N.H. Hunting Digest – Your Guide to Hunting in the Granite State

CONCORD, N.H. — New Hampshire’s fall hunting seasons will soon be underway, and the best resource for exploring them is the 2009-2010 New Hampshire Hunting and Trapping Digest. The Digest is available online at http://www.HuntNH.com or when you buy your license from Fish and Game license agents across the state.

This year, the Hunting Digest has a whole new look. Hunters will notice that New Hampshire Fish and Game Department has fully revised and reformatted the publication — it is now bigger, brighter and more readable. The larger size allows for additional advertising and production support, which means the new format is also more cost-effective for the Department.

In the Digest, you’ll find all the important dates, bag limits and other information about New Hampshire’s hunting and trapping seasons presented in a user-friendly format. It details Wildlife Management Unit (WMU) boundaries, license prices, check stations and other information hunters and trappers need.

Hunting seasons about to get underway include bear and gray squirrel seasons, which start September 1, and the September season for resident Canada geese, which starts September 8. Archery seasons for turkey and white-tailed deer get underway September 15; most small game hunting, including grouse and pheasant, starts October 1. Opening day for New Hampshire’s most popular season — regular firearms deer hunting — is November 10. Following is a summary of the general New Hampshire hunting seasons (consult the Digest for additional information and regulation details):

2009 Hunting Seasons

WHITE-TAILED DEER:
Archery: Sept. 15 – Dec. 15 (closes Dec. 8 in WMU A*)
Youth Deer Weekend: Oct. 24-25
Firearms: Nov. 11 – Dec. 6 (closes Nov. 29 in WMU A*)
Muzzleloader: Oct. 31 – Nov. 10 (opens Nov. 2 in WMU A*)
BLACK BEAR: Starts Sept. 1 (end varies by WMU)
GRAY SQUIRREL: Sept. 1 – Dec. 31
SNOWSHOE HARE: Oct. 1 – March 31 (bag limit varies by WMU)
RUFFED GROUSE: Oct. 1 – Dec. 31
WOODCOCK: Oct. 6 – Nov. 4
MOOSE: Oct. 17 – 25 (by permit only, allocated by lottery)
FALL TURKEY
Shotgun: Oct. 12 – 16 (certain WMUs only)
Archery: Sept. 15 – Dec. 15 (Closed in WMU A)

*For 2009, WMU A in northern New Hampshire continues to have an antler point restriction and shortened season dates for deer. Consult the Hunting Digest for more details.

If you need a hunter education class — required for first-time hunting license holders — don’t delay. Several course offerings and a new online study option are still available. Visit http://www.HuntNH.com/Hunting/hunter_ed.htm, or call (603) 271-3212.

Another useful reference for planning your fall hunting strategy is the 2008 N.H. Wildlife Harvest Summary, which summarizes the outcome of last year’s hunting seasons by WMU and town, including harvest statistics and hunting/trophy records. Find it at http://www.HuntNH.com/Hunting/hunting.htm.

Waterfowl hunting seasons are posted at http://www.wildlife.state.nh.us/Hunting/Hunt_species/hunt_waterfowl.htm.

New Hampshire hunting licenses and permits can be purchased online at http://www.HuntNH.com or from license agents statewide.

Hunting is an important contributor to New Hampshire’s economy. The 2006 National Survey of Fishing, Hunting and Wildlife-Associated Recreation reported that 61,000 hunters in New Hampshire (resident and non-resident, over the age of 16) accounted for nearly $75 million in trip-related, equipment and other spending in the state.

Teen Dies in Late-night ATV Incident in Freedom, N.H.

CONCORD, N.H. – Nineteen-year-old Jason Phair, originally of Gorham, Maine, has died of injuries sustained in an All Terrain Vehicle incident in the early morning hours of August 24, 2009. Family members have been notified.

Phair, who had been living with his girlfriend and her parents in Conway, was attending a party at a house in Freedom, N.H. with several others, most of them younger than 21. At approximately 1:00 a.m., some of the attendees were taking turns riding on a 4-wheeled ATV on a private road. Phair reportedly rode as a passenger on the ATV before taking a ride on his own without a helmet. It appears that Phair lost control of the machine and struck a tree about 200 yards from the house.

The other party attendees took Phair back to the house, but did not call for help for a long period of time. At about 2:30 a.m., a call was placed to 911, alerting authorities to the young man’s worsening condition. Phair was transported to Conway Memorial Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 3:03 a.m.

Fish and Game Conservation Officer Brian Abrams met N.H. State Police and Freedom Police at the scene.

Phair’s body is now in Concord and will be autopsied. The N.H. Fish and Game Department, the Freedom Police Department and N.H. State Police are investigating the incident. Speed and alcohol may have been contributing factors. No further information is available at this time.

Hunting and Fishing Day Expo & N.H. Tour Coming September 26

CONCORD, N.H. — The New Hampshire Fish and Game Department is orchestrating a statewide celebration of National Hunting and Fishing Day this year. The 2009 Hunting and Fishing Day Expo & N.H. Tour is set for Saturday, September 26, 2009. Admission is free, and it promises to be an exciting day of events across the state.

In Concord, N.H., a giant Outdoor Expo will take place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the grounds of Fish and Game headquarters (11 Hazen Drive). Browse exhibits and demonstrations of the latest outdoor gear – more than 50 exhibitors will be on hand with equipment, gadgets and hands-on demos. Talk to sporting organizations and hunting and fishing product manufacturers, including Buck Gardener Calls, Quaker Boy Calls and Freedom Cycle. Pick up some game cooking tips from New England’s Wild Cheff. See taxidermy exhibits, including the new N.H. state record buck. Test your mettle on an archery range and a sport fishing simulator. The hatchery truck will be on hand with big fish to see. New Hampshire hunting videos will be rolling all day. Check out the “Forever Locked” battling moose mount and hunting dog demonstrations. Just for coming, you’ll be in the running for a free raffle for great prizes, including a Triumph Bone Collector .50 cal. muzzleloader donated by Thompson Center
Arms, a handheld GPS unit from DeLorme, and fishing maps and guidebooks from Fishing Guides of New England.

The same day, Fish and Game’s Owl Brook Hunter Education Center (387 Perch Pond Road) in Holderness, N.H., will host an open house from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Try your hand at shotgunning, archery, treestand safety and other hands-on activities, including muzzleloader shooting provided by Thompson Center Arms. Enjoy exhibits on hunter education. It’s a great chance to see all that the Owl Brook Hunter Education Center has to offer. Directions to Owl Brook are posted at http://www.huntnh.com/Hunting/hunter_ed_center.htm.

Around the state, outdoor businesses, license agents and fish and game clubs will get in on the action by hosting special events and offering in-store specials. Events are planned at the Katahdin German Shorthaired Pointer Club, Deering Fish and Game Club, Country Pond Fish and Game Club in Newton, Elkins Fish and Game Club, Dover Marine/Covered Bridge Sports, and Dick’s Sporting Goods, just to mention a few. Watch for updates at http://www.wildnh.com.

“This is the first statewide celebration of National Hunting and Fishing Day New Hampshire has had in 22 years,” says event coordinator Mark Beauchesne, who remembers participating in N.H. Hunting and Fishing Day events years ago as a teenager. “This should be a great day to find hunting and fishing equipment deals all over the state, plus enjoy family activities. Most importantly, this event acknowledges New Hampshire’s hunters and anglers, who play such a vital role in the conservation of our natural resources and economy and who carry on the state’s enduring outdoor traditions.”

The Hunting and Fishing Day Expo & N.H. Tour is hosted by Fish and Game and sponsored by the Wildlife Heritage Foundation of New Hampshire.

2009-2010 N.H. Waterfowl Hunting Seasons Set

CONCORD, N.H. — The New Hampshire Fish and Game Department has set final season dates and bag limits for the 2009-10 waterfowl hunting season. After considering comments from sportsmen at the August 19 public meeting, the state’s waterfowl hunting season remains similar to last year’s, with a 60-day duck season and a six-bird daily limit.

Fish and Game will continue split seasons for waterfowl, including ducks and Canada geese, in both the inland and coastal zones to allow early and late hunting opportunities, however, seasons for brant and snow geese will not be split:

* The INLAND ZONE season (ducks, mergansers, coots and Canada geese) opens on October 6 and runs through November 8, then reopens from November 25 through December 20. The brant season will be a straight season from October 6 through November 24, and the snow goose season will be a straight season from October 6 through December 20.

* The COASTAL ZONE season (ducks, mergansers, coots and Canada geese) will open on October 7 and run through October 18, then reopen November 25 through January 11, 2010. The brant season will be a straight season from October 7 through November 25, and the snow goose season will be a straight season from October 7 through January 11, 2010.

Hunters of all migratory game birds (except woodcock, snipe and crows) must have a 2009 New Hampshire hunting license, a New Hampshire Migratory Waterfowl License and a federal duck stamp. They are also required by federal law to register for the National Migratory Bird Harvest Information Program (HIP). Separate HIP permits are needed in each state. Licensed hunters should call 1-800-207-6183, or go to http://www.HuntNH.com and click on “Buy a License;” you can receive a permit number at this site (there is no charge). Write the permit number on your hunting license. Each year, a random selection of hunters is asked to complete a voluntary harvest survey.

Hunters are asked to report all banded birds using the toll-free phone number, 1-800-327-BAND. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will send a certificate with information about the bird.

For more information on waterfowl hunting in New Hampshire, visit http://www.huntnh.com/Hunting/Hunt_species/hunt_waterfowl.htm.

As the guardian of the state’s fish, wildlife and marine resources, the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department works in partnership with the public to conserve, manage and protect these resources and their habitats. Visit http://www.HuntNH.com for more information and online license and permit sales.

Visit N.H. Fish and Game at the Hopkinton State Fair

CONCORD, N.H. — While you’re at the Hopkinton State Fair this September, be sure to visit the “Discover Wild New Hampshire Building” presented by the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department. See wildlife mounts and exciting exhibits, talk to Conservation Officers and wildlife biologists. At the fair, you can buy hunting and fishing licenses, purchase the new 2010 New Hampshire Fish & Wildlife Calendar and get your official Fish and Game merchandise. The fair is a great place to learn more about hunting, fishing and wildlife watching opportunities! Stop in and check the schedule for special wildlife features daily, including live falcons, turtles and more. On Saturday only, meet Milo the Moose, official mascot of N.H. Motor Speedway.

New Hampshire Fish and Game will be at the Hopkinton Fair from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Thursday, September 3 through Sunday, September 6; and from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Monday, September 7.

To find Fish and Game fast at the Hopkinton Fair, park at the blue gate. The Discover Wild New Hampshire Building will be on your left as you enter the gate.

For information on the Hopkinton State Fair in Hopkinton, N.H., visit http://www.hsfair.org.

The New Hampshire Fish and Game Department is the guardian of the state’s fish, wildlife and marine resources and their habitats. Visit http://www.WildNH.com.

Name of Newfound Lake Drowning Victim Released; Recovery Continues

CONCORD, N.H. — The New Hampshire Fish and Game Department today released the name of the man who is presumed drowned in a swimming incident while boating in Newfound Lake yesterday (August 18, 2009).

Dennis Bistany, age 43, of Lawrence, Massachusetts, was boating with family members and friends yesterday in the deepest part of Newfound Lake in the town of Bristol, N.H. They were in the middle of the lake, about a half-mile north of Belle Island, which is just north of Wellington State Park. The group was floating and swimming in the lake, when Bistany jumped in to come to the aid one of the swimmers in the group who seemed to be in distress. As he did so, the boat drifted away, pushed by the wind. Bistany was unable to get back to the boat, although the person he jumped in to help did make it back to the boat safely. The other people on the boat threw Bistany a rope, but he could not reach it and disappeared under the water.

The call for help came in to emergency responders shortly after 1:30 p.m. yesterday. An extensive search commenced involving multiple agencies, including Fish and Game Conservation Officers and rescue, fire and police personnel from Bristol and surrounding communities. Bistany was lost in water depths of 140-165 feet, which is posing multiple challenges to the recovery effort. Searchers were assisted by the DHART helicopter, a N.H. State Police helicopter, sidescan sonar equipment from the Laconia Fire Department and N.H. Marine Patrol. The N.H. Fish and Game Dive Team’s underwater camera was also used. Recovery efforts had yielded no results by the time the search concluded yesterday at 8 p.m.

The recovery effort resumed this morning (Wednesday, August 19, 2009). Fish and Game Conservation Officers, N.H. Marine Patrol, and New England K-9 Search and Rescue air-scenting dogs were on the scene. The dogs are carried in boats, seeking any scent from the victim that may be present on the water that could help pinpoint the victim’s location. In addition, officers are using grappling devices to drag the lake bottom. Because of the water depth, the team is unable to use SCUBA divers.

Fish and Game will decide at the end of today what course of action will be taken regarding continuation of the recovery effort if it is not successful today.

“This sad situation is a reminder that we recommend that anyone recreating on the water should wear a personal flotation device — or have one readily available in an emergency situation — even if they consider themselves a strong swimmer,” said Lt. Todd Bogardus of Fish and Game Law Enforcement.

No further information is available. Updates will be posted at http://www.wildnh.com.

N.H. Weekly Fishing Report – August 13, 2009

This week, fisheries biologist John Viar offers ideas for anglers to beat the summer heat.

Purchase your fishing license online at http://www.FishNH.com, or from any Fish and Game license agent. Kids under 16 fish free in N.H.!

FISH STOCKING: Stocking is complete for the season. Check the stocking page (http://www.fishnh.com/Fishing/fish_stock_current.htm) for sites stocked in 2009.

Fish New Hampshire and relax… We have what you’re looking for.

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HOT DAYS, WARM WATERS, COOL FISHING
By John A. Viar, Fisheries Biologist, Region 2/New Hampton

In the stillness of a mid-summer’s night, darkness has a way of magnifying even the slightest sound. A steady song of chirping crickets provides a chorus for the unmistakable jug-glum of a bullfrog. I can still hear the creak of my grandfather’s oars, the echo of his voice across the water and time, and the “pouting” of feisty hornpout swinging into the boat.

A water and ear-shattering explosion somewhere to the right returns me to the present and reminds this is not a good time to be a small and unwary creature in the water. You stand a good chance of ending up in something else’s belly.

As I heft another cast to the nearly invisible weed edge, a bat mistakes my fishing line for a meal. I can only imagine what it thinks of the large buzzbait whirring through the air. By starting my retrieve I add to the evening’s concert … a steady combination of hum, chirp, and gurgle … one that will not go unnoticed for long.

><> Nightlife Is the Right Life

If the whine of jet skis and ever-present threat of being showered by water skiers is not your bag, check out the nightlife on a water body near you. Not only a great escape mechanism, night fishing is a superb way to catch some massive largemouth bass. Many bucketmouth behemoths revert to the night shift for feeding in the hot summer months, and recent warmth has finally escalated surface water temperatures well into the 70-degree F range in most waterbodies.

Also, lock-jawed daytime bass on heavily pressured waters, which see the same lures and presentations day after day, can become quite cooperative at night – even with the most “old school” presentations. Unlike daytime retrieves, in which an erratic motion can sometimes trigger bites, keep it fairly slow and steady and give them a chance to hone in. Also, use dark colored lures. Although this doesn’t seem logical, the dark colors are actually easier to see because they create a distinct silhouette at night.

Constant noise- or vibration-producing lures are good choices, although large plastics also have their place. Try a buzzbait, large jitterbug, propbait, large in-line spinner, or a heavy “cowbell” spinnerbait with a single, over-sized Colorado or fluted blade. Cast parallel to weed edges and hold on — bites are not subtle. Dark bottom, weedy areas near beaches are hot spots — great ambush points as potential prey sticks out like a sore thumb over the sandy area. Another rule of thumb at night, if you think your bait/lure is already too big, go even bigger!

><> River Rendezvous

New Hampshire rivers are somewhat overlooked for bass and other warmwater-species fishing opportunities. Sure, the river-rat ranks have grown on hotspots of the Connecticut, Merrimack, and Nashua rivers. But it’s still rare to find much company on stretches of these rivers, as well as smaller rivers such as the lower Pemigewasset (Bristol area), Winnipesaukee (Tilton/Franklin area), Blackwater (Salisbury/Webster area), Contoocook (Hopkinton/Concord area), Suncook (Pembroke/Allenstown area), and Salmon Falls rivers (East/Southeast of the Maine border), to name a few.

Hordes of smallmouth bass with pugnacious river attitudes will greet you in natural rock-riffle and pool areas or man-made structures, such as rip-rap banks. There are many weedy backwater areas in these systems and exploring with a canoe can put you into serious largemouth and scary pickerel (also northern pike in the Connecticut River, particularly early and late in the season), not to mention many species of panfish.

And typically, river fish do not seem quite as negatively affected by cold fronts and pressure changes as lake fish – as long as water levels stay consistent, you can count on rivers to produce. Low water levels certainly have not been an issue this year!

><> Coldwater Cure for a Hot Afternoon

Put on a pair of old sneakers and prepare to cool off. It’s time to go stone hopping for one of our most abundant gems: the gorgeous wild brook trout in our headwater streams.

Long after the stocking runs have ended, wild brookies continue to flourish, largely forgotten, in their coldwater refuges. Many leftover stocked fish also congregate at the mouths of smaller tributaries or ascend them to escape the heat.

Some of the best little brooks don’t even have names, but rest assured if you get out a map and look for the furthest upstream reaches of river systems in the White Mountains and points north, and water temperatures are below 65 degrees F, you will be in business. With a little homework, you will also be pleasantly surprised at many spots available in the southern tier of the state.

One cannot help but feel a sense of adventure hiking into and exploring these relatively wild areas (although don’t be fooled, “remoteness” is a relative term and many times not even necessary!). When was the last time a human fished here – or was here period? In some spots, roll casting is possible with a fly, but in many an ultra-light spinning outfit with a small worm/spinner or hopping a fly on the surface with the end of the rod will supply a very nice trout breakfast, for those who wish to keep some of the catch (general regulations permit five trout per day; be sure to check the NH Freshwater Fishing Digest for river and stream special regulations).

Find a recently built beaver flowage on some of these streams and you are in for a real treat. This rich, more fertile habitat allows wild fish to grow much larger (up to 10-12 inches). Old beaver areas tend to be less productive, as silt and barriers can hamper the brookies’ reproductive efforts.

The streams and brookies run small, but their magic is hard to beat, matched only by a youngster’s expression when introduced to fishing in such environs.

2009 N.H. Moose Hunt Permits Available Through New Auction

CONCORD, N.H. — Great news for prospective moose hunters! This August, the Wildlife Heritage Foundation of New Hampshire is auctioning five moose hunting permits for the 2009 moose hunt, along with licenses, as part of a new program to support the conservation of wildlife and natural places throughout the state. The permits will allow the holder to harvest one moose of either sex in a wildlife management unit of the holder’s choice. All proceeds will benefit the Wildlife Heritage Foundation of New Hampshire.

For more information on the auction, or to request an official bidders packet, write to the Wildlife Heritage Foundation of NH, PO Box 3993, Concord, NH 03302-3993, or email foundation@wildlife.nh.gov. Deadline for receipt of bids is September 1, 2009.

Successful bidders will need to show proof of a previous hunting license or a certificate of completion of an approved hunter education training program. Individuals who received a permit in the 2009 New Hampshire moose hunt lottery are not eligible to participate in the auction.

The moose hunting season in New Hampshire is right around the corner –October 17-25, 2009. For more about hunting moose in the Granite State, visit http://www.huntnh.com/Hunting/Hunt_species/hunt_moose.htm.

The New Hampshire Fish and Game Department will provide the five permits to the Wildlife Heritage Foundation of New Hampshire under the authority granted by RSA 206:33-e. All funds generated from auction of the permits will be used by the Wildlife Heritage Foundation in accordance with RSA 206:33-c to fund N.H. Fish and Game conservation programs that might not otherwise be possible. The moose permits were authorized by House Bill 41, passed by the New Hampshire Legislature earlier this year, which allows the Executive Director of the N.H. Fish and Game Department to donate certain hunting and fishing permits to the Wildlife Heritage Foundation of New Hampshire to support the Department’s mission.

The Wildlife Heritage Foundation of New Hampshire is a private, 501c3 non-profit organization created in September 2006 to work hand-in-hand with scientists and educators to fund wildlife conservation efforts in support of important family traditions such as hiking, hunting, fishing and watching wildlife. Over the past year and a half, the Foundation has supported popular educational programs such as Discover WILD New Hampshire Day, WILD TIMES for Kids publications distributed in public schools, and the statewide N.H. Hunting and Fishing Day Expo and Tour coming this fall on September 26. To learn more about how you can help support the Foundation’s work, visit http://www.wildnh.com/foundation.