Big Game Processing Workshop Apr. 7 in Holderness, New Hampshire
March 5, 2012
Learn how you can process your own big game animal from field to freezer 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, April 7, 2012. The workshop will take place from 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Please note that this workshop does not include lunch. Space is limited and pre-registration is required. To sign up, call the Owl Brook Hunter Education Center at 603-536-3954.
At the workshop, Rick Warbin, owner of Baker River Deer Farm in Wentworth, N.H., will give participants a basic overview of the steps involved in processing your own big game animal. The workshop will cover topics such as basic field dressing, tips to avoid meat spoilage, skinning and capeing, equipment needs, determining cuts of meat, boning the meat, and packaging tips. The instructor has many years of experience in the butchering business, so bring all your questions.
For more information on Fish and Game’s Owl Brook Hunter Education Center, visit http://www.HuntNH.com/Hunting/hunter_ed_center.htm.
Activities at Owl Brook are supported by federal Wildlife Restoration funds, a user-pay, user-benefit program.
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.huntnh.com.
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New Hampshire Women-Only Hunter Education Course Offered
March 5, 2012
Women interested in taking Hunter Education in the company of other women can now sign up for a special Women-only Hunter Education Course offered by the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department. The course involves self-paced online study and an online exam, plus a Field Day on July 21, 2012, in Holderness, N.H. Participants must be 15 years of age or older.
“This is an opportunity for women to learn the New Hampshire hunting laws and regulations, firearms handling, how to use a map and compass, and how to enjoy hunting safely so they can challenge themselves in the great outdoors this fall,” said Tom Flynn, manager of Fish and Game’s Owl Brook Hunter Education Center. Women are welcome to participate in traditional Hunter Education courses and field days, Flynn explained; the special course simply offers an alternative.
There are two required parts to the Women-only Hunter Education Course; you must successfully complete both to receive certification:
- First, take as long as you’d like to study and complete the online Hunter Education Course at http://www.hunter-ed.com/newhampshire/index.html, then take the online exam (there is a $15 fee to take the exam). You must pass the online exam in order to print out the Field Day Qualifier Exam Certificate, which you will need to gain entry to the Women-Only Field Day.
- After passing the online exam, register for the July 21, 2012, Women-Only Field Day at http://www.huntnh.com/hunting/hunter_ed.htm. There is no charge for this Field Day. (Remember — you can’t sign up for the Field Day until you pass the online course exam.) The Women-only Field Day will be held at the Owl Brook Hunter Education Center in Holderness, N.H., and includes both written and field exams. A New Hampshire Conservation Officer goes over N.H. hunting laws and regulations, followed by a brief review and written exam. Women also participate in a firearms-handling session, a map and compass lesson and a live-fire course, capped off by a field exam. After the successful completion of the exams, you will be a certified hunter, ready to buy a license and enjoy a great hunting season.
To learn more about Hunter Education in New Hampshire, visit http://www.huntnh.com/Hunting/hunter_ed.htm.
Hunter education is made possible by the federal Wildlife Restoration Program, now in its 75th year. Excise taxes are collected from the sales of firearms, ammunition and archery equipment, and these funds are distributed to state agencies to conduct research, manage wildlife populations, protect habitat and conduct hunter education programs. Visit http://www.WSFR75.com.
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Last Call for New Hampshire’s Junior Duck Stamp Contest
February 28, 2012
Kids who want to enter New Hampshire’s 2012 Junior Duck Stamp Art Contest should start putting the finishing touches on their masterpieces. Entries must be postmarked by March 15. The contest is a chance for New Hampshire youth from kindergarten through grade 12 to create original artwork depicting any North American duck or goose. Entries are judged on artistic merit and scientific accuracy in portraying the waterfowl. The competition is open to public, private and home-schooled New Hampshire students.
The artist selected as Best-of-Show will receive a $500 scholarship, and the first-place winners in each of four age groups will be awarded cash prizes of up to $75. Prizes are provided through a grant from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
The New Hampshire Fish and Game Department runs the statewide competition, which is part of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Federal Junior Duck Stamp Conservation and Design Contest. The contest serves a dual purpose, giving students a chance to use their artistic talents at the same time they learn about wildlife and conservation.
Don’t forget — entries must be postmarked by March 15, 2012. Competition guidelines, including dimension requirements and an entry form, can be downloaded from http://www.wildnh.com/Education/Junior_Duck_Contest.htm, or contact N.H. Junior Duck Stamp Art Contest Coordinator Ellen Macneil at the N.H. Fish and Game Department, 11 Hazen Drive, Concord, NH 03301; email wildlife@wildlife.nh.gov or call 603-271-2461.
New Hampshire’s Junior Duck Stamp Art Contest will award first, second, third and honorable mention ribbons in four groups: grades K-3; 4-6; 7-9; and 10-12. The State Best-of-Show is selected from among the first-place winning designs. New Hampshire’s top winner advances to the National Junior Duck Stamp Design Contest, in which the three top winners receive a cash award and a trip to the adult Federal Duck Stamp Contest.
Winning artwork in all categories will be displayed at the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department (11 Hazen Drive) in Concord, N.H., in late April.
The Federal Junior Duck Stamp Conservation and Design Program is an integrated art and science activity developed to teach environmental science and habitat conservation. Teachers who want to integrate these lessons into their coursework can find a curriculum guide for teaching conservation through the arts at http://www.fws.gov/juniorduck/EducationProgram.htm.
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2012 New Hampshire Moose Hunt Lottery Opens
January 20, 2012
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.
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New Hampshire Snowshoe Hare Hunting Workshop Mar. 3 in Holderness
January 19, 2012
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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New Hampshire FG Announces Change in Allowable Turkey Shot Size
January 2, 2012
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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New Hampshire Apprentice Hunting Licenses Become Available Jan. 1
December 28, 2011
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.
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2012 New Hampshire Fishing and Hunting Licenses Now Available
December 22, 2011
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.
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New Hampshire Citizen Conservationists Asked to Report Wild Turkey Flock Sightings
December 21, 2011
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.
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Hunt Masters Presents Whitetail Double Feature
December 20, 2011
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.
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