WMU L, New Hampshire

Mixed northern hardwood and conifer forest typical of Carroll County's Lakes Region north. Rolling terrain with second-growth maple, beech, and birch transitioning to spruce-fir at higher elevations. Numerous ponds, wetlands, and stream corridors provide edge habitat. Wild apple orchards and beech ridges concentrate deer and bear in fall.

moderate

Unit L Special Antlerless-Only Deer Permits: 3,500 available on a first-come, first-served basis starting 9:00 a.m. the second Tuesday of July (July 14, 2026 for the 2026 season); no lottery — purchase opens to all licensed hunters simultaneously. Each permit costs $26 and includes one antlerless-only tag valid in WMU L. Tags may be used across archery, muzzleloader, or firearms seasons and may be filled before or after any other deer tag the hunter holds.

DEER: Archery Sep 15 – Dec 15 (crossbows permitted in WMU L); Muzzleloader late Oct – early Nov; Firearms Nov 11 – Dec 6 (approximate; verify annually with NHFG). Unit L Special Antlerless Permits available first-come, first-served each July. BEAR: Season opens statewide September 1; closing date varies by WMU — verify current WMU L close date with NHFG. Three bear seasons available: general (stalking), baiting, and dog season. Bear license and tag required; one bear per year statewide limit. TURKEY: Fall shotgun season Oct 13–19 in WMU L (among listed WMUs D2, H1, H2, I1, J2, K, L, M); fall archery turkey coincides with deer archery season. Spring turkey season also available statewide. MOOSE: WMU L sits at the southern fringe of moose range; moose permits are issued by lottery for designated WMUs. NH moose lottery applications accepted mid-January through late May. WMU L is not among the primary high-permit northern WMUs (A, B, C) but moose are present in low numbers; check current NHFG moose permit zone assignments annually.

One of the most hunter-accessible antlerless permit programs in the Northeast — 3,500 Unit L tags sold first-come, first-served with no lottery wait. Excellent bear hunting over wild apples and beechnuts in September-October near WMNF edge habitat. Fall shotgun turkey season in mid-October. Crossbows allowed during archery deer season. WMNF provides large blocks of contiguous public land with minimal pressure away from trailheads.