The NH Animal Rights League provides free signs to anyone who wishes to post their property against hunting.
Hunting season begins September 1, so now is the time to post your property.
On September 1, bear hunting season begins in New Hampshire. In this state it’s legal to hunt bears over bait, by stalking, or with hounds.
Although hunters must get your permission to place bait on your property, they do not need your permission to hunt with hounds. So if you don’t post your property against hunting, “hounders” are free to chase, tree, and shoot a bear on your property. It’s not uncommon for still-lactating females to be inadvertently killed, leaving orphaned cubs behind.
General Hunting Season Dates
Following are general dates for hunting season in New Hampshire. A complete summary of season dates and bag limits is provided in the NH Hunting and Trapping Digest, published each year in August.
| Select the species name for more dates and details. | |
| April 25 and April 26, 2020 | Youth turkey-hunting weekend |
| May 1 – May 31 | Spring gobbler season (wild turkey) |
| Starts September 1 | Black bear/dates vary for method and WMU |
| September – January | Waterfowl/dates vary by species and zone |
| September 15 – December 15 | Deer/archery (Note: archery season closes one week early in WMU A) |
| September 15 – December 15 | Fall turkey/archery |
| October 14 – October 20 in ONLY the following WMUs: D2, G, H1, H2, I1, I2, J1, J2, K, L, M | Fall turkey/shotgun (in certain WMUs only) |
| September – March | Small game and furbearers/dates vary by species and region |
| October 1 – December 31 | Pheasant |
| October 17 – October 25, 2020 | Moose (by permit only) |
| October 24 – 25, 2020 | Youth deer-hunting weekend |
| October 31 – November 10, 2020 | Deer/muzzleloader |
| November 11 – December 6, 2020 | Deer/regular firearms (closes one week early in WMU A) |