It’s time to try your luck on the adventure of a lifetime — hunting moose in New Hampshire. The state’s 2012 moose hunt lottery is now open. Entering costs $15 for New Hampshire residents and $25 for nonresidents.

It’s easy to enter the moose hunt lottery. Visit http://www.huntnh.com to enter online or print out a mail-in application. You can also get an application from any Fish and Game license agent. Moose hunt lottery applications for 2012 must be postmarked or submitted online by midnight Eastern Time on May 25, 2012, or delivered to the Licensing office at N.H. Fish and Game headquarters in Concord before 4:00 p.m. that day. Winners will be selected through a computerized random drawing on June 15.

Last year (2011), nearly 14,000 people entered the lottery for the chance to win one of 395 permits. Hunters from 16 different states and the United Kingdom won permits. The overall odds of being selected in last year’s lottery were 1 in 26 for New Hampshire residents and 1 in 85 for nonresidents, some of the best odds in the nation for moose hunting! About 85% of the permits go to New Hampshire residents; the number of permits available to nonresidents is capped, based on the prior year’s sales of nonresident hunting licenses.

Each applicant can enter the moose hunt lottery once a year. A bonus point system improves the chances for unsuccessful applicants who apply each consecutive year. For example, last year resident applicants who had a total of 8 points had a 1 in 13 chance of being drawn, and a nonresident with 8 points had a 1 in 43 chance.

You do not need a current hunting license to enter the lottery, but hunters who are offered and accept a permit must buy a $150 resident or $500 nonresident moose hunt permit, as well as a New Hampshire hunting license.

New Hampshire’s nine-day moose hunt starts the third Saturday in October. This year’s hunt runs from October 20-28, 2012. N.H. has had an annual moose hunt since 1988, when 75 permits were issued for a three-day hunt in the North Country. The state’s current moose population is estimated at about 4,500 animals. The availability of moose hunting permits, with some issued for every area of the state, is made possible by careful management of moose populations. The resulting sustainable annual harvest of moose helps to regulate moose numbers and provides a unique recreational opportunity. Learn more about moose hunting in New Hampshire at http://www.huntnh.com/Hunting/Hunt_species/hunt_moose.htm.

Outdoor Hub, The Outdoor Information Engine - 2012 New Hampshire Moose Hunt Lottery Opens

Learn about the exciting sport of snowshoe hare hunting at a free workshop being offered at the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department’s Owl Brook Hunter Education Center in Holderness, N.H., on Saturday, March 3, 2012, from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Space is limited and pre-registration is required. To register, call the Owl Brook Hunter Education Center at 603-536-3954.

Workshop presenters include Edward Vien President of the NH Beagle Club and a volunteer Hunter Education instructor; Bob Drozdowski, a past president of the NH Beagle Club; and Adam Gauthier. These instructors have many years of experience and a true passion for their sport, so bring all your questions.

Workshop participants will be introduced to one of New Hampshire’s finest small-game hunting experiences — hare hunting with beagles. You’ll learn about snowshoe hares and where to find them, equipment needed for hunting hares, dogs and their needs and training, safety considerations, hare and rabbit hunting resources, and how to find clubs in New Hampshire that focus on dogs and hare hunting.

Participants should bring warm outdoor clothing and be prepared to spend some time outside. The first portion of the workshop takes place in the classroom, and then the class moves outdoors, where the dogs will show their stuff! Please note that this workshop does not include lunch.

Activities at Fish and Game’s Owl Brook Hunter Education Center are funded by the federal Wildlife Restoration Program, now in its 75th year, supported by purchases of firearms, ammunition and archery supplies. For more information about Owl Brook, visit http://www.HuntNH.com/Hunting/hunter_ed_center.htm.

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Concord, NH– A new rule effective January 1, 2012, changes the allowable shot size for taking wild turkey from #2, #4, #5 and #6 to a shot size of #2 or smaller. This change was put in place to allow hunters to use a wider range of shot sizes, including the popular #7 shot utilized in modern heavier-than-lead blended turkey loads.

While lead shot smaller than #6 is now legal to use, the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department recommends that lead shot loads in #4, #5, or #6 are most appropriate for hunting turkeys.

New Hampshire’s spring gobbler season runs from May 3-31, 2012, with a youth turkey weekend held just prior to the opening of the spring gobbler season (April 28-29, 2012). The state also offers a fall shotgun turkey hunting opportunity in many Wildlife Management Units, in addition to a 3-month autumn archery season (September 15-December 15).

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

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Have you ever had a friend who you know would enjoy hunting if they only had a chance to try it? Or perhaps you’re a non-hunter who has always wanted to go along on a hunt to see what it’s all about. Now you can have your chance. A new law takes effect January 1, 2012, that allows people who are interested in trying hunting or bowhunting an opportunity to do so under the guidance of an experienced hunter without having to take a Hunter Education course first. It’s called the New Hampshire Apprentice Hunting License. Here’s how it works:

The licensed apprentice hunter is allowed to hunt only when accompanied by a properly licensed hunter who is 18 years of age or older. “Accompanied” means maintaining actual physical direction and control — keeping the apprentice within sight and hearing at all times (without use of electronic devices).

The apprentice hunting license is the same price as a regular resident or nonresident hunting license. It can be purchased only at N.H. Fish and Game headquarters, 11 Hazen Drive in Concord, N.H., or by mail (visit http://www.wildnh.com/Licensing/license_forms.htm).

You can purchase an Apprentice Hunting License only once in your lifetime. It is valid from the date of purchase through the end of the calendar year.

If you want to hunt in a future year, you must first complete a hunter education or bowhunter education course, then buy a regular New Hampshire hunting license. Register for Hunter Education at http://www.huntnh.com/Hunting/hunter_ed.htm.

“The Apprentice Hunting License is an exciting new opportunity for sharing the hunting experience,” said Steve Weber, Chief of the N.H. Fish and Game Wildlife Division. ”Like our successful youth hunting program, in which youngsters go afield under the supervision of an adult mentor, this program is a great way to provide a positive first-time experience for older new hunters who never had the chance to go hunting as a youth.”

In instituting the program, New Hampshire follows the lead of approximately thirty states that have established some kind of apprentice hunting program over the past five years.

Outdoor Hub, The Outdoor Information Engine - New Hampshire Apprentice Hunting Licenses Become Available Jan. 1

Concord, NH – New Hampshire fishing and hunting licenses for 2012 are now available for purchase. Get yours early and be set for a WILD year of outdoor adventure, from ice fishing this winter to bagging your deer next fall. Licenses are good for the calendar year, from January 1 through December 31, 2012. Purchase online at http://www.wildnh.com, at Fish and Game headquarters in Concord, or from one of more than 250 Fish and Game license agents statewide.

Your hunting or fishing license — or, best of all, your “combo” license — is your year-round ticket to New Hampshire’s great outdoors. For state residents, an annual freshwater fishing license is $35; the basic hunting license is $24.50; and a combination (hunting and freshwater fishing) license is $48.50. For nonresidents, annual freshwater fishing licenses are $53; hunting licenses, $105.50; and the combo license is $143.50. Residents can buy a one-day freshwater fishing license for $10. Nonresidents can opt for one-, three- or seven-day freshwater fishing licenses.

Coastal anglers should note that a N.H. Saltwater Recreational Fishing License is required for all persons age 16 and older recreationally fishing in coastal and estuarine waters of the state. This license costs $11 for residents and nonresidents (includes $1 agent fee).

Please note that current year (2011) licenses are no longer available through the online purchasing site or at Wal-Mart; however, they may still be bought at license agents or Fish and Game in Concord.

When you get your license, pick up a copy of the new 2012 New Hampshire Freshwater Fishing or Saltwater Fishing digests, both hot off the press. The 2012 freshwater digest is also available online at http://www.wildnh.com/pubs/fishing.html; the 2012 online saltwater digest will be ready in early January. These handy publications summarize fishing rules and include color photos for identifying fish and much more.

For hunters and anglers concerned about maintaining access to pursue their sports, the $10 Wildlife Legacy donation (a check-off on the multiform license) provides an opportunity to support Fish and Game’s Landowner Relations Program, which works in partnership with hunters, anglers and landowners to maintain hunting and fishing access to private lands. Learn more at http://www.wildnh.com/landshare/Wildlife_Legacy_Initiative.htm.

Fishing and hunting license revenue directly supports wildlife and fisheries management, law enforcement and conservation education in New Hampshire. Visit http://www.wildnh.com.

Outdoor Hub, The Outdoor Information Engine - 2012 New Hampshire Fishing and Hunting Licenses Now Available

Concord, NH – If you see a flock of wild turkeys in New Hampshire this winter, the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department would like to hear about it. For the fourth consecutive year, citizens are being asked to report sightings of turkey flocks seen from January 1 through March 31, 2012, by filling out a simple electronic survey form posted on the Fish and Game website at http://www.wildnh.com/turkeysurvey. After January 1, you can also reach the survey by going to http://www.wildnh.com and clicking on “2012 Winter Turkey Flock Survey.” Please do not report multiple sightings of the same flock.

The Winter Flock Survey bolsters Fish and Game’s understanding of the abundance and distribution of turkeys during New Hampshire’s challenging winter months. The survey asks participants to report the number of turkeys in the flock; the location where they were seen; the type of habitat the birds were observed in; and what the turkeys were feeding on, such as acorns, beechnuts, seed at birdfeeders, or corn silage.

The survey is designed to fill gaps in Fish and Game’s existing winter flock data collection efforts. “For parts of the state, especially eastern and northern New Hampshire, we could benefit by additional sighting reports,” said Ted Walski, Turkey Project Leader at Fish and Game. “This reporting system will allow the public to contribute important information to our understanding of winter turkey status in an inexpensive, efficient and, hopefully, enjoyable way.”

Last winter, people responding to the survey reported 1,500 flocks totaling over 27,000 turkeys, and encompassing all areas of the state. Last year’s winter flock survey results are summarized at http://www.wildnh.com/turkeysurvey.

Turkeys are easy to see this time of year because they gather in large, highly visible flocks. Knowledge of the status of wintering turkeys is particularly important in New Hampshire, because of the challenges of severe winter weather and limited natural food supplies. New Hampshire now has an estimated 45,000 wild turkeys. Their presence here is a true wildlife restoration success story. Wild turkeys had disappeared from New Hampshire by the mid-1800s because of overhunting and habitat loss from extensive land clearing. Their successful recovery in the state began with a reintroduction of 25 turkeys by N.H. Fish and Game in 1975.

For more information on the flock survey, write to Turkey Project Leader Ted Walski at Fish and Game Region 4 Office, 15 Ash Brook Court, Keene, N.H. 03431; or call 603-352-9669.

Turkey research in New Hampshire is funded by the federal Wildlife Restoration Program, supported by the purchase of firearms, ammunition, archery equipment, fishing supplies and motorboat fuel. 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.

Outdoor Hub, The Outdoor Information Engine - New Hampshire Citizen Conservationists Asked to Report Wild Turkey Flock Sightings

Portsmouth, NH – This week on “Hunt Masters”, join professional hunters Gregg Ritz and Stan Potts as they head to Illinois to hunt trophy whitetails with their Thompson/Center muzzleloaders. With their stand sites secured in some of the most pristine whitetail country you’ll find anywhere, Gregg and Stan spend considerable time in search of their trophies. Tune in to the Outdoor Channel Sunday at 10:30 p.m. EST and enjoy this double dose of exciting Midwestern whitetail action!

Show Concept

Hunt Masters details the outdoor pursuits of the industry’s most accomplished hunters. A “Who’s Who” list of dedicated, diehard outdoorsmen and women, the show gives viewers a sneak peek into the play books of such noted personalities as Michael Waddell, Gregg Ritz, Jim Shockey, Lee and Tiffany Lakosky, Larry Weishuhn and Stan Potts. These experts share proven hunting tactics while giving viewers a front row seat to their most exciting and challenging hunts with bow, crossbow, rifle and muzzle-loader. This fan favorite, top-rated show offers something for outdoorsmen and women of all ages, and helps viewers hone their hunting skills like no other show.

Learn more at www.wildcomm.com/hunt-masters.aspx.

2011 Show Lineup
Week 26: Yukon moose with Gregg Ritz & Jim Shockey moose hunt

Outdoor Channel Airtimes
Sunday 10:30 PM EST

Contact:
Stephen Graham, Director of Marketing (810.919.8855); sgraham@wildcomm.com.

Outdoor Hub, The Outdoor Information Engine - Hunt Masters Presents Whitetail Double Feature

Concord, NH – The major hunting seasons may be over, but New Hampshire Fish and Game Department Conservation Officers are still busy responding to reports of wildlife violations. In two incidents, one in Ossipee and one in Tamworth, three men have been arrested and formally charged for several deer and moose hunting violations:

As a result of a report of moose being illegally taken in Ossipee, Conservation Officers executed a search warrant that resulted in the arrest of two men, Shawn Emond, age 21, and James Armstrong Jr., age 38, both Ossipee residents. The men were charged with illegal take of moose, taking an overlimit of deer, and illegal possession of deer.

In Tamworth, Jose Andujar, age 32, of Tamworth was arrested and formally charged with take of moose during closed season, taking a moose without a valid license, and illegal possession of moose. Information provided to Conservation Officers by sportsmen sparked the initial investigation.

All three men have been ordered to appear at the Ossipee District Court on January 19, 2012.

If you are you aware of a poaching situation, be sure to get Fish and Game on the case by reporting violations to Operation Game Thief online at http://www.wildnh.com/OGT, or call the 24-hour hotline at 1-800-344-4262. Confidentiality is guaranteed. Rewards are paid for tips that lead to arrest or citation. Poaching violations range from the illegal take of game or fish to trespassing, littering, theft or destroying property. When you make a report, please include as much of the following information as possible: Date; Vehicle Description; License Number; Road/Route; Time; Violation; Travel Direction; Description of Person(s).

“Information reported by the public through Operation Game Thief can really make a difference in protecting the natural resources that are there for all to enjoy,” said Lt. James Goss of Fish and Game Law Enforcement.

Outdoor Hub, The Outdoor Information Engine - Arrests Made in New Hampshire for Illegal Take of Moose and Deer

Concord, NH – The preliminary numbers for New Hampshire’s recent deer and bear hunting seasons are in. The estimated statewide deer kill for New Hampshire’s 2011 season was 11,167 deer, up 14% from 2010 (9,759 deer) and the highest harvest since 2007. It appears that the last weeks of the season were quite successful, because as late as Thanksgiving weekend, the estimated take was running just 4% above 2010 levels at that point in the season.

New Hampshire has an estimated population of about 85,000 deer, with the 2011 kill representing about 13% of that total. Deer hunting closed in the state on December 15, the final day of the archery deer season.

“The increased kill suggests that the state’s deer population may have begun to recover from recent declines following some bad winters. Further analysis of the final harvest data by unit, age and sex will provide a better assessment of population status,” said Kent Gustafson, a deer biologist at the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department.

The unofficial deer kill for New Hampshire’s 2011 season by county, with comparisons to previous years, is posted at http://www.huntnh.com/Hunting/deer_hunt_take_by_County.htm. These figures are estimates based on the number of deer reported as being registered in each county, not necessarily killed in that county.

New Hampshire bear hunters took a total of 418 bears (246 males, 172 females) in 2011. The numbers are still preliminary. Bait hunters harvested 193 bears, still hunters/stalkers took 155 bears and hound hunters registered 70 bears. The overall harvest sex ratio was 1.4 males per female.

Regionally, 65 bears were taken in the North, 128 in the White Mountains, 147 in the Central, 46 in Southwest-1, 30 in Southwest-2, and 2 in the Southeast regions.

The 2011 total of 418 bears is down from recent harvest levels (down 41% and 45% from 2010 and 2009, respectively). N.H. Fish and Game bear biologist Andrew Timmins puts this into perspective, saying, “It’s important to recognize that the annual bear harvest has been high during several recent years as a result of a variety of factors. We have seen record bear harvests in New Hampshire during five of the last eight years. Some years have been abnormally high, which greatly influences recent averages and complicates comparisons to previous years. While the 2011 harvest may seem low, it actually is a more average year than some we’ve had recently. Low-harvest years help buffer high-harvest years, which generally gets us closer to our bear management objective of about 500 bears per year.”

For a comparison of bear season results in recent years, visit http://www.huntnh.com/Hunting/bear_hunt_take.htm.

Final official numbers from all the year’s hunting seasons will be summarized in the 2011 New Hampshire Wildlife Harvest Summary, which will be issued in March of 2012.

New Hampshire’s successful hunting seasons are a reminder that hunting activities, made possible by science-based wildlife management, contribute significantly to New Hampshire’s economy. The most recent U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service survey indicates that approximately 60,000 people hunt in New Hampshire, generating more than $75 million in hunting-related expenditures annually in the state.

Outdoor Hub, The Outdoor Information Engine - New Hampshire Deer and Bear Hunting Season Results

Concord, NH – Outdoor enthusiasts are encouraged to stop by the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department booth at several upcoming events:

ROCKINGHAME HUNTING & FISHING EXPO:

Saturday and Sunday, January 7-8, 2012, at Rockingham Park in Salem, N.H. Visit the New Hampshire Fish and Game booth to buy your 2012 New Hampshire hunting and fishing licenses and meet Dave Genz, the father of the modern ice-fishing system. Genz hails from northern Minnesota and is a big fan of fishing in New Hampshire. He will present at the show on Saturday, January 7, at 10:30 a.m. and will spend his free time at the Fish and Game booth. The new 2012 New Hampshire Fish & Wildlife calendar and the popular “Best of Warden’s Watch” book will be for sale. The expo features many local and national outdoor products and services, as well as hunting and fishing seminars. Visit http://www.rockinghamexpo.com.

NEW HAMPSHIRE FARM & FOREST EXPOSITION:

Friday and Saturday, February 3-4, 2012, at the Radisson Hotel/Center of New Hampshire (700 Elm Street) in Manchester, NH. Since 1984, “New Hampshire’s Greatest Winter Fair” has offered commercial exhibits, educational sessions, student and exhibitor demonstrations, animals, an auction and activities for all ages! Stop by the N.H. Fish and Game booth to enjoy our wildlife exhibit and learn how to make connections with wildlife in your own backyard. For information and directions, visit: http://www.nhfarmandforestexpo.org.

GREAT MEREDITH ROTARY ICE FISHING DERBY:

Saturday and Sunday, February 11-12, 2012. The derby brings anglers to New Hampshire from all over the country in hopes of snagging the heaviest tagged rainbow trout and claiming the grand prize. The Meredith Rotary Club, in consultation with the N.H. Fish and Game Department as part of an ongoing fisheries management plan, stocks tagged fish in several New Hampshire lakes for this event. Waters stocked have included Little Squam, Mascoma, Ossipee, Waukewan, Wentworth, Winnipesaukee and Winnisquam. During the derby, N.H. Fish and Game fisheries biologists Don Miller and John Viar will collect valuable fish data at the derby weigh-in. For tickets and information, go to http://www.meredithrotary.com.

Great Meredith Rotary Derby highlights featuring N.H. Fish and Game include free kids’ fishing clinics on Saturday, February 11, 2012, at which Fish and Game’s “Let’s Go Fishing” Program presents free hands-on sessions for children and their parents on the basics of ice fishing. Clinics run hourly from 10 a.m. through 3 p.m. in the roped-off area directly behind the Meredith Rotary Headquarters trailer on Lake Winnipesaukee. Learn about ice-fishing techniques, including using tip-ups, sounding the hole and operating power augers. Then the kids will fish!

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