STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE FISH AND GAME DEPARTMENT WILDLIFE DIVISION

24 September 2025

As of September 23rd, 413 bears (222 males, 191 females) have been reported to the bear project.  Bait hunters have harvested 328 bears (170 males, 158 females) and still hunters have taken 83 bears (51 males, 32 females).  As of September 23rd, no bears taken with the use of hounds have been reported, however, that season opened on September 22nd and a data lag is typical. The current overall harvest sex ratio is 1.2 males per female.  Method-specific harvest sex ratios include 1.1 and 1.6 m:f for bait and still hunters, respectively.

Regionally, 124 bears (69 males, 55 females) have been taken in the North, 128 (60 males, 68 females) in the White Mountains, 94 (51 males, 43 females) in the Central, 33 (22 males, 11 females) in Southwest-1, 32 (19 males, 13 females) in Southwest-2, and 2 (1 male, 1 female) in the Southeast region. 

Below is a breakdown of the bear harvest through September 23rd for the past 6 years.  Currently, this year’s harvest is running 41% behind the 5-year in-season average of 698 bears, and 52% below the 2024 tally (870 bears) at this point in the season.  This year’s harvest is expected to be similar to recent years based on average food abundance. Please note that these numbers are preliminary and only represent the number of bear registration forms that have arrived to Concord by 9/23/25.  A total of 14 bear registration stations have been established around the state for the 2025 bear hunting season. The addition of these stations has been met with great popularity among bear hunters. To date, 61% of bears harvested have been brought to a registration station. It’s important to note that there is some lag time from when a bear is registered to when the registration forms arrive in Concord. The harvest trend seen to date may change in the coming weeks as increased registration forms are received.

This year marks the second hunting season that New Hampshire hunters may harvest two bears. One bear may be taken statewide, with an additional bear eligible for harvest in the White Mountains region, (WMU’s C1, D2, E, F). So far this season there have been 8 hunters that have harvested two bears.

Biologists continue to assess fall mast crops around the state, and preliminary assessment information is showing average production across the landscape. Summer soft mast crop abundance varied by region but seems to align with long-term averages, despite a significant drought. Hard mast crops are still being assessed, however it is clear that acorns are abundant statewide, with good beechnuts also being reported in some areas. Bears will continue to exploit these crops well into late fall, likely leading to an increased harvest by opportunistic deer hunters.

The bait hunting portion of the season will end in the North, Southwest-1, Southwest-2 and Southeast regions on September 28th and on October 5th in the White Mountains and Central regions.  The statewide hound hunting season (excluding the southernmost two regions), opened on September 22nd.

Thank you to everyone for promptly submitting registration slips.  Please continue to submit all bear registration slips and premolars with deer data mailings during the rest of the 2025 bear season. Your continued effort is much appreciated.

Interpretation of harvest data and ages of harvested bears will be complete and available by spring.

2025 IN-SEASON BEAR HARVEST TALLY COMPARED TO PREVIOUS 5 YEARS
AS OF 09/23/24 AS TALLIED ON 9/24/2024