CONTACT:
Allison Keating: (603) 352-9669
Dan Bergeron: (603) 271-1126
October 7, 2020

Concord, NH – The New Hampshire Fish and Game Department reminds hunters that the Granite State’s seven-day fall turkey shotgun season begins on October 12 and runs through October 18, 2020.

Purchase of a turkey permit, and a New Hampshire hunting license for those ages 16 or older, allows for the harvest of two turkeys per year, one of which may be a male or hen turkey taken during the fall.

Shooting hours for the fall season begin one-half hour before sunrise and end one-half hour after sunset. All New Hampshire Fish and Game Department (NHFG) rules and regulations associated with the state’s fall turkey season remain in effect, and hunters will continue to have the option of registering harvested birds either in person or online. Regardless of registration method, hunters must register their turkey within 24 hours of harvest.

Check Station Registration: It is recommended that hunters contact their local registration stations to determine if the location is operating and to confirm that they are registering birds during the fall season. Turkeys registered at a check station will continue to receive the official leg seal. For a list of registration stations in New Hampshire visit: https://wildlife.state.nh.us/hunting/deer-check-stations.html.

Online Registration: If birds are not registered in person, they must be registered online within 24 hours of taking. The tag that is issued with the hunter’s turkey license must be affixed to the bird. To expedite online registration, hunters must have a reliable internet connection and should have the following information readily available:

  • Hunting/turkey license information
  • License plate number of the vehicle used while hunting
  • Town and Wildlife Management Unit where the turkey was harvested
  • Sex of the bird
  • Age of the bird (adult vs. juvenile)
  • Weight of the bird (to the nearest 1/4 pound)
  • Beard length (to the nearest 1/4 inch)
  • Spur lengths (to the nearest 1/16 inch)

Successful online registration will result in a confirmation email upon completion. Hunters must retain a copy of this confirmation as proof that their turkey was legally registered online by saving a digital version or printing a copy of the email. Accurately entered registration data is imperative as the information is relied upon by wildlife biologists and conservation officers who depend upon its accuracy. To register turkeys online, and for tips on how to age, weigh, and measure birds visit https://www.wildlife.state.nh.us/hunting/turkey-reg.html.

Of the 18 Wildlife Management Units in the state, 11 are open to the fall shotgun season. New Hampshire’s seven-day fall shotgun turkey season applies only in WMUs D2, G, H1, H2, I1, I2, J1, J2, K, L, and M. For a detailed map visit www.wildnh.com/hunting/turkey-season.html.

The fall shotgun season was extended from five to seven days in 2016 to include two weekend days and provide increased hunting opportunity. New Hampshire also offers a fall archery season for turkey from September 15 to December 15 in Wildlife Management Units B through M (ends December 8 in WMU A).

To learn more about turkey hunting in New Hampshire, visit www.huntnh.com/hunting/turkey.html.