CONTACT:
Kent Gustafson: (603) 271-2461
Jay Martin: (603) 271-3211
April 24, 2019
CONCORD, NH – Spring gobbler season opens next week in the Granite State, and New Hampshire Fish and Game Department Turkey Biologist Ted Walski predicts another good harvest during the 2019 season.
New Hampshire’s spring turkey hunting season opens on May 1, a new starting date, and runs statewide through May 31. For the first time in New Hampshire history, spring turkey hunters can harvest a second male or bearded bird after their first bird has been legally registered. A second bird may only be taken in WMUs H1, H2, J2, K, L, or M.
Turkey hunters who harvest a second bird during the spring season forfeit their chance to take a fall bird during either the statewide fall archery season OR during the 7-day fall shotgun season. The fall shotgun season is restricted to WMUs D2, G, H1, H2, I1, I2, J1, J2, K, L and M. The fall season allows for the taking of one bird of either sex.
Detailed information regarding the 2019 spring and fall turkey seasons are available at: www.huntnh.com/hunting/documents/turkey-regs.pdf.
About 20,000 people participate in turkey hunting in New Hampshire out of a total of approximately 60,000 hunters in the state. Last year, spring turkey hunters harvested 4,204 birds. See turkey harvest by town and Wildlife Management Unit in the newly published 2018 NH Wildlife Harvest Summary, available at www.huntnh.com/hunting/documents/2018-harvest-summary.pdf.
A New Hampshire turkey license is required for hunters of all ages ($16 for state residents and $31 for nonresidents). Hunters age 16 and older must hold either a current New Hampshire hunting or archery license and a turkey permit. Licenses are available online at www.huntnh.com or from any license agent.
If you want to try turkey hunting this spring and haven’t completed Hunter Education yet, consider the Apprentice Hunting License. This license allows those 16 and older interested in trying hunting to do so under the guidance of an experienced hunter without first taking Hunter Education. Learn more at www.huntnh.com/hunting/apprentice.html.
