WMU A2, New Hampshire

Remote North Country boreal and mixed forest in Coos County along the Quebec and Maine borders. Dominated by spruce-fir softwoods transitioning into northern hardwoods (beech, yellow birch, sugar maple) at lower elevations. Terrain is rolling to rugged with numerous river drainages, wetlands, beaver flowages, and regenerating clearcuts that concentrate wildlife. Elevations moderate compared to the White Mountains but with significant remote interior acreage.

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WMU A is a northern low-density deer unit. One buck tag included with base hunting license statewide. Antlerless permit availability for Unit A is very limited — NHFG does not consistently offer general AOP/DOP allocations in northern units due to conservative herd management. Hunters should verify current-year antlerless permit availability directly with NHFG before season. The 2026 rule proposals do include some expanded either-sex opportunity in WMU A, so check the current digest for any antlerless tag offerings.

DEER: Archery season runs approximately Sept 15 through the regular season close in December. Regular firearms season typically opens late October. Muzzleloader season follows firearms. Buck harvest opportunity is consistent; antlerless tags are scarce and unit-specific — confirm AOP availability at wildlife.nh.gov each year. BEAR: Black bear season opens Sept 1; closes mid-November in WMU A (approximately Nov 11). Bear license required ($16 resident / $48 nonresident) separate from hunting license. Baiting allowed with a registered bait site permit (one site per hunter). Good bear densities in remote interior forest. MOOSE: Lottery-only. Apply January through late May at huntnh.com ($15 resident / $25 nonresident application fee). 7 permits allocated to WMU A2 for the 2026 season (Oct 17-25, nine-day season). WMU A2 moose densities estimated at 0.88–1.69 animals per square mile. TURKEY: No established turkey season in WMU A2 — wild turkey populations are limited or absent in the far northern North Country; turkey hunting is primarily a southern and central NH activity.

One of New Hampshire's true wilderness hunting experiences. Remote interior forest rarely sees hunting pressure outside of immediate road corridors. Quality black bear hunting with baiting allowed (permit required). Moose lottery unit — 7 permits issued for 2026 season (Oct 17-25), one of the more accessible northern moose units. Exceptional early archery deer hunting in beaver flowage edges and clearcut seams. Self-reliant hunters willing to go deep will find undisturbed big-woods bucks.