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Field Guide  /  State Hunting Guide

A Guide to the New Hampshire Hunting Seasons 2025

Author Image for Teri Williams

8 Minute Read

Hunting in New Hampshire means you're probably after whitetail — there are more than 100,000 throughout the state. However, it's also one of the only eastern states that allows moose hunting.

You can also hunt black bears, ducks, geese, turkeys, and plenty of small game, making New Hampshire a great place to live (or visit) if you love to hunt!

So, as you plan your New Hampshire hunting season, let us help! We've pulled together the information you need for hunting licenses, bag limits, season dates, and more.

Updated June 5, 2025

A map of the U.S. highlighting the state of New Hampshire.

Why Do Hunters Hunt in New Hampshire?

It may be a small state, but it's not short on opportunities to hunt big or small game. Plus, as we mentioned, if you're on the East Coast, New Hampshire is probably a shorter destination to travel to for an excellent moose hunt. 

Hunters also enjoy the challenging, mountainous terrain, making almost any hunt a bigger adventure. New Hampshire hosts part of the Appalachian Highlands with plenty of north-south mountains to hike during a hunt. You'll also find hardwoods and other foliage to add to the challenge.

Where Should I Hunt?

In New Hampshire, you can hunt (literally) on almost any land — unless there are postings telling you not to hunt there. The state has a widely known "rule" that all federal, state, county, municipal, and private land (with permission) is open to hunting, including New Hampshire Wildlife Management Units.

However, be sure you have permission and that the land you hunt is open during the season dates for the game you're after. Not all land is open at all times.

HuntWise can help you target (and mark) the best hunting areas while also helping you navigate landowner boundaries. So, when hunting in New Hampshire this year, you'll know where to go for a more successful day in the field. 

 

A whitetail buck in a field, New Hampshire hunting concept.

When Can I Hunt?

So, when should you plan your next hunt? Our guide will help you pinpoint the dates to put on your calendar, whether you're after deer, turkey, pheasants, or other types of wild game.

Note that the information we provide is the latest available from the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department (NHFGD). As new information for the upcoming season becomes available, we'll update it here.

Additionally, we always recommend checking official resources for the latest hunting and trapping season dates before finalizing plans.

 

Deer

When planning your deer hunt, make sure the season dates apply to your take method and the WMU (Wildlife Management Unit) you plan to hunt. You'll also want to confirm whether the dates and location are for antlered or any deer.

Archery

  • Any Deer (A): September 15 – December 8, 2025
  • Any Deer (B-M): September 15 – December 15, 2025


Youth Weekend (Statewide, Any Deer): October 25 – 26, 2025

Muzzleloader

  • A, B, C1, C2, D1 (Any Deer): November 1 – 11, 2025
  • D2E, E:
    • Any Deer: November 1, 2025
    • Antlered Only: November 2 –11, 2025
  • F, G2, I2:
    • Any Deer: November 1 – 2, 2025
    • Antlered Only: November 3 – 11, 2025
  • I1:
    • Any Deer: November 1 – 3, 2025
    • Antlered Only: November 4 – 11, 2025
  • H1, H2, J1, J2, K:
    • Any Deer: November 1 – 4, 2025
    • Antlered Only: November 6 – 11, 2025
  • D2W: 
    • Any Deer: November 1 – 5, 2025
    • Antlered Only: November 6 – 11, 2025
  • G1:
    • Any Deer: November 1 – 6, 2025
    • Antlered Only: November 7 – 11, 2025
  • L, M (Any Deer): November 1 – 11, 2025


Firearm (tentative)

  • A:
    • Any Deer: November 12, 2025
    • Antlered Only: November 13 – 30, 2025
  • B, C1, C2, D1:
    • Any Deer: November 12, 2025
    • Antlered Only: November 13 – December 7, 2025
  • D2E, E, F, G2, I2:
    • Any Deer: November 13
    • Antlered Deer: November 14 – December 7, 2025
  • I1:
    • Any Deer: November 12 – 14, 2025
    • Antlered Only: November 15 – December 7, 2025
  • J1, K:
    • Any Deer: November 12 – 15, 2025
    • Antlered Only: November 16 – December 7, 2025
  • H1, H2, J2:
    • Any Deer: November 12 – 16, 2025
    • Antlered Only: November 17 – December 7, 2025
  • D2W, G1:
    • Any Deer: November 12 – 17, 2025
    • Antlered Only: November 18 – December 7, 2025
  • L, M:
    • Any Deer: November 12 – 23, 2025
    • Antlered Only: November 24 – December 7, 2025


If you plan to bait, New Hampshire allows it from October 22 – November 19, 2025 for WMUs A-L and September 15 – December 15, 2025 for WMU M.

Moose

Moose hunting takes place for nine consecutive days in the fall, starting the third Saturday in October. For 2025, those dates are October 18 – 26, 2025.

To hunt moose, you'll need a permit for specific WMUs, awarded through a lottery system. You can submit your application starting mid-January and going up until midnight on the last Friday in May.

New Hampshire Bear Season (Black Bear)

  • General Season:
    • A, B, C2, H1, H2, I2, K: September 1 – Novmber 12 (tentative)
    • C1, D2, E, F, G, I1, J1, J2, L, M: September 1 – November 30, 2025
  • Baiting Season:
    • A, B, C2, D1, H1, H2, I2, K, L, M: September 1 – 28, 2025
    • C1, D2, E, F, G, I1, J1, J2: September 1 – October 5, 2025
  • Dog Season:
    • A, B, C1, C2, D1, D2, E, F, G, H1, I1, I2, J1, J2: September 22 – November 11, 2025
    • H2, K, L, M: Closed
  • Second Tag: All season dates apply


Note that chocolate is not allowed for bear baiting (except for white chocolate).

New Hampshire Turkey Season

  • Spring: May 1 – 31, 2025
  • Fall:
    • Archery (A): September 15 – December 8, 2025
    • Archery (B-M): September 15 – December 15, 2025
    • Shotgun (D2, G, H1, H2, I1, I2, J2, K, L, M): October 14 – 20 (tentative)
  • Youth: April 26 – 27, 2025

Small Game

  • Cottontail Rabbit (H2, K, L, M): October 1 – January 31
  • Gray Squirrel (Statewide): September 1 – January 31
  • Pheasant (Statewide): October 1 – December 31
  • Ruffed Grouse (Statewide): October 1 – December 31
  • Quail, Chukar, Hungarian/European Partridge (Statewide): October 1 – December 31
  • Snowshoe Hare (A, B, C1, C2, D1, D2, E, F, G, J1, H1, H2, I1, I2, J2, K, L, M): October 1 – March 31

Waterfowl

Duck, Mergansers, Coots, Sea Ducks

  • Northern Zone: October 2 – November 30, 2025
  • Inland & Ct. Review Zone: October 13 – November 11 and November 27 – December 22, 2025
  • Coastal Zone: October 2 – 8 and November 27, 2025 – January 18, 2026

Canada Geese

  • September: September 1 – 25, 2025
  • Regular: Dates same as ducks


Snow Geese: Dates same as ducks

Brant

  • Northern Zone: October 2 – 31, 2025
  • Inland & Ct. Review Zone: October 13 – November 11, 2025
  • Coastal Zone: October 2 – 8 and November 27 – December 19, 2025


Woodcock (Statewide): October 1 – November 14, 2025

Common Snipe (Statewide): September 15 – November 14, 2025

Crow (Statewide): August 15 – November 30, 2025 and March 16 – 31, 2026

Youth Waterfowl (Statewide): September 27 – 28, 2025

Veterans & Active Military (Statewide): January 24 – 25, 2026

Coyote

No closed season. Night hunting is allowed from January 1 – March 31.

 

For additional details about specifics for the game animals listed above (and any animals not listed in this guide, including trapping for furbearers), visit the NHFGD website.


 

A moose walks through a field, New Hampshire Hunting season concept.

What Do I Need to Know About New Hampshire Hunting Regulations?

All hunters must pass a hunter education course before getting a New Hampshire hunting license. You can take the course online or in person, but you'll also need an in-person field day to complete the hunter education requirements.

Then, you're ready to get your license. Hunters under the age of 16 do not need a general hunting license. However, they will need special licenses depending on what they plan to hunt (turkey, bear, etc). Adult hunters need hunting licenses based on resident vs. non-resident status. Senior hunters can qualify for discounts.

If you're new to hunting, consider an apprentice license that allows you to hunt with an experienced hunter without the hunter education requirement.

What are the Bag Limits for New Hampshire Hunting?

How many quail, deer, or black bears can you bring home this year? To comply with New Hampshire hunting regulations, make sure you know the bag limits for every animal you plan to hunt. 

Here's an overview!

 

DeerBased on permits and licenses (check NHFGD official resources for details)Woodcock3 (9 in possession)
Black Bear1 bear statewideCommon Snipe8 (24 in possession)
Moose1 per permitCrowNo limit
Turkey1 either-sex (fall), 1 or 2 male or bearded (spring and youth)CoyoteNo Limit
Duck6 (18 in possession)Cottontail Rabbit2 per day
Mergansers5 (15 in possession)Gray Squirrel5 per day
Coots15 (45 in possession)Pheasant2 per day (10 for the season)
Sea Ducks4 (12 in possession)Ruffed Grouse4 per day
Canada Geese5 (15 in possession, September), 2 (6 in possession, Regular)Quail, Chukar, Hungarian/European Partridge4 per day
Snow Geese25 (no possession limit)Snowshoe Hare2 or 3 per day, depending on the WMU
Brant1 (3 in possession)  

 

For more information on bag limits, visit the NHFGD website.

What Else Do I Need Before I Can Hunt?

You need the right gear! 

Make sure you have everything you need in the field to tag out, including the right hunting knife, a spotting scope for glassing big game, a good pair of binoculars, and a good rifle for firearm hunts.

If you're starting from scratch or looking to build on your current gear set, take advantage of gear discounts through our HuntWise partners. From clothing to optics and odor control, HuntWise hunting app users can save hundreds on gear from our partners.

 

A Canada goose lands in the water.

HuntWise Improves Your New Hampshire Hunting Success

We hope the dates and details we shared in this guide help you plan a successful hunt in New Hampshire this season! It's a lot of information to process, so be sure to consult official resources, too.

What else do you need for a successful hunt? The HuntWise hunting app!

You'll find up-to-date information on hunting seasons, including links to the latest license information and regulations. With the app, you can also strategically plan your hunt before heading out to gain an advantage over other hunters. HuntWise is the best tool for e-scouting public or private hunting land. Plus, Elite subscribers gain access to our exclusive FieldGuide+ content and save up to 40% on gear from our partners.
 

Download the app and start your free trial so you're ready to hunt when the season opens.

Content most recently reviewed and updated for the latest season dates June 5, 2025.

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