CONTACT:
Andy Timmins: (603) 271-2461
Danielle Beard: (603) 271-2461
August 13, 2025
Concord, NH – New Hampshire’s fall hunting seasons kick off on Monday, September 1, with the opening of black bear and gray squirrel seasons. Archery seasons for turkey and white-tailed deer get underway on September 15, and the statewide resident Canada goose hunt runs September 1–25.
Highlights of New Hampshire’s hunting seasons can be found in the New Hampshire Hunting and Trapping Digest, which includes hunting season dates, bag limits, check station locations, and more. Hunters and trappers can pick up a free copy at New Hampshire Fish and Game Department headquarters, or at their local license agent. The Digest can also be viewed online at www.eregulations.com/newhampshire/hunting. Other helpful online resources include the most recent Wildlife Harvest Summary Report and the Small Game Summary Report.
Hunters look forward to the opening day of deer season all year, and the much-anticipated muzzleloader deer season starts on November 1 and runs for 11 consecutive days. The regular firearms deer-hunting season immediately follows starting on November 12. Both the archery and regular firearms seasons for deer will again end one week early in Wildlife Management Unit (WMU) A. Check the Digest for WMU-specific either-sex deer hunting regulations as well as other expanded deer hunting opportunities. Additional bear hunting opportunities will continue this year, including the ability to take an additional bear in WMUs C1, D2, E, and F. This fall’s shotgun turkey season will again run for 7 days (October 13–19) and includes one full weekend.
The following is a general overview of New Hampshire’s fall hunting seasons. Be sure to consult the Digest or visit www.huntnh.com for additional information.
2025 New Hampshire Hunting Seasons
- WHITE-TAILED DEER:
- Archery: September 15–December 15 (ends December 8 in WMU A)—Special archery deer permits must be purchased with hunter’s annual archery licenses
- Youth Deer Weekend: October 25–26
- Muzzleloader: November 1–November 11
- Firearms: November 12–December 7 (ends December 1 in WMU A)
- BLACK BEAR: Starts September 1 (end date varies by WMU)
- GRAY SQUIRREL: September 1, 2025–January 31, 2026
- SNOWSHOE HARE: October 1, 2025–March 31, 2026 (bag limit varies by WMU)
- RUFFED GROUSE: October 1–December 31
- MOOSE: October 18–26 (by permit only)
- FALL TURKEY:
- Shotgun: October 13–19 (certain WMUs)
- Archery: September 15–December 15 (ends December 8 in WMU A)
Apprentice hunting licenses are an option for people age 16 and older who want to try hunting but have not taken Hunter Education, or who have not been able to schedule a field day. The apprentice hunting license allows unlicensed people to hunt under the guidance of a licensed hunter age 18 or older. Apprentice licenses are available only at NH Fish and Game Headquarters, 11 Hazen Drive, Concord. Learn more at www.wildlife.nh.gov/hunting-nh/hunter-education/apprentice-hunting-licenses.
Help our herd. As the fall hunting seasons begin, the NH Fish and Game Department asks hunters not to use natural urine-based deer lures. These products can potentially spread chronic wasting disease (CWD), a neurological disorder that is always fatal to white-tailed deer and moose. Synthetic lures are suggested. Do your part and help keep our deer herd free of CWD. Learn more at www.wildlife.nh.gov/wildlife-and-habitat/wildlife-related-diseases/deer-diseases.
Hunters should remember to take proper care when handling wild game to minimize possible exposure to wildlife diseases. First and foremost, hunters should avoid harvesting or handling any animal that appears sick. For more tips on safe handling of wild game, please visit www.wildlife.nh.gov/hunting-nh/after-harvest/safe-handling-wild-game.
Get out and enjoy New Hampshire’s woods safely by wearing hunter/blaze orange. With more than a million acres of public land open to hunting and outdoor recreation, blaze orange is the safe choice for all outdoor enthusiasts this fall.
