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YOUR GUIDE TO HUNTING IN THE GRANITE STATE

CONCORD, N.H. — New Hampshire’s fall hunting seasons will soon be underway, and the best resource for exploring them is the 2009-2010 New Hampshire Hunting and Trapping Digest.

The Digest is available online at http://www.HuntNH.com  or when you buy your license from Fish and Game license agents across the state.

This year, the Hunting Digest has a whole new look. Hunters will notice that New Hampshire Fish and Game Department has fully revised and reformatted the publication — it is now bigger, brighter and more readable.

The larger size allows for additional advertising and production support, which means the new format is also more cost-effective for the Department.

In the Digest, you’ll find all the important dates, bag limits and other information about New Hampshire’s hunting and trapping seasons presented in a user-friendly format. It details Wildlife Management Unit (WMU) boundaries, license prices, check stations and other information hunters and trappers need.

Hunting seasons about to get underway include bear and gray squirrel seasons, which start September 1, and the September season for resident Canada geese.

Archery seasons for turkey and white-tailed deer get underway; most small game hunting, including grouse and pheasant is now open.

Opening day for New Hampshire’s most popular season — regular firearms deer hunting — is November 10.

Following is a summary of the general New Hampshire hunting seasons (consult the Digest for additional information and regulation details): 2009 Hunting Seasons

WHITE-TAILED DEER:Archery: Sept. 15 - Dec. 15 (closes Dec. 8 in WMU A*) Youth Deer Weekend: Oct. 24-25

Firearms: Nov. 11 - Dec. 6 (closes Nov. 29 in WMU A*)

Muzzleloader: Oct. 31 - Nov. 10 (opens Nov. 2 in WMU A*)

BLACK BEAR: Starts Sept. 1 (end varies by WMU)

GRAY SQUIRREL: Sept. 1 - Dec. 31

SNOWSHOE HARE: Oct. 1 - March 31 (bag limit varies by WMU)

RUFFED GROUSE: Oct. 1 - Dec. 31

WOODCOCK: Oct. 6 - Nov. 4M

OOSE: Oct. 17 - 25 (by permit only, allocated by lottery)

FALL TURKEY

Shotgun: Oct. 12 - 16 (certain WMUs only)Archery: Sept. 15 - Dec. 15 (Closed in WMU A) *For 2009, WMU A in northern New Hampshire continues to have an antler point restriction and shortened season dates for deer. Consult the Hunting Digest for more details.

If you need a hunter education class — required for first-time hunting license holders — don’t delay. Several course offerings and a new online study option are still available.

Visit www.HuntNH.com/Hunting/hunter_ed.htm, or call (603) 271-3212.

Another useful reference for planning your fall hunting strategy is the 2008 N.H. Wildlife Harvest Summary, which summarizes the outcome of last year’s hunting seasons by WMU and town, including harvest statistics and hunting/trophy records.

Find it at http://www.HuntNH.com/Hunting/hunting.htm

Waterfowl hunting seasons are posted at www.wildlife.state.nh.us/Hunting/Hunt_species/hunt_waterfowl.htm

New Hampshire hunting licenses and permits can be purchased online at http://www.HuntNH.com  or from license agents statewide. Hunting is an important contributor to New Hampshire’s economy. The 2006 National Survey of Fishing, Hunting and Wildlife-Associated Recreation reported that 61,000 hunters in New Hampshire (resident and non-resident, over the age of 16) accounted for nearly $75 million in trip-related, equipment and other spending in the state.