Picture This!

With all the great stories, equipment, adventures and people out there I thought it would be great to get some pictures.  If you have any pictures from a hunt, your gear or best of all you geared up that would be great.  If you send in pictures I will post on our site as well as putting some of the best pictures on all our sites.  Things I am looking for, but not limited to.

•    Gear: Clothes, utility tools, ATV’s…
•    Favorite weapons: guns, bows, sticks, stones…
•    Best Duck Blind or Hide…
•    You, family or friends dressed for the hunt…
•    Where you hunt

All I need is a digital picture in any PC compatible format and a description of the picture.  You can make the description as long or short as you would like.  If there is a story behind the picture we would love to hear about it.

Send Pictures to:

Todd Krater
U.S. Hunting Today
Managing Editor
todd@ushuntingtoday.com

Note: If you want a picture posted and do not have a digital copy I would be willing to scan it for you.  Please contact me for details.

US Hunting Today reserves the right to refuse any picture for any reason as well as edit it where appropriate.

N.H. HUNTING REPORT — October 23, 2009

Greetings, hunters! Hope you’re having a good season afield. As of mid-week, more than half of moose hunters have been successful. New Hampshire’s deer herd came through last winter in good shape, which bodes well for the upcoming muzzleloader season, which starts October 31 (except in WMU-A where it opens November 2 ); and the firearms deer season, which launches November 11.

YOUTH DEER WEEKEND OCTOBER 24-25 — This year’s Youth Deer Hunting Weekend is upon us (October 24 and 25), providing young hunters 15 years of age or younger the opportunity to take a deer of either sex while accompanied by an adult hunter. The adult must be at least 18 years old, with a valid N.H. hunting license. The youth weekend provides youngsters a chance to learn deer hunting and other outdoor skills that can provide a lifetime of enjoyment. Last year, young hunters took 341 deer during their special weekend. For more info, visit http://www.huntnh.com/Hunting/Youth_deer_wknd.htm. Read more

Moose Hunt Update – Half of N.H. Moose Hunters Successful So Far

CONCORD, N.H. — As of Wednesday, October 21, a total of 265 moose had been taken in the 2009 New Hampshire moose hunt (158 bulls and 107 cows). That means that just over half (51%) of hunters holding moose permits had succeeded by the mid-way point in the state’s moose hunt, very similar to the hunter success rate at this point in the moose season last year. The nine-day season runs through Sunday, October 25, 2009.

“Hunters have reported seeing a lot of big bulls this year,” said New Hampshire Fish and Game Department Moose Project Leader Kristine Rines. “People have observed quite a few groups of bachelor bulls together, suggesting that the rut, or breeding season, is pretty much over.” Read more

Skinny Moose Media Will Live-Stream Maine Moose Lottery

Mark your calendars! June 18th, 2009 will be the annual drawing for the Maine Moose Lottery. This year 3,015 permits will be drawn and as is usually the case thousands of applicants keep their fingers crossed in hopes of being one of the lucky ones.

This year’s event will be held at the University of Maine at Fort Kent and as last year, Skinny Moose Media, in conjunction with U.S. Hunting Today and Maine Hunting Today, will live-stream the video and audio of the event.

Tom Remington, Vice President of Skinny Moose Media, LLC, author of the Black Bear Blog and Managing Editor of U.S. Hunting Today and Maine Hunting Today, will be on hand at the show to conduct interviews and do the filming of the event. He will have his long time friend and Chief Photographer for Skinny Moose Media, Milt Inman with him to assist and grab tons of candid shots throughout the day and evening. Read more

Still Time To Enter The New Hampshire Moose Hunt Lottery

CONCORD, N.H. — If you want a chance to hunt moose in New Hampshire this fall, then get your application in for the 2009 New Hampshire Moose Hunt Lottery by the Friday, May 29, 2009 deadline! Enter to win one of 515 New Hampshire moose hunting permits at http://www.HuntNH.com, (you can apply online or print out a mail-in application) or pick up an application from any license agent.

Applicants are encouraged to apply online, since there is less chance of submitting an incomplete application. The entry fee is $15 for New Hampshire residents and $25 for nonresidents (nonrefundable). Read more

Search Ongoing For Mass. Teen Missing In White Mountains

CONCORD, N.H. – A search in New Hampshire’s White Mountains has been ongoing since Sunday for a missing 17-year-old. Scott Mason of Halifax, Mass., left the Appalachian Mountain Club’s Pinkham Notch Visitor Center at approximately 8:30 on Saturday morning, intending to do a 17-mile hike. Mason was hiking alone. His plans included hiking to the summits of Mount Washington and Mount Madison, then returning to the Pinkham Notch Visitor Center. Mason’s plan was to complete the trip in one day. It is unknown what type of clothing and gear he is carrying.

The conditions in the high country currently include waist-deep snow with the potential for avalanches. Heavy rains overnight Sunday and Monday morning have added to the difficulty of the search, with resulting high water making stream crossings extremely difficult. The temperatures have been mild, remaining in the 40s overnight.

Currently the NH Fish and Game Department is coordinating the search. The U.S. Forest Service, Appalachian Mountain Club, Mountain Rescue Service and Androscoggin Valley Search and Rescue are rendering additional assistance.

No further information is available at this time.

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The hikeSafe Hiker Responsibility Code (below) applies to all those enjoying New Hampshire’s outdoors. It says, you are responsible for yourself, so be prepared:

* With knowledge and gear. Become self-reliant by learning about the terrain, conditions, local weather and your equipment before you start.
* To leave your plans. Tell someone where you are going, the trails you are hiking, when you’ll return and your emergency plans.
* To stay together. When you start as a group, hike as a group, end as a group. Pace your hike to the slowest person.
* To turn back. Weather changes quickly in the mountains. Fatigue and unexpected conditions can also affect your hike. Know your limitations and when to postpone your hike. The mountains will be there another day.
* For emergencies. Even if you are headed out for just an hour, an injury, severe weather or a wrong turn could become life threatening. Don’t assume you will be rescued; know how to rescue yourself.
* To share the hiker code with others.

For further information on being safe while hiking, visit http://www.hikesafe.com.

Northeast Environmentalists Want To Protect Interbred Canids (Dogs)

Where will the absolute insanity stop when it comes to efforts by extremists to end hunting, fishing and trapping, close off lands to human use, strip us of our rights and destroy our god given right in the pursuit of happiness?

It has gotten so bad that a group, made up of representatives from Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts and New York, have petitioned the Department of Interior in order to place protections under the Endangered Species Act for any interbred species of dogs, coyotes, wolves or any combination of the above, claiming these all to be unique species. Read more

New Hampshire Moose Lottery Is On

NEW HAMPSHIRE MOOSE LOTTERY IS ON!

CONCORD, N.H. — If you want to hunt moose in New Hampshire this fall, enter the lottery and try your luck on the adventure of a lifetime. Applications for the lottery cost $15 for residents and $25 for non-residents (nonrefundable) and are available online at http://www.huntnh.com or from any Fish and Game license agent. The deadline for entering the 2009 lottery is May 29, 2009. New Hampshire’s moose hunt runs from October 17 to 25, 2009.

“New Hampshire offers a variety of quality moose hunting opportunities,” said Kristine Rines, Moose Project Leader for New Hampshire Fish and Game. “Whether you’re looking for a trophy bull, a wilderness hunting adventure or simply filling your freezer with meat, you can expect the moose hunt to fill your expectations, right here in New Hampshire. Most permits are for the taking of either a male or female, giving hunters greater opportunities to fill their tags, and, except in the Southeast region, the state still has large undeveloped areas in which to hunt.” The state’s current moose population is estimated at about 6,000 animals.

More than 15,100 applicants entered the lottery for the chance to win a permit for the 2008 moose season. Permit holders can choose another hunter of any age to accompany them on the hunt, but only one moose may be taken per permit. Each applicant can enter the moose hunt lottery once each year. A bonus point system improves the chances for unsuccessful applicants who apply each consecutive year. Don’t miss a year, or you’ll lose your points! Hunters who get permits are not eligible to enter the lottery for the following three years.

Success rates are highest in the northernmost Wildlife Management Units, running as high as 95% in 2008. Last year, the statewide success rate was 65%. The largest bull weighed 840 pounds dressed, while the largest cow weighed 715 pounds dressed. The average weight for an adult bull (bulls 5.5 years of age and older) was 702 pounds. The average spread of adult bulls was 45.7 inches. Greatest spread taken last year was 61 inches.

Enter the lottery by visiting Fish and Game at http://www.huntnh.com (you can apply online or print out a mail-in application). Lottery applications for 2009 must be postmarked or submitted online by midnight Eastern Time, May 29, 2009, or delivered to N.H. Fish and Game headquarters in Concord before 4 p.m. that day. Applicants are encouraged to apply online since there is less chance of submitting an incomplete application.

Both N.H. residents and nonresidents can enter the moose lottery. The number of permits available to nonresidents is capped, based on the prior year’s sales of nonresident hunting licenses (recently about 15 to 17 percent of the total). The overall odds of being selected last year were 1 in 22 for residents and 1 in 67 for nonresidents — some of the best odds in the nation for moose hunting. It is not necessary to have a current hunting license to enter the lottery.

Hunters who are offered and accept a permit must buy a $150 resident or $500 non-resident moose hunt permit, as well as a New Hampshire hunting license. If tough economic times have you pondering whether or not to apply, consider the following, says Rines: “New Hampshire has one of the lowest application and permit costs in the nation for both residents and non-residents. If you harvest an adult moose, you can expect an average of about 350 pounds of edible meat. Calculating the cost per pound based upon the permit fee, you are looking at an extremely inexpensive organic, low-cholesterol table food. If you cannot afford the permit fee at this time, I encourage you to continue to apply each year. There is an option you can select on the application for those that do not wish to participate in the lottery but still want to accrue this year’s bonus point. By doing this annually, you will continue to build up points and you won’t lose bonus points you may currently have. Then, when the day comes that you are able to moose hunt, you can enter the lottery with multiple bonus points and multiple chances of winning.”

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

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

Serious Snowmobile Accident Leaves Stark Man in Critical Condition

CONCORD, N.H. — Stark, N.H., resident Floyd “Jay” Bennett Jr., age 34, was seriously injured Saturday night (March 14, 2009) after being thrown from his snowmobile during a crash in Stratford, N.H.

Bennett was riding with friends in the Nash Stream area when the accident occurred about 9 p.m. While attempting to negotiate a corner, he lost control of his snow machine, which resulted in a rollover. Bennett was ejected from the snowmobile and thrown into the woods. After seeing the accident, Bennett’s riding partners rode to a phone and called for help. Read more

FOURTH FATAL SNOWMOBILE ACCIDENT IN N.H.

CONCORD, N.H. – A tragic snowmobile accident last night (Thursday, March 5, 2009) in Stewartstown, N.H., claimed the life of George Robertson, age 52, of North Conway. It was the fourth fatal snow machine accident of the season in New Hampshire.

The accident occurred at about 6:45 p.m. yesterday. Robertson was riding second in line in a group of snowmobiles on Heath Road in Stewartstown (a Class Six road, not maintained for winter use by motor vehicles). He failed to negotiate a slight corner and went off the road into the woods, hitting several trees. Robertson was wearing a helmet, which came off upon impact.

Rescue personnel from Colebrook Fire and Rescue and the 45th Parallel Ambulance Squad responded to the accident scene and started CPR (cardio-pulmonary rescussitation). Robertson was transported by ambulance to the Upper Connecticut Valley Hospital in Colebrook, where he was pronounced dead.

New Hampshire Fish and Game Department Conservation Officers also responded to the scene and are investigating the accident. At this point in the investigation, it appears that excessive speed and alcohol were contributing factors.

“We are deeply saddened at the loss of Mr. Robertson’s life. Hopefully his death will serve as a reminder for all snow machine operators of the serious consequences that can happen when snowmobiling,” said Major Tim Acerno, coordinator of Fish and Game’s Off-Highway Recreational Vehicle Safety Program. “Don’t drink and drive — it’s illegal, whether you’re behind the wheel of a car or operating a snowmobile. Also, trail conditions are forever changing, especially at this time of year, so make sure that you operate your snowmobile at a speed that is reasonable for the existing conditions.”

For tips on safe snowmobile operation, visit http://www.wildlife.state.nh.us/OHRV/snowmobile_safety.html.

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Check on trail conditions at the N.H. Bureau of Trails website http://www.nhtrails.org. You can also call the N.H. Snowmobile Association hotline for a trail report — updated twice a week — at (603) 740-5050 or visit their website at http://www.nhsa.com.

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