Video: New Hampshire State Hunter Education

Attention! The information in this video is required to answer questions in the course quiz and exam. Make sure to watch the video entirely. Click on the “Video Transcript” bar below the video if you'd like to review a text version of the content.

Press the play button (►) above to start the video.

Transcript for Hunter Education

Speaker: This presentation does not cover all of New Hampshire's hunting laws. It is your responsibility as a new hunter to review the current hunting digest and to understand and follow all the laws related to hunting in New Hampshire. If you have any questions regarding a law, contact the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department, Law Enforcement Division, or your local conservation officer at 603-271-3361.

Hunting Licenses

Hunting licenses are required for persons 16 years of age or older. Some licenses and permits are required for all ages.
Resident landowners and their minor children under the age of 16 may hunt and trap on their own land in season without a general hunting license.
In order to prove residency, New Hampshire driver's license or non-driver ID is required.

A New Hampshire hunting license is valid from January 1 through December 31. Hunter education certificate or previous hunting license is required. Some of the New Hampshire licenses are:

a senior license, which is 68 or older, which is a reduced fee;
a lifetime license;
a newborn lifetime combo, which needs to be purchased prior to the first birthday; and…
an apprentice license.

Lost License Procedures

You need to go to the original agents where you purchased your license or Fish and Game Headquarters.

Youth Hunters

Children under 16 years of age do not need a regular New Hampshire hunting license or archery license. A youth must be accompanied by a properly licensed person 18 years of age or older. "Accompanied" means within sight and hearing, excluding electronic devices, when actual physical direction and control can be affected.

General Hunting Regulations

Hunting Hours

General hunting hours are from a half an hour before sunrise to a half an hour after sunset. Some of the exceptions are spring turkey season, which ends at noon, and migratory game birds, which ends at sunset. There is also a night hunting season for coyote and raccoon.

Archery

Archery and crossbow hunters must have their name and address on arrows and bolts.

Broadhead Restrictions

Fixed blades are 7/8 inches minimum and an inch and a half maximum.
Retractable blades must not be less than 7/8 inches when open. There is no maximum.

Minimum Draw Weight for Specific Species for Archery

Turkey: 30 pounds
Deer and bear: 40 pounds and…
Moose: 50 pounds

General Hunting Regulations: Baiting

It's unlawful from April 15 to August 31.
A permit to bait wildlife is required when baiting on land of another.
Written landowner permission on a permit to bait wildlife with a topographical map filed with the Department. No more than two bait sites are allowed statewide.
A baited area shall be considered an active bait site until any and all baited material is completely removed from the site.
Only one person per bait permit.

Crossbow

A crossbow must have a minimum draw weight of 125 pounds and be no less than 25 inches in total length.
Crossbows are a legal method for all species during legal seasons except deer in WMUs listed here—A1, A2, B, C1, C2, D1, D2-east, E1, E2, F—not allowed for archery season without disabled permit.
One working safety required.
A crossbow is a rigid stock, one string, horizontally mounted bow with transverse limbs, capable of discharging a single bolt.
To hunt deer with crossbows, you must either be:
- 68+ with an archery license.
- Permanently disabled hunters. Disabled crossbow permit holders are limited to using only a crossbow.
You can use a crossbow in the following WMUs during archery season: D2W, G1, G2, H1, H2, I1, I2, J1, J2, K, L, M
You can use a crossbow during muzzleloader season with a muzzleloader license or during firearm season with a firearm's license. Youth participating in youth deer weekend can use a crossbow.

Wearing hunter orange is highly recommended, but not the law.

If you find a dead deer, bear, moose, or turkey you did not kill, do not tag or move it. Call Law Enforcement Dispatch at 603-271-3361.

Motor vehicle—killed wildlife may not be taken without permission of a law enforcement officer. Call Law Enforcement Dispatch at 603-271-3361.

Discharge Restrictions

It's illegal to discharge a firearm, shoot with a bow and arrow, crossbow bolt, or a .22 caliber or larger air rifle when used for hunting purposes within 300 feet of a permanently occupied dwelling without permission of the owner or occupant.
A firearm may not be discharged within 300 feet of any commercial, educational, or medical building, or outdoor public gathering place.
Firearms may not be discharged within a compact area of any town or city. A "compact area" is any contiguous area containing six or more buildings, used as part-time or permanent dwellings, where each is within 300 feet of one of the other buildings, plus a 300-perimeter around all the buildings.
It's unlawful to discharge a firearm, bow and arrow, or crossbow and bolt within 15 feet of a travel portion of or across any Class I through V highways.
A firearm, air rifle, bow and arrow, or crossbow may not be discharged from or across the following public highways listed here: I-p3, I-89, I-95, 293, Rt. 202/9 (from Rt. 114 in Henniker to Rt. 31 in Hillsboro), Rt. 16 (from I-95 to Milton/Middleton town line), Rt 3 F.E. Everett Turnpike (from Mass line to Rt. 101 Bedford), Rt. 101 (from Bedford town line to Rt. 1 Hampton).

Tree Stands and Blinds

A portable or temporary tree stand or observation blind may be placed on the land of another person from April 25 through June 1, removed by midnight on June 1; August 1 to December 31, unless allowed by permission from the property owner or designee.
All tree stands are observation blinds must be labeled with the name and contact information of the owner in a clearly visible manner. All landowner permissions expire December 31 unless revoked by the landowner beforehand.
Written landowner permission is required if you insert into the tree any metallic, ceramic, or other object or you cut any tree or branches.
The state is divided into wildlife management units, which are located in your digest.

Hunting Regulations by Species

Bear

To hunt bear, a bear license is required regardless of the age of the hunter.
Must be tagged immediately upon killing.
Must be registered within 24 hours of taking.
In certain WMUs, check current New Hampshire Hunting Digest. A second bear may be taken with an additional tag. The first shall be registered before attempting to take the second.

Bear Baiting

A permit to bait wildlife must be filed with the Wildlife Division if baiting on private property.
The permit must be submitted before the first Monday in August. State lands and White Mountain National Forest permit applications accepted at Law Enforcement Division on or after the first Monday in June and no later than the first Monday in August. Only one person per bait permit.
To bait bear, you may not have more than two bait sites statewide.
Only the person to whom the permit is issued may place the bait at the site.
No person shall establish, tend, hunt bear over a bait containing chocolate or any cocoa derivative. White chocolate is allowed.
To hunt bear with dogs, permits are required. Permits are available at Fish and Game Headquarters in Concord or online at huntnh.com.
- No more than six dogs may be used at a time.
- And you may not start dogs from a bait site.

It's unlawful to hunt bear with a .22 rimfire rifle.

A muzzleloader must be .40 caliber or greater.

Shotguns, so slug only, no buckshot, and no taking on any island or in the water of any lake or pond in the state.

Coyote

There are no closed seasons on coyote.
They may be hunted at night, January 1 through March 31.
Lights may be used except from a motor vehicle, snowmobile, or OHRV.
Electronic calling is allowed.
No baiting on ice-covered public waterbodies.
Written permission to bait and hunt at night is required.
Must be registered online within 24 hours. Pertains to all furbearers with a legal hunting season.

Deer

Deer must be tagged immediately upon killing.
A CO may request to see the head and hide of any deer within 48 hours of registration.
Double-aught or larger buckshot or slug must be used in a shotgun.
Buckshot-prohibited towns— Auburn, Chester, Greenland, Newington, Portsmouth, and Stratham. For towns with special rules, refer to the current Hunting Digest or huntnh.com.
Deer must be registered online or at the closest open registration station within 24 hours.
Deer must be accompanied and registered by the person who took the deer.
Online registrations will be unavailable during the first two days of muzzleloader season and the first three days of firearm season; and the deer must be registered at a registration station on these days.
Deer may be quartered in the field, but the head and the hide must be packed out.

White-Tailed Deer: Muzzleloader Season

A hunting license and a muzzleloader license is required. Muzzleloader, a single-barrel, single-shot firearm .40 caliber or greater loaded from the muzzle.
No muzzleloader tag issued. Use regular firearms deer tag.

White-Tailed Deer

It is unlawful to kill an antlered deer unless one antler is at least three or more inches long during the antlered-only season.
No taking in the water of any lake or pond in the state.
Deer may be hunted on islands. Special permits are still required to hunt deer on Long and Governor's Island on Lake Winnipesaukee.
No more than six persons participating in a deer drive.
No noisemaking devices, horns, and whistles.

Deer Baiting

WMU A through L opens 21 days prior to the opening of regular firearms and closes on the third Wednesday of November.
Wildlife Management Unit M, baiting is allowed September 15 through December 15.
It is illegal to use 100% salt products for bait.
No person shall place bait for the purpose of attracting and/or taking deer prior to the season.

Special White-Tailed Deer Permits

There are special deer permits for Long Island and Governor's Island. Permits are available at Region 2 Office in New Hampton or Headquarters in Concord.
Special antlerless deer permits for WMU L and M. Unit L is a lottery. Unit M is first-come, first-serve basis.
Special antlered deer permit for archery may only be purchased when buying an archery license and required of all ages.

Deer, Elk, or Moose: Chronic Wasting Disease

If hunting and chronic wasting disease—positive jurisdictions, you may only bring back deboned meat, antlers, antlers attached to the skull caps from which all soft tissue has been removed; upper canine teeth, clean off all the soft tissue; hides or capes and taxidermy mounts.

Migratory Birds

Woodcock, snipe, crow, and waterfowl can be hunted one-half an hour before sunrise to sunset.
Crow can be hunted one half an hour before sunrise to one half an hour after sunset.
A federal stamp and state waterfowl license required for waterfowl, ducks, and geese.
A HIP number is required. You can get your HIP number by calling 1-800-207-6183 or online. A HIP number is not required to hunt crow.
When hunting migratory birds, shotgun cannot hold more than three rounds, one in chamber, two in magazine, plugged.
Not required for crow and special September resident goose season. It is illegal to possess any rounds containing lead while hunting waterfowl, ducks, and geese.
Baiting is prohibited.
No electronic calls except for crow and special resident goose season.
It is illegal to hunt from a boat or canoe before all movement from mechanical power has stopped. Does not apply to dispatching a crippled waterfowl in the sea duck hunting area.

Moose

Only persons chosen in the moose lottery, possessing a valid hunting license and a valid moose permit or sub-permittee moose permit, may participate in the annual moose hunt.

Turkey

A turkey permit is required regardless of the age of the hunter.
They must have a hunting or archery license if 16 years or older.
It must be tagged immediately upon killing.
A turkey must be registered within 24 hours of taking a fully feathered, intact carcass.

Spring Turkey Season

One or two bearded or male turkeys per hunter.
The first spring turkey shall be legally registered before the second spring turkey can be taken.
Archery, crossbow, or shotgun allowed.
20 through 10-gauge, number 4 shot or smaller hunting loads.
.410, .28-gauge, number 7 through 9.5 shot with special TSS loads only.
Hunting hours are half an hour before sunrise to noon.

Fall Turkey Season

Turkeys may be taken by archery, one turkey, either sex.
Shotgun, one turkey, either sex.
Tagged with a fall shotgun tag.
Shotgun season restricted to specific wildlife management units.
If harvesting two in the spring, no fall turkeys may be taken.
It is unlawful to take a turkey with a rifle or live decoys, electronic calling devices, or cooperative drives.
You cannot shoot a turkey while it's in a tree.
You cannot bait for turkeys.
No person shall take a turkey by reaping or fanning.
- "Reaping" is defined as a practice of stalking or approaching a turkey while holding, wearing, or using a real or artificial turkey fan as camouflage.
- "Fanning" is defined as a practice of staying in a stationary position while holding, wearing, or using a real or artificial turkey fan as camouflage to entice a turkey to approach the hunter's position.
A person who has taken a turkey may assist another properly licensed turkey hunter by calling only. The person assisting by calling may not possess a firearm, crossbow, or bow and arrow.

Pheasant

In order to hunt pheasant, a license is required for anyone 16 or older.
The bag limits are two per day or 10 per season.
Stocking sites closed statewide until 2:00 p.m. during stocking days. Dates listed on the New Hampshire Fish and Game website. Subject to change, check current New Hampshire Hunting Digest.

Unlawful Behavior

It is unlawful to negligently kill, wound, or abandon another human being while hunting.
It is unlawful to negligently discharge a firearm.
It is unlawful to cause death, injury, or damage to domestic animals or property while hunting.
It is unlawful to illuminate animals from September 1 to December 31.
Possession of a firearm, air rifle with ammunition, bow and arrow, or crossbow and bolt while attempting to locate or illuminate wild animals at night at any time of the year is a misdemeanor.
It is unlawful to hunt from inside or upon any type of motorized vehicle, including aircraft, motor vehicle, snowmobile, or OHRV.
It is unlawful to hunt from a boat or a canoe before all movement from mechanical power has stopped.
No person shall have or carry in or on a motor vehicle, OHRV, snowmobile, or aircraft while moving a cocked crossbow, a loaded rifle, or a loaded shotgun, or loaded muzzleloader, or a loaded air rifle.
A firearm is considered loaded when there is around or projectile in the chamber—fully dischargeable by pulling the trigger.
A muzzleloader is considered unloaded if the ignition source is removed from the firearm.
It is unlawful to enter posted land without permission of the owner or fail to leave when requested.
It is unlawful to willfully tear down; obstruct; or leave open any fence, gate, or bar belonging to or enclosing land of another person.
It is unlawful to remove or deface any posted sign or property.
It is unlawful to litter on any public or private property.
It is unlawful to hunt with a fully automatic firearm.
It is unlawful to hunt with a semi-automatic rifle holding more than six rounds total.
It is unlawful to use full jacketed metal cased bullets.
It is unlawful to buy; sell; or offer for sale deer, bear, moose, or any part thereof other than the head, the hide, or the feet.
It is unlawful to possess a deer, bear, moose, or turkey that hasn't been properly tagged.
It is unlawful to assist another in taking a deer or a bear after you've taken one unless you possess a valid unused tag or assisting a youth under the age of 16 or an apprentice hunter.
It is unlawful to tag, steal, take, or carry away a deer or a bear belonging to another person.
It is unlawful to use an unmanned aerial vehicle, a drone, to attempt to locate, surveil, aid, or assist in the taking of wildlife.

Game Cameras

Hunters are required to have written or verbal landowner permission to place game cameras on their property.
State and municipal lands are exempt.
Permissions granted expire December 31 of each year unless extended or revoked by the landowner.
All cameras must be labeled with the name and contact information of the camera owner in a manner that is visible while mounted.
No person shall take or attempt to take a game animal or furbearing animal within the same calendar day of remotely viewing an image or video of that animal from a game camera in that area.

Operation Game Thief

Operation Game Thief is a program where you can anonymously report wildlife law violations.

On Screen: 24-Hour Hotline, 1-800-344-4262
Report online at huntnh.com/OGT

OHRV

Written permission required if riding off your own property unless riding on state-designated trails. OHRVs must be registered if riding off your own property at any time.

On Screen: Contact a conservation officer at (603) 271-3361.

Unit 3 of 9
Topic 2 of 4
Page 4 of 5

Previous Next Back to the Study Guide Index