Turkey Hunting Season in New Hampshire: Dates, Zones, and Rules You Need to Know
April 19, 2026
Wild turkeys in New Hampshire are a genuine wildlife success story, and today the Granite State offers some of the most accessible turkey hunting in the Northeast. The highest concentration of turkeys is in the Connecticut River Valley — though they are well distributed throughout the state, and their clucks, purrs, and gobbles may be heard just about anywhere. Whether you’re chasing spring gobblers or targeting fall flocks, knowing the exact rules before you head afield is what separates a clean, legal hunt from a costly mistake.
This guide walks you through everything you need to know about the turkey hunting season in New Hampshire — from season dates and Wildlife Management Unit (WMU) restrictions to license requirements, legal equipment, youth opportunities, and harvest reporting obligations. Always verify current rules with the NH Fish and Game Department before the season opens, as dates and zone restrictions can change year to year.
Spring Turkey Season Dates and Zones in New Hampshire
The Granite State’s spring turkey season opens on May 1 and runs through May 31. This statewide season is open to all hunters who hold the proper licenses, and it applies across all Wildlife Management Units unless otherwise noted in the current digest.
If you want to take two birds during the spring season, zone restrictions come into play. One of the spring turkeys may be taken statewide, but the other spring turkey shall only be taken in WMUs H1, H2, J2, K, L, or M. A hunter may not take two spring birds in WMUs A–G, I2, or J1. This means that if you harvest your first bird in a southern or central WMU, you’ll need to travel to one of the designated northern or western units to fill your second tag.
Pro Tip: You must register your first spring turkey before you can legally pursue a second bird. The first spring turkey shall be legally registered before the second spring turkey can be taken.
Spring game hours begin half an hour before sunrise and end at noon. That midday cutoff is a firm rule during the spring season — plan your hunts accordingly and be off the field by 12:00 PM. For a detailed breakdown of WMU boundaries and maps, consult the eRegulations turkey season chart.
Important Note: Starting in spring 2026, WMU I1 will be removed from the list of units where a second bird may be taken during the spring season. If you’re planning a multi-bird spring hunt, double-check which WMUs are eligible for the season you’re hunting.
Fall Turkey Season Dates and Zones in New Hampshire
New Hampshire’s fall turkey season runs on two separate tracks — an archery season and a shotgun season — each with its own dates and zone eligibility.
Fall Archery Season: New Hampshire offers a statewide fall archery season for wild turkey from September 15 through December 15 in WMUs B through M, ending December 8 in WMU A. This long archery window gives bowhunters a significant opportunity to pursue fall birds across nearly the entire state.
Fall Shotgun Season: The New Hampshire Fish and Game Department’s 7-day fall turkey shotgun season opens on October 13 and runs through October 19, 2025. Not all WMUs are open for shotgun hunting during the fall. Eight of New Hampshire’s Wildlife Management Units are open for the fall shotgun season, including D2, H1, H2, I1, J2, K, L, and M.
Important Note: Starting in fall 2025, the fall shotgun season for turkey in WMUs G and I2 will be closed. If you previously hunted those units during the shotgun season, make sure to adjust your plans.
| Season | Dates (2025–2026) | Open WMUs |
|---|---|---|
| Spring | May 1 – May 31 | Statewide (second bird: H1, H2, J2, K, L, M only) |
| Fall Archery | Sept. 15 – Dec. 15 (Dec. 8 in WMU A) | WMUs A–M (statewide) |
| Fall Shotgun | Oct. 13 – Oct. 19, 2025 | D2, H1, H2, I1, J2, K, L, M |
| Spring Youth Weekend | April 25–26, 2026 | Statewide |
Shooting hours for the fall season begin one-half hour before sunrise and end one-half hour after sunset. This is a broader window than the spring season, so you have more flexibility in the field during fall hunts. If you’re also interested in how neighboring states structure their fall seasons, see how turkey hunting season in Maine compares.
Bag Limits and Sex Restrictions in New Hampshire
Understanding New Hampshire’s bag limit structure is critical because your spring harvest directly affects what you can take in the fall. Each Turkey License comes with two tags which may be used in any order and allow the take of two turkeys per year. Turkey hunters may take one bearded or male turkey during the spring season and a second turkey of either sex during the fall.
Alternatively, you can use both tags in the spring. Hunters may take two male or bearded turkeys during the spring season. However, if you choose that route, your fall hunting opportunity is gone. Hunters who harvest one bird in the spring may harvest one bird during either the fall archery or fall shotgun season. Hunters who harvest two birds in the spring forfeit their opportunity to harvest a fall bird.
Key Insight: The fall season bag limit is one turkey of either sex. This means you can take a hen during the fall — something not permitted during the spring season, which is restricted to bearded or male birds only.
Here’s a quick summary of how the combined bag limits work:
- Spring only (one bird): 1 bearded or male turkey — statewide
- Spring only (two birds): 2 bearded or male turkeys — second bird restricted to WMUs H1, H2, J2, K, L, or M
- Spring + Fall: 1 spring bird (bearded/male) + 1 fall bird (either sex)
- Fall only (no spring harvest): 1 turkey of either sex
Hunters pursuing turkeys in other states with similar two-tag systems may want to compare rules — for instance, see the turkey hunting season in Kentucky or the turkey hunting season in Iowa for context on how other states structure their limits.
License, Permit, and Tag Requirements in New Hampshire
Turkey hunting in New Hampshire requires specific licenses depending on your age and residency. Getting this right before you head out is non-negotiable.
A current NH Turkey license, valid for both the spring and fall seasons, is required for all ages. Hunters age 16 and older must also have a current NH Hunting, Combination, or Archery license. Note that a Small Game License is not sufficient — a Small Game License does not allow for the hunting of turkeys.
Youth hunters under 16 years of age do not need a Hunting, Combination, or Archery license, but they do need a turkey license. This makes turkey hunting relatively accessible for younger hunters from a cost standpoint.
License Fees: The Wild Turkey Permit (which includes spring and fall) costs $16.00 for residents and $31.00 for non-residents. 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.
| License/Permit | Resident Fee | Non-Resident Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Standard Hunting License | $32.00 | $113.00 |
| Wild Turkey Permit (spring + fall) | $16.00 | $31.00 |
| Wildlife Habitat Fee (mandatory) | $2.50 | $2.50 |
New Hampshire hunting licenses can be purchased online at nhfishandgame.com, from one of the friendly license agents statewide (listed at huntnh.com/agents), or in person or by mail at Fish and Game Headquarters, 11 Hazen Drive, Concord, NH 03301. The signed license must be carried on your person when hunting.
Important Note: A Hunter Education Certificate is mandatory for first-time hunters or those born on or after January 1, 1967. All hunters must pass a hunter education course before getting a New Hampshire hunting license. You can take the course online or in person, but you’ll also need an in-person field day to complete the hunter education requirements.
For comparison on how licensing structures work in nearby states, check out the turkey hunting season in Indiana or the turkey hunting season in Illinois.
Legal Hunting Methods and Equipment in New Hampshire
New Hampshire has clear rules about what you can and cannot use when hunting turkeys. Knowing the prohibited methods is just as important as knowing the permitted ones.
Prohibited Methods: It is unlawful to take a turkey with a rifle, air rifle, dogs, electronic calling devices, live decoys, by fanning or reaping, or while it is perched in a tree. There is one exception to the dog rule: dogs are allowed during the NH fall turkey season only to facilitate the hunter in breaking up the flocks.
Fanning and reaping are specifically defined and banned. Reaping is defined as the practice of stalking or approaching a turkey while holding, wearing, or using a real or artificial turkey fan as camouflage. Fanning is defined as the 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.
Archery Equipment Rules:
- If using a bow, it must be at least a 30-pound-pull bow.
- The name and address of the archer shall be plainly printed on each arrow.
- Fixed blade broadheads shall not be less than 7/8 inch wide. Retractable blade broadheads may be smaller than 7/8 inch wide in flight, but not less than 7/8 inch wide when open.
- Crossbows are permitted during both spring and fall seasons.
Shotgun Requirements: Shotguns must be between 10 and 20 gauge inclusively, with shot size of #4 and smaller, in hunting rather than target loads. The 28 gauge and .410 can only be used with shot sizes #7 through #9 and a minimum shot density of 18 grams per cubic centimeter (G/CC), and a minimum barrel length of 18 inches.
Pro Tip: A person who has taken a turkey may assist another properly licensed turkey hunter by calling only. The person assisting by calling shall not possess a bow and arrow, crossbow, or firearm (other than a pistol or revolver). This is a helpful rule to know if you’re hunting with a partner after you’ve already filled your tag.
If you’re curious how equipment rules differ in other states, the turkey hunting season in Kansas and the turkey hunting season in Idaho offer useful comparisons on legal methods.
Youth and Apprentice Turkey Hunting in New Hampshire
New Hampshire actively encourages new hunters — both young people and first-time adult hunters — to participate in turkey season through dedicated programs.
Youth Turkey Weekend: The Granite State’s spring turkey season opens on May 1 and runs through May 31. The annual youth turkey hunt takes place the preceding weekend — Saturday, April 26, and Sunday, April 27 (for 2026). To participate in the youth weekend, hunters must be age 15 or younger and be accompanied by a properly licensed adult age 18 or older.
The mentoring adult may not carry a firearm or bow. This is an important safety and regulatory point — the adult is there to supervise and mentor, not to hunt. Youth hunters do not need a hunting license, but they must have a valid turkey permit, which is $16 for residents and $31 for nonresidents. Accompanying adults must hold either a current New Hampshire hunting or archery license and a turkey permit.
Key Insight: During the 2024 youth weekend, young hunters took 422 turkeys, or 9.3% of the total spring harvest. The youth weekend is a meaningful part of New Hampshire’s turkey hunting culture — not just a token event.
One or two turkeys may also be taken during the youth weekend; however, all spring season registration and WMU regulations apply. Youth hunters are bound by the same bag limits and zone restrictions as adult hunters.
Apprentice Hunting License: People who would like to try hunting turkeys and were unable to complete Hunter Education should consider the Apprentice Hunting License. This license allows those age 16 and older interested in trying hunting to do so under the guidance of an experienced hunter without first taking Hunter Education. NH Apprentice Hunting Licenses are available at the same price as a regular hunting license.
The apprentice program is a great entry point if you’re introducing a friend or family member to turkey hunting. You can learn more at wildlife.nh.gov or by calling (603) 271-3422. For more on how other states handle youth hunting programs, see the turkey hunting season in Georgia or the turkey hunting season in Florida.
Harvest Reporting Requirements in New Hampshire
Harvest reporting is mandatory in New Hampshire, and the rules are specific. Failing to comply can result in penalties, so make sure you understand the full process before you pull the trigger.
Immediate Tagging: Upon killing a turkey, the licensed hunter shall fill out the tag with the name and address of the licensee who killed the turkey, the date and time of kill, and the WMU where the turkey was killed; securely attach the tag to the leg of the turkey; and keep the carcass fully feathered and intact, except that the carcass may be eviscerated before completing the registration process.
24-Hour Registration Deadline: Regardless of registration method, the tag that is issued with the hunter’s turkey license must be affixed to the bird, and hunters must register their turkey within 24 hours of harvest.
You have two options for completing registration:
- In-Person (Check Station): New Hampshire Fish and Game works with many registration stations statewide to provide locations for hunters to register their birds. It is recommended that hunters contact their local registration stations to determine their hours of operation.
- Online Registration: If birds are not registered in person, they must be registered online within 24 hours of take. You’ll need a reliable internet connection and basic harvest information ready to complete the process.
Important Note: Each hunter shall maintain proof of completion of the registration process for a minimum of 180 days in the form of the confirmation number from a department registration station, or an electronic or printed copy of the computer screen that acknowledges the filing of the registration survey in the online registration tool. Save your confirmation — don’t delete it after you register.
There are also strict rules about tag possession and transport. You may not attach a turkey tag to a turkey that you did not kill, possess a turkey tag that was not issued to you, or transport a wild turkey unless it is tagged and accompanied by the licensed hunter who took it. If requested, the carcass of the turkey shall be exhibited to a conservation officer for examination to determine the method of kill.
For a full list of check station locations, visit wildlife.nh.gov/hunting-nh/check-stations-registration. Hunters in other states can compare reporting requirements by checking out the turkey hunting season in Indiana or the turkey hunting season in Kansas, where reporting rules differ significantly.
Staying current with the NH Hunting and Trapping Digest is the best way to keep your hunt fully compliant from opening day through the close of fall season. Regulations can shift between years, and the digest — published each August — is your authoritative source for all season-specific rules.