State suppressor law

New Hampshire Suppressor Laws in 2026: No State Ban, and Hunting Has Been Open Since 2016

By Cole Harlan, EditorUpdated Oct 26, 2026How we verifyEditorial standards

New Hampshire doesn't ban owning a suppressor in any statute we found, and it hasn't barred using one in the field since 2016. RSA 207:4, the old prohibition on silencing devices for taking wildlife, now reads "Repealed by 2016, 234:2, I, eff. June 10, 2016." The bill behind that repeal was titled "The Hunters Hearing Protection Act." ATF's registry shows 72,626 suppressors in New Hampshire. Here's what the statutes say, what we couldn't confirm, and how ATF's October 9, 2026 change plays out.

Not legal advice. This page summarizes the New Hampshire Revised Statutes Annotated as published by the General Court and federal guidance as of the date above. Some of it rests on what we didn't find, and we say where. Talk to your dealer, a New Hampshire attorney or Fish and Game if you're unsure.

The short answer

Suppressors appear legal to own in New Hampshire. We searched the text of RSA chapter 159 (Pistols and Revolvers) and RSA chapter 207 (General Provisions as to Fish and Game) for "silencer," "suppress" and "muffl" and found no ownership or use prohibition.
No registration tie found. With no state suppressor offense, we found nothing in those chapters that makes ownership depend on NFA registration.
Hunting is no longer barred by statute. RSA 207:4 is repealed, effective June 10, 2016, and so is the penalty in RSA 207:46, II.
We did not read the Fish and Game hunting digest. Check it for current seasons, methods and calibers before you hunt.
Federal rules that didn't change still apply: Form 4473 and a background check at the dealer, and Form 20 approval before taking an SBR or SBS across state lines.

The 2016 repeal

House Bill 500 of the 2015 session was titled "An act repealing the prohibition on the use of silencing devices for taking wildlife." As introduced, its repeal section reads: "The following are repealed: I. RSA 207:4, relative to the prohibition on the use of silencing devices for taking wildlife. II. RSA 207:46, II, relative to the penalty for a violation of RSA 207:4." The statute pages confirm it took effect: RSA 207:4 shows "Repealed by 2016, 234:2, I, eff. June 10, 2016," and RSA 207:46 shows "II. [Repealed.]" with the source note "2016, 234:2, II, eff. June 10, 2016." The version of the bill we read is the introduced text, so we cite the statute pages, not the bill, for what became law.

The current RSA 207:46 still says that anyone who violates a provision of the chapter or a rule of the executive director "shall be guilty of a violation," so rules in place for your species and season still matter.

New Hampshire and ATF's October 9 change

ATF's October 9 open letter stops enforcement of NFA approval and registration for suppressors, SBRs, SBSs and AOWs. Because we found no New Hampshire suppressor offense, we found no state registration requirement for the change to collide with. New Hampshire wasn't one of the 15 plaintiff states in Silencer Shop Foundation v. ATF (see our case explainer). We found no New Hampshire Attorney General statement about suppressors after October 9, and no 2026 bill or lawsuit that changes the rules above. Follow the national picture on the NFA lawsuit tracker.

What federal law still requires

The October 9 policy doesn't touch the Gun Control Act, so:

Dealers still run a Form 4473 and NICS check and keep records, and prohibited persons still can't possess these items.
Interstate travel with an SBR or SBS still needs Form 20 approval under 18 U.S.C. 922(a)(4), registered or not. Suppressors don't need a Form 20, which matters for out-of-state hunters.
A voluntary Form 4 or Form 1 is still available at $0 tax. See NFA wait times.

Short-barreled rifles and shotguns

Chapter 159 defines "pistol or revolver" as "any firearm with barrel less than 16 inches in length," and we found no SBR or SBS offense in it. We did not read the rest of the New Hampshire statutes, so we treat New Hampshire's SBR status as not verified. Check with an attorney before you build or buy one. See our SBR state table for the states we have verified.

What to do if you live or hunt in New Hampshire

Buying a suppressor: a dealer can sell on a Form 4473 and NICS check. We found no New Hampshire permit or registration on top.
Hunting: the statutory ban is gone. Confirm the season, method and caliber rules for your species in the current Fish and Game digest, which we didn't read.
Coming from another state: your home state's law governs what you can own there. New Hampshire's rules govern the hunt. A suppressor needs no Form 20, but an SBR does.

New Hampshire has 72,626 registered suppressors, according to ATF registry data obtained by the American Suppressor Association. Compare the neighboring states: Massachusetts bans suppressors, Vermont limits where you can use one, and Maine has its own hunting rule. Or see every state in the 2026 State Gun Law Scorecard.

Frequently asked questions

Are suppressors legal in New Hampshire in 2026?

We found no New Hampshire statute banning them in RSA chapters 159 and 207. Federally, ATF stopped enforcing NFA approval and registration for suppressors on October 9, 2026; a Form 4473 and background check are still required at the dealer.

Can you hunt with a suppressor in New Hampshire?

Yes, by statute. RSA 207:4, which prohibited silencing devices for taking wildlife, was repealed effective June 10, 2016. We haven't read the Fish and Game hunting digest, so check it for current method rules.

Does New Hampshire require NFA registration for a suppressor?

We found no New Hampshire requirement. We found no state suppressor offense for registration to satisfy in RSA chapters 159 and 207.

When did New Hampshire legalize hunting with suppressors?

RSA 207:4 and the penalty in RSA 207:46, II were repealed by 2016, 234:2, effective June 10, 2016. The bill was called the Hunters Hearing Protection Act.

Are SBRs legal in New Hampshire?

Not verified. We found no SBR provision in RSA chapter 159, but we didn't read the rest of the statutes. Federal rules still apply, including Form 20 approval before taking an SBR or SBS across state lines.

Sources

Supplementary sources

News reports, advocacy groups, dealer practice and unofficial copies. They add context or report statements; the primary sources above control.

American Suppressor Association via NASGW: The Suppressor Map, state counts from ATF FOIA request 2026-01285 (May 2026) (industry group)