How to Get Your New Hampshire Hunting License
New Hampshire requires hunter education for anyone 16 or older buying a hunting or archery license for the first time, unless that person can show proof of having held a hunting or archery license in any year, in any state. Once you're certified, if required, you'll need a hunting license, which costs $32 for residents and $113 for non-residents, plus a $2.50 Wildlife Habitat Fee and any species-specific permits for the game you're after.
You can purchase a license through New Hampshire Fish and Game or an authorized license agent, and licenses run on a calendar year, expiring every December 31. Our partners at HUNTERcourse are a delegated provider for New Hampshire's hunter safety course, and the certification itself never expires once you've earned it.
Today, we walk through how to get your New Hampshire hunting license and Hunter Education Certificate, step by step.
What Is a Hunting License in New Hampshire?
A New Hampshire hunting license is the base document Fish and Game requires before you can legally pursue small game and deer in the state, and it comes with one deer tag built in. It's separate from the permits you'll need for archery, muzzleloader, turkey, bear, or pheasant, which are purchased individually alongside your license.
Your Hunter Education Certificate works differently. It's a one-time credential proving you completed an approved safety course, and it lasts for life, while your hunting license has to be renewed every calendar year.
Who Needs a Hunting License in New Hampshire?
New Hampshire requires a hunting license for anyone 16 or older who hunts small game or big game in the state, and hunter education adds an extra requirement tied to your licensing history rather than a birth-year cutoff. Whether you've held a license before determines which path applies to you.
Hunter education runs on a separate track from the license itself. Anyone 16 or older buying a hunting or archery license for the first time must complete an approved course, unless they qualify for one of New Hampshire's exceptions instead:
- Under 16: No general hunting or archery license required, though species-specific permits like the Special Archery Deer Permit, Turkey License, or Bear License still apply, and hunters this age may hunt accompanied by a licensed adult 18 or older.
- 16 and older, never held a hunting or archery license: Must complete an approved hunter or bowhunter education course, including the required in-person field day.
- 16 and older, previously held a hunting or archery license in any year, any state: Exempt from the hunter education requirement; show proof of that prior license instead.
- Not ready for the course yet: New Hampshire's one-time Apprentice Hunting License lets you hunt for one calendar year while accompanied by a properly licensed adult 18 or older.
How to Get Your New Hampshire Hunting License (Step-by-Step)
Getting licensed in New Hampshire comes down to a few main steps, though the order shifts slightly depending on your licensing history. Here's the full process from start to finish.
- Complete an approved hunter education course (through our partners at HUNTERcourse) if you've never held a hunting or archery license, then attend the required in-person field day.
- Choose your license type: Regular Hunting License, Combination Hunting and Fishing License, Archery License, or the Apprentice Hunting License if you're not yet certified.
- Purchase your license through New Hampshire Fish and Game or an authorized license agent; first-time buyers must do this in person rather than online.
- Add any species-specific permits you need, such as archery, muzzleloader, turkey, or bear.
- Carry your license, permits, and certification any time you hunt.
New Hampshire's regular hunting license comes with one deer tag already attached, so you're covered for deer season the moment you buy it. Once your license and any needed permits are in hand, you're ready for the field.
The sections below cover the hunter education course and license purchase in more detail.
Step 1: Complete an Approved Hunter Education Course
New Hampshire's certification path depends on whether you've held a license before, not on your current age.
- Online course plus field day: Complete the HUNTERcourse.com New Hampshire course ($29.00) online at your own pace, then register separately for the required in-person field day, about 4 hours, which includes a live-fire exercise and a hands-on field assessment.
- In-person classroom course: Attend a full classroom course taught by Fish and Game-certified volunteer instructors, covering firearms and archery safety, offered statewide at no cost.
- Prior license exemption: Skip the course entirely by showing proof of a hunting or archery license you've held in any year, in New Hampshire or any other state.
Passing the online course doesn't guarantee a field day seat, so register for both well ahead of the season you're planning to hunt.
Step 2: Buy Your Hunting License
Once you have your Hunter Education Certificate or proof of a prior license, if it applies to you, you can buy your license through New Hampshire Fish and Game or an authorized license agent. First-time buyers must complete this purchase in person rather than online or at a retail kiosk.
You'll need a valid New Hampshire driver's license or non-driver photo ID for resident rates, proof of hunter education or a prior license, and payment.
Step 3: Add Species Permits and Go Hunting
A standard New Hampshire hunting license covers small game and comes with one deer tag, but archery, muzzleloader, turkey, bear, and pheasant each require their own separate license or permit.
Once your license and any needed permits are in hand, you're ready to hunt.
New Hampshire Hunting License Requirements by Age
Here's a high-level overview of the requirements for hunting licenses in New Hampshire by age.
New Hampshire Hunting License Requirements (by Age) | ||
| Age | Requirement | Supervision/Hunter Education |
| Under 16 | No general license required. Species permits only for archery deer, turkey, or bear. | Certification not required. May hunt accompanied by a licensed adult 18 or older. |
| 16 and older, first-time buyer | Regular Hunting License ($32 resident, $113 non-resident) | Certification required, including an in-person field day |
| 16 and older, previously licensed | Regular Hunting License ($32 resident, $113 non-resident) | Certification not required |
| 16 and older, not yet certified | Apprentice Hunting License (same fee as Regular Hunting or Archery License) | Must hunt accompanied by a licensed adult 18 or older. Available once per lifetime. |
| 68 and older, resident, born 1948 or later | Senior Combination Hunting and Fishing License ($7.00) | Certification required unless previously licensed |
| Resident, born 1947 or earlier | Permanent Milestone License (free) | Certification not required |
Privileges and stamps:
- Archery, muzzleloader, turkey, bear, and pheasant hunting each require a separate license or permit beyond the base hunting license.
- Waterfowl hunters also need the Migratory Waterfowl License ($11.00), a Federal Duck Stamp, and HIP registration.
- A $2.50 Wildlife Habitat Fee applies once per year to most hunting license types, though minors, permanent license holders, and lifetime license holders are exempt.
Season dates and bag limits vary by species and wildlife management unit, so check before you plan a hunt.
Hunter Safety Course: Format and Cost
New Hampshire stands out for letting first-time hunters skip the course entirely if they can show proof of a license they've held in any state, at any point in the past. The chart below offers a quick overview of the certification formats.
New Hampshire Hunter Safety Course Formats Comparison | ||||
| Format | Provider | Cost | Time | Exam |
| Online course plus field day $29.00 | HUNTERcourse | $29.00 | Self-paced online, plus a 4-hour field day | Written exam, 80% passing score, plus a live-fire exercise and hands-on assessment at the field day |
In-person classroom course | NH Fish and Game volunteer instructors | Free | Multiple sessions, classroom and field time combined | Written exam, 80% passing score, included in course |
Whichever format you choose, your certification lasts a lifetime and never needs renewing. Only your hunting license resets, and since New Hampshire runs on a calendar year, that happens every December 31.
What Documents Do You Need To Buy Your License?
Make sure you have the right documentation handy to purchase your New Hampshire hunting license. You'll need:
- A valid New Hampshire driver's license or non-driver photo ID, for resident rates
- Proof of hunter education certification, or proof of a hunting or archery license held in any prior year
- Payment for your license and any species-specific permits
- Your previous license number, if buying online in a later year
New Hampshire Hunting Laws and Penalties
Most New Hampshire hunting violations that don't carry their own specified fine fall under the state's general penalty schedule, starting at $62 for a first offense and $124 for a repeat offense within the same calendar year. More serious violations, like taking wildlife without following required identification or reporting rules, are misdemeanors that can carry an automatic three-year revocation of hunting privileges on top of any court-imposed fine.
Illegally taking or possessing big game can also trigger mandatory restitution to the state, and interstate transport of illegally taken wildlife is a separate federal offense that can carry fines up to $250,000 and five years in prison.
What About Reciprocity?
New Hampshire accepts hunter education certificates from any U.S. state, Canadian province, or country that meets International Hunter Education Association (IHEA-USA) standards. States and provinces with their own mandatory hunter education requirements return the favor and accept a New Hampshire Hunter Education Certificate, so your card travels with you if you hunt elsewhere.
What Out-of-State Visitors Should Know
Non-resident hunters pay $113 for an annual Regular Hunting License or $151 for the combination hunting and fishing option, both notably higher than resident rates. Additionally, non-resident minors under 16 must also purchase a muzzleloader license if they plan to hunt during that season, unlike resident minors
Out-of-state hunters without a prior license or hunter education certificate must still complete New Hampshire's course before buying their first license.
Start Your New Hampshire Hunter Safety Course Today, Then Get Your Hunting License
Ready to get certified? The HUNTERcourse.com New Hampshire course is approved by NH Fish and Game, self-paced, and available on any device, with a required in-person field day to complete your certification. Complete the course and get your lifetime New Hampshire hunter education certificate.
Approved by New Hampshire Fish and Game Department | Last verified August 13, 2026
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: Do I need a hunting license to hunt in New Hampshire?
A: Yes, anyone 16 or older needs a hunting license to hunt small game or deer in New Hampshire. Hunters younger than 16 don't need a general license, though they still need species-specific permits for archery deer, turkey, or bear.
Q: How much does a New Hampshire hunting license cost?
A: A New Hampshire resident Regular Hunting License costs $32, while a non-resident license costs $113. Most hunters also pay a $2.50 Wildlife Habitat Fee once per year, and species-specific permits like archery or turkey cost extra.
Q: Who needs hunter education certification in New Hampshire?
A: New Hampshire requires hunter education certification for anyone 16 or older buying a hunting or archery license for the first time. Hunters who can show proof of having held a hunting or archery license in any prior year, in any state, are exempt from the requirement.
Q: Can I take New Hampshire's hunter education course entirely online?
A: No, New Hampshire's online hunter education course still requires an in-person field day. After finishing the online portion, you must attend the field day for a written exam, a live-fire exercise, and a hands-on field assessment before you're fully certified.
Q: Is there a way to hunt in New Hampshire before completing hunter education?
A: Yes, New Hampshire offers a one-time Apprentice Hunting License for hunters 16 or older who haven't completed hunter education or held a prior license. It requires the apprentice to hunt accompanied by a properly licensed adult 18 or older, and it's available only once in a hunter's lifetime.
Q: Can a 12-year-old hunt in New Hampshire?
A: A 12-year-old can hunt in New Hampshire without a general license, as long as they're accompanied by a licensed adult 18 or older. They can also start the online hunter education course at 12, which is recommended so they're already certified by the time they turn 16 and need a license of their own.
