New Hampshire offers turkey hunting opportunities in both the spring and fall across most of the state. Season dates and bag limits vary by wildlife management unit, so it’s crucial to check the regulations each year. Here, we’ll break down key details on when you can hunt turkeys in New Hampshire along with licensing, limits, and tips for a successful hunt.
Overview of Turkey Season Dates
The New Hampshire Fish and Game Department sets turkey seasons based on management units which are geographic zones used to manage wildlife populations. Here are the turkey seasons for 2024
Spring Turkey
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May 1-31: One bearded turkey statewide except in Units A, B, C1, D1, E, F.
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May 1-31: Two bearded turkeys in Units H1, H2, I1, J2, K, L, M.
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April 27-28: Youth weekend, one bearded turkey statewide.
Fall Turkey
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September 15 – December 15: Archery only in Units B, C1, C2, D2, E, F, G, H1, H2, I1, I2, J1, J2, K, L, M.
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October 14-20: Shotgun season in Units D2, G, H1, H2, I1, I2, J2, K, L, M.
So spring offers the most options, with fall limited to certain units and methods. Hunters can harvest two birds in some units during spring.
Spring Turkey Hunting License and Fees
To hunt turkeys in New Hampshire, you’ll first need a hunting license along with a turkey permit.
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NH residents pay $34.50 for a hunting license and $16 for each turkey permit
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Nonresidents pay $114 for a hunting license and $56 for each turkey permit.
You must fill out a turkey tag and attach it to your harvested bird. Turkey permits are issued through a lottery system with applications due by February 1 each year. Applicants are notified if they received a permit by March 15.
Fall Turkey Season Details
The fall archery-only turkey season has no permit requirements beyond the hunting license. This allows archers more flexibility to hunt turkeys statewide in September through December.
The fall shotgun season is limited to certain wildlife management units, primarily in the southern and western regions. Hunters age 70 and over may use a crossbow during the fall shotgun season. The standard bag limit for fall is one turkey of either sex per hunter.
Spring Turkey Hunting Tips and Limits
Here are some key tips for hunting turkeys in the spring:
- Only bearded turkeys may be harvested in spring. Hens are off limits.
- Use turkey calls and decoys to draw in wary toms during breeding season.
- Focus on areas near forests and fields at dawn and dusk when turkeys are most active.
- Bag limit is one bearded turkey on opening weekend, with a maximum of two in certain units for the full season.
- Legal shooting hours are 1/2 hour before sunrise until noon.
Scout areas heavily before the season to pattern turkey flocks and identify prime spots to set up. Bring multiple camo patterns, remain utterly still, and be ready when that big tom finally presents a shot.
Enjoy New Hampshire’s Turkey Hunting Opportunities
With excellent habitat from the White Mountains to the forests of the south, New Hampshire provides top-notch turkey hunting each spring and fall. Be sure to apply early for coveted spring permits and familiarize yourself with season dates and rules for your hunting unit. Stick to the fundamentals of scouting, calling, decoying, and camo and you’ll be tagging your limit of tasty New Hampshire turkeys in no time. Good luck!
Turkey Hunting Licensing Requirements
Adult hunters (16 or older) must have a Regular N.H. Hunting, Combination, or Archery License and a Turkey License to hunt turkeys. 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. Each Turkey License comes with 2 tags which may be used in any order and allow the take of two (2) turkeys per year. Turkey hunters may take one (1) bearded or male turkey during the spring season and a second turkey of either sex during the fall. Or, hunters may take two (2) male or bearded turkeys during the spring season. However, the first spring turkey shall be legally registered before the second spring turkey can be taken. One of the spring turkeys may be taken statewide, but the other spring turkey shall only be taken in WMUs H1, H2, I1, J2, K, L, or M. A hunter may not take two (2) spring birds in WMUs A-G, I2, or J1. One (1) or two (2) turkeys may also be taken during the youth weekend, however all spring season registration and WMU regulations apply. The total fall season bag limit is one (1) turkey and hunting may be done statewide with bow and arrow or a crossbow during the archery season, or with a shotgun or crossbow during the fall shotgun season in those units where allowed (see Turkey Hunting Seasons).
Hunting Hours:
- Fall: ½ hour before sunrise to ½ hour after sunset.
- Spring: ½ hour before sunrise to 12 noon.
Turkeys must be tagged immediately upon killing. Registration of a fully feathered intact carcass is required online or at the closest open registration station within 24 hours. The turkey may be gutted. See Deer/Turkey Registration Stations for a list of Turkey Registration Stations.
Shotguns, with the following shot and loads:
- between 10 and 20 gauge inclusively, with shot size of #4 and smaller, in hunting rather than target loads; or
- 28 gauge and .410, with shot sizes #7 through #9, a minimum shot density of 18 grams per cubic centimeter (G/CC), and a minimum barrel length of 18 inches
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).
Archers and crossbow users must have their name and address on arrows or bolts. Fixed blade broadheads cannot be less than â inches wide; there is no upper size limit. Retractable blade broadheads are permitted (cannot be less than â of an inch wide when open). Minimum bow and arrow draw weight for turkeys is 30 lbs. Crossbows must meet the requirements on Deer Hunting Regulations, and are allowed as described in the Crossbows section in License Information.
How to Hunt Late Season Turkeys
FAQ
How many turkeys can you shoot in NH?
Are turkeys protected in NH?
What hunting season is it in NH?
Do you need a hunting license to hunt on your own property in NH?
When is the youth turkey hunt in New Hampshire?
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.
When is the spring turkey hunt in Concord NH?
CONTACT:Allison Keating: (603) 352-9669Andy Timmins: (603) 271-2461April 10, 2024 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.
Are there wild turkeys in New Hampshire?
Wild turkeys in New Hampshire are a wildlife restoration success story. The state now offers generous spring and fall turkey hunting opportunities, as well as a special youth hunt.
When did turkeys re-nest in New Hampshire?
“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.