Vermont WMA Undergoes Major Expansion

A wildlife management area in southern Vermont recently underwent a major expansion, according to the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department.

http://www.backwoodssportsman.com/VT_News.html

NH Fish and Game Launches New Smartphone App

Hunters and anglers now have field information, maps and more at their fingertips using the official New Hampshire Fish & Wildlife Pocket Ranger® Smartphone App for iPhone and Android.

http://www.backwoodssportsman.com/NH_News.html

Get Your Moose Plate and Support Nongame and Endangered Wildlife

When you register your vehicle this year, show your support for nongame wildlife by buying a New Hampshire Moose Plate. "Moose" conservation license plate funds benefit the NH Fish and Game Department's Nongame and Endangered Wildlife Program in a big way.  Did you know that the moose plate program funds one-fourth of the Nongame Program's work protecting and restoring threatened and endangered wildlife and keeping common species healthy?

http://www.backwoodssportsman.com/NH_News.html

January 16 2016 Vermont Report

The ice is finally forming in the northeast and this is allowing anglers to finally wetting their lines through an ice hole. Areas are sporadic for safe ice conditions, so anglers have to be cautious no matter where they are fishing.

Our fishing takes us north for finding safe conditions and the ice in most areas were in the 5-6 inch range. Plan for the day was to cover as much water as possible and key thing to look for was finding areas that had weeds.

Most areas you were marking some fish, but the areas that had weeds, those had more concentrations of fish. Was searching for crappies and perch, but they weren’t using these areas but the bluegills were definitely there.

http://www.backwoodssportsman.com/Ice_Fishing_Blog_15_16.html

2016 Hunting, Fishing, Trapping Lawbook Available

If you are going ice fishing soon, planning a family fishing trip next summer, or want to plan for deer season next fall – you will want to get a copy of the 2016 Vermont Hunting, Fishing and Trapping Laws and Guide, available where licenses are sold and from Vt Fish & Wildlife offices statewide.

http://www.backwoodssportsman.com/VT_News.html

2016 NH Moose Hunt Lottery Opens

New Hampshire's 2016 moose hunt lottery is now open. Enter today to try your luck on the adventure of a lifetime -- hunting moose in the rugged woods of the Granite State.  Entering the lottery costs $15 for New Hampshire residents and $25 for nonresidents.

http://www.backwoodssportsman.com/NH_News.html

Waterfowl Blinds Have To Be Removed

Waterfowl hunters who did not remove their hunting blinds from the waters of the state earlier must do so before February 15 on Lake Champlain or May 15 on inland waters according to a reminder from the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department.

http://www.backwoodssportsman.com/VT_News.html

Sign Up the Kids for Barry Conservation Camp!

Registration is underway for summer youth programs at Barry Conservation Camp in Berlin, N.H. The camp offers weekly, overnight summer camp programs for boys and girls, age 8-17. Barry Camp is operated by UNH Cooperative Extension 4-H in partnership with the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department. Kids who enjoy hands-on learning about outdoor skills and the environment will love Barry Camp. Once again, the popular week for youth interested in learning more about careers as a Fish and Game Conservation Officer will be offered.

http://www.backwoodssportsman.com/NH_News.html

Discover WILD New Hampshire Day Set for Saturday, April 16, 2016

It might be cold outside, but spring is on the way, and so is Discover WILD New Hampshire Day.  The New Hampshire Fish and Game Department’s most popular free community event of the year is set for Saturday, April 16, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the grounds of the Fish and Game Department at 11 Hazen Drive in Concord, N.H. Save the date!

http://www.backwoodssportsman.com/NH_News.html

Deer hunting season on Black Rock on Block Island is now open

The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) announced today deer hunting season at Black Rock/Rodman Hollow on Block Island is now open; the season runs through February 12.

http://www.backwoodssportsman.com/RI_News.html

Vermont’s Free Ice Fishing Day is January 30

Vermont’s third annual Free Ice Fishing Day is January 30, 2016. To celebrate, the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department is holding an Ice Fishing Festival at Lake Elmore State Park in central Vermont.

http://www.backwoodssportsman.com/VT_News.html

Maine Ice Fishing Report for January 15, 2016

If you haven’t noticed, this is anything but a normal winter throughout the state. Ponds and lakes that are usually frozen and safe throughout are still iffy at best. Before heading out onto the ice on any pond, please check the ice.

http://www.backwoodssportsman.com/ME_News.html

Free Ice Fishing Talks at Fish and Game

Improve your ice fishing skills by taking advantage of two free ice fishing seminars with New Hampshire fishing guide Tim Moore. These talks are coming up soon at NH Fish and Game headquarters, 11 Hazen Drive in Concord, NH. The talks begin at 7 p.m. No pre-registration is necessary. See you there!

http://www.backwoodssportsman.com/NH_News.html

Conservation Officer Helps Moose in Slippery Situation

On January 12, 2016, NH Fish and Game Conservation Officer Michael Matson was called to the Deerfield Fairgrounds to assist a moose that appeared to be unable to move and was lying on ice.

http://www.backwoodssportsman.com/NH_News.html

2015 Vermont Turkey Hunters Had a Successful Year

Vermont wild turkey hunters had safe and successful spring and fall hunting seasons in 2015, according to the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department.

http://www.backwoodssportsman.com/VT_News.html

NH Offers Variety of Courses for Women to Learn Outdoor Skills in 2016

New Hampshire’s Becoming an Outdoors-Woman Program (BOW) is offering an exciting lineup of courses in 2016 for women interested in learning outdoor skills. Application forms and brochures are published at nhbow.com when registration opens. Sign up as soon as possible after registration opens, as these courses fill quickly. New Hampshire Becoming an Outdoors-Woman programs are sponsored by the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department and the New Hampshire Wildlife Federation. Participants must be age 18 or older.

http://www.backwoodssportsman.com/NH_News.html

2016 Vt Deer Harvest Reflects Healthy Population

The Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department says preliminary numbers show 12,710 deer were taken during Vermont’s 2015 deer hunting seasons.

http://www.backwoodssportsman.com/VT_News.html

Additional Moose to Be Collared for New Hampshire Study

Residents in northern New Hampshire may spot a helicopter overhead in the coming weeks as approximately 45 moose cows and calves are collared for the third year of a six-year study of moose mortality and productivity.

http://www.backwoodssportsman.com/NH_News.html

Ice Fishing Safety Tips from F&W

The Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department has some ice safety tips for those of you who will be going ice fishing this winter.

http://www.backwoodssportsman.com/VT_News.html

Bobcat Season Hearing Set

The New Hampshire Fish and Game Department will hold a public hearing on proposed rules to establish a bobcat hunting and trapping season in New Hampshire on Monday, February 1, at 6 p.m. at Representatives Hall in the N.H. State House in Concord.

http://www.backwoodssportsman.com/NH_News.html

IFW Captures and Collars 70 Moose , Expands Maine’s Moose Survival Study Into Second Area

Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife biologists in northern Aroostook County just finished capturing and radio-collaring moose in a new “northern” study area as part of Maine’s five-year moose study that will provide a greater understanding of the health of Maine’s moose population, particularly factors that affect their survival and reproductive rates, including the impact of winter ticks on moose.

http://www.backwoodssportsman.com/ME_News.html

Free Snowmobile Weekends Slated for Winter 2016

Tri-State Snowmobile Weekend: This annual three-day event will take place January 29 – 31, 2016 and allows all legally registered Maine snowmobiles to be operated in New Hampshire and Vermont without being registered in those states. This also means that all snowmobiles legally registered in New Hampshire and Vermont can be operated in Maine without a current Maine registration.

http://www.backwoodssportsman.com/ME_News.html

Vermont Bear Hunters Had a Successful and Safe Season in 2015

The Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department reports that bear hunters in Vermont had a safe and successful hunting season in 2015. Preliminary numbers show that hunters took 669 black bears during the 83 days of the two-part ‘early bear season’ and ‘late bear season.’ There were also no hunting-related shooting incidents.

http://www.backwoodssportsman.com/VT_News.html

DEM stocks Rhode Island waters with trout for winter fishing season

Just in time for the winter fishing season, the Department of Environmental Management (DEM) is stocking ponds and rivers across Rhode Island with some 1,400 brown and brook trout.

http://www.backwoodssportsman.com/RI_News.html

Winter Children's Programs at Great Bay Discovery Center

The Great Bay Discovery Center in Greenland, NH, is offering a variety of fun and educational programming for children this winter.  Programs are available for pre-school age and home-schooled children, as well as February vacation programs for older children.

http://www.backwoodssportsman.com/NH_News.html