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Small Game Hunting

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Small Game species in New Hampshire are: ruffed grouse, pheasant, quail, Hungarian/European partridge, chukar, cottontail rabbit, snowshoe hare, gray squirrel and migratory game birds including waterfowl. NH Fish and Game stocks more than 13,000 pheasants at 50+ sites around the state.

SMALL GAME HUNTING LicensING REQUIREMENTS

To hunt for small game, a resident must have a current Regular NH Hunting, Combination or Archery License. A nonresident must have a Regular NH Hunting, Combination or Archery License or a Small Game License. No license is required for youth hunters (under age 16); youth must be accompanied by a properly licensed adult age 18 or older.

Migratory bird hunters, see additional requirements.

Pheasant Hunting Licensing Requirements

All pheasant hunters, with the exception of youth hunters who are accompanied by a properly licensed adult, must have either a valid Regular NH Hunting, Combination or Non-resident Small Game License, in addition to a Pheasant License.

SMALL GAME HUNTING REGULATIONS

Hunting Hours: ½ hour before sunrise to ½ hour after sunset, except for migratory birds.

 

2012–2013 small game HUNTING SEASONS

Species

Inclusive Dates

Wildlife Management Units

Daily Limit

Season Limit

Cottontail Rabbit

Oct. 1–Dec. 31

H2, K, L, M

(except for closed areas, see map below)

2

No

Falconry Season: Oct. 1–Mar. 15

Gray Squirrel

Sept. 1–Dec. 31

All

5

No

Pheasant*

Oct. 1–Dec. 31

All

2

10

Ruffed Grouse (Partridge)

Oct. 1–Dec. 31

All

4

No

Quail, Chukar,
Hungarian/European Partridge

Oct. 1–Dec. 31

All

4

No

Snowshoe Hare

Oct. 1–Mar. 31

A, B, C1, C2, D1, D2, E, F, G, J1

3

No

H1, H2, I1, I2, J2, K, L, M

2

* Pheasant License required.

 

12NHHD_CottontailClosed_opt.jpg

 

 

Win a Ruger rifle—send in the Small Game Survey!

Calling all NH small game hunters—you have a chance to win a Ruger rifle if you fill out and submit your Small Game Survey form, postmarked by April 15, 2013. All those who return a completed survey on time will have their names entered into a raffle to win a quality Ruger rifle, generously donated by Sturm, Ruger & Co., Inc. to encourage participation in the survey.

If you are a small game hunter and would like to volunteer for our annual survey, please call (603) 271-2461 or email wildlife@wildlife.nh.gov. NOTE: Please provide your full name and mailing address so we can mail the survey to you!

Regulations in red are new this year.

Purple text indicates an important note.

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