N.H. HUNTING REPORT -- DECEMBER 23, 2005

Hope you enjoyed success this fall. This month, wildlife biologist Eric 
Orff gives a sneak peek at the early numbers for the 2005 hunting 
seasons. Final figures will appear in the 2005 Wildlife Harvest Summary next 
spring. We'll let you know when it's out in the next issue of the N.H. 
Hunting Report, which should come your way in March 2006.

Meanwhile, 2006 hunting licenses are now for sale. BUY the hunting 
license and permits you need at http://www.nhfishandgame.com or visit your 
local license agent. Get set for another year of outdoor challenge, and 
remember your license fees are the primary source of funding for 
wildlife management in the Granite State. Thank you! 

As always, your best source for hunting season dates and details is the 
2005-2006 N.H. Hunting Digest, available at 
http://www.wildlife.state.nh.us/Hunting/hunting.htm (click on the 
orange icon), or from Fish and Game offices and license agents statewide. 

Don't forget, applications for the 2006 New Hampshire moose hunt will 
be available on the Fish and Game website starting in late January. It 
costs just $10 to enter the lottery, so try your luck and take a chance 
on the adventure of a lifetime. 


NEW HAMPSHIRE'S BIG GAME SEASON WRAP-UP FOR 2005

Another year and more records broken! This year started right off with 
a new record turkey kill. Fish and Game turkey biologist Ted Walski 
reports, "We had another record turkey season this spring with 2,040 birds 
registered (3,022 gobblers and 18 hens). This was an increase of 12 
percent, or 334 turkeys, from the 2,706 taken in 2004." Ted also reports 
that bow hunters have registered 244 this fall, down from the 352 
registered last fall. Ted says the widespread availability of fall foods, 
particularly acorns, kept the turkeys spread out and more difficult to 
kill.

While this fall's bear kill in New Hampshire was not a record, (it 
wasn't expected to be), a new record was set for the weight of a bear 
taken. Carroll Brunelle of Bethlehem took a 532-pound male in Bethlehem on 
September 3, shattering the old record of 494 pounds. Preliminary 
figures show this year's total bear kill to be 433.

Deer biologist Kent Gustafson has offered some preliminary, unofficial 
deer numbers, as well. The last call-in report by the state's 
Conservation Officers on December 16 showed a preliminary total tally of 10,582 
deer. This number is 5 percent above last year's figure of 10,033. 
Firmer estimates and additional details will be available in a few weeks 
after all the reports are turned in. 

Moose numbers were right up there too, though no records were broken. 
Success rate at 77.6 percent was the highest it has been since 1995. The 
heavy rains of the opening few days dampened the moose kill early on, 
but the hunters rallied mid-season to bring home the bacon...er, moose. 
A total of 408 moose were killed in the 9-day season. -- Eric Orff, 
wildlife biologist


SMALL GAME NOTES

Small game biologist Julie Robinson says that her first annual "Ruffed 
Grouse Wing Survey" was completed, with the cooperation of the Ruffed 
Grouse Society, resulting in 67 samples from the Great North Woods. 
Preliminary work suggests it was a tough spring for grouse hatchlings. Only 
9 of the 67 wings (13 percent) were juveniles. The heavy rains of June 
killed most of this year's production.

Waterfowl biologist Ed Robinson recently summarized this fall's 
waterfowl season at a recent Fish and Game Wildlife Division staff meeting. He 
noted that population levels of ducks and geese were high, but so were 
water levels this fall. It was a tough fall for duck hunters, with lots 
of fog on opening day; then everything was flooded, scattering the 
ducks and geese for much of the season. -- Eric Orff, wildlife biologist


GOT DUCKS?

Each January, Fish and Game regional biologists fan out across the 
state and count the number of overwintering ducks and geese for waterfowl 
biologist Ed Robinson. In January of 2005, 4,479 mallards, 505 black 
ducks and 854 Canada geese were tallied. This survey began in 1988 to 
complete the inland half of a coastal waterfowl survey done by aircraft 
annually since 1952. 

Mallard numbers have varied from 1,800 in 1988 to 7,107 in 2000, with a 
yearly average of 4,531. Black duck numbers have varied from 201 in 
1990 to 809 in 2000, with an average of 443. Goose numbers have ranged 
widely as well, from 114 in 1994 to 1,367 in 2002, with a yearly average 
of 595. Over the years, biologist have "discovered" new places that 
ducks and geese like to call home for the winter. Many of these are in 
urban settings at office parks or condos. When the winters get tough, the 
waterfowl move further south...or move to town! The severity of the 
winter greatly influences how many ducks and geese stay close to home. Cold 
winters with lots of ice and snow tend to push resident waterfowl 
further south. Each winter, a few common mergansers, goldeneyes and red 
breasted mergansers are counted, with rarer sightings of wood ducks and 
teal.

Biologists are always looking for these winter holdouts. Do you know 
where there are some ducks or geese spending the winter in New Hampshire? 
Send an email to: wilddiv@wildlife.state.nh.us with a description of 
your spot (town, road, river or address) along with number of ducks and 
geese, your name and phone number. Biologists would love to count your 
birds too. -- Eric Orff, wildlife biologist 

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For previous New Hampshire hunting reports, visit 
http://www.wildlife.state.nh.us/Hunting/hunting_report.htm.

Know someone who would enjoy this free monthly in-season report? Have 
them sign up at 
http://www.wildlife.state.nh.us/Inside_FandG/join_mail_list.htm.

The New Hampshire Fish and Game Department is the guardian of the 
state's fish, wildlife and marine resources and their habitats. Visit 
http://www.wildlife.state.nh.us.

________________________________

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-- 
Copyright 2005 New Hampshire Fish and Game Department, 11 Hazen Drive, 
Concord, NH 03301.  Comments or questions concerning this list should 
be directed to lpoinier@wildlife.state.nh.us.