WMU E1, New Hampshire
About this unit
Sign in to contributeWMU E1 covers the central New Hampshire uplands spanning portions of Merrimack and Sullivan counties, characterized by mixed hardwood-conifer forest with productive deer and turkey habitat. It sits within the broader WMU E zone, which supports huntable populations of white-tailed deer, black bear, and wild turkey, with antlerless deer opportunity available through the statewide permit system. Access is primarily via NH Fish and Game Wildlife Management Areas, state forests including Pillsbury State Park area, and scattered parcels managed for public hunting.
Mixed hardwood-conifer forest typical of central NH uplands; rolling hills and ridges, second-growth maple, beech, and birch interspersed with hemlock and white pine; river drainages and wetland edges provide productive deer and turkey habitat; elevations generally 600-1,400 ft
NH Fish and Game Wildlife Management Areas scattered through Merrimack and Sullivan counties (NHFG manages 124 WMAs statewide totaling ~60,000 acres); Pillsbury State Park and surrounding state forest in Washington/Hillsborough border area; multiple NH Division of Forests and Lands state forest tracts open to hunting; private land largely open to hunting by custom unless posted with landowner name and address per NH law
moderate
Antlerless deer in WMU E (E1/E2/E3) are available via the statewide archery antlerless permit system; WMU E is not among the high-demand special permit WMUs (L, M) that require lottery — antlerless permits are generally available over the counter or first-come; a valid deer license plus antlerless permit required to harvest does during firearms and muzzleloader seasons
DEER: Archery Sep 15-Dec 15; Youth Weekend late Oct; Muzzleloader late Oct-Nov 10; Firearms Nov 11-Dec 6 (approx 2025-26 dates); antlerless permit required for does outside archery season. TURKEY: Spring season May 1-31 statewide; fall archery concurrent with deer archery; fall shotgun available in select WMUs — WMU E has spring season; one turkey permit covers spring and fall. BEAR: Season opens Sep 1 statewide; WMU E is a designated zone where a second bear may be taken with an additional bear license and tag; baiting, dogs, and still hunting methods permitted per NHFG rules; archery bear concurrent with early season. MOOSE: WMU E1 is in central NH; moose lottery permits issued primarily for northern WMUs (A, B, C); moose are present but permit opportunity in E1 is limited and subject to lottery — hunters should check current NHFG permit zone maps annually.
Strong deer herd in productive central NH mixed forest; excellent wild turkey population in a WMU with both spring and fall turkey seasons; black bear present and huntable with a bear permit (WMU E is a designated additional bear permit zone); minimal moose presence in this southern portion of E1 though moose lottery permits cover more northern units; good public land access via WMAs and state forest without the pressure of the seacoast WMUs
Questions, tips & discussion
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Boundaries: NHFG official Wildlife Management Units. Community info last updated 114d ago.