2011 Deer Hunt Outlook
 |
By Kent Gustafson, N.H. Fish and Game Deer Project Leader
The 2011 New Hampshire deer season should again see improvements in the state’s deer population. Following a very mild winter in 2009-10, deer in much of the state went into winter in good shape due to another decent acorn crop. Last winter started looking bad for deer in mid-January. Snow accumulated and lingered through all of February until warm weather in mid-March began to significantly reduce snow depths. While the winter of 2010-11 was above-average in severity statewide, it could have been much worse for New Hampshire’s deer.
The state’s deer population is still recovering from decreases resulting from a series of severe winters since 2007, but there was good news in 2010. While the total deer kill decreased 6% from 10,384 in 2009 to 9,759 in 2010, the antlered buck harvest increased slightly in 2010, up from 5,940 in 2009 to 6,015 in 2010; meanwhile, the reduction in antlerless kill that was desired to help speed population recovery was successful. The statewide antlerless kill decreased from 4,444 in 2009 to 3,744 in 2010 with antlerless kill reductions of at least 10% achieved in 13 of 17 Wildlife Management Units (WMUs). A total of 1,964 deer were taken statewide during the archery season, 2,219 during the muzzleloader season, 5,164 during the regular firearm season and 392 on youth weekend. More details on last year’s deer and other big game seasons are available in the 2010 NH Wildlife Harvest Summary (click here to download).
Deer numbers remain below the population objective in most WMUs and for the 2011 season, either-sex hunting days will remain at the reduced levels seen in 2010. The exception will continue to be the youth weekend, which allows the taking of any deer on both Saturday and Sunday. As the population increases, either-sex hunting opportunities will be increased to slow population growth as population objectives are approached. The bad winters had less affect on deer populations in more southern and western parts of New Hampshire, and these are also among the areas with the quickest “recovery times,” so expect deer numbers to improve the most in these areas for the 2011 season. Be sure to check the 2011-12 New Hampshire Hunting Digest (click here and on publication cover) for 2011 season details, including WMU-specific regulations. There will be no new regulations associated with buck age- structure management in 2011, but the department will continue to monitor antlered buck harvests relative to deer management plan objectives.
Special Unit-M antlerless only permits are again available for the 2011 season to help control deer numbers in the southeast portion of the state where the potential for deer-human conflicts is the highest. A total of 4,000 permits are available on a first-come first-serve basis; at the time of purchase, a hunter may opt for a permit with either one or two antlerless deer tags. Permits are available on the department’s website, by mail, or at Fish and Game Headquarters in Concord (click here for more information). As in 2010, the special Unit-M antlerless only permits will NOT be valid during the antlered buck only portion of the archery season from September 15-30.
The youth deer hunt weekend will take place on October 22-23, 2011. This is a special chance for young hunters (15 and younger) to hunt under the guidance of a licensed hunter 18 years of age or older, before the muzzleloader and regular firearms seasons begin. It’s a great opportunity to introduce a kid to New Hampshire’s tradition of deer hunting or teach a young hunter some new hunting methods or skills.
