Concord, NH – The Granite State’s spring turkey season opens on May 1 and runs through May 31. The youth turkey hunt takes place the preceding weekend, Saturday April 27 and Sunday April 28. The New Hampshire Fish and Game Department urges hunters to take advantage of the state’s weather, woodlands, and natural resources this year with hunting safety in mind.
During the 2023 youth weekend, young hunters took 483 turkeys, or 8.6% of the total spring harvest. 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. 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.
“We have had record turkey harvests the past five spring seasons,” said Allison Keating, Fish and Game’s Turkey Project Leader. “While it’s great to see so many hunters have a successful spring season, it is more important than ever to know your target and what lies beyond before taking a shot,” Keating said. Hunters are strongly encouraged to maximize pre-season scouting and be prepared with back-up locations if their desired spot is busy with other hunters or outdoor enthusiasts.
During the spring of 2023, hunters harvested 5,580 turkeys statewide. This was a slight decrease from the record setting harvest of 5,725 set in 2022.
“Last year was a tough breeding season for turkeys in New Hampshire,” Keating said. “Frost during the month of May followed by consistent rain throughout the spring and summer led to many hens re-nesting,” she said. “The average hatch date was about a month later than the previous two years, and the number of poults per hen was lower than the previous two years. The decreased breeding productivity last year may result in a lower spring harvest this year.”
Hunters should be aware of and continue to take precaution to safeguard against the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) detected in avian species in New Hampshire and across the country since last year. HPAI is a virus that occurs mainly in wild birds, but typically does not cause high mortality. The main risk of the virus is to domestic poultry such as chickens, turkeys, quail, and ducks. In New Hampshire, the HPAI virus has previously been detected in a number of waterfowl species, as well as a few bald eagles and other types of birds. No wild turkeys in New Hampshire have yet to test positive for the virus. Hunters are encouraged to take extra precautions including:
To learn more about HPAI, visit Avian Influenza | Wildlife | New Hampshire Fish and Game Department (state.nh.us).
Turkey hunters will continue to have the option to register their harvested birds online or in person at a local registration station. Regardless of registration method, all harvested birds must be affixed with the tag that is issued with the hunter’s turkey license immediately after take, and all birds must be registered within 24 hours. Hunters choosing to harvest two birds in the spring (where permitted) must register their first bird prior to taking a second bird. To learn more about registering your harvest visit https://www.wildlife.state.nh.us/hunting/turkey-reg.html.
Spring turkey hunters interested in harvesting two male or bearded birds may take one bird statewide and the other may only be taken in Wildlife Management Units (WMUs) H1, H2, I1, J2, K, L, or M. The first bird must be legally registered before another bird can be harvested.
Turkey hunters who harvest a second bird during the spring season forfeit their chance to take a bird during the statewide fall archery and shotgun seasons. The fall shotgun season is restricted to designated WMUs. Read about all regulations in the NH Hunting Digest, wildlife.nh.gov/hunting-nh.
People who would like to try hunting turkeys this spring 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. Learn more at www.huntnh.com/hunting/apprentice.html or call (603) 271-3422 for more information.
Licenses are available online at https://www.nhfishandgame.com or from license agents that are open at this time.
For hunters looking forward to spring turkey season in New Hampshire, it’s important to know the exact dates the hunting seasons open each year. The New Hampshire Fish and Game Department sets specific turkey hunting seasons annually for different parts of the state. Here’s a look at when turkey season starts in New Hampshire for both spring and fall hunts.
Overview of Turkey Hunting Seasons in New Hampshire
New Hampshire provides turkey hunting opportunities in both the spring and fall seasons The seasons are set based on biology and population management goals for wild turkeys in each wildlife management unit, Here’s an overview
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Spring Turkey Season – Statewide season from May 1 to May 31 each year Bearded birds only
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Fall Archery Season – September 15 to December 15 annually. Open to all turkeys in designated units.
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Fall Shotgun Season – Limited permit hunt held for 7 days in October. Bearded birds only.
The spring season offers the longest opportunity to hunt turkeys across all units. Fall hunts are much more restricted in timing and locations. Hunters need to pay close attention to these seasonal differences when planning their hunts.
When to Start Hunting in Spring Turkey Season
The statewide spring turkey season in New Hampshire runs annually from May 1 to May 31. This gives hunters the entire month of May to pursue gobblers as they become active during their breeding season.
Key details on the spring turkey season include:
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Season starts May 1 each year and continues non-stop through May 31.
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Legal shooting hours are 1/2 hour before sunrise to noon each day.
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Bearded turkeys only – hens may not be taken during the spring.
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2 bearded turkey limit per hunter statewide.
Spring is prime time for turkey hunting as amorous toms are responsive to calls and readily visible while seeking hens to mate with. The relatively long 4 week season gives hunters ample time to be in the woods during peak activity.
Timing of the Fall Turkey Hunting Seasons
In contrast to spring, the fall turkey seasons in New Hampshire are much more limited. There are two distinct fall hunts:
Archery Season
- September 15 to December 15 annually
- Open only in select units – Units B through M
- Bow hunting only
Shotgun Season
- 7 days in mid-October (October 14-20 in 2024)
- Selected units only – Units D2, G, H1, H2, I1, I2, J2, K, L, M
- Bearded birds only
- Permit required through lottery drawing
With no spring breeding season, wild turkeys behave differently in fall. The restricted archery and permit shotgun seasons target limited fall harvest in certain areas. Check regulations before doing any fall turkey hunting.
Why Turkey Season Dates Vary
There are several reasons why New Hampshire’s turkey hunting seasons are set the way they are:
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Spring seasons maximize opportunity during peak breeding activity.
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Fall seasons are designed to limit overharvest of the vulnerable flocks.
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Opening dates avoid overlapping with other hunting seasons.
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Closing dates prevent disturbance of nesting hens in late spring.
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Seasons are set based on scientific population data.
The New Hampshire Fish and Game Department’s biologists carefully regulate turkey seasons based on reproductive habits, harvest rates, hunter participation, and other factors. This ensures healthy flocks are maintained long-term throughout the changing seasons each year.
What to Do Before Turkey Season Opens
Here are some tips for hunters to prepare before opening day of turkey season in New Hampshire:
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Purchase required licenses, stamps, and permits well in advance.
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Pattern your shotgun on a patterning board to optimize your ammunition performance.
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Scout hunting areas for signs of turkey activity and locate potential setup spots.
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Assemble camouflage clothing, calls, decoys, and other gear needed for your hunts.
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Review regulations to confirm seasonal dates, bag limits, safety rules, and legal firearms or archery equipment.
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Practice your calling techniques to mimic hen yelps, clucks, purrs, and gobbles.
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Stay up to date on conditions through scouting and trail cameras right up to the opener.
Doing your scouting and gear preparation ahead of time will help you make the most of the limited days you have to hunt once the season arrives.
The exact opening dates for New Hampshire’s spring and fall turkey hunting seasons vary each year. But one thing is consistent – hunters need to be ready to take full advantage of the opportunities on opening day. Follow the season dates set by Fish and Game and do your preseason preparations to have a great hunt.
2023 New Hampshire Spring Turkey Season Opening Day
FAQ
When can you hunt turkeys in NH?
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Season (Inclusive Dates)
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Wildlife Management Units
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Fall Archery (Sep 15- Dec 15)
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B-M
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Fall Shotgun (Oct 14-20, 2024)
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D2, G, H1, H2, I1, I2, J2, K, L, M
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Spring (May 1- 31)
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One turkey statewide- other turkey H1, H2, I1, J2, K, L, or M
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Youth (April 27-28, 2024)
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One turkey statewide- other turkey H1, H2, I1, J2, K, L, or M
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Do you need a hunting license to hunt on your own property in NH?
How early should you start turkey hunting?