New Hampshire WMU J2: deer harvest, any-deer days, bears and public land
New Hampshire's Wildlife Management Unit J2 covers 929 square miles of Belknap, Strafford, Merrimack and Carroll counties. Hunters took 2,113 deer there in 2025, up from 1,550 in 2024, and 1,169 of them were adult bucks against a ten-year average of 1,095. In 2026 any deer may be taken on the first four days of muzzleloader season and the first five days of firearms season. 1.4% of the unit is public land, the largest share state forest and park land (4,237 acres).
Data updated October 2026. Harvest: NHFG 2025 New Hampshire Wildlife Harvest Summary. Seasons: NHFG Deer Hunting in New Hampshire (2026 dates). Land: GRANIT and PAD-US.
Fish and Game landState forest and park landArmy Corps of EngineersMilitary (closed unless the base allows)WMU J2Neighboring WMUsHighway
| Size | 929 square miles |
|---|---|
| Public land | 1.4% (8,348 acres) |
| Deer taken, 2025 | 2,113 (1,310 male, 803 female) |
| Deer taken, 2024 | 1,550 |
| Adult bucks, 2025 | 1,169; ten-year average 1,095 |
| Deer per square mile of habitat, 2025 | 2.93 (NHFG) |
| Any-deer days, 2026 | Muzzleloader October 31 to November 3; firearms November 11 to 15 |
| Bears taken in bear unit J2, 2025 | 49 (36 over bait, 11 still hunting, 2 with hounds) |
| Spring turkeys in turkey unit J2, 2025 | 815 |
| Moose permits, 2026 | None; NHFG has suspended moose permits here |
| Wildlife management areas | Ellis R. Hatch Jr., Merrymeeting Marsh, Kona, Hoit Road Marsh |
How many deer are taken in WMU J2 each season?
2,113 deer in 2025, 563 more than in 2024. 36.6% came in archery season and 45.3% in the regular firearms season; NHFG puts the 2025 kill at 2.93 deer per square mile of deer habitat, against 1.81 statewide.
| Season | Male, 2025 | Female, 2025 | All deer, 2025 | All deer, 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Archery | 355 | 418 | 773 | 410 |
| Youth weekend | 34 | 32 | 66 | 43 |
| Muzzleloader | 209 | 108 | 317 | 396 |
| Firearm | 712 | 245 | 957 | 701 |
| All seasons | 1,310 | 803 | 2,113 | 1,550 |
Sources: NHFG 2025 New Hampshire Wildlife Harvest Summary; NHFG 2024 New Hampshire Wildlife Harvest Summary. Each season's WMU columns add up to the report's statewide total.
How has the adult buck kill in WMU J2 changed since 2016?
Adult bucks are NHFG's steadiest index of a unit's deer numbers. WMU J2 gave 1,169 in 2025; the most in the last ten seasons was 1,184 in 2020 and the fewest 956 in 2016. NHFG's objective for the unit is 940 a year, and its two-year average stands at 1,069 (desired change -12%).
| Season | Adult bucks | Change from the year before |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1,169 | +200 |
| 2024 | 969 | -212 |
| 2023 | 1,181 | +29 |
| 2022 | 1,152 | -16 |
| 2021 | 1,168 | -16 |
| 2020 | 1,184 | +100 |
| 2019 | 1,084 | +6 |
| 2018 | 1,078 | +67 |
| 2017 | 1,011 | +55 |
| 2016 | 956 | +107 |
What do NHFG's check stations say about WMU J2 bucks?
Yearling bucks measured at check stations in WMU J2 averaged 17.1 mm of antler beam over 2021 to 2025 (125 deer); NHFG reads 17 to 19 mm as deer in good to excellent health. Yearlings made up 39.3% of the adult bucks it aged (328 bucks), so the rest were two and a half or older.
Source: NHFG 2025 New Hampshire Wildlife Harvest Summary, adult buck kill by WMU, yearling antler beam diameter and yearling male fraction tables.
Which towns in WMU J2 had the most deer registered?
| Town | WMUs in the town | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Per square mile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rochester | J2, L | 197 | 139 | 4.45 |
| Strafford | J2 | 159 | 107 | 3.27 |
| Barrington | J2, L | 157 | 115 | 3.38 |
| Barnstead | J2 | 139 | 98 | 3.27 |
| Alton | J2 | 137 | 97 | 2.16 |
| Gilmanton | J2 | 136 | 95 | 2.37 |
| Loudon | J2 | 130 | 113 | 2.82 |
| Pittsfield | J2 | 128 | 72 | 5.39 |
Source: NHFG 2025 New Hampshire Wildlife Harvest Summary, deer kill by town. A town's figure counts all of it, including any part in another WMU.
When are the 2026 deer seasons in WMU J2?
| Season | Dates, 2026 | What may be taken |
|---|---|---|
| Archery | September 15 to December 15 | Any deer |
| Youth weekend | October 24 to 25 | Any deer |
| Muzzleloader | October 31 to November 10 | Any deer October 31 to November 3; antlered only after |
| Regular firearms | November 11 to December 6 | Any deer November 11 to 15; antlered only after |
An antlered deer in New Hampshire has at least one antler 3 inches long. Baiting deer is allowed October 21 to November 18 in WMU J2, with further limits in NHFG's rules.
Sources: NHFG Deer Hunting in New Hampshire (2026 dates); NHFG Dates and Seasons; antlered deer defined in NHFG 2025 New Hampshire Wildlife Harvest Summary.
How many bears are taken around WMU J2?
Bear unit J2 (Central region) gave 49 bears in 2025: 36 over bait, 11 by still hunting and 2 with hounds, after 51 in 2024. NHFG estimates 0.58 bears per square mile in the Central region against a goal of 0.5, and its plan is to decrease the population. In 2026 the general season runs September 1 to November 30, baiting September 1 to October 5 and hounds September 21 to November 10.
Sources: NHFG 2025 New Hampshire Wildlife Harvest Summary; NHFG 2024 New Hampshire Wildlife Harvest Summary; NHFG Bear Hunting in New Hampshire (2026 seasons).
How many turkeys are taken in turkey unit J2?
815 spring gobblers in 2025 (520 toms and 292 jakes), against a five-year average of 923, and 91 turkeys in fall 2025. Fall 2026: bow September 15 to December 15; shotgun October 12 to 18.
| Spring | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unit J2 | 958 | 1,005 | 942 | 726 | 815 |
Sources: NHFG 2025 New Hampshire Wildlife Harvest Summary, spring turkey harvest by WMU 2016 to 2025; NHFG Dates and Seasons.
Is there a moose season in WMU J2?
Not in 2026. NHFG last issued moose permits here in 2020; permits stay suspended while the region's moose density sits below its cut-off.
Sources: NHFG 2026 Moose Hunting Season and Management; NHFG 2025 New Hampshire Wildlife Harvest Summary.
How much public land is in WMU J2?
1.4% of WMU J2 is public land: 8,348 of its 594,812 acres. The largest share is state forest and park land, 4,237 acres. NHFG notes that not all conservation land is open to hunting and asks hunters to seek landowner permission where they can.
| Manager | Acres | Share of WMU J2 |
|---|---|---|
| State forest and park land | 4,237 | 0.7% |
| Fish and Game land | 4,111 | 0.7% |
| Military (closed unless the base allows) | 104 | under 0.1% |
Measured by FilledTag inside the WMU line from NH Conservation and Public Lands (GRANIT, via NHFG) for state and Army Corps land; USGS Protected Areas Database of the United States (PAD-US 4.1) for federal land.
Wildlife management areas in WMU J2
| Area | Acres in WMU J2 | Town (NHFG) |
|---|---|---|
| Ellis R. Hatch Jr. | 1,916 | Brookfield, New Durham |
| Merrymeeting Marsh | 586 | Alton, New Durham |
| Kona | 321 | Moultonborough |
| Hoit Road Marsh | 291 | Canterbury, Loudon |
| Marks | 289 | Alton, New Durham |
| Beaver Brook | 258 | Alton, New Durham |
| Union Meadows | 122 | Wakefield |
| Powdermill Fish Hatchery | 102 | New Durham |
| Morrill Pond | 76 | Canterbury |
| Coldrain Pond | 62 | New Durham |
| Black Brook | 30 | Sanbornton |
| Turtletown Pond | 18 | Concord |
Which WMUs border WMU J2?
| WMU | Square miles | Deer, 2025 | Adult bucks, 2025 | Deer per sq mi of habitat | Any-deer days 2026 (muzzleloader + firearms) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WMU F | 483 | 200 | 167 | 0.44 | 2 + 2 |
| WMU G2 | 240 | 163 | 109 | 0.75 | 2 + 2 |
| WMU I1 | 368 | 499 | 308 | 1.56 | 3 + 3 |
| WMU J1 | 507 | 666 | 476 | 1.53 | 4 + 4 |
| WMU L | 514 | 1,610 | 779 | 4.16 | 11 + 12 |
Highways crossing WMU J2: NH 11 (44 miles), I-93 (36 miles), NH 28 (33 miles), NH 106 (30 miles), US 3 (30 miles) and NH 132 (28 miles). Towns inside: Alton, Moultonborough, Gilmanton and Strafford.
Questions hunters ask
How many deer were taken in New Hampshire WMU J2 in 2025?
2,113: 1,310 male and 803 female deer, 773 by archery, 317 by muzzleloader, 957 in the regular firearms season and 66 on youth weekend (NHFG 2025 New Hampshire Wildlife Harvest Summary). In 2024 the unit gave 1,550.
When can you shoot a doe in WMU J2 in 2026?
Archery is any deer from September 15 to December 15. In muzzleloader season (October 31 to November 10) any deer may be taken October 31 to November 3, and in firearms season (November 11 to December 6) November 11 to 15; the rest of each season is antlered deer only (NHFG Deer Hunting in New Hampshire (2026 dates)).
Is the WMU J2 deer herd above NHFG's goal?
NHFG measures each unit by its two-year average adult buck kill. For WMU J2 the objective is 940 adult bucks a year and the current level is 1,069, so the plan calls for a change of -12% (NHFG 2025 New Hampshire Wildlife Harvest Summary). Adult bucks taken peaked at 1,184 in 2020 over the last ten seasons.
How many bears are taken in WMU J2?
NHFG reports bears by bear unit; WMU J2 is in bear unit J2, Central region, where hunters took 49 bears in 2025 and 51 in 2024. The 2026 general bear season there runs September 1 to November 30, baiting September 1 to October 5, hounds September 21 to November 10 (NHFG Bear Hunting in New Hampshire (2026 seasons)).
Can you hunt moose in WMU J2?
Not in 2026. NHFG has suspended moose permits in moose WMU J2, where the region's moose density is below its cut-off level (NHFG 2026 Moose Hunting Season and Management).
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Where these numbers come from
- Harvest: NHFG 2025 New Hampshire Wildlife Harvest Summary; NHFG 2024 New Hampshire Wildlife Harvest Summary.
- Seasons: NHFG Deer Hunting in New Hampshire (2026 dates); NHFG Bear Hunting in New Hampshire (2026 seasons); NHFG Dates and Seasons; NHFG 2026 Moose Hunting Season and Management.
- WMU boundary: NHFG Wildlife Management Units. Public land: NH Conservation and Public Lands (GRANIT, via NHFG) for state and Army Corps land; USGS Protected Areas Database of the United States (PAD-US 4.1) for federal land.
- Highways and towns: U.S. Census Bureau TIGER/Line 2024 primary and secondary roads; U.S. Census Bureau 2024 Gazetteer, towns (county subdivisions).
FilledTag is not part of the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department. Numbers are copied from NHFG, GRANIT and federal sources or measured from their maps; nothing on this page is estimated by FilledTag.