CONCORD, N.H. - Some of the state's hunting seasons have already begun and many more are just around the corner. Black bear and gray squirrel seasons opened September 1. Archery seasons for turkey and white-tailed deer start September 15. The statewide resident Canada goose hunt runs September 2-25. Looking ahead, the opening day for the 2014 firearms deer season is November 12.
The Fish and Game Department revises its rules on a biennial basis; as a result, many of the rules for the 2014 and 2015 hunting seasons have changed. It is important for all hunters to keep up to date on the most current rules. Following is a summary of some of the major changes:
Highlights of the 2014-2015 New Hampshire Wildlife Rule Changes
Changes to general baiting regulations:
- All bait permit applications are due on or before October 1. (Permit applications to bait wildlife on state-owned and managed lands are still due on or before August 1.)
- A baited area shall not be considered an active bait site when all containers used to hold bait and all bait materials are completely removed.
Changes to deer baiting regulations:
- The deer baiting season in WMUs A through L will open 21 days prior to the opening of the regular firearm deer season and close the third Wednesday in November. (The deer baiting season will run from October 22 through November 19 for the 2014 hunting season.)
- The deer baiting season in WMU M will remain open from September 15 through December 15.
- The deer baiting season for persons holding a permanently disabled veterans license as specified in RSA 214:13 or a license for certain permanently disabled persons as specified in RSA 214:13-c will open on September 15 and close December 15, statewide.
- No person shall place bait for the purpose of attracting and taking deer prior to the season for taking deer with the aid and use of bait.
- The baiting season for deer on Governor's and Long Islands begins the first weekday in October and ends on December 15.
Changes to moose and coyote baiting regulations:
- No moose shall be taken with the aid and use of bait.
- From the close of the bear baiting season through December 15, baiting for coyote will be restricted to the use of meat, animal parts, carrion, or fish only.
Deer season changes:
- The number of either-sex deer days during the muzzleloader and/or regular firearm seasons has increased in several wildlife management units (WMUs). To view a chart of WMU-specific either-sex hunting days for the 2014 deer season, visit http://www.huntnh.com/Hunting/Hunting_PDFs/Deer_dates_2014.pdf
- When taking deer, no person shall possess more than one muzzleloading rifle or one muzzleloading handgun.
- 500 special Unit L antlerless only permits were made available, each with 1 tag ($13). These permits are now SOLD OUT.
- All special unit M permits now come with 2 tags at a cost of $26 (a total of 4,000 permits were issued and are now SOLD OUT).
Bear season changes:
- The still hunting/stalking season for bear in WMUs H2, K, L and M has been lengthened by 7 days, to run from September 1-28.
- The still hunting/stalking season for bear in WMUs G, I1, J1 and J2 has been lengthened by 14 days, to run from September 1 through November 25.
Turkey season changes:
- A fall archery turkey season has been established in WMU A, to coincide with the archery deer season and will run from September 15 through December 8.
General hunting rule changes:
- Hunter Education and Bowhunter Education are now combined into one course, referred to as Hunter Education.
Hunting season dates for all game species can be found in the NEW 2014-2015 NH Hunting Digest, which is now available at any of our license agents, at Fish and Game offices or online at http://www.wildnh.com/pubs/hunting.html.
For a complete and current list of all Fish and Game-related rules visit http://gencourt.state.nh.us/rules/state_agencies/fis.html.
The New Hampshire Fish and Game Department works in partnership with the public to conserve and manage the state's fish, wildlife and marine resources and their habitats. Learn more at http://www.wildnh.com.
CONTACT:
Kent Gustafson: 603-271-2461
Dan Bergeron: 603-271-2461
Jane Vachon: 603-271-3211
