New Hampshire Hunting Seasons
PLEASE NOTE: Under State law, specific 2008 deer season dates are not finalized until summer of 2008. Details will be posted HERE and on the New Hampshire Fish & Game web site when available.
New Hampshire's estimated 2007 hunter harvest of 13,416 deer was the highest in recent years and, when verified and finalized, will likely result in the highest "official" harvest in forty years (since 1967). The preliminary 2007 results represent a 14% increase over the total take for 2006.
General Deer Season Dates:
- Archery: Sept. 15 - Dec. 15, 2008 (end dates may vary by WMU)
- Muzzleloader: Nov. 1 - Nov. 11, 2008 (beginning dates may vary by WMU)
- Firearms: Nov. 12 - Dec. 7, 2008 (end dates may vary by WMU)
Hunting: Wild turkey
NEW! 2008 Turkey Hunting Regulations
Hunters had a successful 2007 spring gobbler season in New Hampshire, with 3,651 turkeys harvested statewide. Fall offers a long archery turkey hunting season and a limited fall shotgun opportunity. New Hampshire has approximately 36,000 wild turkeys statewide
NEW for 2008: The turkey license now covers both the spring and fall turkey seasons; the price is $16 for residents and $31 for non-residents.
- Spring gobbler season
- N.H. Youth Turkey Hunt
- Fall archery season
- Fall shotgun season
- General turkey hunt info
- Licenses and permits
- Know hens from gobblers
- Tips on cleaning turkeys
- Turkey hunting safety
- Turkey registration stations
- Wild turkey habits & habitat
- Wild Turkey Hunter Survey results (2002)
New Hampshire offers excellent opportunities for hunting wild turkey. This is possible today only because turkeys have made an amazing comeback in New Hampshire. The birds had completely disappeared in the state by 1854, because of habitat loss and market and subsistence hunting. Restoration efforts began in 1975, when Fish and Game released 25 wild turkeys in New Hampshire; careful management based on good science has allowed that initial introduction to grow to more than 36,000 birds today. This population is a true wildlife restoration success story in the Granite State -- thanks to the Federal Aid in Sport Fish and Wildlife Restoration Program!
Create Turkey Habitat: Are you working to improve conditions on your land for wild turkeys? Click here for some tips from the National Wild Turkey Federation on creating wildlife openings.
2008 Spring Season
One bearded or male turkey may be taken by shotgun or bow per hunter; hunters are encouraged to pass on bearded hens.
- May 3 to May 31: WMUs B, C1, C2, D1, D2, E, F, G, H1, H2, I1, I2, J1, J2, K, L, M
- May 3 to May 17: WMU A
- Limit: One male or bearded turkey
- Hunting hours: 1/2 hour before sunrise to 12 noon.
- Legal methods: Archery or shotgun (10, 12, 16 or 20 gauge shotgun using 2, 4, 5 or 6 size shot)
- Registration: The fully feathered, intact turkey must be registered and sealed within 24 hours of the time of taking.
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N.H. Youth Turkey Hunt
The 2008 youth turkey hunt will be April 26 - 27, 2008. During the 2007 youth weekend, 437 gobblers were taken, or 12.4% of the total spring turkey harvest.
The youth turkey weekend is held statewide the first weekend prior to May 3. During the weekend, youth hunters are allowed to take one male or bearded turkey by archery or shotgun. Youth hunters are required to purchase a turkey permit in order to participate, although they do not need to possess a hunting license. Youths must be age 15 or younger, and must be accompanied by a properly licensed adult age 18 or older; the adult may not carry a firearm. The youth turkey hunt weekend was first offered in New Hampshire in 2004. For firsthand accounts of N.H. youth turkey hunt weekends; click here and on "Turkey Tales" to download article from N.H. Wildlife Journal magazine. <Return to top>
2008 Fall Archery Season
One wild turkey of either sex may be taken by archery.
- Sept. 15 - Dec. 15: WMUs B, C1, C2, D1, D2, E, F, G, H1, H2, I1, I2, J1, J2, K, L, M
- Areas CLOSED to fall turkey hunting: WMU A
- Limit: One wild turkey, either sex
- Legal methods: Archery only
- Hunting Hours: 1/2 hour before sunrise to 1/2 hour after sunset.
- Registration: The fully feathered, intact turkey must be registered and sealed within 24 hours of the time of taking.
Fall Shotgun Season
New Hampshire has a 5-day fall shotgun season only in WMUs D1, D2, G, H1, H2, I1, I2 and K (the Connecticut River Valley and southwest portions of the state); these areas constitute the state's most dense turkey populations. The 2008 fall shotgun turkey season will run Monday through Friday, from Monday, October 13 - Friday, October 17, 2008.
The fall shotgun permit entitles a hunter to take a single bird of either sex with a shotgun. Hunters can take only a single turkey during the fall, either with bow and arrow during the archery season, or with a shotgun during the shotgun season. The bird must be tagged with the "fall" tag that comes on the turkey license.
Shooting hours for the fall season will begin one-half hour before sunrise and end one-half hour after sunset. The fully feathered, intact turkey must be registered and sealed within 24 hours of the time of taking.
For 2008, a single turkey license covers both the spring and fall turkey seasons in New Hampshire.
Click here for fall shotgun turkey hunting strategies.
New Hampshire's fall shotgun turkey season began in 2006 and stems from the state's long-range Turkey Management Plan. Fall seasons are planned only for WMUs with spring harvest levels of at least .5 birds per square mile. <Return to top>
- For details on seasons, shooting hours, and other rules, please consult the N.H. Hunting Digest. To download, click here and on the orange publication cover.
- It is unlawful to take a turkey with a rifle, dogs, electronic calling devices, live decoys, or while it is perched in a tree.
- EXCEPTION: As a result of rule changes in 2006, dogs are now allowed during the NH fall turkey season only to facilitate the hunter in breaking up the flocks.
- If using a bow, it must be at least a 40-pound-pull bow.
- The name and address of the archer shall be plainly printed on each arrow. Fixed blade broadheads shall not be less than 7/8 inch wide. Retractable blade broadheads may be smaller than 7/8 inch wide in flight, but not less than
7/8 inch wide when open. There is no maximum size restriction on fixed blade or retractable blade broadheads. - The turkey must be tagged immediately upon killing. Registration is required, and the bird must be fully feathered and intact, but may be gutted. A $2 registration fee is required.
- Companion hunting: A person who has taken a turkey may assist another properly licensed turkey hunter by calling only. The person assisting by calling shall not possess a firearm or bow and arrow.
Licenses and Permits
NEW for 2008: The turkey license required to hunt turkey in New Hampshire now covers both the spring and fall turkey seasons; the price is $16 for residents and $31 for non-residents. Residents must also have a current N.H. hunting, archery or combination license. Nonresidents must also have a big game hunting or archery license. All these licenses are available from license agents statewide, or click here for online license sales at www.nhfishandgame.com.
Know Hens from Gobblers
It is against the law to kill a hen turkey during the spring season (it is legal to take a bearded hen turkey, but hunters are encouraged to pass on bearded hens in order to maximize turkey population growth). Hunters are, therefore, legally obligated to know the difference between hens and gobblers. This skill can be acquired through reading, field observation, watching videos, and attending a turkey hunting seminar.
The turkey "beard" is not a reliable indicator of sex. The beard may be broken or obscured from view. Many males, including jakes (one-year-old males) have short beards that are difficult to see. Up to 10 percent of hens will have thin 6- to 8-inch beards. These hens represent a valuable segment of the turkey nesting population and hunters are urged to pass on them whenever possible.
Physical characteristics can be used to differentiate hens and gobblers. Gobblers have pronounced red, white and blue head coloration during the spring season. The white skull cap on the gobbler is distinct, as is the presence of leg spurs and prominent red wattles on the neck. The body coloration of a gobbler is distinctly dark, almost black. In contrast, hens have a smaller, bluish-gray head, lack spurs and prominent wattles, and are brownish in appearance. Finally, gobblers strut, fan their tails and gobble; hens do not.
The sex of a turkey "in hand" is readily determined. Look at a small chest or breast feather. Gobbler feathers are black-tipped, while hen feathers are buff-tipped.
The National Wild Turkey Federation has some good tips on cleaning your turkey once you succeed in getting it. Click here.
- Never stalk a turkey. It rarely works and increases the risk of an accident.
- Never wear red, white or blue or black over- or under-clothing, because these are the prominent colors of displaying gobblers.
- Never call from a tree that is thinner than the width of your shoulders. Small trees won't hide slight movements of your hands or shoulders, which might look like a turkey to another hunter.
- Never jump or turn suddenly in response to a suspected turkey. When turkey hunting, assume that every sound you hear is made by another hunter.
- Never call from a site where you can't see at least 40 yards in all directions.
- Never imitate a gobbler call while concealed in a stand.
- Never presume that what you hear or what responds to your call is a turkey.
- Never think that your camouflage makes you totally invisible. To ID yourself to other hunters, wrap an orange band around a tree.
- Never hide so well that you can't see what's happening around you.
- Never move or wave to alert approaching hunters; shout "stop" instead. <Return to top>
Registration Stations
(telephone prefix is 603)
Belknap County
Barnstead, Barnstead Country Store, 107 Maple St., 269-8144
Laconia, Paugus Bay Sport Shop, Rt. 3, 524-4319
Meredith, Meredith Center Store, Center road, 279-4315
Carroll County
Center Ossipee, Double H Farm, 215 Moultonville Road, 539-5547
Conway, USFS Saco Ranger District, Rt. 16, 447-5448
Freedom, Freedom Market, Rt. 25, 539-7774
Jackson, Wildcat Service Station, Rt. 16, 383-6691
Sanbornville, Longmeadow Hardware, 59 Meadow St., 522-3604
Tamworth, So. Tamworth Country Store, Rt. 25, 323-7253
Tuftonboro, Tuftonboro General Store, Rt. 109A, 569-9859
Wolfeboro, Wolfeboro Bay Outfitters, 15 S. Main St., 569-1114
Cheshire County
Dublin, Dublin General Store, 1257 Main St., 563-8401
Keene, RE Moore Taxidermy, South St., 352-7348
Marlow, Marlow Grocery, Rt. 10/123, 446-3301
Richmond, Richmond 4 Corners Store, 3 Winchester Rd., 239-6145
Walpole, Drewsville Store, Rt. 123, 445-5120
Winchester, Trader John’s Gun Shop, Rt. 10, 239-4032
Coos Country
Errol, L.L. Cote, Main Street, 482-7777
Gorham, Gorham Hardware, Rt. 2/Rt. 16, 466-2312
Groveton, Emerson Outdoor Outfitters, 149 State St., 636-2211
Jefferson, Jefferson Old Corner Store, Rt. 2, 586-7722
Milan, Yesterday's Country Store, 1156 W. Milan Rd., 449-2236
Pittsburg, Dube's Pittstop, Route 3, 538-9944
Whitefield, Lufkin's Service Center, off Rt. 3, 837-2088
Grafton County
Bath, Swiftwater Way Station, 533 Wild Ammonoosuc Rd., 747-2929
Bristol, Newfound Sales, Lake St., 744-8658
Lebanon, Welch's Gun Shop, 103 Bank St., 448-3644
Littleton, Corey's Gun Shop, Meadow St., 444-6261
Littleton, Poulsen's General Store, 1000 Monroe, 444-7718
North Haverhill, Patten's Sporting Goods, 2956 Dartmouth College Hwy, 787-6964
Orford, Patterson's Grocery and Deli, Route 10, 353-4703
Plymouth, Plymouth Fire Station, Highland St., 536-1253
Rumney, D&R Convenience, 3886 Route 25, 786-9419
Hillsborough County
Antrim, Place in the Woods, Rt. 202, 588-2446
Hillsborough, Morse Sporting Goods, off Rt. 9, 464-3444
Manchester, Wildlife Taxidermy & Sports, Rt. 28, 625-9958
Milford, Milford Fish Hatchery, River Rd., 673-1416
New Ipswich, Hoppy's Country Store, Rt. 124, 878-1700
Weare, Dave's Taxidermy, Flanders Memorial Dr., 529-7318
Merrimack County
Bradford, Merrimack Farm & Country Store, Route 103, 938-2211
Danbury, Smith River Trading Post, Rt. 4, 768-3413
Dunbarton, Dunbarton Country Store, Rt. 13, 774-3888
Franklin, Franklin Fire Station, West Bow St., 934-2205
Hooksett, Steve's Sportsmen's Den, Rt. 3, 485-5085
Salisbury, Barn Store of New England, Rt. 4, 648-2888
Rockingham County
Chester, Chester Hardware, 15 Chester St., 887-4544
East Kingston, Jewett's General Store, Rt. 107, 642-3311
Greenland, Suds & Soda Sport Outlet, Rt. 101, 431-6320
Nottingham, Demmons Store, Rt. 152, 942-8840
Strafford County
Barrington, Brian's Archery Shop, Rt. 125, 332-1041
Madbury, Taylor's Trading Post, Rt. 9, 742-5931
New Durham, Hot Spots, Rt. 11/Depot Rd., 859-3300
Sullivan County
Claremont, Stearn's Archery & Taxidermy, 57 Broad St., 542-4973
Meriden, Meriden Deli Mart, 469-3253
Loss of License: Anyone found guilty of violating any Fish and Game regulation will lose his or her hunting privileges for a minimum of one year.
It is unlawful to:
- negligently shoot, wound or kill a human being while hunting, or abandon a wounded or killed human being;
- negligently discharge a firearm or cause death, injury or damage to domestic animals or property while hunting;
- possess a firearm with ammunition, bow and arrow or crossbow and bolt while attempting to locate or illuminate wild animals at night;
- illuminate wild animals from Sept. 1 to Dec. 1, except moose from Sept. 1 to the 2nd Tuesday in October from sunrise to 9 p.m.;
- hunt from 1/2 hour after sunset to 1/2 hour before sunrise, unless specifically regulated in this book;
- shoot while hunting from or across the right-of-way of any town or state-maintained road (if uncertain of type of road, don't shoot);
- hunt from inside of or on the surface of, any type of motorized vehicle, including aircraft, motor vehicle, or OHRV;
- hunt from a boat or canoe before all movement from mechanical power has stopped;
- carry a loaded firearm with ammunition in the chamber, clip or magazine leaning against, inside of, or on the surface of any type of motorized vehicle moving or stationary;
- bait for game animals, including deer, bear, furbearers or coyote from April 15 through Aug. 31;
- bait for game animals, including deer, bear or coyote, without written landowner permission filed with a conservation officer;
- enter posted land without permission of the owner;
- willfully tear down, obstruct or leave open any fence, gate or bar belonging to, or enclosing land of another person or remove or deface any posted sign or property;
- litter on any public or private land;
- hunt with a fully automatic firearm. It is also illegal to hunt with a semi-automatic rifle with a clip or magazine holding more than five cartridges (except .22 cal rimfire rifles and pistols), or use full-jacketed metal case bullets;
- possess more than one of any type of regular hunting license or permit, use another person's license or permit, or allow another person to use use your license or permit. <return to top of page>
What if I find a dead Deer, Bear, Moose?
If you find a dead deer, bear or moose you did not kill, do not tag or move it. Contact a conservation officer. <return to top of page>
- buy, sell or offer for sale a deer, bear, moose or any part thereof, other than the head, hide or feet;
- take more than one bear in a calendar year;
- hunt or take moose without a special moose permit;
- kill any deer with antlers less than 3 inches during the ANTLERED-ONLY deer season;
- possess a deer or bear that hasn't been properly tagged;
- possess a detached deer or bear tag. Upon killing a deer or bear, the tag shall be filled out and immediately attached to the deer or bear;
- assist another in taking a deer or bear after you have taken one, unless you possess a valid unused tag;
- tag, steal, take or carry away a deer, moose or bear belonging to another person;
- fail to register a deer at the closest registration station within 24 hours of killing;
- hunt deer or bear with 1) a .22 caliber rimfire rifle, 2) a single barrel, single shot muzzleloader less than .40 caliber, 3) a bow of less than 40 lbs. pull at 28 inches or less draw, 4) or an arrow without name and address and a fixed blade broadhead less than 7/8 inches wide or more than 1 1/2 inches wide, and 5) birdshot or shot smaller than 00 buckshot;
- hunt bear with a shotgun using other than a single projectile;
- have more than six persons participate in a drive to take deer;
- hunt deer or bear on islands, or in the water of any lake or pond in the state;
- use telemetry equipment from 1/2 hour before sunrise through 1/2 hour after sunset to locate, trail or tree hounds while in a motorized vehicle or within 300 feet as measured from the center of the traveled portion of any public highway or any private road open to public usel
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