2026 Fall Shotgun Season for Wild Turkey Opens on October 12
CONTACT:
Dan Ellingwood: (603) 352-9669
Andrew Timmins: (603) 271-2461
October 2, 2026
Concord, NH – The New Hampshire Fish and Game Department (NHFG) reminds hunters that the Granite State’s 7-day fall turkey shotgun season opens October 12 and runs through October 18, 2026. Eight of New Hampshire’s Wildlife Management Units (WMUs) are open to fall shotgun hunting this year: D2, H1, H2, I1, J2, K, L, and M.
New Hampshire also offers a statewide fall archery season for wild turkey from September 15 through December 15 in WMUs B through M, and through December 8 in WMU A.
“The fall turkey harvest is largely influenced by turkey nesting success during the previous spring, and the availability and distribution of fall foods,” said Dan Ellingwood, the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department’s Turkey Project Leader. “Our annual brood survey indicated below-average nesting success this summer, which means fewer young turkeys will be entering the fall population than in a typical year.”
Locating fall turkeys is often closely tied to the availability of fall foods. When hard mast crops such as acorns are limited, turkeys tend to spend more time feeding in fields, where they may be easier for hunters to locate. When hard mast is abundant, turkeys spend much of their time feeding in secluded woodlands. “Preliminary assessment of this year’s hard mast crop indicates abundant acorn production across much of the state,” said Ellingwood. “Preseason scouting will be particularly important this fall to identify areas where turkeys are feeding and increase the likelihood of a successful hunt.”
A New Hampshire turkey license includes two tags, allowing hunters to harvest up to two turkeys during the year. The fall season bag limit is limited to one turkey of either sex. Hunters who harvested two turkeys during the spring season, forfeit their opportunity to participate in the fall season.
Shooting hours during the fall turkey season begin one-half hour before sunrise and end one-half hour after sunset. All NHFG rules and regulations governing the fall turkey season remain in effect. Hunters may register harvested turkeys either in person at a registration station or online. Regardless of the registration method, the tag issued with the hunter’s turkey license must be affixed to the bird, and hunters must register their turkey within 24 hours of harvest.
Check Station Registration: New Hampshire Fish and Game works with registration stations throughout the state to provide locations where hunters can register harvested turkeys. Hunters are encouraged to contact their local registration station to confirm its hours of operation. For a list of turkey registration stations in New Hampshire, visit: www.wildlife.nh.gov/hunting-nh/check-stations-registration.
Online Registration: Turkeys that are not registered in person must be registered online within 24 hours of harvest. To expedite the online registration process, hunters should have a reliable internet connection and the following information readily available:
- Hunting/turkey license information
- License plate number of the vehicle used while hunting
- Town and Wildlife Management Unit where the turkey was harvested
- Sex of the bird
- Age of the bird (adult or juvenile)
- Weight of the bird, to the nearest ¼ pound
- Beard length, to the nearest ¼ inch
- Spur lengths, to the nearest ¹⁄₁₆ inch
Successful registration, whether in person or online, generates a confirmation number that must be written on or kept with the hunter’s license. Harvest data collected through the registration process are an important tool wildlife biologists use to monitor trends in New Hampshire’s wild turkey population. To register a turkey online and for information on how to age, weigh, and measure harvested birds, visit www.wildlife.nh.gov/hunting-nh/turkey-hunting-new-hampshire.
Fall is a popular time for many outdoor enthusiasts. Hunters should remain aware of other people sharing the outdoors and always be certain of their target and what lies beyond it.
To learn more about wild turkey hunting in New Hampshire, visit: www.wildlife.nh.gov/hunting-nh/turkey-hunting-new-hampshire.
Wild turkey management in New Hampshire is funded, in part, through the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Wildlife Restoration Program.
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