2026 deer seasons in New England, side by side
Main deer seasons for 2026 in each state, copied from each state's official page. Zone, unit and land-type differences are noted where we saw them; the state pages and official sources have the full detail.
What is open or coming up
Computed in your browser from the dates below, using today's date. A status is only a convenience: confirm on the official page.
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New Hampshire
| Season | Dates (inclusive) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Youth deer weekend (statewide, any deer) | Oct 24, 2026 to Oct 25, 2026 | |
| Muzzleloader deer | Oct 31, 2026 to Nov 10, 2026 | Statewide window. Whether antlered-only or any-deer depends on the Wildlife Management Unit (WMU) and date; see the official page. |
| Firearms deer (regular) | Nov 11, 2026 to Dec 6, 2026 | 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 | Sep 15, 2026 to Dec 15, 2026 | Closes Dec 8 in WMU A. |
Source: NH Fish and Game: Deer Hunting in New Hampshire. Last verified Oct 17, 2026. New Hampshire page
Vermont
| Season | Dates (inclusive) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Archery deer | Oct 1, 2026 to Dec 15, 2026 | Expanded archery Sept 15-30 in designated zones only. |
| October muzzleloader (antlerless by permit) | Oct 29, 2026 to Nov 1, 2026 | Muzzleloader license and antlerless permit required, per the 2026 deer guide. |
| Youth and Novice weekend | Nov 7, 2026 to Nov 8, 2026 | One deer of either sex, per the 2026 deer guide. |
| Regular (16-day) deer season | Nov 14, 2026 to Nov 29, 2026 | One legal buck statewide; antlerless only with an antlerless permit. |
| December muzzleloader | Nov 30, 2026 to Dec 13, 2026 |
Source: Vermont Fish & Wildlife: Hunting and Trapping Seasons. Last verified Oct 17, 2026. Vermont page
Maine
| Season | Dates (inclusive) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Expanded archery (designated areas only) | Sep 12, 2026 to Dec 12, 2026 | |
| Regular archery deer | Oct 3, 2026 to Oct 30, 2026 | |
| Youth deer hunt | Oct 23, 2026 to Oct 24, 2026 | |
| Maine Resident Only Day | Oct 31, 2026 | Special exception for some non-resident landowners; see the official page. |
| Firearms deer | Nov 2, 2026 to Nov 28, 2026 | No Sunday hunting. Antlerless deer permit rules vary by Wildlife Management District. |
| Muzzleloader deer (statewide) | Nov 30, 2026 to Dec 5, 2026 | A second muzzleloader window runs Dec 7-12 in WMDs 12-18 and 20-29. |
Source: Maine IFW: Deer Hunting. Last verified Oct 17, 2026. Maine page
Massachusetts
| Season | Dates (inclusive) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Youth deer hunt | Oct 2, 2026 to Oct 3, 2026 | |
| Archery deer (Zones 1-14) | Oct 5, 2026 to Nov 28, 2026 | |
| Shotgun deer (Zones 1-14) | Nov 30, 2026 to Dec 12, 2026 | Hunting is prohibited on Sundays in Massachusetts. |
| Primitive firearms deer (Zones 1-14) | Dec 14, 2026 to Dec 31, 2026 |
Source: Mass.gov: 2026 hunting and freshwater fishing season summary. Last verified Oct 17, 2026. Massachusetts page
Connecticut
| Season | Dates (inclusive) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Archery deer, private land (all zones) | Sep 15, 2026 to Dec 31, 2026 | 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 | Nov 18, 2026 to Dec 8, 2026 | Landowner season runs Nov 1-Dec 31. State land lottery and no-lottery seasons also start Nov 18. |
| Muzzleloader deer, private land | Dec 9, 2026 to Dec 31, 2026 | State land muzzleloader is Dec 9-22. |
Source: CT DEEP: 2026 Hunting Season Summary (PDF). Last verified Oct 17, 2026. Connecticut page
Rhode Island
| Season | Dates (inclusive) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Archery deer (Zones 1 and 2) | Sep 15, 2026 to Jan 31, 2027 | Zone 3 and Block Island (Zone 4) have different dates; see the official abstract. |
| Muzzleloader deer (Zones 1 and 2) | Nov 7, 2026 to Dec 4, 2026 | |
| Shotgun deer (Zones 1 and 2) | Dec 5, 2026 to Dec 31, 2026 | Single projectile only; buckshot is prohibited, per the abstract. |
Source: RI DEM: 2026-27 hunting abstract (PDF). Last verified Oct 17, 2026. Rhode Island page