Message from the Fish and Game Department

160 Years of Conservation

There is nothing like the peace and solitude found in the woods or a field on a crisp fall morning scoping out your hunting ground. There is much for hunters to experience in the Granite State from geese to deer to moose and turkey. For the past 160 years, the NH Fish and Game Department has worked hard year round to conserve the wildlife species and their habitat in the state for all residents and visitors to enjoy. Bear and deer harvests in 2024 were strong, with the bear harvest breaking a record. Check out the Wildlife Harvest Summary to learn more by visiting www.wildlife.nh.gov/hunting-nh/hunting-reports-harvest-summaries

There are a number of new law changes in effect beginning this year: deer can now be taken with a crossbow during the archery season in several WMUs if you have an archery license; an amended law now allows air rifles to be used for hunting larger game species and NH Fish and Game has established criteria for their use for moose, deer, and bear; a youth pheasant season will now be offered; any furbearer species taken shall be registered online; starting in 2025, the fall shotgun season for turkey in WMUs G and I2 will be closed and starting in the spring of 2026, WMU I1 will be removed from the list of units where a second bird may be taken during the spring season; and beginning this fall, hunters will be required to register their first bear prior to taking an additional bear.

Help us continue to keep chronic wasting disease from entering the state by not using natural urine-based deer lures. These have the potential to spread the infection. The lures do not undergo any quality control or treatment that might inactivate or kill disease-causing agents, and the infective protein can persist in the environment for years.

Thanks for hunting in New Hampshire and please be safe. Always be sure of your target and what lies beyond, clean up after yourself, and display good sportsmanship. Kindly remember, when hunting on private land you are a guest of the landowner, so treat their property with respect and express your appreciation to the owner, and your presence will always be welcome. See you outdoors!

Stephanie L. Simek, Ph.D.
Executive Director
N.H. Fish and Game Department