Unit L and M Antlerless-Only Deer Permits

NH Special Antlerless-Only Deer Permits

Each year, hunters in New Hampshire have the opportunity to purchase special permits to take additional antlerless deer in Wildlife Management Unit L and M. 
 

  • Unit L Permits are issued through an online lottery. In 2024, the application period will open on July 9 and close on July 22.
  • Unit M Permits are sold on a first-come, first-served basis online or in-person at NHFG headquarters in Concord. In 2024, Unit M permits will be available beginning on July 23.

Resources

Unit L Application Guidelines:

  • There is no cost to enter the lottery. You can only apply once.
  • A current NH hunting license will be required before you can enter the lottery except for minors under the age of 16.
  • •    Go to the online licensing page at https://nhfishandgame.com/ 
  • Select the Unit L Lottery button.
  • When applying you must search for your record by entering your last name, date of birth, and current year NH hunting license number. 
    • NOTE: To purchase for a minor, make sure you enter the minor’s information (you will probably have to enter them as a new customer unless he/she has a previous bear or turkey license) and the parent’s driver’s license # if a resident of New Hampshire.
  • Verify that your email address is correct; lottery results will be sent by email.
  • Continue to the confirmation page which can be printed.
  • On August 1, applicants will be randomly drawn. All applicants will be notified of their selection status through emailed notification.
  • Following the notification process on August 1, winners can visit nhfishandgame.com (https://nhfishandgame.com/) after 9:00 a.m. to purchase their Unit L Permit. Lottery winners will have until midnight on Wednesday, August 28 to purchase their permits—no exceptions will be allowed. The cost of a Unit L Permit is $26.
  • Up to 3,000 hunters will be allowed to purchase Unit L permits.

About Unit L Permits

  • The Unit L Permit and tag are valid for an antlerless deer taken in Wildlife Management Unit (WMU) L only.  You may use the Unit L permit before or after filling any other deer tag you possess, such as archery or firearms.
  • The tag may be used on any day, including antlered deer only days, during any deer season the hunter holds a license for (archery, muzzleloader, or firearms). Method of take limited to what is legal for the particular season being hunted.
  • A Unit L Antlerless Deer Permit is required for hunters of all ages, including minors less than 16 years of age and hunters holding permanent licenses such as Lifetime, Milestone/Over Age 68, Disabled Veteran or Paraplegic.  Minors under 16 years of age must be accompanied by a properly licensed adult.
  • Fis 301.01(a) “Antlered deer” means a deer which has at least one antler 3 inches long measured from the tip of the main beam along the distal edge of the antler to the base of the antler burr at the skull.

Permit is valid ONLY in Wildlife Management Unit L. Boundaries are described below.
 

Why are Special Unit L Antlerless Only deer permits offered?
Special Unit L antlerless-only permits are being issued by Fish and Game in an effort to stabilize the size of the deer herd in southeastern New Hampshire and minimize deer-human conflicts such as vehicle collisions and destructive browsing of ornamental plants. High deer densities and development make potential deer-human conflicts of greater concern in this region.

Boundaries of Wildlife Management Unit L* are as follows:
Unit L: From the junction of I-93 & I-393 in Concord, east on I-393 to Rte. 4, east on Rte. 4 to Rte. 202 in Northwood, north on Rte. 202 to NH/ME state line, south along the NH/ME state line to Little Bay, south along the Rockingham/Strafford County line in Little & Great Bay to the Squamscott River, south along the Squamscott River to Rte. 101, west along Rte. 101 to I-93 in Manchester, south on I-93 to I-293, north on I-293 to I-93 to I-393 in Concord.

*as listed in the New Hampshire Hunting and Trapping Digest

Unit M Application Guidelines:

  • Each permit comes with two deer tags; the cost is $36, plus a transaction fee. There is not an option of buying one tag.
  • Permits are sold on a first-come, first-served basis, while supplies last.
  • A current NH hunting license will be required before you can purchase a Unit M permit except for minors under the age of 16. NOTE: To purchase for a minor, make sure you enter the minor’s information (you will probably have to enter them as a new customer unless he/she has a previous bear or turkey license) and the parent’s driver’s license # if a resident of New Hampshire.
  • You may purchase only one permit each year. Incomplete, illegible and duplicate applications will not be considered.

About Unit M Permits: 

  • The Unit M Permit and tags are valid for antlerless deer taken in Wildlife Management Unit (WMU) M only. You may use the Unit M tags before or after filling any other deer tag you possess, such as archery or firearms.
  • The tags may be used on any day, including antlered deer only days, during any deer season the hunter holds a license for (archery, muzzleloader, or firearms). Method of take limited to what is legal for the particular season being hunted.
  • A Unit M Antlerless Deer Permit is required for hunters of all ages, including minors less than 16 years of age and hunters holding permanent licenses such as Lifetime, Milestone/Over Age 68, Disabled Veteran or Paraplegic.  Minors under 16 years of age must be accompanied by a properly licensed adult.
  • Permit is valid ONLY in Wildlife Management Unit M. Unit M boundaries are described below.
     

Why are Special Unit M Antlerless-Only deer permits offered?

Special Unit M antlerless-only permits have been issued by Fish and Game since 1997 in an effort to stabilize the size of the deer herd in southeastern New Hampshire and minimize deer-human conflicts such as vehicle collisions and destructive browsing of ornamental plants. High deer densities and development make potential deer-human conflicts of greater concern in this region.
 

Boundaries of Wildlife Management Unit M* are as follows:

From the junction of Rte. 13 in Brookline and the NH/MA border, north on Rte. 13 to Rte. 101 in Milford, north on Rte. 101 to I-293 in Manchester, east on I-293 to I-93, north on Rte. I-93 to Rte. 101 in Manchester, east on Rte. 101 to its junction with the Squamscott River in Exeter, north along the Squamscott River to Great Bay, north along the Strafford/Rockingham County line in Great and Little Bay to the NH/ME state line, east along the NH/ME state line to the Atlantic Ocean, south along the NH coast line to the NH/MA line, west along the NH/MA state line to its junction with Rte. 13 in Brookline.

*as listed in the NH Hunting and Trapping Digest