The 2025–2026 New Hampshire Hunting Digest is out now—featuring official regulations for deer, bear, turkey, small game, migratory birds, and furbearers. Plan your NH hunting adventure today!
NEW for 2025–26
Deer may be taken with a crossbow during the archery season in a number of WMUs by anyone holding an archery license. See Deer Hunting for additional details.
A recently amended state law (2025) now allows the use of air rifles for hunting larger game species in New Hampshire. The Department has established additional criteria for the use of air rifles for hunting moose, deer, and bear.
Beginning in 2025, a youth pheasant hunting season will be held on September 27 and 28.
Starting in 2025, any furbearer species taken by hunting shall be registered via online reporting. See Furbearer Hunting and Trapping for more information and a link for reporting.
Starting in fall 2025, the fall shotgun season for turkey in WMUs G and I2 will be closed. Starting in spring 2026, WMU I1 will be removed from the list of units where a second bird may be taken during the spring season. See a list of turkey seasons by WMU.
Starting in fall 2025, hunters will be required to register their first bear prior to taking an additional bear.
