Visit Fish & Game Building-Hopkinton Fair; F&G Exhibit-Lancaster Fair

CONCORD, N.H. — While you’re at the Hopkinton State Fair this September 2-6, take time for a stroll through the “Discover Wild New Hampshire Building” presented by the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department. You’ll see wildlife mounts, exhibits, live falcons, hawks and fish! This is your chance to talk to wildlife biologists, fisheries experts and Conservation Officers. The “Discover Wild New Hampshire” building at the Hopkinton Fair will be open from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Thursday, September 2 through Sunday, September 5; and from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Monday, September 6, 2010. Stop in and check the schedule for special wildlife features daily. The exhibit is a great place to learn more about hunting, fishing and wildlife watching opportunities in New Hampshire.

At the Fish and Game building, you can buy hunting and fishing licenses, get your 2011 New Hampshire Fish & Wildlife Calendar (hot off the press!) and purchase official Fish and Game merchandise, from camo hats to moose hunt sweatshirts and colorful wildlife tees for the whole family. On Saturday and Sunday from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m., meet Milo the Moose, official mascot of N.H. Motor Speedway. Other special attractions include live animal presentations by the Squam Lakes Natural Science Center on Thursday and Friday from 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. and an ongoing fly-tying demonstration all day Saturday.

Find Fish and Game fast at the Hopkinton Fair by parking at the Blue Gate. The Discover Wild New Hampshire Building will be on your left as you enter the gate. For more information on the Hopkinton State Fair in Contoocook, N.H., visit http://www.hsfair.org.

For those in northern New Hampshire, Fish and Game will also continue its long-standing tradition of staffing an exhibit at the Lancaster Fair from September 1-6, 2010. Housed in the 4-H Building, this year’s Fish and Game exhibit explores ongoing brook trout studies. Conservation Officers and Department biologists will be on hand to talk about fishing, hunting, wildlife watching, and more. Pick up Fish and Game publications such as the new 2010-2011 NH Hunting and Trapping Digest. Find out more about the Lancaster Fair at http://www.lancasterfair.com.

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.

Last Call for Hunter Education! Are You Ready for Hunting Season?

CONCORD, N.H. — The carefree days of summer may seem to go on forever, but for hunters the time to head afield is right around the corner. Are you ready for the hunting season? Don’t let your plans go awry because you need hunter or bowhunter education.

Here’s the last opportunity to get the certification you need! Go to http://www.HuntNH.com; click “Hunting,” and then “Hunter Education.” Under “Find a Class,” you’ll see links to traditional hunter and bowhunter education classes, as well as to the online hunter education course (keep in mind that you must complete the online course and exam, register for and attend a Field Day in order to achieve certification). Click the link you need, and browse the calendar for a nearby course. Simply click on the course of your choice, and complete the online registration form to officially join the class.

In New Hampshire, new hunters must take a hunter education course before they can purchase their first hunting license (those age 16 and older need a license to hunt). To meet this requirement, the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department offers Hunter and Bowhunter Education classes around the state (as well as Trapper Education for those seeking a trapping license). To achieve certification in basic Hunter Education or Bowhunter Education, participants must be at least 12 years old; you must be at least 15 years old to take the online Hunter Education course for certification.

“It’s easier than ever to find a class, register, and get certified in time to have your best hunting season ever,” says Pete Davison, Hunter Education Coordinator. “Our hunter, bowhunter, and trapper education instructor teams are once again offering numerous classes all over the state to serve the needs of local hunters. But don’t wait! Classes are filling up fast!”

PLEASE NOTE: Registering for courses must be done online. Walk-in registrations at classes are no longer accepted. If you have questions, please call the Hunter Education Program at 603-271-3214.

TRADITIONAL HUNTER EDUCATION CLASSES
Register at http://www.huntnh.com/hunting/hunter_ed.htm.
All students must register online.

Starts Thursday, September 2
6:00 PM
Hunter Education Traditional Course (4 Days)
Raymond Baptist Church, Raymond NH

7:00 PM
Hunter Education Traditional Course (7 Days)
Marion Gerrish Community Center, Derry NH

7:00 PM
Hunter Education Traditional Course (7 Days)
Hillsborough Police Station, Hillsborough NH

Starts Tuesday, September 7
6:15 PM
Hunter Education Traditional Course (5 Days)
Seabrook Recreation Center, Seabrook NH

6:30 PM
Hunter Education Traditional Course (7 Days)
Carroll County Fish, Game & Shooting Club, Madison NH

Starts Friday, September 10
6:00 PM
Hunter Education Traditional Course (3 Days)
White Mountains Community College, Berlin NH

7:00 PM
Hunter Education Traditional Course (3 Days)
Hudson Fish & Game Club, Hudson NH

Starts Monday, September 13
6:00 PM
Hunter Education Traditional Course (5 Days)
Nashua Fish and Game Club, Merrimack NH

Starts Tuesday, September 14
7:00 PM
Hunter Education Traditional Course (7 Days)
Pinnacle Mt. Fish & Game Club, Lyndeborough NH

Starts Friday, September 17
6:00 PM
Hunter Education Traditional Course (5 Days)
Pittsburg Fire Station, Pittsburg NH

7:00 PM
Hunter Education Traditional Course (3 Days)
TL Storer Scout Camp, Barnstead NH

Starts Tuesday, September 21
7:00 PM
Hunter Education Traditional Course (6 Days)
Newport High School, Newport NH

Starts Friday, September 24
6:00 PM
Hunter Education Traditional Course (3 Days)
Moultonboro Public Safety Building, Moultonboro NH

6:00 PM
Hunter Education Traditional Course (3 Days)
White Mountain Regional High School, Whitefield NH

Starts Monday, September 27
6:00 PM
Hunter Education Traditional Course (5 Days)
Goffstown Fish and Game Association, Weare NH

Starts Thursday, September 30
6:00 PM
Hunter Education Traditional Course (6 Days)
Pelham Fish and Game Club, Pelham NH

TRADITIONAL BOWHUNTER EDUCATION CLASSES
Register at http://www.huntnh.com/hunting/hunter_ed.htm.
All students must register online.

Starts Saturday, September 18
9:00 AM
Bowhunter Education Course (3 Days)
Nashua Fish and Game Club, Merrimack NH

ONLINE HUNTER EDUCATION COURSE FIELD DAYS
You must successfully complete the online Hunter Education Course and exam before you can register for a Field Day. To register, go to http://www.huntnh.com/hunting/hunter_ed.htm. All students must be 15 years old or older. There is a $5 charge per student to attend a Field Day.

Saturday, August 28
8:00 AM
Hunter Education Field Day
Raymond Sportsman’s Club, Raymond, NH

8:00 AM
Hunter Education Field Day
Horseshoe Fish and Game Club, Merrimack, NH

Saturday, September 11
8:00 AM
Hunter Education Field Day
Pointers Fish and Game Club, Manchester NH

Saturday, September 18
8:00 AM
Hunter Education Field Day
Monadnock Rod and Gun Club, Jaffrey NH

Saturday, September 25
8:00 AM
Hunter Education Field Day
Dartmouth College, Hanover NH

Sunday, October 3
8:00 AM
Hunter Education Field Day
Farmington Fish and Game Club, New Durham NH

9:00 AM
Hunter Education Field Day
Owl Brook Hunter Education Center, Holderness NH

Saturday, October 9
9:00 AM
Hunter Education Field Day
Owl Brook Hunter Education Center, Holderness NH

Sunday, October 17
8:00 AM
Hunter Education Field Day
Pelham Fish and Game Club, Pelham NH

For more information on Hunter Education in New Hampshire, visit http://www.huntnh.com/Hunting/hunter_ed.htm.

Hunter Education in New Hampshire is funded by federal Wildlife Restoration Funds, a user-pay, user-benefit program.

Unit M Special Antlerless Deer Permits Now Available

CONCORD, N.H. — Hunters who want the chance to take additional antlerless deer in Wildlife Management Unit M in southeastern New Hampshire during the fall hunting seasons can now buy a special permit from the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department.

This year, a total of up to 4,000 hunters will be allowed to purchase Special Antlerless Deer Permits for Unit M. New this year, at the time of purchase, hunters may opt for a permit with 1 deer tag ($13) or two deer tags ($26). In addition, Special Antlerless Permits will not be valid for use by archers during September. Rather, archers can only use Special Antlerless Permits from October 1 through December 15. This is because of a new statewide requirement that only antlered deer may be taken by bow and arrow in September.

Interested hunters can purchase permits online at http://www.huntnh.com/Hunting/Special_Unit_M_permits.htm; buy permits from Fish and Game headquarters in Concord; or print a mail-in application from the Fish and Game website; or call 603-271-3422 to request a permit application by mail.

Unit M permits are issued on a first-come, first-served basis and cost $13 for a permit with one tag; or $26 for a permit with two tags. Applicants also must hold a current New Hampshire hunting or archery license. Muzzleloader and firearms hunters may use the special permit on any day during those seasons for which they are legally licensed, and archers may use the permit from October 1 through December 15. Youth hunters are eligible to buy a Unit M permit.

Special Unit M permits have been issued in New Hampshire since 1997. They reflect a long-term objective, outlined in the state’s Big Game Management Plan, to reduce deer numbers in southeastern New Hampshire in order to sustain regional herd health and to minimize deer-human conflicts, such as vehicle collisions and destructive browsing of agricultural and ornamental plants. High human densities and associated levels of development in southeast New Hampshire result in a greater potential frequency of deer-human conflicts and complicate deer population control efforts.

Specific boundaries for Unit M, and more information on the special permits, can be found at http://www.huntnh.com/Hunting/Special_Unit_M_permits.htm.

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