Youth Hunting in New Hampshire

Share the Past. Shape the Future. Take a Child Hunting.

Share your love of hunting by taking a youth out on a hunt. New Hampshire offers many opportunities.

  • There is no minimum age for youth hunting in New Hampshire
  • Youth hunters can hunt all species during the open season
  • All youth hunters under age 16 must be ACCOMPANIED by a licensed adult 18 years or older while hunting. "Accompanied" means within sight and hearing, excluding electronic devices, when actual physical direction and control can be effected, pursuant to RSA 207:1, XXX
  • Accompanying adults may not carry a firearm or bow during the special youth hunting weekends, but may during the regular hunting seasons for those species
  • All deer taken by youth hunters must be tagged with either a home-made tag or the back page of the NH Hunting Digest
  • All deer, bear and turkey must be registered according the to rules applying to those species for adults
  • Hunter education is not required for youth hunters under age 16, but youth should try to complete the hunter education course sometime between the age of 12 and their 16th birthday. Then they will have the required hunter education certification when they apply for their first hunting license after they turn 16.
  • Both resident and nonresident youth may hunt during the special weekends, but nonresident youth are eligible for the youth deer hunt ONLY if their state of residence allows New Hampshire youth to participate in its youth deer hunt.

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Special Youth Hunting Weekends

Participating in the youth hunting weekend is a great way for hunters to introduce young people to the hunting tradition without the pressure of competing with other hunters in the woods. Open to resident and nonresident youths, however, nonresident youth are eligible ONLY if their state of residence allows New Hampshire youth to participate in its youth hunt. Adults who accompany youth hunters on these special weekends must possess a current hunting license and may not carry a firearm or assist in taking the deer other than to supervise. Each licensed adult may accompany up to two youths under 16 years of age.

 

  • Youth Deer Hunt Weekend - Held in October. The taking of a deer of either sex is legal statewide.
  • Youth Turkey Hunt Weekend - Held in April. Youth hunters are required to purchase a turkey license, although they do not need to possess a hunting license.
  • Youth Waterfowl Hunt Weekend - Held statewide in late September. The youth does not need a hunting license or duck stamp. All regular season waterfowl regulations, including shooting hours, use of non-toxic shot, etc., apply during the youth weekend.