Posted By:
Peter-Lester
Field Editor
Waterfowl Season Hearing August 23, 2006 08-18-2006 08:58
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CONTACT:
Edward Robinson: (603) 271-2461
Julie Robinson: (603) 868-1095
Jane Vachon: (603) 271-3211
August 1, 2006
Waterfowl Season Hearing Set for August 23
CONCORD, N.H. — The New Hampshire Fish and Game Department will hold a public hearing on proposed season dates and bag limits for the 2006 waterfowl hunting season on Wednesday, August 23, 2006, at 6:30 p.m., at Fish and Game headquarters on Hazen Drive in Concord. Comments at the meeting will be considered in finalizing New Hampshire’s 2006 waterfowl season dates.
“Waterfowl populations in the Atlantic Flyway continue to do well. In the northeast overall, and in New Hampshire particularly, mallard, wood duck, and Canada goose populations remain at high levels. As a result, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has recommended liberal season frameworks for ducks,” said Edward Robinson, a waterfowl biologist with N.H. Fish and Game. “There are some concerns, however, about the status of black ducks, wigeon, scaup and pintails.”
New Hampshire’s proposed waterfowl season is very similar to last year’s. Fish and Game is proposing a 60-day duck season with a six-bird daily limit for the 2006 season. There are some minor changes.
Fish and Game also recommends continuing split seasons, including both ducks and Canada geese, in both the inland and coastal zones to allow early and late hunting opportunities:
The Inland Zone season (ducks, mergansers, coots, Canada geese) would open on October 3 and run through November 12, then reopen from November 22 through December 10.
The Coastal Zone season would open on October 4 and run through October 15, then reopen November 22 through January 8.
Species restrictions will continue on black ducks, scaup, pintails, canvasbacks and Atlantic brant. Fish and Game is proposing to reduce the daily bag limit on scaup to 1 bird per day; to increase the season length for canvasback from 30 to 60 days; and to increase the bag limit on hooded mergansers from 1 bird per day to 2 birds per day.
Posted By:
Jerry-Nicholson
Web Member
07-31-2006 16:42
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – Over 70 Degrees
Howdy folks. First post in a while for me and its good news. Driving past a small pond today I saw a flock of about a dozen geese. Man, did they look pretty! I suspect the Molt Migration is responsible for the flocking activity. Seems like its a little late for the MM though. Lots of geese all around this year – ought to be a good early season.
Posted By:
Peter-Lester
Field Editor
DU Banquet – Hampton Beach 04-16-2006 06:42
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 50-60 Degrees
Boars Head Chapter Banquet is on April 28th, 6PM at the Ashworth by the Sea Hotel on Ocean Blvd, Hampton Beach NH. An invite is required to attend and if you don’t have one I would call 603-431-3437 and see what they can do.
Posted By:
Msg&son
Guest
03-31-2006 17:25
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well with the warm weather the local pairs havemoved north from gorham still no geese sen yet fly through but im sure the residence had a great witner over on the conneticut river vally im sure with hardly andy snow on the feilds so that might bode well. and on a great side heard ont he news that cabelas wants to build a store in hookseett how cool will that be wooohooo. hope everyone has a great spring turkey hunting is almost upon us so good luck to all. Mark
Posted By:
Peter-Lester
Field Editor
Strafford County 03-20-2006 05:22
Mostly Sunny, No Precipitation – 10-20 Degrees – Open Water
Was out crow hunting yesterday morning and observed a sight we seldom see on the seacoast, Snow Geese. A flock of about 50 which included two blue geese was overnighting in the area’s biggest cornfield. They took off and flew around the area for about an hour. When we last saw them they had picked up signifcant altitude and were heading north. I can only remember seeing snow geese in this area about 5 times since the mid 70’s and most of the time it is in the Spring.
Posted By:
Jerry-Nicholson
Web Member
Connecticut River Valley 03-16-2006 18:07
Mostly Sunny, No Precipitation – 30-34 Degrees – Ice
This is too weird. Yesterday I looked out the office window and my back lawn was covered up in Robins! March 15 and there were dozens of Robins all over! Then today cruising down Rt 4 I saw a pair of Canada Geese in a field!
This is waaaaay to early for migration. Something ain’t quite right!
Posted By:
Jerry-Nicholson
Web Member
West Central Border 02-24-2006 17:16
Arctic Blast – 0-10 Degrees – Ice
After an up and down winter, temperature wise, it looks like Ma Nature isn’t finished with us. Temperatures are headed south in a big way this weekend.
I haven’t seen a duck or goose in a couple months, and that is as it should be. I am, however, just about ready to take a couple of last year’s fat, late season geese to the farmers that let me hunt their land. Its always good to take care of the landowners who are generous enough to share the resource.
Posted By:
Peter-Lester
Field Editor
DU Banquet 02-09-2006 05:15
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I got a card in the mail from the Cocheco Chapter of DU. They have changed the date of their annual banquet to 3/18/06. Dress is casual at Rochester Country Club, 138 Church St. Rochester NH. No stated time was printed on the card, contact phone number is 603-772-0648
[Edited By Peter-Lester on 2006-02-09 05:16]
Posted By:
Peter-Lester
Field Editor
Large number of geese report 01-06-2006 12:29
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I got a report from a friend who observed what he said to be around 1000 geese in a cut cornfield on the Durham/Lee line last night. He was driving home from work around 4PM.
Although that area is in the inland zone where the season is closed it would be my guess that these birds are roosting on the Bay overnight. There is still the opportunity to shoot a goose this weekend in the coastal zone.
Posted By:
Peter-Lester
Field Editor
Little Bay and the rivers 12-28-2005 05:35
Cloudy, Snow & Rain Mix – 25-30 Degrees – Ice
Ice and hunters, seems like we have a lot of both. Have hunted 3 days since Christmas eve day with some success. Lot’s of ice making for problems with decoys as ice sheets will drag them away. Decent morning flights but most movement is before legal shooting. Ducks are seemingly plentiful but staying bunched up in areas where they are not hunted. Yesterday morning I saw a duck or two every 10 minutes and then shortly before 9AM there were a few shots from a nearby river and at least 150 ducks came out and headed for Great Bay.
Spoke to a friend yesterday that had good success. He and his partner got a late start going at 9AM. I caught up to them at the launch around 1PM. They had five birds that included two banded mallards. One was a a double banded greenhead sporting a $100 reward band. Now that’s a good day! He reported a bit of frustration with all the hunters out and a lack of honor. I know what he is talking about, Sunday we had two guys set up 50 yards from us and shoot at every bird that went by from 100 to 120 yards. They didn’t seem to have a clue.
This same friend reported a large number of geese are rafted up in the middle of great bay each day. I haven’t seen many moving but he tells me they are there.
Don’t forget that Sunday is a new year and you’ll need to get your 2006 Hunting license and boat registration this week if you plan to keep going during 2006.
