Typical season windows, not 2026 dates — this table carries no year and has not been verified against the agency for the current season. Confirm with New Hampshire Fish and Game Department before you plan around them.
Bag limits: daily: 1, season: 1
Bait hunting allowed mid-September through October. Hound hunting in September. Good populations in the White Mountains.
Duck/Waterfowl
| Season Type | Opens | Closes |
|---|---|---|
| Shotgun | Oct 1 | Nov 25 |
Typical season windows, not 2026 dates — this table carries no year and has not been verified against the agency for the current season. Confirm with New Hampshire Fish and Game Department before you plan around them.
Bag limits: daily: 6, season: No season limit
Federal duck stamp and NH waterfowl stamp required. Coastal and inland zones. Atlantic Flyway.
Planning Tools
- Tag-to-Trail Planner — interactive map: public land, harvest records, water, burns
- Hunt Cost Calculator — budget your full hunt cost
- Application Timeline — never miss an application deadline
- Preference Point Tracker — track points across all your states