What's new for 2008-09? Wood duck populations continue to be in good shape, and this year the daily bag limit will increase from two birds to three birds per day. Scaup populations remain lower than desired, so the daily bag limit will be one bird per day. The canvasback season is closed this year, as breeding numbers were nearly 50% lower than last year. Finally, Atlantic brant numbers are up this year, so a 60-day, three-bird daily limit season will be allowed. -- Ed Robinson, Waterfowl Biologist
Waterfowl hunters must obtain a federal duck stamp and a New Hampshire Migratory Waterfowl License, in addition to a New Hampshire hunting license.
August 15, 2008 - Nov. 30, 2008; and
March 16-31, 2009
Canvasback
Season Closed
Harlequin duck
Season closed
Sea Ducks (scoter, eider
and long-tailed ducks): Season is from October 1, 2008, through
January 15, 2009, in all coastal waters, rivers and streams seaward
from the first upstream bridge. The daily bag limit is 7 birds,
with no more than 4 scoters, 4 eiders or 4 long-tailed ducks (previously
"oldsquaw"). The possession limit is 14 birds, with no
more than 8 scoters, 8 eiders or 8 long-tailed ducks. In all other
areas of the state, sea ducks may be taken only during the regular
season for ducks and shall be included in the regular season daily
bag and possession limit.
Falconry
(Extended season)
Inland Zone: Nov. 3 - 22 and Dec. 21, 2008 - Jan. 14, 2009
Coastal Zone: January 25 - March 10, 2009
Youth
Waterfowl Days:New Hampshire’s Youth Waterfowl
Hunting Weekend will be held statewide on Saturday, September 27;
and Sunday, September 28, 2008. Youths must be 15 years of age
or younger and accompanied by a licensed adult 18 years or older.
The adult must possess a current hunting license but may not hunt.
The daily bag limits are the same as those allowed in the open season.
Coastal
Zone: Beginning at the Maine-New Hampshire line in Rollinsford,
that portion of the state east of a boundary formed by Route 4 west
to the city of Dover, south to the intersection of Route 108 through
Madbury, Durham and Newmarket to the junction of Route 85 in Newfields,
south to Route 101 in Exeter, east to Interstate 95 in Hampton,
and south to the Massachusetts line.
Vermont
Connecticut River Zone Boundary: Interstate 91 at the Massachusetts
border north to Route 2, north to Route 102, and north to Route
253.
Inland
Zone: That portion of the state west of the above boundary,
including the Connecticut River Zone portion of Vermont.
1-800-327-BAND
Report all banded birds using the toll-free number 1-800-327-BAND.
The U.S. Fishand Wildlife Service will
send a certificate with information about the bird.
Migratory Waterfowl License and HIP Numbers
To hunt waterfowl in New Hampshire, you
are required to have a Migratory Waterfowl License and a current N.H. Hunting, Combination or Small Game License (available at any Fish and Game license agent), as well as a
Federal Waterfowl Stamp (available at U.S. Post Offices). You also are
required to have a Harvest Information Program (H.I.P.) Survey permit number -- click
here for more information on H.I.P.
Last-of-State N.H. Duck Print
To order the 2007 last-of-state New Hampshire
duck print or collector stamps,click
here for a print-and-mail order form* (PDF, 57 KB). The 2007 New Hampshire Migratory Waterfowl Stamp and limited
edition print, “The Next Generation,” is an oil painting of a female
black duck with a brood of chicks, by Kate Kotulak of Underhill,
Vt. The stamp and print program raises money for the New
Hampshire Waterfowl Conservation Fund. Since 1983, the
fund has made it possible to acquire 3,139 acres of waterfowl
habitat in New Hampshire.
NOTE: The New Hampshire and Vermont
state legislatures have enacted reciprocal migratory waterfowl
hunting rights for licensed waterfowl hunters in the Connecticut
River Zone.
*To view this or any PDF document, you must
have the free Adobe Acrobat Reader software on your computer.
To download the latest version of Acrobat Reader, click
here to go to the Adobe web site.
Support N.H. Fish and Game and NH Ducks Unlimited -- Limited Edition Print
Prints of "Duck Blind Heaven" by Robert Childress are now available. A portion of the proceeds of the sale of each print will benefit both N.H. Fish and Game and NH Ducks Unlimited.
The late Robert Childress was a commercial artist in the 1940s, fondly remembered as the illustrator of the Dick, Jane and Sally reading books.
The giclee print costs $300 plus shipping. The print measures 24 by 22 inches and is printed on archival paper, shipped with a foam core backing via UPS.
To place your order, call Ocean Exposures toll free at 1-877-885-9018.
