Waterfowl Hunting in NH

Shooting hours are from 1/2 hour before sunrise to sunset.

Waterfowl season dates, bag/possession limits

Waterfowl hunters must obtain a federal duck stamp and a New Hampshire Migratory Waterfowl License, in addition to a New Hampshire hunting license. Click here for more information.

Migratory bird hunters are required by federal law to register for the Harvest Information Program; click here for more information. There is no charge.

Waterfowl Hunting Zones (click here for printable map with zone boundaries):

Coastal Zone
Inland Zone
Northern Zone
Connecticut River Zone (NH/Vermont)

Click for more info on:

License requirements
Youth waterfowl hunting weekend
Sea duck dates
Falconry
Reporting banded birds (1-800-327-BAND)
Duck art prints

New Hampshire’s Youth Waterfowl Hunting Weekend will be held statewide September 29-30, 2012. Click here for more info.

2012-2013 Waterfowl Season Dates and Bag Limits

For a printable summary of 2012-2013 N.H. waterfowl seasons, click here.

	Duck	Merganser	Coot	Snow geese	Brant	Woodcock	Common snipe
Daily bag limit	6	5	15	25	2	3	8
Possession limit	12	10	30	No limit	4	6	16

SPECIES-SPECIFIC LIMITS:

Species	Daily Bag Limit	Possession Limit	Season dates: Inland Zone	Season dates: Coastal Zone	Season dates: Northern Zone
Black duck	1	2	Oct. 2 - Nov. 4; *and* Nov. 21 - Dec. 16, 2012	Oct. 3 - Oct. 14; and Nov. 21 - Jan. 7, 2013	Oct. 2 - Nov.30, 2012
Mallard	4 (2 hens)	8 (4 hens)
Scaup	4	8
Wood duck	3	6
Redhead	2	4
Hooded merganser	2	4
Coot	15	30
Canada geese (regular season)	2	4
Pintail	2	4
Canvasback	1	2
Harlequin duck	N/A	N/A	Season closed
Brant	2	4	Oct. 2 - Nov. 20, 2012	Oct. 2 - Nov. 20, 2012
Snow geese	25	No limit	Oct. 2 - Dec. 16, 2012	Oct. 3 - Jan. 7, 2013	Oct. 2 - Dec. 16, 2012
2012-2013 EARLY MIGRATORY GAME BIRD SEASON DATES/BAG LIMITS:
Eider	4	8	Sea ducks may be taken only during the regular season for ducks; include in the daily bag and possession limit		Oct. 1, 2012 - Jan. 15, 2013 (please click here to see note regarding possession of Sea Ducks below)
Long-tailed duck (oldsquaw)
Scoter
Canada geese (September season)	5	10	Sept. 4 - Sept. 25, 2012 Statewide season
Woodcock	3	6	Oct. 1 - Nov. 14, 2012
Common snipe	8	16	Sept. 15 - Nov. 14, 2012
Crow (no H.I.P. required)	No limit		August 15 - Nov. 30, 2012; and March 16-31, 2013

License Requirements for Waterfowlers
To hunt waterfowl in New Hampshire, you are required to have a Migratory Waterfowl License and a current N.H. Hunting, Combination or Small Game License (available at any Fish and Game license agent), as well as a Federal Waterfowl Stamp (available at some U.S. Post Offices; Fish and Game headquarters in Concord; and at Fish and Game's Region 2 office in New Hampton). You also are required to have a free Harvest Information Program (H.I.P.) Survey permit number -- click here for more information on registering for H.I.P.

Sea Ducks (scoter, eider and long-tailed ducks): Season is from October 1, 2012, through January 15, 2013, in all coastal waters, rivers and streams seaward from the first upstream bridge. The daily bag limit is 7 birds, with no more than 4 scoters, 4 eiders or 4 long-tailed ducks (previously "oldsquaw"). The possession limit is 14 birds, with no more than 8 scoters, 8 eiders or 8 long-tailed ducks. In all other areas of the state, sea ducks may be taken only during the regular season for ducks and shall be included in the regular season daily bag and possession limit.

Youth Waterfowl Hunting Weekend: Held statewide in New Hampshire on Saturday, September 29; and Sunday, September 30, 2012. Youths must be 15 years of age or younger and accompanied by a licensed adult 18 years or older. The adult must possess a current hunting license but may not hunt. The daily bag limits are the same as those allowed in the open season. All regular season waterfowl regulations, including shooting hours, use of non-toxic shot, etc., apply during the youth weekend. Click here for more about youth hunting in N.H.

1-800-327-BAND
Report all banded birds using the toll-free number 1-800-327-BAND.

Falconry (Extended season)
Northern Zone: Dec. 1 - Jan. 14, 2013
Inland Zone: Nov. 5 - Nov. 20 and Dec. 17 - Jan. 14, 2013
Coastal Zone: January 25 - March 10, 2013

Coastal Zone: Beginning at the Maine-New Hampshire line in Rollinsford, that portion of the state east of a boundary formed by Route 4 west to the city of Dover, south to the intersection of Route 108 through Madbury, Durham and Newmarket to the junction of Route 85 in Newfields, south to Route 101 in Exeter, east to Interstate 95 in Hampton, and south to the Massachusetts line.

Inland Zone: Area of the state east of the Connecticut River Zone, south of the Northern Zone, and west of the Coastal Zone.

Northern Zone: Area of the state east of the Connecticut River Zone and north of the Inland Zone beginning at the Jct. of Rte.10 and Rte.25A in Orford, east on Rte. 25A to Rte. 25 in Wentworth, southeast on Rte. 25 to Exit 26 off I-93 in Plymouth, south on Rte. I-93 to Rte. 3 at Exit 24 off I-93 in Ashland, northeast on Rte. 3 to Rte. 113 in Holderness, north on Rte. 113 to Rte. 113-A in Sandwich, north on Rte. 113-A to Rte. 113 in Tamworth, east on Rte. 113 to Rte. 16 in Chocorua, north on Rte. 16 to Rte. 302 in Conway, east on Rte. 302 to the ME-NH border.

Connecticut River Waterfowl Hunting Zone (NH/Vermont) - Area of the State of VT east of I-91 at the MA border, north on I-91 to Rte. 2, north on Rte. 2 to Rte. 102, north on Rte. 102 to Rte. 253, and north on Rte. 253 to the border with Canada. The Connecticut River Zone is that area of NH west of Rte. 63 at the MA border, north on Rte. 63 to Rte. 12, north on Rte. 12 to Rte. 12-A, north on Rte. 12A to Rte 10, north on Rte. 10 to Rte. 135, north on Rte. 135 to Rte. 3, north on Rte. 3 to the intersection with the Connecticut River.

Regulations for the New Hampshire Inland Zone apply to the entire Connecticut River Zone in New Hampshire and Vermont.
NOTE: The New Hampshire and Vermont state legislatures have enacted reciprocal migratory waterfowl hunting rights for licensed waterfowl hunters in the Connecticut River Zone.