STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE FISH AND GAME DEPARTMENT WILDLIFE DIVISION

13 October 2025

As of  October 5th , 711 bears (367 males, 344 females) have been reported to the bear project.  Bait hunters have harvested 590 bears (295 males, 295 females), still hunters have taken 103 bears (63 males, 43 females), and hound hunters have harvested 12 bears (7 males, 5 females). The current overall harvest sex ratio is 1.0 males per female.  Method-specific harvest sex ratios include 1.0, 1.4, and 1.4 m:f for bait, still, and hound hunters, respectively.

Regionally, 161 bears (89 males, 72 females) have been taken in the North, 222 (111 males, 111 females) in the White Mountains, 200 (98 males, 102 females) in the Central, 61 (35 males, 26 females) in Southwest-1, 64 (33 males, 31 females) in Southwest-2, and 2 (1 male, 1 female) in the Southeast region. 

Below is a breakdown of the bear harvest through October 5th for the past 6 years.  Currently, this year’s harvest is running 18% behind the 5-year in-season average of 870 bears, and 46% below the 2024 tally (1041 bears) at this point in the season.  This year’s harvest is expected to be similar to recent years with average food abundance. Please note that these numbers are preliminary and only represent the number of bear registration forms that arrived in Concord by 10/5. 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. So far this season, 65% 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.

2025 marks the second hunting season that New Hampshire hunters can 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 20 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. Hard mast crops are still being assessed, however it is clear that acorn crops 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 has now ended in all management regions as of October 5th.  The statewide hound hunting season (excluding the southernmost two regions) will remain open until November 11th. The still hunter season will remain open through November 30th, with the exception of the North, and Soutwest-1 regions which close on November 11th.

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.

2025 IN-SEASON BEAR HARVEST TALLY COMPARED TO PREVIOUS 5 YEARS
AS OF 10/05/25 AS TALLIED ON 10/13/25