CONTACT:
Kent Gustafson, (603) 271-2461
Mark Ellingwood, (603) 271-2461
Jane Vachon, (603) 271-3211 or 271-5619
October 24, 2007
N.H. Archery Deer Harvest to Date Is Highest in at Least 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 harvest through October 21 was the highest in at least nine years, with most counties showing significant increases, according to Kent Gustafson, Deer Project Leader for the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department. Archery deer hunters have taken 2,406 at this point in the season. The archery deer season continues through December 15 (except WMU A, in which it ends December 8, 2007).
Many typical fall foods for deer, such as acorns and beechnuts, are in short supply this fall compared to last year, but apples are quite abundant. Pleasant early fall weather conditions have been another plus for hunters. A fairly mild 2006-07 winter meant deer survival was good, as was fawn production and survival last spring. "Deer hunting this fall is definitely providing some excellent opportunities!" said Gustafson.
"The numbers suggest that the state's bow hunters are taking advantage of decent weather, better visibility and more abundant deer," Gustafson said. "Youth, muzzleloader and firearm deer hunters should expect a similar good season ahead."
The successful deer season to date bodes well for the state's youth deer hunt (October 27-28, 2007), which again will provide young hunters under age 16 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 November 3 - 13 in much of the state, and the firearms deer season opens November 14, 2007. For season dates and details of the deer seasons by WMU, click here, or consult the 2007-08 N.H. Hunting Digest (click here and on orange publication cover to download). 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. Please note that 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
N.H. DEER KILL AS OF OCTOBER 21, 2007 |
|||||||||
| County | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 |
| Belknap | 88 | 92 | 62 | 77 | 70 | 76 | 66 | 107 | 169 |
| Carroll | 71 | 51 | 68 | 59 | 70 | 75 | 44 | 60 | 113 |
| Cheshire | 155 | 126 | 114 | 133 | 115 | 154 | 99 | 175 | 251 |
| Coos | 128 | 118 | 74 | 54 | 58 | 60 | 45 | 78 | 105 |
| Grafton | 328 | 308 | 161 | 229 | 191 | 240 | 159 | 333 | 513 |
| Hillsborough | 225 | 252 | 214 | 247 | 207 | 239 | 198 | 256 | 431 |
| Merrimack | 171 | 147 | 108 | 122 | 111 | 147 | 94 | 182 | 211 |
| Rockingham | 243 | 269 | 257 | 249 | 183 | 237 | 198 | 208 | 297 |
| Strafford | 118 | 92 | 105 | 97 | 121 | 118 | 106 | 156 | 169 |
| Sullivan | 93 | 96 | 49 | 84 | 71 | 75 | 79 | 120 | 147 |
| TOTAL | 1,620 | 1,551 | 1,212 | 1,351 | 1,197 | 1,421 | 1,088 | 1,675 | 2,406 |
For online hunting license sales, click to visit www.nhfishandgame.com.
For more information on deer hunting in New Hampshire, click here.
Hunting activity is important to New Hampshire's economy, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. In 2006, more than $80 million in hunting-related expenditures were generated in the state.
The New Hampshire Fish and Game Department is the guardian of the state's fish, wildlife and marine resources and their habitats.
- ### -
