Curt Golder's Angling Adventures- Outdoor News

Posted May 7, 2002
2002 HUNTING SEASONS PROPOSED

CONCORD, N.H. - At their April Commission Meeting the New Hampshire Fish and Game Commission proposed several changes to hunting seasons for 2002. The highlights are as follows:

Moose
Statewide: October 19 - October 27
This year's permit lottery will award a total of 485 NH moose-hunting permits versus 585 issued in 2001. The desire to reduce the moose population by 10% in the northern part of the state has been accomplished during the last few years, according to Fish and Game Department officials; the proposed reduction in permit numbers is designed to stabilize the population at its lower level. "We are also reducing permit numbers in the White Mountains region - this will allow that moose population to grow slightly to achieve our population goal there," says Steve Weber, the Department's Chief of Wildlife. "We are also changing the rule that required successful hunters to bring the entire moose carcass out of the woods," adds Weber; "Now, hunters hunting farther from the road will only have to bring out required biological samples and all edible meat. We hope this will encourage hunters to hunt more remote areas where moose densities may be higher and hunting pressure lighter."

Bear
Baiting
WMUs A, B, C1, C2, D1, D2, E, F, G, I1, J1, J2: Sept. 1-Sept. 28 (this adds 7 days of baiting in WMUs A, B, and D1)
WMUs H1, H2, I2, K, L, M: Sept. 1 - Sept. 21

Hounds
WMUs A, B, C1, C2, D1, D2, E, F, G, H1, I1, I2, J1, J2, L, M: Sept. 22-Nov. 12
WMUs H2 & K: N/A

Stalking
WMUs A, B, D1, H1, I2, L, M: Sept. 1-Nov. 12
WMUs C1, C2, D2, E, F, G, I1, J1, J2: Sept. 1-Dec. 8
WMUs H2 & K Sept. 1-Sept. 21

Fisher
As proposed, the fisher bag limit will be 10 animals in all counties of the state (Carroll County used to be 5 fisher). Fisher may be taken by trapping or hunting Dec. 1-Dec. 31, and by hunting only Jan. 1-Jan. 31.

Wild Turkey
Starting in 2003, a 2-week spring season for wild turkeys will be added in WMUs B, C1 and C2.

Snowshoe Hare
Two additional weeks of snowshoe hare hunting was added to the season up north in the state's best hare cover, resulting in the following season dates:
WMUs A, B, C1, C2, D1, E: Oct. 1-Mar. 31
WMUs D2, F, G, H1, H2, I1, I2, J1, J2, K, L, M: Oct. 1-Mar. 15

White-tailed Deer
Archery
WMU M: Any deer: Sept. 15-Dec. 15
Statewide except WMU M: Any deer: Sept. 15-Oct. 31; Antlered only: Nov. 1-Dec. 15

Muzzleloader
WMUs A, B, C1, C2, D, E, F, G, H1, H2, I1, I2, J1, J2, K: Any deer: Nov. 2-Nov. 4; Antlered only: Nov. 5-Nov. 12
WMUs L and M: Any deer: Nov. 2-Nov. 12

Regular Firearms
WMUs C1, C2, D, E, F, G, I1, I2: Antlered only: Nov. 13-Dec. 8
WMUs B, H1, H2, J1, K: Any deer: Nov. 13 only; Antlered only: Nov. 14-Dec. 8
WMUs A and J2: Any deer: Nov. 13-Nov. 14; Antlered only: Nov. 14-Dec. 8
WMU L and M: Any deer: Nov. 13-Nov. 22; Antlered only: Nov. 23-Dec. 8

All proposed dates and rules are subject to final approval by the Joint Legislative Committee on Administrative Rules.

NOTE: This story is available at http://www.wildlife.state.nh.us/News_releases/2002_hunting_seasons042602.htm

Posted May 1, 2002
Water Level Back To Normal On "Winni"

By Mike Colclough

LACONIA - While a state-declared "drought emergency" continues for all but far northern New Hampshire, the water in Lake Winnipesaukee yesterday reached its normal spring level.

After reaching a record low level in January, leaving area businesses concerned for the 2002 summer season, the lake measured 504.01 feet at the official level gauge at Wiers Beach on Monday, according to Ken Topin of the U.S. Geological Survey.

"We're just about normal for this time of year," said Topin, adding that the hydropower dam in Lakeport is back to near-normal discharge. "They are letting water out now." The current water level-measured in feet above sea level-also happens to be the elevation posted for the lake on official topographic maps, Topin said.

"They've reached the target level for spring," he said, referring to the NH Department of Environmental Services, which operates the dam to control the water level.

Topin said that the dam's daily release is now an average of 250 cubic feet of water per second (CFS). He said the state is still taking conservative measures at night when outflow is reduced to just 20 CFS.

"Normally they would run it around the clock between 250 and 300 CFS," He said.
Recent snowmelt due to warm weather, along with regular rainfall, is responsible for the lake's sudden rise, Topin said. Over the weekend, an average of three quarters of an inch of rain across the state, with a few inches of snow in the mountains, according to the web site of the National Weather Service.

"A week ago when we had the 98-degeree weather it melted the remaining snow pack up in the mountains," said Topin. "Streams in the area responded the next day and we've had rain maybe once or twice a week, so the lake is actually a little higher than it was this time last year."

He also attributed the lake's rise to the fact that the leaves on trees have not yet come out and that the area's trees use enough water to make the lake level drop.

.
"Once all those leaves come out that really does affect things; you'll see a noticeable drop," he said.

According to Topin, the NH Department of Environmental Services has hired a consultant to develop a model of the lake that will tell them how to better manage its resources, and it may result in policy changes.

"We've got a lot of competing interests out here, boaters, fishermen, wildlife, hydropower, and property owners," he said. "Keeping them happy is not an easy task."

Previous page | Next Page