Statewide deer harvest up across most N.H. counties

Courtney Shaw, 24, of Salisbury with her 175-lb 8 pointer in Merrimack County. (Courtesy photo)

CONCORD - It has been a successful season so far for deer hunters in the Granite State. The estimated statewide harvest as of Sunday was a 12 percent increase over the 2016 kill at this point in the season and the second highest in the last nine years.

See a breakdown by county, with comparisons to the previous eight years, at www.huntnh.com/hunting/deer-harvest.html. These numbers are estimates based on the number of deer registered in each county (not necessarily killed there) and may not represent information from all registration stations.

Fish and Game Deer Biologist Dan Bergeron noted that harvests at this point in the season are above what they were last year in all but two counties, Coos and Strafford, which are only slightly below last year's harvest. An especially good season seems to be under way in Belknap County, which is showing a deer harvest that is 32 percent above where it was last year at the same point.

The regular firearm season runs through Dec. 3 in most of the state, giving rifle hunters roughly one more week of hunting opportunity. The exception is WMU-A in northern New Hampshire, where the regular firearm season has already closed. Archery deer hunting continues through Dec. 15, except in WMU-A, where it ends on Dec. 8.

"The Thanksgiving holiday marked the end of many hunters' efforts for the year, and late season hunters can now take advantage of reduced hunting pressure," said Bergeron.

Hunters can also continue to help the less fortunate by donating venison. Contact the NH Food Bank at (603) 669-9725 for more information.