New Hampshire Hunting License: Cost, Requirements & How to Buy
A New Hampshire hunting license costs $32 for a resident adult and $113 for a non-resident adult (fees verified 2026-09-12).
New Hampshire adds a small mandatory habitat fee to every hunting license, and non-residents who only want small game have a meaningfully cheaper option than the full all-game license most out-of-state deer and turkey hunters end up buying.
- Non-resident 3-day small game $25
- Combination hunt + fish, resident $56
A mandatory $2.50 Wildlife Habitat Fee is added to every hunting license on top of the base fee. Non-residents who only want small game can buy a Non-Resident Small Game License for $53 annual or $25 for 3 days instead of the full $113 all-game license. A Resident Combo (hunt + fish) is $56. Hunters under 16 do not need a license but must be accompanied by a licensed adult 18+; anyone 16 or older buying their first license must show a hunter, bowhunter or trapper education certificate, or a prior license from any state.
Fee last verified 2026-09-12.
Heading out for New Hampshire hunting? Game wardens require carrying physical or digital license proof and valid tags. Equip yourself with a waterproof license and tag pouch, rechargeable wide-beam LED headlamp, and corrosion-resistant multi-tool pliers before your trip.
What a New Hampshire hunting license costs
Residents pay $32 for the standard hunting license; non-residents pay $113. A mandatory $2.50 Wildlife Habitat Fee is added to every license on top of that base price. Non-residents who only want small game can instead buy a Non-Resident Small Game License for $53 annually, or a 3-Day Small Game License for $25, both cheaper than the full all-game license. A Resident Combo (hunt + fish) is $56.
Who needs a license, and hunter safety rules
Hunters 16 and older need a New Hampshire hunting license; those under 16 don't need one but must be accompanied while hunting by a licensed adult 18 or older. Anyone 16 or older buying a New Hampshire license for the first time must show a hunter, bowhunter or trapper education certificate from any state, or a previously held hunting license from any year and any state; the course itself requires an in-person field day and isn't valid through an online-only format.
License year and deadlines
New Hampshire hunting licenses run the calendar year, January 1 through December 31, expiring at year's end regardless of purchase date.
How to buy your New Hampshire hunting license
NH Fish and Game's online licensing system at nhfishandgame.com sells every license type and the Wildlife Habitat Fee together, and licenses are also available at the department's Concord headquarters and license agents statewide.
Hunting in New Hampshire: what to expect
The White Mountains and the Great North Woods in the northern part of the state hold New Hampshire's best deer and moose hunting, with vast tracts of national forest and paper-company land giving hunters room to roam that's harder to find in the more developed south. Turkey hunting has expanded across nearly the entire state as the population recovered over recent decades, making it a realistic option even for hunters closer to the Seacoast or the Merrimack Valley.
Moose permits and public land
New Hampshire's moose hunt runs entirely through a limited lottery permit system, with a small number of permits issued each year specifically to keep the herd at a sustainable level; most hunters apply for years before drawing one. Away from moose, the White Mountain National Forest is the backbone of the state's public hunting land, supplemented by state forests and Wildlife Management Areas scattered through the Lakes Region and Seacoast.
How to renew a New Hampshire hunting license
There is no separate renewal process in New Hampshire. A hunting license is not extended in place; when it expires you buy a new one for the next license year through the same system you used the first time, and your customer profile, hunter or angler ID and any saved payment details carry over so the second purchase takes a couple of minutes. Licenses run the calendar year, Jan 1 through Dec 31.
The fastest route is the official New Hampshire online licensing portal, which also lets you print or download the new license and add any stamps, tags or endorsements in one transaction. In-person license agents (sporting goods stores, bait shops and, in many states, county clerks) sell the same license at the same price, so use whichever is closer. Buying before the old license lapses is not required, but it avoids an accidental gap if a season opens before you get round to it.
Planning more than one? See the New Hampshire fishing license page too, see how much a hunting license costs in every state, compare non-resident hunting fees across states, browse every state, or use the state license finder.