CONCORD, NH —Hunting season in New Hampshire kicks off on September 1 with the opening of black bear and gray squirrel seasons. Archery seasons for turkey and white-tailed deer get underway September 15. The statewide resident Canada goose hunt runs September 1 through September 25.
Numerous additional opportunities exist for hunters this fall including additional either-sex deer days and lengthened bear seasons in many Wildlife Management Units (WMUs). Highlights of New Hampshire’s hunting seasons can be found in the New Hampshire Hunting and Trapping Digest, which includes New Hampshire hunting season dates, bag limits, check station locations, and more. Hunters and trappers can pick up a free copy from Fish and Game or their local license agent when they buy their license, or view it online at www.huntnh.com/hunting/publications.html.
Looking ahead, the much-anticipated regular firearms deer hunting season opens on November 14. Both the archery and regular firearms seasons for deer continue to end one week early in WMU A. Check the Hunting Digest for WMU-specific either-sex deer hunting regulations and additional bear hunting opportunities. The fall shotgun turkey season will again run 7 days (October 15-21) and provide weekend hunting opportunity.
Following is a general overview of New Hampshire’s fall hunting seasons (please be sure to consult the Digest or visit the Fish and Game website at www.huntnh.com for additional information):
2018 New Hampshire Hunting Seasons
WHITE-TAILED DEER:
Archery: September 15-December 15 (ends December 8 in WMU A)
Youth Deer Weekend: October 27-28
Muzzleloader: November 3-13
Firearms: November 14-December 9 (ends December 2 in WMU A)
BLACK BEAR: Starts September 1 (end varies by WMU)
GRAY SQUIRREL: September 1-January 31
SNOWSHOE HARE: October 1-March 31 (bag limit varies by WMU)
RUFFED GROUSE: October 1-December 31
MOOSE: October 20-28 (by permit only)
FALL TURKEY:
Shotgun turkey: October 15-21 (certain WMUs)
Archery turkey: September 15-December 15 (ends December 8 in WMU A)
If you need a Hunter Education class, don’t delay! Register online at www.huntnh.com/hunting/hunter-ed.html.
Apprentice hunting licenses are an option for people age 16 and older who want to try hunting, but have not taken Hunter Education. It allows hunting under the guidance of a licensed hunter age 18 or older. The option remains popular. In 2017, a total of 346 individuals took advantage of the apprentice license program in New Hampshire, hunting for a variety of game species. Apprentice licenses are available only at Fish and Game headquarters. Learn more at www.huntnh.com/hunting/apprentice.html.
As the fall hunting seasons begin, Fish and Game urges 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.huntnh.com/wildlife/cwd.
N.H. hunting licenses and permits can be purchased online anytime at www.nhfishandgame.com.
So, get out and enjoy New Hampshire’s big woods, with more than a million acres of public land open to hunting. Find more information about hunting in New Hampshire at www.huntnh.com/hunting.