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Deer Hunting in New Hampshire

Opening Day for New Hampshire's 2012 regular firearm deer season is November 14.

Photo © Charles H. Willey

General Deer Season Dates:

Archery: Sept. 15 - Dec. 15, 2012 (closes December 8 in WMU A)
Muzzleloader: November 3 - Nov. 13, 2012 Statewide
Firearms: Opens November 14 (closes one week early in WMU A)
Youth Deer Weekend: Oct. 27 - 28, 2012

Deer-hunting links:

2011 deer season dates
Deer harvest - 10-year comparison by county
2011 deer hunt outlook - by Deer Project Leader Kent Gustafson
Wildlife Management Unit maps
Click to download a printable DEER TAG!
Special Unit M Antlerless Deer Permits
Special Deer Permit for Archery
Great Bay National Wildlife Refuge - Shotgun-only Deer Hunt

Resources for Deer Hunters:

Deer check stations
NH Wildlife Harvest Summary
Field Care of Big Game
Leashed dog deer trackers - Licensed in NH
Hunting guides, butchers, taxidermists - see links on main hunting page

Special rules for WMU A: The archery and rifle deer seasons are shortened in WMU A -- please note specific dates below.

2011 N.H. DEER SEASON DATES

2012 is a season-setting year in New Hampshire, which means that the final detailed season dates will not be established until the conclusion of the rule-making process. Click here to learn more. When finalized, season dates will be posted on this page.

Click here to download a printable 1-page WMU Map and 2011 season deer dates summary

REGULAR FIREARMS - 2011
Wildlife Management Units	Method/Sex/Inclusive Dates
WMU A	Antlered Only: Nov. 9 – Nov. 27 Firearm deer season ends 1 week early.
WMU B, C1, C2, D1, E, F, G, I1, I2, J1	Antlered only: Nov. 9 – Dec. 4
WMU D2, J2	Either-sex: Nov. 9 ONLY Antlered only: Nov. 10 – Dec. 4
WMU H1, H2	Either-sex: Nov. 9 – Nov. 11 Antlered only: Nov. 12 – Dec. 4
WMU K	Either-sex: Nov. 9 – Nov. 10 Antlered only: Nov. 11 – Dec. 4
WMU L	Either-sex: Nov. 9 – Nov. 15 Antlered only: Nov. 16 – Dec. 4
WMU M	Either-sex: Nov. 9 – Nov. 18 Antlered only: Nov. 19 – Dec. 4

YOUTH WEEKEND - 2012
STATEWIDE	Either-sex: Oct. 27 –Oct. 28, 2012; Non-resident youth hunters may participate, provided that N.H. youth can take part in youth deer hunts in their home state.

SPECIAL PERMIT - ANTLERLESS DEER ONLY
Unit M	4,000 permittees. Permittees can purchase up to two permits at the time of original permit purchase.

ARCHERY -- 2011
STATEWIDE	Antlered Only: Sept. 15 – Sept. 30
WMU A	Either Sex: Oct. 1 - Dec 8 Archery season ends 1 week early
WMUs B-M	Either Sex: Oct. 1 - Dec 15
SPECIAL 2ND ARCHERY PERMIT (Antlered Only)	WMUs B – M: Sept 15-Dec 15 WMU A: Sept 15 – Dec 8

MUZZLELOADER -- 2011
WMUs A, B, C1, C2, D1, E, F, G, I1, I2, J1	Antlered Only: Oct. 29 – Nov. 8
WMUs D2, J2	Either-sex: Oct. 29 Only Antlered only: Oct. 30 – Nov. 8
WMUs H1, H2	Either-sex: Oct. 29 – Oct. 31 Antlered only: Nov. 1 – Nov. 8
WMU K	Either-sex: Oct. 29 – Oct. 30 Antlered only: Oct. 31 – Nov. 8
WMU L	Either-sex: Oct. 29 – Nov. 4 Antlered only: Nov. 5 – Nov. 8
WMU M	Either-sex: Oct. 29 – Nov. 8

Managing the Deer Population - Click on a topic: Deer WMU map

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!

Help Keep CWD Out of New Hampshire

Chronic wasting disease, or CWD, is a brain disease that is fatal to deer and elk that continues to be a concern to deer hunters and managers in New Hampshire and New England. Annual monitoring efforts since 2002 have not detected CWD in any New England state. Prevention of CWD in New Hampshire remains a top priority.

Hunters travelling outside of NH should be aware that regulations prohibit the importation into New Hampshire of hunter-killed deer and elk carcasses or parts of carcasses from the 19 U.S. states and Canadian 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 remains the state closest to New Hampshire where CWD has been found, but other eastern states where CWD has been detected include Virginia, West Virginia and Maryland.