Early reports coming in show that bow hunters in most New Hampshire counties are having the best success in 10 years. Officials credit the success to decent weather and abundant deer. They predict that the same results may be instore for the upcoming muzzleloader and regular firearms seasons.
As a reminder, the muzzleloader season in New Hampshire runs from October 28 until November 7th. This will immediately be followed by the regular firearms season that begins on November 8.
A quick look at comparative numbers shows that in Belknap County 107 deer have been tagged, compared to 66 at the same time last year. This also compares with a previous high of 92 killed in 2000. We can compare other counties the same way.
Carroll reports 60 tagged – last season 44 – previous high 71 in 1999
Cheshire 175 – 99 last year – 155 in 1999
Coos 78 – 45 last year – 128 in 1999
Grafton 333 – 159 last – 328 in 1999
Hillsborough 256 – 198 last – 252 in 2000
Merrimack 182 – 94 last – 171 in 1999
Rockingham 208 – 198 last – 269 in 2000
Strafford 156 – 106 last – 121 in 2003
Sullivan 120 – 79 last – 96 in 2000
If you compare just totals for this same time period you’ll see that so far this season 1675 deer have been tagged by bow hunters compared to 1088 last year. I think it became obvious that 1999 was a banner year for deer showing a total of 1620 deer bagged during this same time period.
Hunters, get out and enjoy the conditions and the ample opportunities and don’t forget that this weekend is the Youth Hunt. Take a kid hunting this weekend.
Tom Remington
