09-14-2010, 11:10 AM
CONCORD, N.H. - New Hampshire's archery seasons for turkey and white-tailed deer open September 15. Archery hunters are reminded that, new for this year statewide, only ANTLERED deer may be taken by bow and arrow from September 15-30. From October 1 through the end of the archery season on December 15, deer of either sex may be taken with bow and arrow by properly licensed archers.
New Hampshire Fish and Game Department Deer Biologist Kent Gustafson explains the change: "The deer population in most of New Hampshire has decreased after a couple of bad winters beginning in 2007-2008. To help the herd recover more quickly, either-sex hunting days during the muzzleloader and firearm seasons were reduced for 2010 in many Wildlife Management Units. To have archery hunters also participate in the efforts to promote herd recovery, the September 15-30 portion of the 2010 archery season has been designated as antlered bucks only statewide."
Since only antlered deer may be taken by archers from September 15-30, Special Unit M Antlerless-only Deer Permits may not be used in September. "We recognize that it might seem odd to restrict the take of antlerless deer in WMU M in September, since the whole point of the Special Unit M Deer Permits is to increase the antlerless kill to help stabilize the deer herd in that part of the state," said Gustafson. "However, we felt it would be too confusing to have different season structures in just a single unit. Also keeping just Unit M open to archery hunting for antlerless deer might have caused an influx of hunters to the unit during September, which has previously resulted in landowner issues that ultimately work against the desire for a higher deer kill. It is our hope that more effort will be expended later in the season on antlerless deer in unit M to offset the somewhat shorter season."
Other notes for archery hunters in WMU A:
* Archery hunting in WMU A is closed to turkey hunting.
* Archery hunting in WMU A ends 1 week early for deer hunters, concluding on December 8.
For more information on deer hunting and deer management in New Hampshire, visit http://www.huntnh.com/Hunting/Hunt_speci...t_deer.htm.
New Hampshire hunting licenses and permits can be purchased online anytime at http://www.huntnh.com.
New Hampshire Fish and Game Department Deer Biologist Kent Gustafson explains the change: "The deer population in most of New Hampshire has decreased after a couple of bad winters beginning in 2007-2008. To help the herd recover more quickly, either-sex hunting days during the muzzleloader and firearm seasons were reduced for 2010 in many Wildlife Management Units. To have archery hunters also participate in the efforts to promote herd recovery, the September 15-30 portion of the 2010 archery season has been designated as antlered bucks only statewide."
Since only antlered deer may be taken by archers from September 15-30, Special Unit M Antlerless-only Deer Permits may not be used in September. "We recognize that it might seem odd to restrict the take of antlerless deer in WMU M in September, since the whole point of the Special Unit M Deer Permits is to increase the antlerless kill to help stabilize the deer herd in that part of the state," said Gustafson. "However, we felt it would be too confusing to have different season structures in just a single unit. Also keeping just Unit M open to archery hunting for antlerless deer might have caused an influx of hunters to the unit during September, which has previously resulted in landowner issues that ultimately work against the desire for a higher deer kill. It is our hope that more effort will be expended later in the season on antlerless deer in unit M to offset the somewhat shorter season."
Other notes for archery hunters in WMU A:
* Archery hunting in WMU A is closed to turkey hunting.
* Archery hunting in WMU A ends 1 week early for deer hunters, concluding on December 8.
For more information on deer hunting and deer management in New Hampshire, visit http://www.huntnh.com/Hunting/Hunt_speci...t_deer.htm.
New Hampshire hunting licenses and permits can be purchased online anytime at http://www.huntnh.com.