September 1 to November 30: New Hampshire Bear Season Dates by Unit
November 6, 2026
Bear hunting season in New Hampshire 2026 opened September 1, and the closing date depends entirely on the Wildlife Management Unit (WMU) you hunt. Some units close November 10, others run through November 30. Pick the wrong unit and you could be done three weeks early.
This guide gives you the dates, methods, license rules, and check-in steps in a quick-reference format. For the final word, the state’s Fish and Game dates and seasons page and the annual Hunting and Trapping Digest control.
Bear Hunting Season Dates in New Hampshire 2026
New Hampshire runs three bear seasons: general (stalking), dog, and baiting. Hunters can take advantage of stalking (“general”), dog season, and baiting season. The season officially opened on September 1, 2026.
According to eRegulations (last updated August 27, 2026), the 2026 dates break down like this:
| Season | Dates | WMUs |
|---|---|---|
| General | Sept. 1 to Nov. 10 | A, B, C2, D1, H1, I2 |
| General | Sept. 1 to Nov. 30 | C1, D2, E, F, G, I1, J1, J2, L, M, H2, K |
| Baiting | Sept. 1 to Sept. 28 | A, B, C2, D1, H1, H2, I2, K, L, M |
| Baiting | Sept. 1 to Oct. 5 | C1, D2, E, F, G, I1, J1, J2 |
| Dog | Sept. 21 to Nov. 10 | A, B, C1, C2, D1, D2, E, F, G, H1, I1, I2, J1, J2 |
| Dog | Closed | H2, K, L, M |
The Department confirmed that established season dates and methods of take remain the same this year.
Bear Season by Weapon and Method in New Hampshire: Archery, Muzzleloader and Firearm
New Hampshire sets bear seasons by method (stalking, dogs, bait) rather than by weapon. You do not get a separate archery-only or muzzleloader-only bear season. A hunter with legal equipment can take a bear in any open period for the unit they are in.
- General season: Stalk or still-hunt Sept. 1 through Nov. 10 or Nov. 30, depending on WMU.
- Baiting season: Sept. 1 to Sept. 28 or Oct. 5, depending on WMU.
- Dog season: Sept. 21 to Nov. 10 in the open units.
Pro Tip: Baiting ends first and dogs open later, so the first three weeks of September belong to stalkers and baiters. Plan your method around the calendar, not the other way around.
Spring Bear Season in New Hampshire
New Hampshire has no spring bear season. The only bear seasons listed by the state are the fall general, baiting, and dog seasons, all of which start September 1 or later.
If you are looking for spring hunting, that is turkey season. Our New Hampshire turkey hunting season guide covers those dates.
Bear Hunting Zones, Units and Management Areas in New Hampshire
New Hampshire manages bears by Wildlife Management Unit, labeled with letters (A, B, C1, C2, D1, D2, E, F, G, H1, H2, I1, I2, J1, J2, K, L, M). Bears are found statewide, with the highest densities in central New Hampshire and the White Mountains.
Your WMU controls three things: when general season ends, when baiting ends, and whether dog hunting is open. Units H2, K, L, and M are closed to dog hunting, and H2 and K also run the longer general season. Fish and Game publishes interactive WMU maps on its website, so check your hunting spot against the map before you head out.
Bear Hunting License, Tag and Permit Requirements in New Hampshire
You need two things to hunt bears: a base hunting license and a bear license with a valid tag. Adults age 16 and older must hold a valid Regular N.H. Hunting, Combination, or Archery License, and a Bear License and valid tag.
Youth hunters follow a lighter rule. Those under 16 do not need the base license, but they do need a Bear License and valid tag. Fish and Game adds that youth must be accompanied by a licensed hunter age 18 or older.
Baiting and hound hunting each need their own permit on top of your license. Details are in the baiting and hound sections below. Buy licenses and tags through the Fish and Game bear hunting page.
Bear Permit Draws and Lotteries in New Hampshire
There is no draw or lottery for black bear in New Hampshire. Any licensed hunter can buy a bear license and tag over the counter. The state’s moose hunt, by contrast, is permit-only (October 17 to 25, 2026).
The one bear item with a limited feel is the additional tag, which is sold to hunters in four specific units. That is covered under the bag limit section.
Nonresident Bear Hunting in New Hampshire
Nonresidents can hunt bears in New Hampshire with the same two-part setup: a nonresident hunting license plus a bear license and tag. No special nonresident draw applies.
Nonresident fees are higher than resident fees. Use the Fish and Game licensing page for the current price before you travel. If you plan to hunt with dogs, remember that a permit is needed and the application goes to the Wildlife Division in Concord.
Nonresidents hunting on the White Mountain National Forest should also read the baiting section, since bait applications for that land go through a separate office.
Bear Bag Limit and Harvest Quota in New Hampshire
The statewide limit is one bear per hunter. The state does, however, offer a second bear in a small part of the state. An additional bear, with the purchase of an additional bear tag, may be taken in WMUs C1, D2, E, or F, and the first bear must be registered before taking an additional bear.
New Hampshire does not use a harvest quota that closes the season early. Dates are fixed by unit.
Key Insight: The second-bear tag only works in C1, D2, E, and F. Register your first bear, then take the second in one of those four units.
Baiting Rules for Bear Hunting in New Hampshire
Baiting is a legal, permit-based season. To bait on private land, a Permit to Bait Wildlife and a map of the bait site must be received by the Wildlife Division, or postmarked, by the first Monday in August. That deadline has already passed for 2026, so plan for next year if you missed it.
Applications for state-owned and managed lands and the White Mountain National Forest go to the Law Enforcement Division instead.
Chocolate is off the table for bait, with white chocolate the lone exception. Baiting season closes Sept. 28 or Oct. 5 depending on your unit, so check the table above.
Hunting Bears with Hounds in New Hampshire
Dog season runs Sept. 21 to Nov. 10 in every unit except H2, K, L, and M, where it is closed. A permit is required before you take a bear with dogs. Hunters who take a bear with dogs must present the permit at registration.
Apply to the Wildlife Division at Fish and Game headquarters, 11 Hazen Drive, Concord. Bring the permit with the bear every time you register.
Legal Weapons and Methods for Bear Hunting in New Hampshire
Legal methods are stalking, baiting (with permit), and hunting with dogs (with permit). Your weapon must meet the state’s rules for big game, which are spelled out in the Hunting and Trapping Digest.
Sale and handling rules matter too. New Hampshire allows the sale of bear paws, though not organs. Read the Digest on any other restriction before you hunt.
Legal Bears and Protected Bears in New Hampshire
All black bears are legal game during the open seasons, but the state asks hunters to pass on family groups. Hunters are asked to refrain from shooting females with cubs, as females and cubs stay together for about 18 months.
This is a request, not a ban, but it protects the population. Being more conservative in your harvest may significantly decrease cub orphaning.
Youth and Special Bear Hunts in New Hampshire
Youth under 16 do not need a base hunting license, only a bear license and tag, and an adult 18 or older must go along. Apprentice licenses also exist for new hunters. They are open to people age 16 and older who have not taken Hunter Education.
Apprentice licenses are sold only at Fish and Game headquarters in Concord. There is no separate youth-only bear weekend listed for 2026.
Where to Hunt Bear in New Hampshire: Public and Private Land
Bears live statewide, but the best odds are in central New Hampshire and the White Mountains. The state’s default rule is that land is open to hunting unless posted otherwise, though always confirm local ordinances and landowner wishes.
State forests and Fish and Game wildlife management areas are open to hunting. Baiting on state land and the White Mountain National Forest requires an application through the Law Enforcement Division. For other game in the same woods, see our New Hampshire deer season guide.
Best Time to Hunt Bear in New Hampshire
Early September is the baiting window and the best time for most hunters to see active, feeding bears. Baiting ends Sept. 28 or Oct. 5, so that is your clock if you plan to sit over bait.
Dog season opens Sept. 21, which gives houndsmen a long run through Nov. 10. Stalkers in the longer units (C1, D2, E, F, G, I1, J1, J2, L, M, H2, K) have until Nov. 30, but bears typically slow down as cold arrives.
Bear Hunting Hours, Sunday Hunting and Blaze Orange in New Hampshire
Check the sunrise and sunset table in the Digest for legal shooting hours, since they shift through the fall. Sunday hunting is generally allowed in New Hampshire during open seasons, but confirm the details in the Digest.
Blaze orange rules apply during the firearms deer season and overlap with bear hunting in November. Wear it if your bear hunt runs alongside other firearms seasons. The eRegulations bear page links to the full requirements.
Tagging, Check-In and Reporting a Bear in New Hampshire
Every bear must be registered. Harvested bears must be registered within 24 hours in person at a bear registration station, by a Conservation Officer, or by regional biological staff.
Fish and Game says bears can be registered at one of fifteen participating registration stations, or with a Conservation Officer. Regional offices also register bears, but call ahead to confirm staff are available. Regional office hours are 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
- Tag the bear immediately after the kill.
- Bring the bear (and any dog permit) to a station, CO, or regional office within 24 hours.
- Alternatively, notify a CO electronically through the state’s bear hunting page.
- Register your first bear before taking a second one in C1, D2, E, or F.
Bear Hunting Season in New Hampshire 2026: Frequently Asked Questions
When does bear season start in New Hampshire?
September 1, 2026. End dates vary by unit: November 10 or November 30 for general season.
Can I bait bears in New Hampshire?
Yes, with a Permit to Bait Wildlife. The private-land deadline was the first Monday in August.
How many bears can I take?
One statewide. A second bear is allowed in WMUs C1, D2, E, and F with an additional tag.
Do I need a license to hunt bear as a youth?
Youth under 16 need a bear license and tag but not the base hunting license, and must be accompanied by an adult 18 or older.
How fast do I have to register a bear?
Within 24 hours, at a registration station, with a Conservation Officer, or at a regional office.
Is there a spring bear season?
No. New Hampshire bear hunting is fall only.