About Hunting in New Hampshire
More than 70% of New Hampshire’s land is under private ownership, the key to a quality hunt is to access private lands. The beginning of the season starts with Deer on Sept 15 and it has tripled in 30 years, here’s the science behind Fish and Games deer management success from maintaining the hunt dates required each year from sportsmen as well as sportswomen.
New Hampshire Hunting Seasons Offered
Big Game: Deer, Bear
Small Game: Rabbit
Birds: Turkey, Waterfowl, Pheasant, Ruffed Grouse
New Hampshire Deer Hunting Season Dates 2021
| Season | Dates | Zones | Type |
| Archery | Sept 15 – Dec 8, 2021 | A | Any deer |
| Sept 15 – Dec 15, 2021 | B-M | Any deer | |
| Youth Weekend* | Oct 23 – 24, 2021 | Statewide | Any Deer |
| Muzzleloader | Oct. 30 – Nov. 9 | A, B, C1, C2, D1, D2-East, E, F | Antlered Only |
| Oct. 30 | G2, I1, I2 | Any Deer | |
| Oct. 31 – Nov. 9 | G2, I1, I2 | Antlered Only | |
| Oct. 30 – Oct. 31 | J1 | Any Deer | |
| Nov. 1 – Nov. 9 | J1 | Antlered Only | |
| Oct. 30 – Nov. 1 | H1, H2, K | Any Deer | |
| Nov. 2 – Nov. 9 | H1, H2, K | Antlered Only | |
| Oct. 30 – Nov. 2 | D2-West, J2 | Any Deer | |
| Nov. 3 – Nov. 9 | D2-West, J2 | Antlered Only | |
| Oct. 30 – Nov. 3 | G1 | Any Deer | |
| Nov. 4 – Nov. 9 | G1 | Antlered Only | |
| Oct. 30 – Nov. 9 | L, M | Any Deer | |
| Firearm | Nov. 10 – Nov. 28 | A | Antlered Only |
| Nov. 10 – Dec. 5 | B, C1, C2, D1, D2-East | Antlered Only | |
| Nov. 10 | E, F, G2, I1, I2 | Any Deer | |
| Nov. 11 – Dec. 5 | E, F, G2, I1, I2 | Antlered Only | |
| Nov. 10 – Nov. 11 | J1 | Any Deer | |
| Nov. 12 – Dec. 5 | J1 | Antlered Only | |
| Nov. 10 – Nov. 12 | H1, H2, J2, K | Any Deer | |
| Nov. 13 – Dec. 5 | H1, H2, J2, K | Antlered Only | |
| Nov. 10 – Nov. 13 | D2-West | Any Deer | |
| Nov. 14 – Dec. 5 | D2-West | Antlered Only | |
| Nov. 10 – Nov. 14 | G1 | Any Deer | |
| Nov. 15 – Dec. 5 | G1 | Antlered Only | |
| Nov. 10 – Nov. 19 | L, M | Any Deer | |
| Nov. 20 – Dec. 5 | L, M | Antlered Only |
New Hampshire Hunting License Info
Purchase Licenses or Permits at : https://www.nhfishandgame.com/
| License | Resident | Nonresident |
| Hunting/ Freshwater Fishing Combo | $56.00 | $151.00 |
| Hunting | $32.00 | $83.00 |
| Special Deer Archery | $26.00 | $26.00 |
| Muzzleloader | $16.00 | $41.00 |
| Pheasant | $31.00 | $31.00 |
| Bear | $16.00 | $48.00 |
New Hampshire Hunting News
Prior to the early 1980s deer seasons were set by the legislature. For most part , management of deer coincides with a north/south split. Due to overharvesting of female deer, there are an estimated 30 million white tailed deer that are all distributed throughout the US. In New Hampshire the white tailed deer population is approximately 100,000 individuals.
The area of greatest densities are along the southern counties and the Connecticut River Valley, (Grafton County). In 2014 the NH Fish began revisiting its 10 year management plant for deer, moose turkey , black bear , hare and ruffed grouse. Population goals for deer were adjusted to closely reflect the current biological conditions, whether stabilizing , increasing or reducing the goal is the same, to stabilize habitats.