NH Moose Hunt Starts Tomorrow (10/18-10/26)

[Waumbek]

The usual cautions apply: remove your antlers, do not respond to "urt urt" calls, etc. Seriously, wear blaze orange, wrap your dog in it, go high. If you don't like the sound of guns while you hike, go to Maine on Sunday. There's still a ban on Sunday hunting there. I think.

 

[Paradox]

I know this link has been posted before on this board, but here it is again:

NH hunting seasons
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BANG!
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Hah! made ya look.

 

[jniehof]

If you don't like the sound of guns while you hike, go to Maine on Sunday. There's still a ban on Sunday hunting there. I think.

Whether or not the ban's on, this past Sunday on the Bigelows I heard plenty of gunfire--sounded like shotgun. Somebody may have just been shooting skeet, I suppose.

 

[dentonfabrics]

I think I read someplace that moose tend to get deeper into the woods during hunting season. Is this true? Does the presence of hunters and sounds of their guns put them into hiding?

We were in Pittsburg this weekend, and no moose were to be seen at dawn or dusk at their usual haunts. We visited our daybreak moose watching area and we got shutout for the first time ever. Not a single moose to be seen. We did, however, see an impressive looking buck carcass at the Indian Stream checkpoint.

 

[NewHampshire]

Does the presence of hunters and sounds of their guns put them into hiding?

Nope. Simple fact is our large friends are all horned up and looking for love, and love ain't coming to them too easily, so they switch from a "FOOD, YUMMY" attitude to....well, insert pun of choice here

It is sort of like the myth that the start of deer season sees an increase in deer collisions with cars because the hunters cause the deer to run around in fear. While car collisions do increase the simple reason is that testosterone and estrogen cause normally weary deer to go into sexual overdrive and, to put it bluntly, act REALLY stupid (like run out in front of cars instead of stopping )

Brian

 

[dentonfabrics]

...testosterone and estrogen cause normally weary deer to go into sexual overdrive and, to put it bluntly, act REALLY stupid (like run out in front of cars instead of stopping )

Brian

Kind of like how I was in high school.




This update from Fish & Game.
MOOSE HUNT OPENING WEEKEND BRINGS 28% SUCCESS

CONCORD, N.H. -- More than a quarter of New Hampshire's moose hunters were successful during the first two days of the 20th annual New Hampshire moose season, achieving a 28% success rate on the opening weekend of the hunt. On Saturday and Sunday (October 18 and 19), a total of 147 moose were taken by moose hunters statewide - 90 bulls and 57 cows.

The weekend's crisp cold mornings were perfect moose hunting weather, according to Kristine Rines, the Moose Project Leader for the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department. "Things seem to be going well. Last year, at this point in the season, we were at 29% success statewide, so things are looking about the same this year when you look at the state overall," said Rines. "Hunters are reporting that a lot of moose are bedded down in the morning, not feeding. That might be due to the nice bright moonlit nights that are allowing them to feed more at night."

Several hunters reported that they "called" their moose in, including Walter Celley, age 69, of Cabot, Vermont, who took the largest moose so far - an 820-pound bull with an antler spread of 61 inches, taken in Wildlife Management Unit B. Rines explained that in some years, the moose hunt occurs so late that the rut, or breeding season, is nearly over and only the younger bulls will respond to the call of a female moose. "This year the big boys are still responding to calls," Rines said.

New Hampshire's nine-day moose hunt continues through Sunday, October 26, 2008.

This year, more than 15,000 people entered the 2008 moose hunt lottery, held last spring, for a chance to win one of the 515 permits drawn for the New Hampshire moose hunt.

For more about moose hunting in New Hampshire, including a list of check stations, visit http://www.wildlife.state.nh.us/Hunting/Hunt_species/hunt_moose.htm.

 

[dentonfabrics]

NHF&G's update on the moose hunt is pasted below. So far the "harvest" is pacing less than last years. Surprising, considering the good weather we've had.



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October 23, 2008


MOOSE HUNT UPDATE: HALF OF N.H. MOOSE HUNTERS SUCCESSFUL SO FAR

CONCORD, N.H. -- As of Wednesday, October 22, a total of 256 moose had been taken in the 2008 New Hampshire moose hunt (150 bulls and 106 cows). That means that half (49.6%) of hunters holding moose permits had succeeded by the mid-way point in the state's moose hunt, slightly down from the 56% success rate hunters had achieved at this point in the moose season last year. The nine-day season runs through Sunday, October 26, 2008.

"The weather has been perfect for moose hunting," said New Hampshire Fish and Game Department Moose Project Leader Kristine Rines. "It's obvious the rut is still going on. Hunters are still able to call bulls in, and some have observed bulls fighting."

The largest bull taken so far this year weighed 840 pounds (dressed weight; it would have weighed 1,230 pounds live) and was taken in WMU D-1 by Robert Whitten of Litchfield, N.H. The largest cow taken so far had a dressed weight of 715 pounds (1,050 pounds live weight) and was taken in WMU A-1 by Brian Cole of Antrim, N.H.

More than 15,000 people entered the 2008 moose hunt lottery, held last spring, for a chance to win one of the 515 permits drawn for the New Hampshire moose hunt.


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.HuntNH.com.

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Copyright 2008 New Hampshire Fish and Game Department, 11 Hazen Drive,
Concord, NH 03301. Comments or questions concerning this list should
be directed to [email protected].

 

[DrewKnight]

I don't really have anything against hunting -- I did a little myself as a kid... but this is a case where I am clearly pulling for Bullwinkle. I would much rather see them walking (but not in front of my car) than on someone's wall, or in someone's freezer (though I guess that's better, especially in this economy).

 

[Bob]

I'd rather see them slowly starve to death because of overpopulation and not enough food to go around, or natural enemies to limit their numbers.

 

[jgregoire]

I would like to get picked in the lottery, shoot one, and then eat it.

Starve to death sounds like a wonderful thing

 

[Stan]

I'd rather see them slowly starve to death because of overpopulation and not enough food to go around, or natural enemies to limit their numbers.

Are you referring to the moose or to the people who store the venison for the winter?

There are some food pantries in New Hampshire quite dependent on wild game ... high in protein, low in fat ... donated by hunters.

There are few hunters who really enjoy the kill for its own sake. There are far more who depend on this as part of their food supply and special seasons and excpetions are made in certain jurisdictions for Native Americans on subsistence hunting.

 

[bikehikeskifish]

There are also people whose livelihood is harmed by moose and deer and can shoot them at any time.

I submit that there is very little wasted in the taking of a moose (or a deer), at least in NH. Word gets out you got a moose, you suddenly have more friends than you ever imagined.

Tim

 

[DrewKnight]

Yes, but would they like me for me, or for my moose meat? And would they "Friend" me on VFTT?