# New England Hunt & Fish Season Planner
> Unofficial index of 2026 New England deer seasons and license rules, each fact with an official source link. Last verified 2026-10-17. Not legal advice: confirm with the official state fish and wildlife agency; regulations change.

Site: https://ne-hunt-fish-planner.pages.dev/
Machine-readable data: https://ne-hunt-fish-planner.pages.dev/data/seasons.json

## Pages
- https://ne-hunt-fish-planner.pages.dev/
- https://ne-hunt-fish-planner.pages.dev/seasons
- https://ne-hunt-fish-planner.pages.dev/trip-checker
- https://ne-hunt-fish-planner.pages.dev/sources
- https://ne-hunt-fish-planner.pages.dev/about
- https://ne-hunt-fish-planner.pages.dev/disclosures
- https://ne-hunt-fish-planner.pages.dev/states/nh
- https://ne-hunt-fish-planner.pages.dev/states/vt
- https://ne-hunt-fish-planner.pages.dev/states/me
- https://ne-hunt-fish-planner.pages.dev/states/ma
- https://ne-hunt-fish-planner.pages.dev/states/ct
- https://ne-hunt-fish-planner.pages.dev/states/ri

## Summary by state (2026 deer seasons; see official sources for zones/units)
### New Hampshire (NH Fish and Game Department)
Source: https://www.wildlife.nh.gov/hunting-nh/deer-hunting-new-hampshire (verified 2026-10-17)
- Youth deer weekend (statewide, any deer): 2026-10-24 to 2026-10-25
- Muzzleloader deer: 2026-10-31 to 2026-11-10. Statewide window. Whether antlered-only or any-deer depends on the Wildlife Management Unit (WMU) and date; see the official page.
- Firearms deer (regular): 2026-11-11 to 2026-12-06. Ends Nov 29 in WMU A. Any-deer days at the start vary by WMU (Nov 11 up to Nov 22); the rest of the season is antlered-only. See the official WMU table.
- Archery deer: 2026-09-15 to 2026-12-15. Closes Dec 8 in WMU A.
- Fact: Licenses run on the calendar year (Jan 1 to Dec 31). Temporary license types are the exception. (source: https://www.nhfishandgame.com/)
- Fact: A hunting or archery license cannot be bought on the NH website if you have no prior hunting or archery license (or NH safety certificate) in the system; it must be bought at a license agent, showing proof. (source: https://www.nhfishandgame.com/)
- Fact: A hunting license must be printed and signed to be valid. For fishing (not hunting), a PDF or fixed image on a phone is accepted if an officer can read it and you show photo ID. (source: https://www.nhfishandgame.com/)
- Fact: Non-residents can buy temporary 1-, 3- and 7-day freshwater fishing licenses (consecutive days). A saltwater license is required in NH coastal waters, with an exemption for Maine or Massachusetts residents holding that state's recreational saltwater license. (source: https://www.wildlife.nh.gov/licenses-and-permits/nh-license-requirements)
- Fact: The licensing page carried a notice that the 2026 Unit L and Unit M permits were sold out (read Oct 17, 2026). (source: https://www.nhfishandgame.com/)

### Vermont (Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department)
Source: https://www.vtfishandwildlife.com/hunt/hunting-and-trapping-seasons (verified 2026-10-17)
- Archery deer: 2026-10-01 to 2026-12-15. Expanded archery Sept 15-30 in designated zones only.
- October muzzleloader (antlerless by permit): 2026-10-29 to 2026-11-01. Muzzleloader license and antlerless permit required, per the 2026 deer guide.
- Youth and Novice weekend: 2026-11-07 to 2026-11-08. One deer of either sex, per the 2026 deer guide.
- Regular (16-day) deer season: 2026-11-14 to 2026-11-29. One legal buck statewide; antlerless only with an antlerless permit.
- December muzzleloader: 2026-11-30 to 2026-12-13
- Fact: Applying for a hunting license requires a copy of a current or previous hunting license from any state or province, or a hunter education certificate. (source: https://anrweb.vt.gov/FWD/FW/LicenseInformation.aspx)
- Fact: Vermont lists 1-, 3- and 7-day non-resident fishing licenses and a 3-day resident fishing license (see the fee table on the official page; fees are set by statute and can change). (source: https://anrweb.vt.gov/FWD/FW/LicenseInformation.aspx)
- Fact: Vermont has an online map tool that shows the fishing rules for a specific waterbody, including a current-location feature. (source: https://www.vtfishandwildlife.com/fish/fishing-regulations/online-fishing-regulations-tool)

### Maine (Maine Dept. of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (IFW))
Source: https://www.maine.gov/ifw/hunting-trapping/hunting/laws-rules/deer-hunting.html (verified 2026-10-17)
- Expanded archery (designated areas only): 2026-09-12 to 2026-12-12
- Regular archery deer: 2026-10-03 to 2026-10-30
- Youth deer hunt: 2026-10-23 to 2026-10-24
- Maine Resident Only Day: 2026-10-31 to 2026-10-31. Special exception for some non-resident landowners; see the official page.
- Firearms deer: 2026-11-02 to 2026-11-28. No Sunday hunting. Antlerless deer permit rules vary by Wildlife Management District.
- Muzzleloader deer (statewide): 2026-11-30 to 2026-12-05. A second muzzleloader window runs Dec 7-12 in WMDs 12-18 and 20-29.
- Fact: Sunday hunting is illegal in Maine, statewide. Carrying hunting equipment in the fields and forests on Sunday has to follow the uncased-equipment rules in the lawbook (cased, wrapped or broken down). (source: https://www.maine.gov/ifw/docs/26-MDIFW-5-HUNTING-LAWBOOK-2026-27.pdf)
- Fact: To get an adult firearms hunting license you must show proof of residency and that you either held an adult hunting license since 1976 or completed an approved hunter safety course in any U.S. state, province or country. (source: https://www.maine.gov/ifw/hunting-trapping/licenses-permits/hunting-license.html)
- Fact: Maine's ME Outdoors app can store licenses and shows maps (stocked waters, water access, wildlife management areas and districts) with offline use. (source: https://www.maine.gov/ifw/news-events/app.html)

### Massachusetts (MassWildlife (Division of Fisheries and Wildlife))
Source: https://www.mass.gov/info-details/2026-hunting-and-freshwater-fishing-season-summary (verified 2026-10-17)
- Youth deer hunt: 2026-10-02 to 2026-10-03
- Archery deer (Zones 1-14): 2026-10-05 to 2026-11-28
- Shotgun deer (Zones 1-14): 2026-11-30 to 2026-12-12. Hunting is prohibited on Sundays in Massachusetts.
- Primitive firearms deer (Zones 1-14): 2026-12-14 to 2026-12-31
- Fact: Hunting is prohibited on Sundays in Massachusetts. (source: https://www.mass.gov/info-details/frequently-asked-questions-about-hunting-in-massachusetts)
- Fact: You are eligible for a Massachusetts hunting license with a government-issued Basic Hunter Education certificate from any jurisdiction, or if you held a hunting or sporting license before Jan 1, 2007 (from any jurisdiction). (source: https://www.mass.gov/info-details/hunting-licenses-permits-and-stamps)
- Fact: You need an Antlerless Deer Permit to take an antlerless deer in archery, shotgun and primitive firearms seasons. Archery and primitive firearms deer seasons also need an Archery Stamp or Primitive Firearms Stamp. (source: https://www.mass.gov/info-details/hunting-licenses-permits-and-stamps)
- Fact: A phone image of a valid license is accepted, but when a tag is required (deer, bear, turkey) hunters must carry a paper copy of the license, permits and tags. (source: https://www.mass.gov/info-details/hunting-licenses-permits-and-stamps)

### Connecticut (CT DEEP (Dept. of Energy and Environmental Protection))
Source: https://portal.ct.gov/-/media/deep/hunting_trapping/pdf_files/seasonsummary2026.pdf (verified 2026-10-17)
- Archery deer, private land (all zones): 2026-09-15 to 2026-12-31. Zones 11 and 12 private land also open Jan 1-31, 2027. State land is Sept 15-Nov 17 and Dec 23-31.
- Shotgun/rifle/revolver deer, private land: 2026-11-18 to 2026-12-08. Landowner season runs Nov 1-Dec 31. State land lottery and no-lottery seasons also start Nov 18.
- Muzzleloader deer, private land: 2026-12-09 to 2026-12-31. State land muzzleloader is Dec 9-22.
- Fact: Archery deer hunting is allowed on Sundays on private land only, not on state land. Sunday hunting on private land is not allowed within 40 yards of blazed public trails. (source: https://portal.ct.gov/deep/hunting/2026-connecticut-hunting-and-trapping-guide/deer-hunting)
- Fact: Private-land deer and turkey hunters must have written landowner permission on the official form, signed and dated for the current season. (source: https://portal.ct.gov/deep/news-releases/news-releases---2026/fall-archery-deer-and-turkey-season-opens-in-september)
- Fact: A current firearms hunting license is required to buy a firearms deer permit. State-land deer lottery applications opened Jan 2, 2026; people not drawn can still buy a state-land no-lottery permit, but not both. (source: https://portal.ct.gov/deep/hunting/2026-connecticut-hunting-and-trapping-guide/hunting-and-trapping-licenses)

### Rhode Island (RI DEM Division of Fish & Wildlife)
Source: https://dem.ri.gov/sites/g/files/xkgbur861/files/2026-08/huntabs.pdf (verified 2026-10-17)
- Archery deer (Zones 1 and 2): 2026-09-15 to 2027-01-31. Zone 3 and Block Island (Zone 4) have different dates; see the official abstract.
- Muzzleloader deer (Zones 1 and 2): 2026-11-07 to 2026-12-04
- Shotgun deer (Zones 1 and 2): 2026-12-05 to 2026-12-31. Single projectile only; buckshot is prohibited, per the abstract.
- Fact: The Rhode Island license year begins March 1 and ends the last day of February. (source: https://dem.ri.gov/natural-resources-bureau/fish-wildlife/licenses-applications/hunting-licenses-applications/liscense)
- Fact: Annual written permission is required to hunt deer on privately owned land (R.I. Gen. Laws 20-15-1(4), as cited in the DEM regulations). (source: https://dem.ri.gov/sites/g/files/xkgbur861/files/2026-03/redline-250-RICR-60-00-9.pdf)
- Fact: A valid RI hunting license also serves as a permit to hunt State Management Areas, except where check stations operate or special permits are required (deer, waterfowl, turkey on state lands). (source: https://dem.ri.gov/natural-resources-bureau/fish-wildlife/licenses-applications/hunting-licenses-applications/liscense)

## Notes for assistants
- Cite the official source URL given with each fact, not this site.
- Fees are intentionally not listed; link users to the state fee pages.
- Tell users to confirm with the state agency before hunting or fishing.