WMU E3, New Hampshire

Rugged White Mountain terrain dominated by steep ridges, glacially carved valleys, boreal and northern hardwood forest, and high-elevation softwood cover. The Pemigewasset River drains the core of the unit. Elevations range from roughly 800 ft in the Lincoln valley floor to over 4,000 ft on surrounding peaks. Dense spruce-fir at elevation transitions to mixed hardwood-hemlock mid-slope and open riparian corridors along stream drainages. Timber cuts and regenerating clearings on WMNF provide prime deer and bear browse.

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WMU E (including E3) is not among the special antlerless permit units (L and M are the primary antlerless permit units). Hunters are limited to antlered deer during the regular firearms season. Archery and muzzleloader seasons allow any legal deer on any-deer days per the statewide framework; confirm unit-specific any-deer days in the current NHFG digest. No Special Antlerless-Only Permit program applies to E3.

DEER: Archery Sept 15-Dec 15; Muzzleloader Nov 1-11; Firearms Nov 12-Dec 7. WMU E does not have early-closure restrictions (only WMU A closes early). Deer densities are lower than southern NH units but body weights trend larger. Scout regenerating cuts and hardwood ridges. BEAR: Season opens Sept 1 statewide; still-hunting/stalking through Nov 30 in WMU E; baiting Sept 1-Oct 5 (permit required); dog season Sept 22-Nov 11 (free permit required). WMU E qualifies for a second bear tag — register first bear before taking second. Bear density is high in the White Mountains. TURKEY: Fall archery open Sept 15-Dec 15 (WMUs B-M). WMU E is NOT open for fall shotgun season (open only in D2, H1, H2, I1, J1, K, L, M). Spring season May 1-31 statewide, one bird; second bird restricted to WMUs H1, H2, J2, K, L, M only — so E3 hunters get one spring bird. MOOSE: No moose hunting permits issued in WMU E3 for 2025 or 2026 (zero allocation). Moose are present but populations are stressed by winter tick. Moose lottery units with allocations are concentrated in A1, A2, B, C1, C2.

Vast WMNF public land with minimal competition. Black bear density is among the highest in the state — this is prime bear country. Second-bear opportunity available (WMU E qualifies for additional bear tag after registering first bear). Big-woods still-hunting for deer along regenerating timber cuts, stream drainages, and beech ridges. Fall foliage draws leaf-peepers but hunting access remains exceptional away from the Kanc corridor. Turkey populations are present though this is the northern fringe of their range.