WMU A1, New Hampshire
Unit info
- Game species
- Deer, Turkey, Bear, Moose
- Group
- Zone A
- Area
- 154 mi²
- Public land
- N/A
Season & harvest data is published for no species so far. Deer, Turkey, Bear, Moose also occur here — that data can be added as the community contributes.
About this unit
AI-compiled · sourcedWMU A1 covers the Connecticut Lakes region of far northern Coos County — one of New Hampshire's most remote and wild corners, bordering Quebec and offering some of the state's best moose hunting through lottery draw. Boreal forest, wetlands, and vast commercial timberlands managed as the Connecticut Lakes Headwaters Working Forest give hunters access to over 146,000 acres with light pressure and true wilderness character. Deer densities are lower than southern NH units but bear, moose (lottery), and limited turkey opportunity make A1 a destination for serious backcountry hunters.
Boreal mixed forest dominated by spruce, fir, and northern hardwoods; extensive wetlands, beaver flowages, and peatlands; four Connecticut Lakes and headwaters of the Connecticut River; elevation ranges from roughly 1,100 ft to 3,000 ft; remote ridge-and-valley topography with limited road access in the interior
low
Antlerless deer permits in northern WMUs (A through F) are limited and typically not widely available OTC; WMU A is generally managed conservatively for antlerless deer due to low herd densities from harsh winters and boreal habitat; hunters should check NHFG draw/permit results each season — buck-only hunting is the default without a specific antlerless permit; archery season runs Sept 15 through Dec 8 (one week earlier close than southern units); regular firearms season follows standard NH framework
DEER: Archery Sept 15–Dec 8; regular firearms and muzzleloader follow statewide framework; antlerless permits limited — WMU A has lower deer density due to harsh winters and boreal habitat; buck-only default without antlerless permit. BEAR: Season opens Sept 1 statewide; WMU A bears are plentiful — boreal edge habitat and mast-producing hardwoods support good populations; bag limit 1 bear statewide (permit required, $16 resident/$48 non-resident); baiting allowed with permit. TURKEY: Spring season opens approx. May 1–May 31; fall archery Sept 15–Dec 8 (closes Dec 8 in WMU A, one week earlier than most units); turkey populations are sparse in far northern WMU A compared to central/southern NH — incidental opportunity, not a primary destination. MOOSE: Lottery draw only; WMU A is split into A1 and A2 for permit allocation purposes; A1 had a 57% harvest success rate historically; 33 total NH moose permits issued for 2026 statewide with tags concentrated in northern units A, B, C; season runs mid-to-late October; moose densities in CT Lakes region are significant but impacted by winter tick parasitism — populations are monitored closely by NHFG
One of NH's premier moose-hunting destinations — the Connecticut Lakes region consistently produces high lottery-permit allocations relative to other NH units; vast remote acreage with minimal hunting pressure; excellent bear hunting in September; exceptional scenery and true wilderness atmosphere; accessible from Pittsburg via Route 3
Questions, tips & discussion
Ask anything about WMU A1— or drop a tip or trick: access points, where game holds, glassing spots, conditions, crowding, gear that worked. This is where the unit's species-specific intel gets built, hunter by hunter.
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Boundaries: NHFG official Wildlife Management Units. Community info last updated 23d ago.