Hunting Reports

NH Hunting Reports - 2007

Guides & Lodging in New Hampshire

N.H. HUNTING DIGEST: YOUR GUIDE TO HUNTING IN THE GRANITE STATE

HUNTING REPORT FROM N.H. FISH AND GAME: October 25, 2007

Greetings, hunters! Hope you are having a good season afield. Warm weather dogged the start of the moose season, but as of mid-week, things are going well -- more than half of the hunters who won permits in the lottery have already gotten their moose. New Hampshire's deer herd is healthy and abundant this year, which bodes well for the upcoming muzzleloader season, which starts November 3 (November 5 in WMU A), and the firearms deer season, which gets underway November 14.

If you've bought a license in New Hampshire since 2000, you can BUY the license and permits you need online anytime at http://www.HuntNH.com.

Your best source for hunting season dates and details is the 2007-2008 N.H. Hunting Digest, available at http://www.wildlife.state.nh.us/Hunting/hunting.htm (click on the orange icon), or from Fish and Game offices or license agents statewide.

YOUTH DEER WEEKEND COMING UP -- Young deer hunters (age 15 or younger) will have their own shot at success this weekend (October 27-28) in New Hampshire's 9th annual youth deer hunt. Young people statewide have the chance during this weekend to go deer hunting under the supervision of an adult mentor. Accompanying adults must be licensed hunters and are not allowed to carry a firearm. In 2006, young hunters took a record 668 deer during the youth weekend, a dramatic increase from the 326 deer taken in 2005. For more info, visit http://www.wildlife.state.nh.us/Newsroom/News_2007/News_2007_Q4/Youth_Deer_Hunt_101807.html.

ARCHERY DEER HARVEST HIGH -- There are lots of deer in the woods this fall for New Hampshire hunters, according to early reports from the archery deer season. The deer harvest through October 21 was the highest in at least nine years, with most counties showing significant increases. Archery deer hunters had taken 2,406 at this point in the season. The archery deer season continues through December 15 (December 8 in WMU A). Deer survival last winter was good, as was fawn production and survival last spring. "Deer hunting this fall is definitely providing some excellent opportunities!" said Kent Gustafson, Fish and Game Deer Project Leader. "Youth, muzzleloader and firearm deer hunters should expect a similar good season ahead." For more on deer hunting in New Hampshire, visit http://www.wildlife.state.nh.us/Hunting/Hunt_species/hunt_deer.htm.

UNIT M ANTLERLESS DEER PERMITS AVAILABLE: We still have Unit M Special Deer permits left, but they're going fast! As of October 25, 1,400 permits remained to be issued. They're valid for taking one additional antlerless deer in Wildlife Management Unit M during the archery, muzzleloader or firearms seasons. Permits cost $13 and are sold at http://www.nhfishandgame.com or from Fish and Game headquarters. For details, Unit M boundaries, or a print-and-mail application, visit http://www.wildlife.state.nh.us/Hunting/Special_Unit_M_permits.htm.

BEAR SEASON UPDATE -- As of October 25, hunters reported harvesting 500 bears (283 males, 217 females). That puts us 8% above the 5-year in-season average of 463 bears for this time period, according to Bear Project Leader Andy Timmins, and 64% above last year's harvest at this point in the season. Apple crops have been an important food source for bears this fall throughout the state, but not many are left. The marginal acorn crop across the state has followed a similar trend, and most cornfields have been cut, leaving little standing corn. In spite of summer-like temperatures during much of the fall, declining food abundance should cause early denning for many bears, especially pregnant females and sows with cubs. While the overlap between bear season and the muzzleloader and regular firearms seasons for deer (in select WMUs) will result in some additional bear harvest, this harvest will likely be low because of the onset of denning.

UNIT A DEER RESTRICTIONS: New regulations are in effect in WMU A in New Hampshire's North Country this year. An antler point restriction is in place in this unit, and the number of days available to hunt deer has been reduced, in an effort to improve the "buck age class structure" (the deer population in the North Country has fewer older, mature bucks than is desired in the herd). These restrictions apply to ALL hunters, with the exception of youth hunters during the youth hunt weekend (October 27-28). There is also a 7-day reduction in both the archery and firearms hunting seasons in WMU-A; the archery season will end on December 8, and the regular firearm season ends on December 2, one week earlier than the rest of the state. The muzzleloader deer season begins 2 days later in WMU-A. For specific dates and details, consult the 2007-2008 N.H. Hunting Digest, available at http://www.wildlife.state.nh.us/Hunting/hunting.htm or from Fish and Game license agents.

STAY ALERT FOR CWD: If you're hunting out of state this year, remember that regulations prohibit the importation into New Hampshire of hunter-killed deer, elk and moose carcasses or parts of carcasses from the 16 states and provinces where Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) has been found, except for de-boned meat, antlers, antlers attached to skull caps with all soft tissue removed, upper canine teeth with all soft tissue removed, hides or capes with no part of the head attached and finished taxidermy mounts. CWD is a brain disease that is fatal to deer, elk and moose, and it continues to be a concern for deer hunters and wildlife professionals in New Hampshire. Annual monitoring efforts from 2002 through 2006 have not detected CWD in any New England state. CWD-positive deer have been found as far east as New York and West Virginia. Prevention of CWD in New Hampshire remains a top priority. For a Q&A on CWD-related efforts and guidelines in New Hampshire, visit

http://www.wildlife.state.nh.us/Wildlife/CWD_QandA.htm.

HUNT FOR THE HUNGRY: Got more meat than you need? Help out the hungry by sharing all or part of your fall harvest with the New Hampshire Food Bank, which is very much in need of protein foods. They accept donations of whole or processed game animals for distribution to food pantries and soup kitchens statewide. Last year, the Food Bank's "Hunt for the Hungry" program took in nearly 1,280 pounds of donated deer, bear, moose, duck and other game meat. The program offers packaging instructions and can pick up your donation. Call food bank operations manager Michele Garron at (603) 669-9725. If you're donating a whole deer or moose, you can bring it to Lemay & Sons Beef in Goffstown (603-622-0022), and they'll process it for the food bank at no charge.

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