New Hampshire Deer Forecast: Whitetail Hunting on the Upswing

This whitetail hunting forecast for the state of New Hampshire is part of Game & Fish’s “Great States" project identifying the best deer-hunting states in the country. Read more: America's Top Whitetail States

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Historical Harvest Increases

New Hampshire deer hunting has been on an upswing, as deer harvest numbers have been among the best in state history.

Last year, hunters harvested 13,136 deer, which despite being a seven-percent decrease from the previous year, was the fifth-largest harvest in the state since 1922. New Hampshire hunters killed 14,082 deer in 2022-23.

New Hampshire’s whitetail population has averaged 109,000 the past five years, with an average annual harvest of 13,024 deer.

Last year’s harvest of antlered males (age 1.5 years-plus) was 8,295, the second highest in state history.

DID YOU KNOW?

BEST WHITETAIL SEASON

The best deer harvest in New Hampshire history, according to state data, was 14,204 deer in 1967. Learn more

Here are the 2024 deer hunting season dates in New Hampshire: Archery, Sept. 15–Dec. 15 (ends Dec. 8 in WMU A); Muzzleloader, Nov. 2–12; Firearms, Nov. 13–Dec. 8 (ends Dec. 1 in WMU A); Youth Deer Weekend:, Oct. 26–27.

Greater than half of adult males taken in New Hampshire in 2023 were 2.5 years old or older. The distribution of older antlered bucks at biological check stations was 29.3 percent at 2.5 years old, 19.6 percent at 3.5 years, 6.1 percent at 4.5 years, and 4.3 percent at 5.5 or more years old. Mature bucks at 4.5 years old averaged 171 pounds dressed weight with an average of 9.1 antler points, while bucks 5.5 or more years old averaged 192.3 pounds and 8.8 points.

Get more info: Detailed information on hunting seasons and rules can be found here.

IT’S A FACT

WEIGHTY WHITETAILS

New Hampshire’s Trophy Deer Program recognizes big bucks based on field-dressed weight. The tops in history is a 289-pounder killed by Arnold Girroir in Coos County.

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• Coming October 24: The annual Regional Rut Update begins weekly expert reports on whitetail activity from the woods near year. Sign up for the newsletter.

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