Wildlife Events Planned for March

Hunters, landowners and anyone else interested in Vermont’s wildlife should plan on attending one of the three events hosted by the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department in late March.

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

Collaring Complete for Third Year of NH Moose Study

A helicopter capture crew has completed the work of collaring additional moose for the third year of a study being undertaken by the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department in partnership with the University of New Hampshire (UNH).

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

Ice Fishing Festival Draws Record Attendance

The third time’s a charm for Vermont Fish & Wildlife’s 3rd annual ice fishing festival. The festival was held recently at Lake Elmore in north-central Vermont and drew over 300 anglers, a high-mark for the Department’s yearly celebration of ice fishing in Vermont.

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

Special Snow Goose Harvest Opportunity

Vermont’s spring snow goose hunt will be held from March 11 through April 22. Since 2009, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has annually issued a “Conservation Order” to allow the reduction of the population of migrating greater and lesser snow geese as well as Ross’ geese. The numbers of these geese have grown so high that they are destroying habitat for themselves and other species.

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

Introductory Fly Tying Course Offered in Concord NH

Interested in learning the art of fly tying?  The NH Fish and Game Department’s Let’s Go Fishing Program is offering a five-week introductory fly tying course on Wednesday evenings in March (March 2, 9, 16, 23 and 30). To sign up, email the program at aquatic-ed@wildlife.nh.gov or call (603) 271-3212. Participants must commit to attending all five sessions. No experience is required. All materials and equipment will be provided. There is no charge for the program.

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

Maine Free Fishing Weekend Approaches; Ice Safety Reminder

The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife is reminding everyone to take advantage of the upcoming free fishing weekend. On Saturday, February 13 and Sunday, February 14, any person may fish for free without a license on Maine’s waterways, except those who have had their license suspended or revoked. All other rules and regulations, including bag and possession limits, apply.

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

Apply Now for the 2016 Maine Moose Permit Lottery

Hunters who dream about the hunt of a lifetime will be happy to know that Maine moose permit online application process is now open, as the 2016 Moose Permit Lottery is accepting applications.

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

Public Hearing on Proposed Changes in Groundfishing Rules

A public hearing on proposed marine rule changes affecting recreational anglers targeting haddock and/or cod in New Hampshire waters will be held on Thursday, February 25, 2016, at 7:00 p.m. at the Urban Forestry Center, 45 Elwyn Road, Portsmouth, NH 03801.

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

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

NH Hunting Season Results - Preliminary Totals for Deer, Bear, Turkey

The unofficial deer kill for New Hampshire’s 2015 hunting season was 10,912, down 4% from the 2014 final kill of 11,396. Based on this estimate, the 2015 total is very similar to the 20-year average of 10,896. Deer hunting seasons are now closed in the state.

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

Hunter Education Instructor Training Courses Being Offered

The Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department is offering several New Instructor Training Courses for people interested in volunteering to teach Hunter Education, Trapper Education, or Bowhunter Education courses in Vermont.

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

Free Ice Fishing Talks at Fish and Game in January

Polish up your ice fishing skills by taking advantage of two free ice fishing seminars with New Hampshire fishing guide Tim Moore being offered in Concord this January at the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department. Moore is the owner of Tim Moore Outdoors.  He has ice fished in New Hampshire for more than thirty years and has been featured on NH’s Wildside TV and New Hampshire Chronicle. Moore is an Ice Team Pro, as well as a member of Clam Outdoors, Vexilar, Maki Plastics and Daddy Mac Lures Pro Staffs. The talks will begin at 7 p.m. at Fish and Game headquarters, 11 Hazen Drive in Concord, NH. No pre-registration is necessary.

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

Maine 2016 Hunting and Fishing Licenses Now Available

A new year of hunting and fishing opportunity is just around the corner! The 2016 Maine hunting and fishing licenses are now available for purchase online or at any of the more than 800 licensing agents statewide.

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

Fishing Report December 13 2015 Massachusetts

Waiting for ice

As this mild winter continues on and many of us are still waiting for first ice, shoreline fishing is still happening and with a little searching of local waters this will keep you occupied until the ice finally arrives.

Fishing a local reservoir, I heard that there are large crappie in this water and wanted to see if we could catch them from the shoreline. The reservoirs here typically have an earthen dam setup at the outlet and there usually is a nice wall that offers you access to deep water to fish in.

http://www.backwoodssportsman.com/Fishing_Reports_2015.html

Visit N.H. Fish and Game at Upcoming Outdoor Events

Outdoor enthusiasts are encouraged to stop by the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department booth at these classic New England winter events

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

Habitat Management Leads to Landowner Hunting Success

When David Boocock of Montgomery enrolled in a program with the state to improve his land for wildlife, he was hoping the enhancements would boost his odds during the fall deer hunting season. But he never realized that the payoff would come so quickly, or be so impressive.

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

Snowshoe Hare Hunting Workshop - in Holderness, January 9

Learn about the exciting sport of snowshoe hare hunting at a free workshop being offered at the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department’s Owl Brook Hunter Education Center in Holderness, N.H. The workshop will take place from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, January 9, 2016. Space is limited and pre-registration is required.

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

Fishing Report December 6 2015 Massachusetts

Searching open water crappie with electronics

We have never had a year that we are still fishing from the boat on open water, especially getting to the mid of December. Water temperatures were still around 43 degrees and the lake is void of other boats, this is making it very difficult for winterizing the boat for this season.

Object for locating these schools of crappies, is to idle around the lake and keep your eyes glued to the graph on your console. These schools will show up as clouds, especially on a color screen and if you are running any type of down scan imager, you can actually see the fish in the schools.

http://www.backwoodssportsman.com/Fishing_Reports_2015.html

Preliminary Moose Hunt Numbers Are Up For 2015

With the preliminary numbers in, it looks as though moose hunters were more successful in 2015 than in 2014, and Maine’s moose population looks healthy.

“We had a number of moose that weighed in excess of 1,000 pounds,” said Kantar. “The moose we examined looked very healthy, with good percentage of body fat stored for the winter.”

http://www.backwoodssportsman.com/ME_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. The festival will be held from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The event is free and families with kids are encouraged to attend.

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

Fur, Feathers, and Ferns Program and Hike at Kellogg Environmental Center, Derby

Connecticut’s Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) invites families, friends, scouting groups and other organizations to participate in a Fur, Feathers, and Ferns Hike Wednesday, December 30, 2015 beginning at 10:00 am and concluding at 1:00 pm. at the Kellogg Environmental Center, Derby.  Please bring a beverage and an eco-friendly lunch which is one that uses recyclable or reusable items for containers.

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

Authorities Seek Information In Identifying Moose Poacher

On December 6, 2015, Conservation Officers from the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department responded to an anonymous tip regarding a dead moose that had been found approximately three-quarters of a mile from the end Smokey Camp Brook Road in Errol, N.H.

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

Muskie Fishing Success Binds Three Generations of Vermonters

When Alex Beebe of Swanton recently reeled in the first muskie caught above Swanton Dam on the Missisquoi River in nearly four decades, he took his place in the fishing lore of Vermont. In 2013, the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department began stocking muskellunge, or ‘muskie,’ along this upper stretch of river with the hopes of continuing to restore this native fish species. Alex’s catch is a sign that this conservation effort may be working.

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

NH Hunting Report

"Statewide, it has been another relatively successful season. Current numbers are only slightly below last year’s and we are on track to finish near the 15 year average total harvest (2000-2014) of between 10,000 to 11,000 animals. Average total harvests in the preceding 15 years (1985-1999) were between 8,000-9,000 animals. The most notable thing to me this year has been the excellent physical condition of the deer I inspected at biological check stations," said Bergeron.

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

Fishing Report November 29 2015 Massachusetts

While many of the HSM Outdoors staff are either on the ice or will be shortly, the group of us on the East Coast are still fishing open water. Cool temps at night, but the day temps still getting into the 40’s and the water temperatures are still in the mid to low 40’s.

Couple of lakes that I have been targeting this late fall, the crappie are hanging in the same general area and those are deeper depressions in the lakes contours. Anywhere you come off of an underwater point or long flat, the schools of crappie are hanging right out in front in the deeper drop-offs.

The better sized school a month ago were positioned in a saddle and in only 9 feet of water but now that they have moved to the above locations, they are hanging in 16 feet of water and are positioned anywhere from the bottom up to 11 feet down.

http://www.backwoodssportsman.com/Fishing_Reports_2015.html

Vermont Muzzleloader and 2nd Archery Deer Seasons, Dec. 5-13

Vermont’s hunters will get one final chance for a deer this year during the muzzleloader deer season and the second part of the archery deer season. The two seasons run at the same time -- December 5-13. A muzzleloader hunter may take one legal buck anywhere in the state. In addition, a hunter who received a muzzleloader antlerless deer permit may take one antlerless deer in the Wildlife Management Unit (WMU) designated on the permit.

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