CONTACT:
Kent Gustafson, (603) 271-2461
Mark Ellingwood, (603) 271-2461
Jane Vachon, (603) 271-3211
October 19, 2006
N.H. Archery Deer Harvest to Date Is Highest in 9 Years
CONCORD, N.H. -- Early reports from the archery deer season indicate that there are lots of deer in the woods this fall for New Hampshire hunters. The deer kill through October 15 was the highest in the past nine years, with most counties showing significant increases, according to Kent Gustafson, Deer Project Leader for the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department.
"The numbers suggest that the state's bow hunters are taking advantage of cooler weather, better visibility and more abundant deer," Gustafson said. "Muzzleloader and firearm deer hunters should expect a similar good season ahead."
The successful deer season to date bodes well for this weekend's youth deer hunt (October 21-22), which again will provide young hunters 15 years old or younger the opportunity to take a deer of either sex. Youths must be accompanied by an adult at least 18 years of age, with a valid New Hampshire hunting license.
The numbers also are good news for New Hampshire's firearm deer hunters as they prepare to get out in the field. The state's muzzleloader deer season is October 28-November 7, and the firearms deer season opens November 8. Deer are the most popular quarry for the more than 60,000 hunters who buy licenses in New Hampshire each year.
Statistics gathered so far from New Hampshire's archery deer hunt are listed below with comparisons to this point in the season in previous years. (Note -- these preliminary figures are estimates based on reported deer registrations by county, not necessarily deer killed in that county, and may not include information from all registration stations.)
| REPORTED DEER KILL AS OF OCTOBER 15, 2006 | |||||||||
| County | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 |
| Belknap | 71 | 88 | 92 | 62 | 77 | 70 | 76 | 66 | 107 |
| Carroll | 52 | 71 | 51 | 68 | 59 | 70 | 75 | 44 | 60 |
| Cheshire | 152 | 155 | 126 | 114 | 133 | 115 | 154 | 99 | 175 |
| Coos | 51 | 128 | 118 | 74 | 54 | 58 | 60 | 45 | 78 |
| Grafton | 187 | 328 | 308 | 161 | 229 | 191 | 240 | 159 | 333 |
| Hillsborough | 171 | 225 | 252 | 214 | 247 | 207 | 239 | 198 | 256 |
| Merrimack | 127 | 171 | 147 | 108 | 122 | 111 | 147 | 94 | 182 |
| Rockingham | 211 | 243 | 269 | 257 | 249 | 183 | 237 | 198 | 208 |
| Strafford | 91 | 118 | 92 | 105 | 97 | 121 | 118 | 106 | 156 |
| Sullivan | 68 | 93 | 96 | 49 | 84 | 71 | 75 | 79 | 120 |
| TOTAL | 1181 | 1620 | 1551 | 1212 | 1351 | 1197 | 1421 | 1088 | 1675 |
For online hunting license sales, click here.
For more information on deer hunting in New Hampshire, click here.
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