Calculator Learn
Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming
Privacy About
New Hampshire Hunting License

New Hampshire Hunting License Cost 2026

NH resident and non-resident fees, deer tags, turkey permits — plus a calculator for your full season total.

New Hampshire Hunting Overview

New Hampshire offers an affordable, bundled hunting license with deer access included and a long archery season stretching from September through December — one of the longer bow windows in New England. The New Hampshire Fish and Game Department manages Wildlife Management Units with their own antlerless deer permit lottery, with southern units near the Massachusetts border generally offering more opportunity. Understanding New Hampshire's zone-based antlerless system and regional fee positioning alongside Vermont and Maine helps hunters plan an efficient New England season.

NH Hunting License Fees at a Glance

Resident Annual
$32.00
Base license
Non-Resident Annual
$113.00
Base license
Deer Tag
Included
No extra charge

Fees are approximate 2025–2026 rates. Verify at NH Fish & Game.

NH Hunting Cost Calculator

Select your residency and the tags you need. Your estimated total updates instantly.

$32.00
+$15.00
+$27.00
Estimated Season Total
$32.00
Buy NH License →

Complete New Hampshire Hunting License Fee Schedule

License / TagResidentNon-ResidentNotes
Annual Hunting License$32.00$113.00Base license
Deer TagIncludedIncludedNo separate purchase
Spring Turkey Tag$15.00$15.00Per tag
Archery EndorsementIncludedIncludedNo separate purchase
Federal Duck Stamp$27.00$27.00Required for waterfowl
Senior Resident68+ free—Verify at NH Fish & Game
YouthUnder 16 free—Junior hunting license
Active Duty MilitaryActive duty free—With military ID

New Hampshire Hunting License Fees — What You're Actually Paying For

New Hampshire's $32.00 resident license bundles deer access at no extra tag cost, similar to Vermont and Maine's regional approach. New Hampshire's $113.00 non-resident fee sits between Vermont's $102 and Maine's $115, all three New England states clustering tightly in price for out-of-state hunters comparing the region.

New Hampshire's archery season is one of the longer windows in New England, running September through December — roughly four months — giving bowhunters extended access compared to the shorter firearm season that follows in November and December.

Turkey hunting costs $15 in New Hampshire, moderate compared to Maine's pricier $26 tag just across the state line. Archery is included in the base license with no separate endorsement fee, keeping New Hampshire's overall fee structure simple and predictable for hunters pursuing both deer and turkey in the same season.

New Hampshire's Wildlife Management Units each set their own antlerless deer permit allocation via lottery, with southern units near the Massachusetts border generally offering more antlerless opportunity than the more sparsely populated northern White Mountains units.

New Hampshire vs. Nearby States: Hunting License Cost Comparison

Here's how New Hampshire's resident and non-resident hunting license fees stack up against nearby or commonly compared states.

StateResidentNon-Resident
New Hampshire (this page)$32.00$113.00
Vermont$28.00$102.00
Maine$26.00$115.00
Massachusetts$40.00$112.00
New Hampshire vs. Nearby States — Resident vs. Non-Resident ($) Resident Non-Resident New Hampshire (this state) $32.00 $113.00 Vermont $28.00 $102.00 Maine $26.00 $115.00 Massachusetts $40.00 $112.00
Chart: annual base license fees, resident vs. non-resident. Source: state wildlife agency sites, verified July 2026.

How to Buy a New Hampshire Hunting License

New Hampshire hunting licenses are sold online through the Fish and Game licensing system, by phone, or at license agents statewide. Online purchases generate an instant digital license. Since deer and archery are bundled into the base license, most New Hampshire hunters only need to add the $15 turkey tag if pursuing that species — a straightforward purchase process compared to neighboring states with more stacked fees.

Buying a NH License, Step by Step

1. Go to the NH Fish & Game online licensing portal (or call/visit an agent in person).
2. Select residency status and the license type — base license, plus any required deer, turkey, or archery add-ons.
3. Enter hunter education certification details if this is your first license, or your existing customer ID if you've bought one before.
4. Pay online for an instant digital license, or complete the purchase in person.
5. Print or save your license and any tags to your phone, and review current season dates for your specific zone or unit before heading out.

New Hampshire Residency Rules & License Exemptions

New Hampshire requires residents to have lived in the state for at least 30 days immediately before applying, with a New Hampshire driver's license or state ID as proof, and extends resident rates to active-duty military stationed in New Hampshire. Residents 68 and older hunt completely free, and youth under 16 also hunt free. New Hampshire does not offer a broad landowner exemption from license requirements.

Is a New Hampshire Hunting License Worth It?

Is New Hampshire a good value among New England states? Yes — its $32.00 bundled resident license and moderate $113.00 non-resident fee sit comfortably alongside Vermont's and Maine's regional pricing, with a long September-to-December archery season adding real value for bowhunters.

Other State Hunting License Costs

VermontMaineMassachusettsAll 50 States →

See how New Hampshire compares to all 50 states — resident and non-resident.

Compare All State Fees →

New Hampshire Hunting Season Dates

SeasonTypical DatesNotes
Deer — ArcherySeptember – DecemberCheck zone/unit dates
Deer — General FirearmNovember – DecemberVaries by zone/unit
Spring Wild TurkeyMay$15.00 tag required
Waterfowl / DuckOctober – DecemberDuck Stamp + state validation
New Hampshire Hunting Season Timeline Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Deer — Archery Deer — General Firearm Waterfowl / Duck
Typical season windows shown by month. Exact open/close dates vary by zone or unit — verify with the state wildlife agency each year.

Season dates vary by zone/unit. Verify your area's exact calendar at NH Fish & Game.

Frequently Asked Questions — NH Hunting License

How much is a hunting license in New Hampshire?
A New Hampshire resident hunting license costs $32.00 per year. A non-resident license costs $113.00. Deer hunting is included in the base license at no extra charge. A turkey tag costs an additional $15.00. Verify current rates with NH Fish & Game before purchasing.
How much is a New Hampshire non-resident hunting license?
A New Hampshire non-resident annual hunting license costs $113.00. Deer hunting is included at no extra tag cost. The Federal Duck Stamp ($27) is required separately for waterfowl hunting.
Do I need a separate deer tag in New Hampshire?
No — deer hunting is bundled into the base license.
When is deer season in New Hampshire?
New Hampshire's general firearm deer season typically runs November – December, with archery season running September – December. Season dates vary by zone or unit — always check the current year's dates at NH Fish & Game before hunting.
Do seniors get a discount on New Hampshire hunting licenses?
New Hampshire residents qualify for a senior hunting license benefit: 68+ free. Active duty military members also qualify for a discount (Active duty free). Verify current senior and military rates directly with NH Fish & Game.
Is deer hunting included in New Hampshire's base license?
Yes — deer access is bundled into the $32.00 resident license with no separate tag fee, similar to neighboring Vermont and Maine.
How does New Hampshire's non-resident fee compare to Vermont's and Maine's?
New Hampshire's $113.00 non-resident fee sits between Vermont's $102 and Maine's $115 — all three New England states cluster closely in price for out-of-state hunters.
Is New Hampshire's turkey tag expensive?
Moderate — at $15, it's cheaper than Maine's $26 tag just across the state line, though pricier than New York's $10.
Do New Hampshire's deer units have different antlerless rules?
Yes — New Hampshire allocates antlerless deer permits by Wildlife Management Unit via lottery, with southern units near the Massachusetts border generally offering more opportunity than northern White Mountains units.
Does New Hampshire offer a lifetime hunting license?
New Hampshire offers various license term options for residents; check the Fish and Game licensing system for current multi-year or lifetime terms.
How does New Hampshire's license compare to Vermont's?
New Hampshire's $32.00 resident fee is close to Vermont's $28, and New Hampshire's non-resident fee ($113.00) is just above Vermont's ($102) — the two states are nearly identical in overall cost.
Does New Hampshire offer a lifetime hunting license?
New Hampshire offers various license term options for residents; check the Fish and Game licensing system for current multi-year terms.
When is duck and waterfowl season in New Hampshire?
New Hampshire's general waterfowl season runs approximately October – December, though exact opener dates are set annually within federal USFWS framework dates and can vary by zone. A Federal Duck Stamp ($27) is required for all waterfowl hunters age 16 and older, on top of your New Hampshire hunting license — check NH Fish & Game each year for the confirmed season dates in your zone.
What do I need to buy a New Hampshire hunting license?
You'll typically need a government-issued photo ID (driver's license or state ID), your hunter education certification number if this is your first license, and a form of payment. Online purchases through NH Fish & Game accept major credit or debit cards and issue your license instantly; in-person purchases at a license agent may also accept cash or check depending on the retailer.
What's the total cost for a full deer, turkey, and archery season in New Hampshire?
Adding the New Hampshire base license ($32.00) to deer access (included), a turkey tag ($15.00), and archery access (included), a resident hunter pursuing all three in the same season pays roughly $38.00 total before the $27 Federal Duck Stamp needed for waterfowl. Non-resident totals run higher across the board — check NH Fish & Game for exact current tag prices before budgeting a multi-species season.
Does New Hampshire require hunter education to get a hunting license?
Yes — like nearly every U.S. state, New Hampshire requires hunter education certification for first-time license buyers born after a state-set cutoff date, typically covering firearm safety, ethics, and wildlife identification. Hunters who haven't completed the course yet can often still get afield through an apprentice or mentored hunting license, which lets a certified adult bring along an uncertified newcomer for one or more license years before certification is required.

Compare New Hampshire's fees against every other state on our free tool.

Open the Full 50-State Calculator →