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New Hampshire

Hunting

Hunting

Small Game Hunting

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 (see Waterfowl/Migratory Bird Hunting Seasons & Bag Limits).

To hunt for small game, a resident must have a current Regular N.H. Hunting, Combination, or Archery License. A nonresident must have a Regular N.H. Hunting, Combination or Archery License or a Small Game License. Note: Turkey is considered large game.

No license is required for youth hunters (under age 16) of small game. Youth must be accompanied by a properly licensed adult age 18 or older.

Migratory bird hunters, see Waterfowl/Migratory Bird Hunting Seasons & Bag Limits and Waterfowl/Migratory Bird Hunting Regulations for additional requirements.

Small Game Hunting Hours

Hunting Hours: ½ hour before sunrise to ½ hour after sunset, except for migratory birds (see Waterfowl/Migratory Bird Hunting Regulations).

Air Rifles and Crossbows

Air rifles of not less than .22 caliber and producing not less than 12 foot-pounds of kinetic energy at the muzzle are legal for the taking of small game except migratory waterfowl. Subject to all other restrictions shown here. Crossbows are a legal method of take for small game with the exception of migratory game birds.

No person shall take squirrels within a compact zone of any village or city or within the limits of any public park or cemetery.

Pheasant Hunting

N.H. Fish and Game will stock approximately 10,000 pheasants at 60+ sites around the state.

All pheasant hunters 16 years of age or older must have a valid Regular N.H. Hunting, Combination, or Nonresident Small Game License, in addition to a Pheasant License.

Ruffed Grouse Hunting

N.H. Fish and Game actively manages our lands to create young forests, one of the habitats critical for grouse and many other species. If you are a grouse hunter, we ask you to help monitor this species by participating in our Ruffed Grouse Wing and Tail Survey. Read on and you can learn all about it!

Ruffed Grouse Wing and Tail Survey

NHFG conducts an annual grouse wing and tail survey to help gain critical information about ruffed grouse in NH. Hunter participation is key to this effort! A participating hunter wins a firearm donated by the Ruffed Grouse Society.

Any grouse hunter can pick up grouse sample packets, which include envelopes and survey cards for two grouse samples, from participating locations listed at huntnh.com.

Chance to win a firearm donated by the Ruffed Grouse Society!

Participate in the Small Game Survey

Calling all N.H. small game hunters! Please fill out and submit your Small Game Survey form and you'll have a chance to win a firearm generously donated by Sturm Ruger & Co., Inc.

If you are a small game hunter and would like to volunteer to take our annual survey, please call (603) 271-2461 or email [email protected]. NOTE: Please provide your full name and mailing address so we can mail the survey to you. Forms are also available at huntnh.com/surveys/small-game.html

You could win a Ruger firearm!