New Hampshire Deer Harvest Hits Record High
Hunters killed 14,387 white-tailed deer in 2025, the largest harvest in state records dating to 1922.
Updated on Nov. 8, 2026 in Hunting
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New Hampshire hunters took 14,387 white-tailed deer in 2025, the largest annual harvest in records dating to 1922. Archers, muzzleloader hunters and regular firearm hunters all contributed to the total.
Why it matters
The record harvest reflects a deer population estimated at 100,000 and rising hunting license sales. Fish and Game is adjusting permit rules in southeast New Hampshire, where officials say there is a surplus of deer.
Archers took 4,922 deer, muzzleloader hunters took 2,375, and regular firearm hunters took 6,715 in 2025, with the youth weekend accounting for 375. The state's estimated deer population of 100,000 is the baseline for these harvest figures, and the source does not report how the 2026 season will compare.
The players
New Hampshire Fish and Game Department
The state agency that manages wildlife, hunting licenses and deer seasons in New Hampshire, and that published the 2025 harvest figures.
The details
Fish and Game is allowing special Unit L antlerless permits to be issued first-come, first-served rather than by lottery this year. Archery and muzzleloader seasons run longer or earlier than the modern rifle season, which opens November 11, 2026 and runs through December 6, 2026.
Timeline
2025: Record harvest of 14,387 deer recorded.
August 1, 2026: Almost 30,000 hunting licenses sold through this date.
November 11, 2026: Rifle deer season opens.
December 6, 2026: Rifle deer season closes.
Season Trajectory
The 2025 record follows nearly a century of New Hampshire harvest tracking that began in 1922, placing this season at the top of that series. Rising license sales, reported at roughly 1,000 above typical pre-COVID levels, suggest growing hunter participation that could shape future seasons.
Hunters planning for the 2026 season should check the November 11 to December 6 rifle dates and the first-come, first-served rules for Unit L antlerless permits in southeast New Hampshire. Archery and muzzleloader seasons open on different schedules, so confirm the dates that apply to your weapon before heading out.
The takeaway
The record harvest and rising license sales show strong hunter interest in New Hampshire's deer seasons. Hunters should watch the 2026 permit rules, especially if they plan to hunt in the southeast.
What happens next
The rifle deer season opens November 11, 2026 and closes December 6, 2026, and the state expects close to 50,000 licenses to be sold by year's end.
Further reading
For more on how seasons and permits are set, see Hunting coverage across the state.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Concord Monitor.
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