Bow Hunting Laws in New Hampshire: Season Dates, Equipment Rules, and License Requirements

New Hampshire gives bowhunters one of the longest deer seasons on the East Coast, stretching from mid-September through mid-December — but getting every detail right before you step into the woods is non-negotiable. Equipment specs, Wildlife Management Unit (WMU) restrictions, and crossbow eligibility rules all carry legal weight, and violations can cost you your license.

This guide covers everything you need to know about bow hunting laws in New Hampshire, from official season dates and legal gear requirements to license fees and safety zones. All dates and regulations reflect the 2025–2026 season framework as published by the NH Fish and Game Department. Always confirm specifics in the current New Hampshire Hunting and Trapping Digest before you hunt, since rules can change between seasons.

Bow Hunting Season Dates in New Hampshire

New Hampshire’s archery deer season is one of the most generous in the region. The archery season runs September 15 through December 15, with one exception: it closes on December 8 in WMU A. That gives you roughly three months of bow-only opportunity before the firearms season wraps up in early December.

The state divides the hunting calendar into several overlapping seasons, each with its own method and WMU requirements. New Hampshire has a long archery season starting September 15, a muzzleloader season 11 days prior to the firearms season, and a firearms season during the peak of the rut. During the muzzleloader and firearms seasons, bowhunters can still use their archery equipment under specific tag rules — more on that in the license section below.

Turkey archery seasons follow the deer archery calendar closely. Fall archery turkey runs September 15 through December 8 or 15, matching the deer archery dates. The spring turkey season runs May 1 through May 31 statewide. For bear, the bear season opens September 1 with method-specific and zone-specific dates.

Pro Tip: WMU A consistently closes archery seasons one week earlier than the rest of the state. If you hunt near the Connecticut River corridor in the far north, double-check your specific unit before planning your final days afield.

For a broader look at how bow seasons fit within New Hampshire’s full hunting calendar, see our guide to hunting laws in New Hampshire. You can also compare season structures in neighboring states like Vermont or Maine to understand regional patterns.

Legal Bow Types and Equipment Requirements in New Hampshire

New Hampshire law permits the use of traditional straight bows, recurve bows, and compound bows during the archery season. The state sets specific minimum performance standards that your equipment must meet before you take it into the field.

The minimum draw weight for deer is 40 lbs. This applies to all legal bow types. A traditional straight, recurve, or compound bow used for the purpose of a take shall contain no manufactured or accessory device secured to or supported by the bow for the purpose of maintaining the bow at full draw in a firing position. In plain terms, any device that holds the bow at full draw — essentially converting it into a crossbow — is prohibited.

Broadhead requirements are equally specific. Fixed blade broadheads cannot be less than ⅞ inches wide and not more than 1½ inches wide. Retractable blade broadheads are permitted, but cannot be less than ⅞ of an inch wide when open. These rules apply whether you are hunting deer, bear, or turkey.

Archers and crossbow hunters must have their name and address on arrows or bolts. This is a straightforward requirement that many hunters overlook — mark every arrow before the season opens.

Equipment Item	Requirement
Minimum draw weight (deer)	40 lbs
Fixed blade broadhead width	⅞ in. minimum, 1½ in. maximum
Retractable broadhead width (open)	⅞ in. minimum
Arrow/bolt marking	Name and address required
Draw-lock devices	Not permitted on conventional bows

For turkey hunting specifically, hunters may use bows with a draw weight of at least 30 pounds. This is a lower threshold than the deer requirement, so verify which standard applies to your target species before heading out.

Crossbow Rules in New Hampshire

Crossbow eligibility in New Hampshire is one of the most nuanced areas of the state’s bow hunting regulations. Whether you can use a crossbow during archery season depends on your age, your WMU, and whether you hold a disability permit.

It is legal to use a crossbow during the archery season with an archery license if you are 68 years of age or older in all WMUs, or if you are hunting in WMUs D2W, G1, G2, H1, H2, I1, I2, J1, J2, K, L, and M (or are less than 16 years of age accompanied by a licensed archer). This expanded crossbow access in those southern and central WMUs was formalized effective September 1, 2025, per the NH Fish and Game Department.

Outside those designated WMUs — and if you are under 68 — crossbow use during archery season requires a Disabled Crossbow Permit. A crossbow permit may be issued to a person who has a permanent physical disability and as a result of that disability cannot operate a conventional longbow or compound bow safely. Such a permit allows that person to take any species permitted to be taken by bow and arrow, provided the bow and arrow license and all necessary licenses have been acquired each year.

A Disabled Crossbow Permit is permanent and costs $10. No holder of a permanent disabled crossbow permit shall use a conventional longbow, recurve bow, or compound bow while hunting in New Hampshire. You must apply at Fish and Game Headquarters in Concord with a completed physician’s statement.

Important Note: During the muzzleloader and firearms seasons, crossbows are legal for all hunters statewide, regardless of WMU or age. The WMU and age restrictions apply only to the archery-specific season.

Crossbows used for hunting must meet minimum hardware standards. A crossbow shall have a minimum pull of 125 pounds, a working mechanical safety, and a total length no less than 25 inches. Name and address must be plainly marked on crossbow bolts. A crossbow is defined as a device consisting of a rigid stock that permits only a single horizontally mounted bow with transverse limbs, a single string to be fully drawn, loaded with one bolt, maintained indefinitely in a firing position, and mechanically released.

During the muzzleloader season, a crossbow may be used with a muzzleloader license. During the firearm season, a crossbow may be used with a firearm license, and any deer taken shall be tagged with a valid firearms deer tag.

Species You Can Hunt with a Bow in New Hampshire

New Hampshire offers bowhunters a solid lineup of big and small game species. White-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) is the primary target for most archery hunters in the state, with a long season and multiple tag opportunities available through the archery license and special permit system.

Black bear (Ursus americanus) is another legal bow target. Legal methods for bear include firearms bigger than .22 rimfire, a shotgun with a single ball, a muzzleloader .40 caliber or larger, or a bow and arrow or crossbow and bolt, given you meet the archery and crossbow requirements. Crossbows are a legal method of take for bear season. A separate bear license with a valid tag is required for adults.

Wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) can be taken by bow during both the fall archery season and the spring season. Crossbows are a legal method of take for turkeys. There is a bag limit of two turkeys per year in the fall and spring seasons combined. Note that it is not permitted to take a turkey using a rifle, air rifle, dogs, live decoys, or electronic calling devices, and it is not permitted to take a turkey that is perched in a tree.

Moose (Alces alces) can also be taken by bow, but only by permit. Crossbows are a legal method of take for moose season. Moose permits are awarded through a lottery system run by the NH Fish and Game Department — a standard hunting or archery license alone does not authorize moose hunting.

• White-tailed deer — archery license required; antlerless permits available for select WMUs
• Black bear — bear license and valid tag required; bow and crossbow both legal
• Wild turkey — turkey license with two tags; bow and crossbow both legal
• Moose — lottery permit required; bow and crossbow both legal for permit holders
• Small game (rabbits, grouse, squirrels) — standard hunting license; bow is a legal method

For more detail on turkey-specific regulations, see our article on turkey hunting season in New Hampshire. If you hunt in other states, our guides on hunting laws in Virginia and hunting laws in Tennessee cover comparable bow seasons in the region.

License and Tag Requirements for Bow Hunters in New Hampshire

Every bowhunter age 16 and older must hold a valid archery license. Hunting licenses are required for persons 16 years of age and older. Some licenses and permits are required for all ages. Hunters under 16 do not need a general hunting license but must still purchase species-specific permits for deer archery, turkey, and bear.

As of the 2026 license year, resident hunters pay $32.00 for a standard hunting license, while non-residents pay $113.00, with additional species-specific permits and a mandatory $2.50 Wildlife Habitat Fee required annually. The archery license is a separate purchase on top of the standard hunting license for those who want to participate in the archery-specific season.

Hunting licenses, valid January 1 to December 31 of each year, may be purchased online via huntnh.com, from license agents, Fish and Game Department Headquarters in Concord, and Fish and Game Region 1, 2, and 4 offices.

The archery license structure for deer offers several tag options:

• An archery license allows the taking of one deer of either sex using a bow and arrow during the archery deer season.
• A Special Archery Deer Permit allows the taking of an additional antlered deer using bow and arrow during the archery season. A crossbow may also be used in WMUs D2W, G1, G2, H1, H2, I1, I2, J1, J2, K, L, and M. Each hunter is limited to one of these permits, and archery hunters may only buy this permit when purchasing their regular archery license.
• It is legal to hunt deer with bow and arrow while using the firearms deer tag during the firearms deer season under a Regular Hunting License and in compliance with WMU restrictions.

You may carry a handgun while bowhunting, but it is not legal to use a handgun to assist in the taking of an archery-tagged deer. Deer must be registered online within 24 hours of harvest through the Fish and Game system.

Pro Tip: First-time license buyers must purchase in person at a traditional license agent — not online and not at Walmart. Bring your hunter education certificate or a previous license from any state to complete the transaction.

Bowhunters in other states with comparable multi-license systems may find it useful to compare approaches. See our guides to hunting laws in Ohio, hunting laws in Indiana, and hunting laws in Minnesota for regional context.

Bowhunter Education Requirements in New Hampshire

New Hampshire requires every first-time license applicant to demonstrate prior hunting or archery education before a license is issued. Anyone applying to hunt with a firearm or bow must present a previous hunting or archery license or a Certificate of Completion from an approved Hunter or Bowhunter Education course from any year, any state.

Hunter Education courses in New Hampshire cover both firearms and archery. Successful completion of either the classroom-based course or the online course with a field day allows you to purchase both a firearms and archery hunting license. One important caveat: online-only courses are not accepted in NH. You must complete an in-person field day to satisfy the requirement.

Successful completion of a Hunter Education course is required for New Hampshire hunters age 16 and older who haven’t previously held a hunting license. In a Hunter Education course, you’ll learn about firearms and archery safety and handling, outdoor safety and survival skills, NH hunting laws, your responsibilities as a hunter, and more.

Youth hunters have different rules. Hunter education is not required for youth hunters under the age of 16. Youth hunters may hunt during all regular hunting seasons when accompanied directly by a properly licensed adult hunter who is at least 18 years of age. That said, it is strongly recommended that youth ages 12–15 take their hunter education certification so that when they turn 16 they will have fulfilled the required hunter education to apply for their first hunting license.

An Apprentice License is available for adults who want to hunt before completing their education. New hunters can get an Apprentice License that lets them hunt for a year with an experienced adult before taking hunter education. New Hampshire’s Apprentice License gives you a year to hunt with a licensed adult before taking the course.

The NH Fish and Game Hunter Education page lists current course schedules and registration options. New Hampshire also operates the Owl Brook Hunter Education Center in Holderness, which offers hands-on archery and shooting sports instruction.

Land and Safety Restrictions for Bow Hunting in New Hampshire

New Hampshire law sets firm boundaries on where you can shoot a bow, regardless of whether you are on public or private land. It is illegal to discharge a firearm or shoot a bow and arrow or crossbow while hunting within 300 feet of a permanently occupied dwelling without permission from the occupant, or within 300 feet of any school, medical building, commercial building, or outdoor public gathering place.

Hunting hours are also fixed by law. You can only hunt 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset. Even having a loaded gun in a hunting area outside of these times can lead to fines. The same timing rule applies to bowhunting.

Blaze orange is required during certain seasons. If you are hunting with a firearm or bow during any hunting season, you should wear a hat, vest, or other garment made of hunter-orange color material, visible from all sides at a minimum distance of 200 feet. This requirement applies even during archery-only seasons when other hunters using firearms may be in the field.

Access to land follows a straightforward framework. Nearly all state parks and state forests are open to hunting. Fish and Game Department lands are open to hunting. On private land, you may hunt posted land only with verbal or written permission from the landowner. Unposted private land is generally accessible without explicit permission, but always verify current local ordinances.

Tree stands and game cameras carry their own restrictions. From 2024, game cameras require written authorization from landowners and cannot be used to hunt the same day. Tree stands and blinds need written approval and must display owner details.

Several prohibited hunting methods apply to all seasons, including archery. Prohibited methods include drones, smart rifles, and live-action game cameras. Using any of these tools — even for scouting — during an active hunt is a violation.

Important Note: Some New Hampshire towns have special firearms restrictions that effectively make them bow-only zones for deer. Check page 22 of the current NH Hunting and Trapping Digest or the NH deer hunting regulations page for a complete list of towns with special rules before you plan your hunt.

For more on how New Hampshire regulates wildlife and outdoor activities beyond hunting, explore our related guides: roadkill laws in New Hampshire, coyote hunting laws in Pennsylvania, and hunting regulations in states like Montana, Kansas, and South Carolina for broader regional comparisons.

New Hampshire’s bow hunting framework rewards hunters who do their homework. The season is long, the species list is solid, and the crossbow rules have expanded access for more hunters — but the WMU-specific details and equipment standards leave no room for guesswork. Verify your unit’s rules each season through the official NH Fish and Game dates and seasons page and carry the current digest with you in the field.