Northeast
Uniform statewidePeak rut dates in New Hampshire.
New Hampshire's rut peaks November 10–20, with northern zones lagging southern zones by a few days.
Peak breeding window: Nov 8 – Nov 18 → Nov 11 – Nov 20
Rut phases by zone
Pre-rut, peak, post-rut, late.
Peak Breeding column is highlighted — that's when most does are in estrus.
| Zone | Pre-rut | Peak breeding | Post-rut | Late rut |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southern New Hampshire | Oct 25 – Nov 7 | Nov 8 – Nov 18 | Nov 19 – Dec 2 | Dec 7 – Dec 20 |
| Northern New Hampshire | Oct 28 – Nov 10 | Nov 11 – Nov 20 | Nov 21 – Dec 4 | Dec 9 – Dec 22 |
Zone
Southern New Hampshire
Peak breeding
Nov 8 – Nov 18
Pre-rut
Oct 25 – Nov 7
Post-rut
Nov 19 – Dec 2
Late rut
Dec 7 – Dec 20
Zone
Northern New Hampshire
Peak breeding
Nov 11 – Nov 20
Pre-rut
Oct 28 – Nov 10
Post-rut
Nov 21 – Dec 4
Late rut
Dec 9 – Dec 22
What drives the rut here
New Hampshire's whitetail rut peaks in mid-November. Latitude effect within the state is real but modest — northern bucks run a touch later than southern bucks. The state's NHFG publishes rut summaries based on biologist observations and harvested-doe fetal data.
Source
Data sourced from New Hampshire Fish & Game Department deer-program reports and biologist field observations.
New Hampshire Fish & Game DepartmentAlways verify with the official agency before basing planning decisions on this page. Peak windows shift year to year.
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