Waterfowl Season Meeting Set for August 18

CONCORD, N.H. – The New Hampshire Fish and Game Department will hold a public meeting on proposed season dates and bag limits for the 2010 waterfowl hunting season on Wednesday, August 18, 2010, at 6:30 p.m., at the N.H. Fish and Game Department, 11 Hazen Drive in Concord. Comments at the meeting will be considered in finalizing New Hampshire’s 2010 waterfowl season dates.

“Overall, spring breeding conditions for waterfowl were favorable again this year,” said Edward Robinson, N.H. Fish and Game’s waterfowl biologist. This year’s total U.S. duck population estimate from the traditional survey area in the prairies and parklands is 41 million birds, which is nearly identical to last year. In New Hampshire, weather and habitat conditions were also very good for nesting and brood rearing. Federal frameworks will allow for liberal waterfowl seasons in 2010.

New Hampshire’s proposed waterfowl season is very much like last year’s. N.H. Fish and Game is proposing a 60-day duck season with a 6-bird daily limit, and a 60-day Canada goose season with a 2-bird daily limit. Fish and Game also recommends continuing split seasons, including both ducks and Canada geese, in both the inland and coastal zones to allow early and late hunting opportunities:

* The proposed INLAND ZONE waterfowl season (ducks, mergansers, coots, Canada geese) would open on October 5 and run through November 17; then reopen November 24 through December 19.

* The proposed COASTAL ZONE season would open on October 6 and run through October 17; then reopen November 24 through January 10, 2011.

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.

Early Migratory Game Bird Seasons Set

CONCORD, N.H. — The New Hampshire Fish and Game Department has finalized the 2010 hunting season dates and bag limits for early season migratory game birds, with no significant changes from last year. The 2010 seasons for these game birds are as follows:

Resident Canada geese: The bag limit is five birds per day, statewide, during the September season, which extends from the day after Labor Day (September 7) through September 25, 2010.

Youth Waterfowl Weekend: This year, the youth weekend falls on Saturday and Sunday, September 25 and 26, 2010. All regular season waterfowl regulations, including bag limits, shooting hours, use of non-toxic shot, etc., apply during the youth weekend; however, it should be noted that since the first day of the youth hunt overlaps with the last day of the September Canada goose season, the bag limit for geese is 5 on Saturday and drops to 2 on Sunday. (For more on youth hunting in N.H., visit http://www.huntnh.com/Hunting/youth_hunting.htm.)

Woodcock: October 6 – November 4, 2010. Bag limit is 3 birds per day.

Snipe: September 15 – November 4, 2010. Bag limit is 8 birds per day.

Sea ducks: October 1, 2010 – January 15, 2011. Bag limit is 7 birds per day, with no more than 4 scoters, 4 eiders or 4 long-tailed ducks (oldsquaw).

Crows: The fall crow-hunting season runs from August 15 to November 30, 2010; next spring’s two-week crow season will be March 16-31, 2011.

Hunters of all migratory game birds must have a 2010 New Hampshire hunting license and are required by federal law to register for the National Migratory Bird Harvest Information Program (HIP). In New Hampshire, this includes all who hunt ducks, geese, snipe, woodcock and coots. Separate HIP permits are needed in each state. Licensed hunters should call 1-800-207-6183, or go to the “Buy Your License Online” section of the Fish and Game website http://www.HuntNH.com, to receive a permit number (there is no charge). This number should be written on the hunting license. Harvest information from HIP helps Fish and Game and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service make more reliable estimates of the number of all migratory birds harvested. Each year, a random selection of hunters is asked to complete a voluntary harvest survey.

Waterfowl hunters must also obtain a federal duck stamp and a New Hampshire Migratory Waterfowl hunting license.

Hunters are asked to report all banded birds by calling toll-free to 1-800-327-BAND. The U.S. Fish & 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.

For more information on other New Hampshire hunting seasons, or to buy licenses and permits online, visit http://www.HuntNH.com/Hunting/hunting.htm.

The New Hampshire Fish and Game Department is the guardian of the state’s fish, wildlife and marine resources and their habitats.

Public Hearing August 10 on Proposed Fish and Game Rule Changes

CONCORD, N.H. — Proposed Fish and Game rule changes will be discussed at a public hearing being held at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, August 10, 2010, at the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department, 11 Hazen Drive, Concord, N.H. Various rule changes to specify the information on Fish and Game Licenses and Permits are under consideration, and to clarify the exception to allow the use of more than one guide for permittees taking moose in the Hunt of a Lifetime program.

The complete rulemaking notice, with original and proposed rule language, can be viewed on the Fish and Game website. Go to http://www.wildnh.com/Legislative/Notices_summary.htm and click on “Fish and Game Licenses and Permits; Hunt of a Lifetime exception.”

Written comments must be received by August 20, 2010. Send to: comments@wildlife.nh.gov. (use subject line “Comments on Licenses and Permits; Hunt of a Lifetime Exception”); or write to Executive Director, N.H. Fish and Game Department, 11 Hazen Drive, Concord, NH 03301; or fax to (603) 271-1438.

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.

Register Online for Hunter Ed. and Bowhunter Ed. While You Can!

CONCORD, N.H. – Time is running out! If you need certification in Hunter or Bowhunter Education to hunt this fall, then RUN, don’t walk, to the nearest computer and register for your certification course before these classes fill up! Simply go to http://www.huntnh.com, click Hunting, and then Hunter Education. You will see links to traditional hunter and bowhunter education courses, as well as to the online hunter education course (you must complete the online course AND a Field Day in order to achieve certification).

New hunters must take a hunter education course before they can purchase their first hunting license in New Hampshire (those age 16 and older need a license to hunt). To meet this requirement, the N.H. Fish and Game Department offers Hunter and Bowhunter Education courses 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, and must be 15 years old to take the online Hunter Education course.

PLEASE NOTE: Registering for courses must be done online. Walk-in registrations are not accepted. If you need assistance finding or registering for a course, call the Hunter Education Program at 603-271-3214.

ONLINE HUNTER EDUCATION COURSE FIELD DAYS
(You must successfully complete the online Hunter Education Course 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, July 17
8:00 AM
Hunter Education Field Day
Dartmouth College
Dartmouth, NH

Saturday, July 24
9:00 AM
Hunter Education Field Day
Owl Brook Hunter Education Center
Holderness, NH

Sunday, August 22
9:00 AM
Hunter Education Field Day
Owl Brook Hunter Education Center
Holderness, NH

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

Saturday, August 28
8:00 AM
Hunter Education Field Day
Horseshoe Fish and Game Club
Merrimack, NH

TRADITIONAL BOWHUNTER EDUCATION COURSE – Dates and Locations
Register at http://www.huntnh.com/hunting/hunter_ed.htm. All students must register online.

Starts Friday, July 9
6:00 PM
Bowhunter Education Course (2 Days)
NH Fire Academy
Concord, NH

Starts Tuesday, August 3
9:00 AM
Bowhunter Education Course (3 Days)
Owl Brook Hunter Education Center
Holderness, NH

Starts Friday, August 6
7:00 PM
Bowhunter Education Course (2 Days)
Country Pond Fish and Game Club
Newton, NH

Saturday, August 7
7:30 AM
Bowhunter Education Course
Horse Pond Fish and Game Club
Nashua, NH

Starts Monday, August 9
7:00 PM
Bowhunter Education Course (5 Days)
Carroll County Fish Game & Shooting Club
Madison, NH

Saturday, August 14
8:00 AM
Bowhunter Education Course
Moultonborough Public Safety Building
Moultonborough, NH

Sunday, August 15
8:00 AM
Bowhunter Education Course
Belknap County Sportsman’s club
Gilford, NH

Sunday, August 15
7:00 AM
Bowhunter Education Course
Londonderry Fish and Game Club
Litchfield, NH

Starts Monday, August 16
6:30 PM
Bowhunter Education Course (5 Days)
Weare Bible Baptist Church
Weare, NH

Starts Friday, August 27
6:00 PM
Bowhunter Education Course (2 Days)
Pointers Fish and Game Club
Manchester, NH

Saturday, August 28
7:00 AM
Bowhunter Education Course
Newport High School
Newport, NH

Sunday, August 29
8:00 AM
Bowhunter Education Course
Horseshoe Fish and Game Club
Merrimack, NH

TRADITIONAL HUNTER EDUCATION COURSE – Dates and Locations
Register at http://www.huntnh.com/hunting/hunter_ed.htm. All students must register online.

Starts Monday, July 12
6:30 PM
Hunter Education Traditional Course (9 Days)
Cheshire County Fish and Game Club
Sullivan, NH

Starts Monday, July 26
6:30 PM
Hunter Education Traditional Course (8 Days)
Weare Bible Baptist Church
Weare, NH

Starts Tuesday, August 10
9:00 AM
Hunter Education Traditional Course (4 Days)
Owl Brook Hunter Education Center
Holderness, NH

Starts Friday, August 13
7:00 PM
Hunter Education Traditional Course (3 Days)
Sunset Mountain Fish and Game Club
Canterbury, NH

Starts Thursday, August 19
5:30 PM
Hunter Education Traditional Course (3 Days)
Ammonoosuc Valley Fish and Game Club
Bath, NH

Starts Friday, August 20
7:00 PM
Hunter Education Traditional Course (3 Days)
Country Pond Fish and Game Club
Newton, NH

Starts Saturday, August 21
7:00 AM
Hunter Education Traditional Course (2 Days)
Peterborough Sportsmen’s Club
Dublin, NH

Starts Monday, August 23
6:30 PM
Hunter Education Traditional Course (3 Days)
Owl Brook Hunter Education Center
Holderness, NH

Starts Friday, August 27
5:00 PM
Hunter Education Traditional Course (3 Days)
Chester Rod and Gun Club
Chester, NH

Starts Friday, August 27
6:00 PM
Hunter Education Traditional Course (3 Days)
Horse Pond Fish and Game Club
Nashua, NH

Starts Monday, August 30
6:00 PM
Hunter Education Traditional Course (7 Days)
Grace Baptist Church
Merrimack, NH

Starts Tuesday, August 31
6:00 PM
Hunter Education Traditional Course (7 Days)
Farmington Fish and Game Club
New Durham, NH

Lucky Day for 2010 NH Moose Hunt Permit Winners

CONCORD, N.H. — The adventure of a lifetime is in store for 395 people who have been offered permits to hunt moose in New Hampshire this October. They are the lucky winners in the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department’s annual moose permit lottery drawing, held today.

The names of the 2010 winners and alternates are posted on Fish and Game’s website at http://www.huntnh.com/Hunting/Moose_hunt/2010_Moose_Winners.html. Read more

Moose Lottery Drawing Takes Place Friday, June 18, 2010

CONCORD, N.H. — The annual drawing to select the lucky hunters who will be offered a permit to hunt moose in New Hampshire this fall will be held on Friday, June 18, at 9:00 a.m. at the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department, 11 Hazen Drive in Concord, N.H. Fish and Game will issue 395 moose hunting permits this year. The public and interested media are invited to be on hand to watch the excitement as the names are drawn. Winners are selected through a computerized random drawing.

Radio personalities Peter St. James and Ken Cail will broadcast live from Fish and Game headquarters that morning from 6 – 10 a.m., with drawing results starting at 9 a.m. Tune in to radio station WTPL (107.7 FM), which can be heard from Nashua to the Lakes Region; or in the Upper Valley, the broadcast can be heard on 94.3 FM or 1400 AM. The station will also stream the audio on its website, http://www.WTPLFM.com.

Lottery results will also be available online – official lists of winners and alternates will be posted on the Fish and Game website by 11:00 a.m. on Friday, June 18, 2010. (Please be patient; the large spike in web traffic on lottery day sometimes causes download delays.)

Moose-themed Fish and Game merchandise will be available for purchase from 8 a.m. to noon on moose lottery day, including a chance to order the special edition 2010 moose hunt T-shirt. (You don’t have to win the lottery to buy a shirt; an online order form also will be posted on June 18.) The sale is a great chance to get all your “moose wear” – moose-motif T-shirts, hooded sweatshirts, coolers, notepads and more.

More than 14,000 applicants entered the lottery for the chance to win a permit for the 2010 moose season, which runs from October 16 to 24, 2010. In addition, more than 1,100 people will continue to accrue bonus points by submitting an application for a point only but are not included in the lottery this year. The bonus point system improves your chance of winning for each consecutive year you enter and are not selected.

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

N.H. Weekly Fishing Report – June 10, 2010

N.H. WEEKLY FISHING REPORT – June 10, 2010

Stocking report 6/1 – 6/4: http://www.fishnh.com/Fishing/fish_stock_current.htm

Find us on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/nhfishandgame

Saltwater Angler Registry: https://www.countmyfish.noaa.gov

><> North Country

Recent heavy storms in northern NH have revitalized trout fishing in many areas. Water temperatures have dropped and flows have increased. These conditions have enabled Fish and Game personnel to not only follow the stocking schedule but actually increase numbers where possible. Surplus fish are finding homes throughout the state. – Dianne Timmins, Regional Fisheries Biologist

><> Lakes Region

It seems like our long, dry spell has ended with fronts passing through every couple of days with showers and some pretty wild thunderstorms to boot! These rains were very much needed as small brooks and streams had reached low water conditions early in the season. Lake temperature is now in the high 60s (68 degrees on Winni) and bass nesting has pretty much ended. Look for adult bass roaming the shorelines, as the bass fry (jet black in color) swarm the shores looking for places to hide. This is my favorite time to fish for bass with small panfish poppers. I have caught bass during the middle of the day over rocky shoals with my fly rod and poppers. This is great sport as the bass rise up to smash the popper on the surface!

As the school year ends, it is time to take the kids fishing, and what better species to seek than our ubiquitous sunfish! Sunfish nest after the bass, so look along the shorelines for their nest depressions and drop a small fly or tiny panfish popper over their heads and watch the reaction! Sunfish populations can easily overpopulate small ponds and even some larger waterbodies, therefore, they are a great species to target with the younger set. This a great way to introduce kids to the sport of fly-fishing. – Don Miller, Regional Fisheries Biologist

><> Monadnock/Upper Valley

The smallmouths haven’t gone deep yet. A recent outing to Swanzey Lake in Swanzey and Nubanusit Lake in Hancock/Nelson produced many nice smallmouths. Fish were caught in three to eight feet of water on shaky jig heads and tubes. The fish were mainly along the edges of dropoffs and anyplace there were rocks. The key was definitely rocks; where there were no rocks, there were no fish.

The stocking trucks are still rolling out of the Milford Hatchery. Everything has been stocked at least once this spring and now the hatchery is putting out surplus rainbows. Trout fishing should continue to be good with the much needed rain from last weekend and cooler temperatures this week. – Jason Carrier, Regional Fisheries Biologist

><> Southeast NH/Merrimack Valley

Last week, NH Fish and Game partnered with staff from the Anheuser Busch Facility in Merrimack, the city of Manchester (Department of Public Works and the Urban Pond Restoration Program), the Manchester Fly Fishing Association, Merrimack River Valley Trout Unlimited, NH Department of Environmental Services, NH Rivers Council, and several other volunteers and local businesses to perform a stream and pond litter pickup in Manchester. The stream is located on the western side of the city and despite being seated in a densely developed urban landscape, has a robust wild brook trout population. It is expected that this will be the first step of many to ensure that this species, so important to our heritage and legacy, is able to remain present in our largest city. Additional restoration activities and potential funding sources will soon be prioritized and identified. In three hours, 27 tires, over 25 full contractor trash bags, 3 bicycles, a car gas tank, a home heating oil tank,
2 shopping carts, 2 computers, a television, and close to a ton of rusted metal items were gathered. In the end, we essentially found everything but the kitchen sink…wait a minute, we also found a sink. As interest for this project continues to grow, it is our hope that those who litter develop an understanding of the value of aquatic systems…even in an urban environment. – Ben Nugent, Regional Fisheries Biologist

><> Seacoast Area

So I hope I am not the only one that read my fishing report last week, but I took my own advice and went to Rye Harbor on Sunday. The weather was unarguably wet and cold, but the winter flounder fishing was hot! A friend and I fished for about 3 ½ hours Sunday morning and never left the harbor, but we managed to land 21 winter flounder, only one of which was under the minimum size limit of 12 inches. We took home 14 fish between the two of us, with the biggest at 19 inches, a few over 18, the rest between 15 and 17, and they were a nice rewarding dinner for enduring the rain.

Our staff in the field, speaking with anglers all along the coast and at boat ramps, say they’ve seen the striped bass catch picking up, primarily in the Piscataqua River and Great Bay, and the mackerel are still available for bait.

Finally, the “Mudhole” is still providing giant cod again this year, but it’s a long cast from shore — so use the boat, go with a friend, or get on a charter or headboat before it slows down. – Kevin Sullivan, Marine Biologist

><> Federal Aid: A User-Pay, User-Benefit Program

Researching and managing fisheries and teaching people about aquatic ecosystems are funded by your license dollars and by the Federal Aid in Sport Fish and Wildlife Restoration Program. Your purchases of fishing equipment and motorboat fuels make a difference to New Hampshire’s fisheries. Visit http://www.wildnh.com/SFWR_program/sfwr_program.htm.

Bowhunting/Archery for Girls; Intro to Hunting; for Youth Age13-15

HOLDERNESS, N.H. — Girls age 13-15 have a chance to learn about shooting sports at a free summer outdoor skills day program being offered in July at the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department’s Owl Brook Hunter Education Center in Holderness, N.H. Please spread the word if you know any girls who may be interested in participating.

The Bowhunting/Archery Skills (Girls Only) session for 13-15 year old girls is set for Thursday, July 15, 2010. The one-day program is from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Participants must bring a bag lunch.

Pre-registration is required and is first-come, first-served. Enrollment will be limited to 20 girls. To sign up, call (603) 536-3954.

The “girls only” session is part of a series of hunter education youth day programs offered at Owl Brook Hunter Education Center.

There is also space available in the Introduction to Hunting session for boys and girls (age 13-15) on Thursday July 29, 2010.

To watch a 3-minute video about the summer youth program at Owl Brook, visit http://www.huntnh.com/Hunting/hunter_ed_center.htm.

For more information on the summer youth programs and other activities at Owl Brook, visit http://www.huntnh.com/Hunting/hunter_ed_center.htm.

Activities at Owl Brook Hunter Education Center are made possible by Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration funds.

Last Chance to Enter the 2010 Moose Hunt Lottery; Deadline Is May 28

CONCORD, N.H. – Want a chance to hunt moose in New Hampshire this fall? Then you better get moving! The deadline for entering the 2010 New Hampshire Moose Hunt Lottery is Friday, May 28, 2010. You may be one of 395 lucky hunters who will be drawn for New Hampshire moose hunting permits – a chance for the adventure of a lifetime.

It’s easy to enter. Visit http://www.huntnh.com to apply online or print a mail-in application, or pick up a lottery application from any license agent. The entry fee is $15 for New Hampshire residents and $25 for nonresidents (nonrefundable). Each applicant can enter the moose hunt lottery once each year. You don’t need a current hunting license to enter. Read more

Wild Turkeys, Red Fox, Turtles of NH – All in New NH Wildlife Journal

CONCORD, N.H. – New Hampshire’s wild turkeys, once completely gone from the state, are strutting proud to the tune of 40,000 birds today; can that restoration success be sustained? Read more about it – including how you can help create turkey habitat – in the May-June 2010 issue of “New Hampshire Wildlife Journal” magazine, which features a magnificent gobbler on its cover.

Also in this issue, follow a red fox family through the seasons through the images of wildlife photographer Charles Willey. And learn to identify New Hampshire’s turtles, from the endangered Blanding’s to our most common species, the painted turtle, often seen basking on logs and rocks in wetlands. Modern life presents many hazards to today’s turtles, which is why nearly half of modern turtles worldwide are either threatened with extinction or gone already. Find out what’s being done to help turtles in the Granite State, and how you can help.

The Journal is the state’s only magazine dedicated to fish and wildlife conservation and recreation. Regular columns profile the Eastern hognose snake, new conservation lands to enjoy, a Kid’s Corner, and how volunteers are helping New Hampshire’s state parks.

Not a subscriber to New Hampshire Wildlife Journal? The magazine is published 6 times a year by the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department. Subscriptions are just $12 for one year — that’s 40% off the newsstand price — or $20 for two years. To read sample articles, subscribe or purchase gift subscriptions for the outdoor enthusiasts in your life, visit http://www.WildNH.com/Wildlife_Journal/WJ_mag.htm. Subscribe before May 31, and we’ll send you the current issue absolutely free! Single issues are available for $2.95 each from N.H. Fish and Game headquarters, 11 Hazen Drive, Concord, NH 03301.

New Hampshire Wildlife Journal magazine contains no outside advertising, and subscription revenue helps N.H. Fish and Game conserve, manage and protect the state’s fish, wildlife and marine resources and their habitats; promote conservation education; and create opportunities for outdoor recreation in the Granite State. Visit http://www.wildnh.com.

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