Deer Hunting in New Hampshire

New Hampshire's 2007 hunter harvest of 13,559 deer was in many ways the best in history. It was the second highest since record keeping began in 1922 -- only exceeded by a kill of 14,204 in 1967. While the total kill was higher in 1967, that harvest was nearly 50% does. Today's harvests, comprised mostly of males, with record-setting adult buck kills, is much more sustainable.

General Deer Season Dates:

• Archery: Sept. 15 - Dec. 15, 2008 (end dates may vary by WMU)
• Muzzleloader: Nov. 1 - Nov. 11, 2008 (beginning dates may vary by WMU)
• Firearms: Nov. 12 - Dec. 7, 2008 (end dates may vary by WMU)
• Youth Deer Weekend: Oct. 25 - 26, 2008

Photo © Charles H. Willey

Deer-hunting links:

• 2008 deer season dates
• Click to download and print the handy 1-page WMU map and 2008 deer season dates (PDF, 1.06 MB)
• 2008 N.H. deer hunt outlook
• Maps of Wildlife Management Units
• Click to download a printable DEER TAG! (PDF) If possible, please use this instead of the back cover of the NH Hunting Digest. Thanks.
• Field Care of Big Game (PDF)
• Special Unit M Deer Permits
• Deer harvest summary, 9-year comparison by county
• Deer harvest summary, 7-year comparison by WMU
• 2007 Wildlife Harvest Summary (click here and on publication cover; includes detailed data by town, sex, trophy stats)
• Buy your hunting license online - right now!

Special rules for WMU A: An antler point restriction remains in place in WMU A (click for background); also, the deer seasons have been shortened in that unit -- please note specific dates below.

New for 2008: Starting this year, non-resident youth hunters may participate in the N.H. Youth Hunt Weekend for Deer only if New Hampshire youth may hunt during special youth deer hunts in their state. Currently, Vermont youths may not participate because of residency restrictions on youth hunting in Vermont.

Chronic Wasting Disease Response Plan for the Northeast region, approved by the Northeast Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, November 2006 (219 KB, PDF format*)

Opening Day for regular firearm deer season in 2009 will be November 11, 2009.
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Click here for deer hunting rules and regulations

Click here for deer check stations

Click for deer season results by WMU for the last 6 years

Click for information on Special Deer Permit for Archery

Click here for information on Special Unit M Deer Permits.

For guides, butchers and taxidermists, click here to go to our main hunting page.

Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) Update and Q&A -- click here.

2008 Deer Hunt Outlook

By Kent Gustafson, Deer Project Leader

New Hampshire's 2007 deer season was another great year for hunters. As a matter of fact, the 2007 total harvest of 13,599 was a 15% increase over 2006 and the second highest harvest New Hampshire has ever seen. (Click here to download the 2007 NH Wildlife Harvest Summary (PDF file, 1 MB); deer harvest info starts on page 5.)

Another mild to average winter in 2006-07 resulted in good winter survival and fawn production in the spring of 2007. The past few years have seen considerable progress made in increasing deer numbers in many of the state's Wildlife Management Units (WMUs) where the objective based on the Big Game Management Plan has been to increase the deer population. Many WMUs are now at or close to that objective.

The 2007 statewide adult (age 1.5+) buck kill was 7,667, a 15% increase from 2006 and a new state record, surpassing the previous high of 6855 set in 2002. The statewide female kill in 2007 was 4,735. The archery season, muzzleloader season and "regular" firearm season all saw harvest increases in 2007.

The 2007 special youth weekend resulted in a statewide harvest of 642. This was the one season which saw a slight decease in harvest, down from 668 in 2006. This reduction was most likely the result of the weather on the Saturday of Youth Weekend when heavy rains covered much of the state for most of the day. The youth deer hunt weekend is a special chance for young hunters (15 and younger) to hunt under the guidance of a licensed hunter over age 18. Click here for more on youth hunting opportunities in New Hampshire.

The winter of 2007-08 was a long one in much of New Hampshire. Central, eastern and northern areas experienced a winter of considerably above average severity with snow coming early and lasting well into April as repeated storms followed similar tracks. Winter in southern and western portions of the state was of average to below average severity. Those WMUs with substantially above average winter severity saw abaove average winter mortality and reductions in fawn production and survival in the spring of  2008.

Many WMUs in central, eastern and northern New Hampshire which experienced a bad winter will see reductions in either-sex day hunting opportunities for the 2008 season in an effort to mitigate some of the winter effects. Reducing doe kills in these areas will allow deer numbers to recover more quickly. In southern and western WMUs where deer populations are generally close to the objective and winter was not severe, either-sex day hunting opportunities will be increased for the 2008 season. In other ways, the 2008 seasons remain similar to last year. A 2-point minimum antler point restriction and somewhat shortened seasons remain in effect in WMU-A to help address concerns over the buck age structure and 6,000 antlerless only permits will be available for use in WMU-M.

New this year are regulations establishing "reciprocity" for the Youth Weekend season. Beginning in 2008, nonresident youth may participate in the New Hampshire Youth Weekend deer season provided the state in which they reside allows nonresident youth to participate in their special youth deer season (if they have one). Reciprocity does not apply to states that do not have a special youth deer hunt, nor does it apply to youth participation in other deer seasons.

While the winter of 2007-08 was more severe than those in recent years, deer numbers in the state as a whole remain good. Reductions in either-hunting days in those WMUs most impacted by winter will reduce doe kills and allow for faster population recovery. Other WMUs should see harvests remain the same or increase in 2008. This fall also appears to be a good year for fall mast production with acorns, beechnuts and other fall foods more plentiful than in recent years.

Chronic wasting disease (CWD), a brain disease that is fatal to deer and elk, continues to be a concern to deer hunters and managers in New Hampshire and New England. Annual monitoring efforts from 2002 through 2007 have not detected CWD in any New England state. Michigan is the most recent state to find CWD-positive deer, bringing the total number of US states and Canadian provinces where CWD has been found to 17. Prevention of CWD in New Hampshire remains a top priority. Hunters are reminded that regulations prohibit the importation into New Hampshire of hunter-killed deer and elk carcasses or parts of carcasses from the 17 states and provinces where CWD has been found, except for de-boned meat, antlers, antlers attached to skull caps with all soft tissue removed, upper canine teeth with all soft tissue removed, hides or capes with no part of the head attached and finished taxidermy mounts. New York and West Virginia remain the two closest states to New Hampshire where CWD has been found and that are affected by this regulation. Be sure to check out the 2008-2009 New Hampshire Hunting Digest for season and regulation details.

Did You Know?

• OPEN LAND: NH has more than 200,000 acres of state land; 750,000 acres of White Mountain National Forest; and thousands of acres of private land open to hunting.
• SUNDAY HUNTING: We have it, some states don't... we won't name any names! 

For lodging and camping information, visit the New Hampshire Office of Travel & Tourism Development at www.visitnh.gov.