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N.H. Hunting Report - October 20, 2005 As you head out into the field this fall, put on your blaze orange and watch for water. The N.H. Department of Resources and Economic Development closed several state parks, forests and trail areas in southwestern N.H. in mid-October; for the latest info on closures, click here. So far, harvest trends are down from last year, but look for some great N.H. hunting opportunities in the weeks ahead. FYI, the woodcock season closes at the end of October. The 2005-2006 N.H. Hunting Digest is your best source for hunting season dates and details; click here (and then click on the orange icon) to download, or pick up a copy at Fish and Game offices and license agents statewide. Click here to buy your N.H. hunting license online -- right now!
More Deer to Hunt This Fall, But Woods Waterlogged New Hampshire deer biologist Kent Gustafson is predicting that hunters will have more deer this fall to hunt. However, based on the waterlogged conditions New Hampshire is experiencing, hunters will have less access to some important deer cover, the wetlands. If this trend continues, as it appears it will with yet another hurricane, Wilma, brewing, very likely the woods will be full of water for weeks to come. Many of the wetlands that our deer normally spend much of their daylight time bedded down in are, literally, lakes in the woods. Therefore, deer behavior is changing by the day in New Hampshire this year. Rockingham Extension Forester Matt Tarr, an avid and skilled deer hunter, has some words of advice. Matt says, "Normally, I like to set my stands between the deer bedding areas, the wetlands, and their feeding areas. But this year they seem to be all flooded out. I expect the deer to choose the brushiest areas around those wetlands for cover this fall." Matt's advice: find a good deer run near those wetlands and a feeding area. This year, it looks like the great acorn crop will have the deer feeding on the hillsides where red oaks most frequently occur. "Don't set up in the oaks," he went on to say, "but find a good deer trail between the oaks and their daytime bedding area and spend as much time as you can in your stand." Despite the soggy conditions and warmer than normal fall, we can expect the pre-rut to begin about the last week of October, just in time for the muzzleloader season. It is the mature does who first come into estrus and will have the bucks' attention right off. This is a good time to use that grunt call or do a little light antler rattling. By mid-November -- perfect timing for New Hampshire's gun season -- the bucks are in full rut. This means they are on the go 24/7. So you are just as likely to have a buck strutting by mid-day as not. Anytime is a good time to be in the woods. Try to find where the does are feeding and you can set yourself up for a nice buck to come strolling by. Think does to take a nice buck this fall. -- Eric Orff, wildlife biologist <Return to top> As of October 19, 2005, a total of 295 moose had been taken in New Hampshire's moose hunt (211 bulls and 84 cows), meaning 56 percent of hunters holding moose permits had hit their mark. The moose hunt is currently at the mid-way point; the nine-day season runs through Sunday, October 23. Last year at this point in the season, 323 moose had been taken, yielding a 62 percent statewide success rate. Weather has been a factor in the lower numbers this year, says Fish and Game Moose Project Leader Kristine Bontaites, who has been working at the Berlin moose check station all week. "Either the wind has been blowing a gale or it's been pouring rain, so the moose are bedded down," Bontaites said. "These moose hunters are incredibly dedicated. This is what hunting is all about, though -- hunting in all different kinds of weather and taking Mother Nature's challenge that you'll be successful regardless of the conditions." A highlight of the week was enthusiastic young hunter Amber Nash, age 11, of Northfield, who succeeded in taking a 560-pound yearling bull moose. Amber also bagged a wild turkey earlier this year. Next in her sights? A New Hampshire black bear hunt! Regionally, as of October 19, 2005, the North Country has seen a 62% success rate (139 moose taken); the White Mountains region is at 53% (62 moose); central New Hampshire has seen a 55% success rate (76 moose); the southwestern region is at 37% (11 moose); and 10% of moose hunters in southeastern New Hampshire have gotten a moose (2 moose). The statewide deer kill for bowhunters through October 16 was 1,088, below last year's total thanks to warm, very wet weather continuing this fall. Last year, 1,421 had been taken at this point in the season; in 2003, the number was 1,197. Registrations were down in all counties except Sullivan, which at 79 deer was up a bit from the past two years. Muzzleloader season opens on Saturday, Oct. 29. -- Kent Gustafson, Deer Project Leader
Build bonds and create memories for a lifetime by taking a kid hunting the weekend of October 22-23 -- New Hampshire's special youth deer weekend, when young people age 15 and younger may go deer hunting with a licensed adult age 18 or older. Accompanying adults are not allowed to carry a firearm. The young hunters may take a deer of either sex. The chances for getting a deer on the youth hunting weekend are often better than during the regular season. Last year's youth hunters took 312 deer in New Hampshire, down 7 percent from the record youth weekend harvest of 334 in 2003. For more information on the youth deer weekend, click here. As of October 7, 2005, 306 bears had been taken in New Hampshire, putting us 25% behind the 5-year in-season average of 410 bears for this time period. Additionally, we are 42% behind last year's harvest for this time period. Bait hunters harvested 170 bears (an unofficial harvest tally, as the bait season has ended); still hunters/stalkers had taken 91 bears; and hound hunters had registered 43 bears. Two bears had not been assigned to a specific method of take. The overall harvest sex ratio at this point in the season is 1.4 males per female, which is consistent with the long-term average. Regionally, 107 bears had been taken in the North, 112 in the White Mountains, 61 in the Central, 18 in Southwest-1and 8 in Southwest-2 regions. No bears had been harvested in the Southeast. A majority (58%) of harvested bears were reported consuming bait at time of harvest. Since bait season ended, the percentage of bears being harvested while feeding on natural foods has increased. To date, 15% were consuming various berries (e.g., cherries, raspberries and blackberries), 11% were eating acorns and 9% were feeding on apples. Reflecting the poor production of beechnuts statewide, only 2% of harvested bears were eating beechnuts when harvested. Despite the abundance of foods in the woods and the apparent lack of corn damage complaints by farmers, 14% of harvested bears were reported feeding in corn at the time of harvest. -- Andy Timmins, Bear Project Leader Leave Four-wheelers, Trucks at Home Hey, hunters! Tread lightly on your hunting places this fall. After all the rain we've had, your 4X4 trucks and ATVs can tear up the roads. Best to hunt only areas you can hike into. Keep up good relations with landowners and towns by staying off wet, rain-soaked roads this fall with any vehicles, especially Class VI or logging roads. On paved roads, use common sense while parking and pulling off. Don't pull into fields or barred ways. Wait until the ground freezes before venturing off the beaten path this hunting season with any vehicle. Tell your hunting friends you expect the same from them. Your vehicles not only damage the roads, but the image of hunters, as well. We don't need a bunch more "No Trespassing" signs. Remember, all hunters are depending on each other's good judgment to keep hunting areas open for all of us in the future. -- Eric Orff, Wildlife Biologist
Because of rain and flooding, pheasants were not released at the Surry, Franklin Falls and Hopkinton/Everett flood control lands in mid-October. Fish and Game staff will use discretion in stocking these and other flooded areas. When you're in the field, pay attention to any warning signs or other indications of unsafe conditions and use common sense when you encounter wet ground. Make sure you will not damage the ground or vegetation when parking in your usual spot. Landowners will appreciate your respect. The good news: areas in which stocking is delayed will receive extra birds later on.
The New Hampshire Fish and Game Department has proposed some small changes in the moose lottery application process. A public hearing will be held on November 1 at 10 a.m. at Fish and Game headquarters in Concord, and written comments must be received by November 12. The proposal clarifies information required by Fish and Game for the moose lottery process and on the application, with particular reference to the driver's license number or non-driver's identification number and how to report any changes of that number to Fish and Game so that the Department can maintain accurate records of bonus points in the lottery process. Click here (then on "moose lottery") to access the complete rulemaking notice form. To protect the state's remnant New England cottontail populations, last year the state closed two additional areas to the hunting of cottontail rabbits. The closed areas include stretches from Concord south to Nashua and Salem, and from Rochester to Exeter. For specific boundaries of the closed areas, see the 2005-2006 N.H. Hunting Digest (click here, then on orange icon to download this publication). With the exception of these closed areas, the cottontail rabbit season runs through December 31 in WMUs H1, H2, I2, K, L and M. Cottontail hunting remains closed in northern WMUs (A-G, and I1 and J). -- Julie Robinson, Small Game Project Leader Help the less fortunate by sharing your fall harvest with the Hunt for the Hungry Program. The New Hampshire Food Bank, which distributes food to more than 270 food pantries, soup kitchens, homeless shelters and group homes statewide, is accepting donations of whole or processed game animals. Last year, the program took in more than 1,300 pounds of donated deer, bear, moose, duck and other game meat. They'll provide packaging instructions and can pick up meat donations. Call (603) 669-9725. ---------------------------------------- For previous hunting reports, click here. Click here to get this free monthly report by email during the season, or to sign up for one of Fish and Game's other e-newsletters!  A
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