A series of public hearings is scheduled beginning Monday, April 3, 2006. Every two years the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department reviews all the hunting rules and regulations to ensure that what is occuring in the field is in line with the long range management goals.
These hearings are a chance for hunters to attend and express their thoughts and ideas. Below is a list of meeting dates and locations.
* MONDAY, APRIL 3, 6:30 p.m. — North Country Resource Center, 629
B Main Street, Lancaster, N.H.* TUESDAY, APRIL 4, 6:30 p.m. — Keene High School (please note —
this is a change from the usual middle school location), 43 Arch
Street, Keene, N.H.* WEDNESDAY, APRIL 5, 6:30 p.m. — N.H. Fish and Game Department
Headquarters
11 Hazen Drive, Concord, N.H.
Below is a brief listing of some of the topics that will discussed are are being considered for rule changes.
“The proposed changes support Fish and Game’s long-range Big Game
Management goals,” said Mark Ellingwood, a wildlife biologist with the Fish
and Game Department. Completed last year after ten months of effort by
a diverse public working group, the Department’s Big Game Management
Plan was developed to guide deer, moose, bear and turkey management
through the next decade (2006-2015). The New Hampshire Fish and Game
Department reviews the state’s hunting seasons every two years to ensure that
they are in line with wildlife management objectives as specified in
the Big Game Plan. This year, 2006, is a season-setting year and begins
implementation of this plan.Among other topics, the rule proposals would:
* Change season dates for taking deer during the regular, muzzleloader
and archery seasons (changes include reducing the length of the regular
deer and archery seasons in WMU A).* Increase the number of Special Unit M antlerless-only deer permits
(to 5,500; up from 3,250). This change reflects a long-term objective to
reduce deer numbers in this urbanized area of the state.* Increase the number of moose permits issued statewide, from 525 in
2005 to 705 in 2006-2007, and adjust the allocation of those permits in
the Wildlife Management Units. A significant portion of the increase
results from the Big Game Management Plan’s objective to decrease the
moose population in the Connecticut Lakes region, initially by 13% over two
to three years.* Modify the dates and length of bear hunting seasons in different bear
management regions.* Establish a new permit, fee and requirements for taking turkey in a
new 5-day fall shotgun season in WMUs D1, D2, H1, H2, I1, I2, K (the
current fall turkey season is archery-only); eliminate the maximum width
for broadheads used to take turkeys; establish a short turkey season in
WMU A; and extend the time allowed to register a turkey from 12 to 24
hours.* Change the furbearer rules to designate areas by WMUs instead of by
county; consolidate some rules for species that have similar seasons;
readopt the rule regarding fisher seasons in order to take comments on
fisher bag limits; and establish a season for coyote trapping.* Require trappers and wildlife control operators to have held a
trapping or wildlife control operator license for 3 years since 2000 before
taking the snaring course.* Combine and standardize rules associated with wildlife baiting.
A complete listing of rules, language and notices, can be seen here.
Written comments must be received by April 25, 2006. You can email them to : comments@wildlife.state.nh.us (subject line should read, “Comments of Wildlife Rules” or mail them to:
Executive Director, N.H. Fish and Game, 11 Hazen Drive, Concord, N.H. 03301 or
Fax to 603-271-1438
