Deer are New Hampshire’s most popular game animal, with a total of more than 80,000 deer found in all areas of the state. NH has a long archery season starting Sept. 15 (antlered only through Sept. 30), a muzzleloader season that is a special attraction for hunters given its timing (11 days before the firearms season), and a firearms season that begins Nov. 10 statewide. (See the chart for “any deer” days, when hunters may take a doe or a buck; NH Fish and Game uses “any deer” days to manage deer populations.) A Special Unit M permit allows hunters to take additional antlerless deer in WMU-M.
Deer Hunting Seasons
|
Season |
Inclusive Dates |
Wildlife Management Units |
|
|
Archery |
Antlered deer only |
Sept. 15–Sept. 30 |
Statewide |
|
Any deer |
Oct. 1–Dec. 8 |
WMU A — NOTE: Archery deer season ends one week early. |
|
|
Any deer |
Oct. 1–Dec. 15 |
B – M |
|
|
Muzzleloader |
Antlered deer only |
Oct. 30–Nov. 9 |
A, B, C1, C2, D1, E, F, G, I1, I2, J1 |
|
Any deer |
Oct. 30 ONLY |
D2, J2 |
|
|
Antlered deer only |
Oct. 31–Nov. 9 |
||
|
Any deer |
Oct. 30–Oct. 31 |
K |
|
|
Antlered deer only |
Nov. 1–Nov. 9 |
||
|
Any deer |
Oct. 30–Nov. 1 |
H1, H2 |
|
|
Antlered deer only |
Nov. 2–Nov. 9 |
||
|
Any deer |
Oct. 30–Nov. 5 |
L |
|
|
Antlered deer only |
Nov. 6–Nov. 9 |
||
|
Any deer |
Oct. 30–Nov. 9 |
M |
|
|
Firearm |
Antlered deer only |
Nov. 10–Nov. 28 |
WMU A — NOTE: Regular firearm deer season ends one week early. |
|
Antlered deer only |
Nov. 10–Dec. 5 |
B, C1, C2, D1, E, F, G, I1, I2, J1 |
|
|
Any deer |
Nov. 10 ONLY |
D2, J2 |
|
|
Antlered deer only |
Nov. 11–Dec. 5 |
||
|
Any deer |
Nov. 10–Nov 11 |
K |
|
|
Antlered deer only |
Nov. 12–Dec. 5 |
||
|
Any deer |
Nov. 10–Nov. 12 |
H1, H2 |
|
|
Antlered deer only |
Nov. 13–Dec. 5 |
||
|
Any deer |
Nov. 10–Nov. 16 |
L |
|
|
Antlered deer only |
Nov. 17–Dec. 5 |
||
|
Any deer |
Nov. 10–Nov. 19 |
M |
|
|
Antlered deer only |
Nov. 20–Dec. 5 |
||
|
Youth Hunt |
Oct. 23 & 24 any deer statewide; see Youth Hunting for details. |
||
DEFINITIONS
Antlered Deer: Deer with at least one antler three (3) inches long.
Any Deer: All deer regardless of sex or age.
|
If you are using a special deer permit, you are not allowed to take two deer at the same time. The first deer taken must be registered before you attempt to take a second deer. |
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