New Hampshire recorded its largest deer harvest in nearly a century, with 14,387 white‑tailed deer killed in the 2025 season.
The harvest reflects a mix of hunting methods—archers took about one‑third, muzzleloader hunters about one‑sixth, and firearm hunters the remainder—while the rifle season runs from November 11 to December 6.
License sales have remained steady, with nearly 30,000 sold by August 1, roughly 1,000 more than in pre‑pandemic years, and are expected to reach close to 50,000 by year‑end.
The state’s deer population is estimated at 100,000 and remains stable, especially in the southeast where surplus deer cause agricultural damage, prompting special antlerless permits to be issued on a first‑come, first‑served basis.
Chronic wasting disease has not been detected in New Hampshire, though the state enforces strict carcass‑movement rules and warns hunters about contact with deer nervous tissue.
The adult buck harvest of 8,673 was the highest on record, and the largest individual deer weighed 248 pounds, taken by James Cannon of Brentwood with a firearm.
Source: www.concordmonitor.com
