New Hampshire Hunting & Fishing
Season Calendar 2026

New Hampshire archery deer season runs Sep 15–Dec 15 statewide; any legal bow including compound, recurve, longbow, and crossbow is authorized. Hunters must possess a valid New Hampshire hunting license and deer license. The season limit is three deer (antlered and antlerless combined) in WMUs 1–8; Unit H and other special zones may have different limits. New Hampshire's deer population is concentrated in the agricultural and suburban south — Hillsborough, Rockingham, and Cheshire Counties have the highest densities. October and November archery hunting on oak flat transitions and apple orchard edges in the south-central zone is particularly productive.

New Hampshire firearms deer season runs Nov 9–Dec 7 statewide; legal methods include centerfire rifles, shotguns, and handguns. Hunters must possess a valid New Hampshire hunting license and deer license. Blaze orange — at least 200 square inches on chest, back, and head — is required. The season limit is three deer in most WMUs; antlerless deer may require a permit in managed zones. New Hampshire's November rut typically peaks Nov 5–20 before the firearms opener — firearms season catches bucks in secondary rut activity and post-rut feeding transition. The Connecticut River Valley and Merrimack River corridor hold the most accessible and productive firearms deer hunting.

1 gobbler

New Hampshire black bear season runs Sep 1–Dec 15 with separate archery, firearms, and trapping sub-seasons; New Hampshire's bear population has grown substantially and currently exceeds 6,000 animals statewide. Hunters must possess a valid New Hampshire hunting license and a bear permit. Baiting and hounds are legal methods subject to timing restrictions — bait sites require a 10-day advance registration. The bag limit is one bear per license year; bears must be checked at a designated check station within 24 hours of harvest. Best bear habitat exists in the White Mountain National Forest, Lakes Region, and North Country where hard mast production and forest structure support high densities.

New Hampshire moose season runs Oct 1–Oct 15 on permit only, issued through an annual draw lottery with very limited allocations; typically 50–75 permits are issued across all zones annually. Hunters must possess a valid New Hampshire hunting license and moose permit. Legal methods include centerfire rifles, shotguns with slugs, and muzzleloaders. Nonresidents may apply for the draw but allocations are primarily to residents. The bag limit is one moose per permit. New Hampshire's moose population is found primarily in the northern counties of Coos, Grafton, and Carroll — the Connecticut River watershed and White Mountain forest hold the most consistent moose densities.