2016 NH Spring Gobbler Season Results

Preliminary results are out for New Hampshire’s May 2016 spring gobbler season. Data in to date shows that hunters harvested 3,821 turkeys in New Hampshire during the spring hunt. This is 172 fewer gobblers (4.3%) than the 3,993 taken in the 2015 spring season.  More registration forms may trickle in from the 60 stations around the state, so the numbers are not final.

http://www.backwoodssportsman.com/state-news-1.html

Felt-Soled Wader Ban is Repealed

Many anglers will be happy to learn that a five-year ban on the use of felt-soled waders in Vermont has been repealed, effective July 1, 2016.

http://www.backwoodssportsman.com/state-news-1.html

Increased Boat Patrols Set for This Weekend

The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) will join partners across the country this weekend for the annual Operation Dry Water campaign - a national crackdown on impaired boating. DEM's Division of Law Enforcement will be conducting increased patrols from Friday - Sunday and monitoring for boaters under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

http://www.backwoodssportsman.com/state-news-1.html

Vermont’s Migratory Bird Hunting Seasons Announced

The Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department has announced the syllabus of 2016-2017 migratory bird hunting seasons is now available.

A printable copy of the regulations can be downloaded from the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department website (www.vtfishandwildlife.com). A printed version also will be available from license agents and post offices by mid-July.

http://www.backwoodssportsman.com/state-news-1.html

2016 NH Moose Permit Auction Now Open!

The Wildlife Heritage Foundation of New Hampshire announces the launch of the 2016 NH Moose Permit Auction, its primary fundraiser to support the programs of the N.H. Fish and Game Department.  Official bid guidelines and documents can be downloaded from the Foundation's website at www.nhwildlifeheritage.org/moose-permit-auction or by calling (603) 496-2778. Sealed bids are due by August 5, 2016.

http://www.backwoodssportsman.com/state-news-1.html

Trout Take Flight -- to New Hampshire's Remote Ponds

The New Hampshire Fish and Game Department completed its annual aerial stocking of remote trout ponds this week. Every year, Fish and Game contracts a helicopter to stock remote ponds, from Sunapee to Pittsburg.  During this one-day event, nearly 50 remote ponds are stocked with brook trout fingerlings from the New Hampton Hatchery.

http://www.backwoodssportsman.com/state-news-1.html

Fishing Report June 12 2016 Massachusetts

Sometimes when we go out fishing, there are times that we really need to go back to the basics and not over think how we fish. It has been a while since fishing... with a jigworm combo, but this past weekend it still can give other baits a run for their money.

Lake conditions right now have the water temperatures at the 69 degree mark and we have been experiencing many days with lots of wind. Even though this makes fishing tough in certain locations, this also brings food to the fish from all of the waves crashing into those shorelines.

http://www.backwoodssportsman.com/reports-1.html

Possible Data Exposure for Hunting and Fishing License Online Sales System

Information belonging to customers who purchased hunting or fishing licenses from the FWD website may have been accessed improperly. Although there is no conclusive evidence of a misuse of customer information, security monitoring by the company which manages the website, bolstered by 3rd party forensics audits, have found traces of unauthorized server access occurrences in 2015 and January 2016. This has prompted the Fish & Wildlife Department to notify seven (7) customers of potential exposure of their credit card number. The department also urges customers who have purchased licenses online in the past 14 months to be vigilant and monitor their financial reports as an extra precaution. Free credit reports are available if consumers are concerned about possibly suspicious activity on their cards.

http://www.backwoodssportsman.com/state-news-1.html

Unit L and M Antlerless Deer Permits Available in Mid-July

Hunters who want the chance to take additional antlerless deer in Wildlife Management Units L and M in southeastern New Hampshire during the fall hunting seasons will soon be able to buy special permits. Hunters should note that there will be several changes in the sale of these permits this year.

http://www.backwoodssportsman.com/state-news-1.html

Invasive Plants Know No Boundaries

The New Hampshire Fish and Game Department, NH Natural Heritage Bureau, and Great Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve (GBNERR) teamed up with over 120 community members, natural resource managers and academics to develop a statewide strategic prioritization plan for the control of upland, wetland and intertidal invasive plants.

http://www.backwoodssportsman.com/state-news-1.html

Printed Moose Hunting Applications Available

Vermont moose hunting permit applications are on the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department’s website (www.vtfishandwildlife.com), and now printed applications are also available at license agents statewide.

http://www.backwoodssportsman.com/state-news-1.html

DEEP Designates Father’s Day, Sunday, June 19 as “FREE FISHING LICENSE DAY”

Connecticut’s Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) has designated Father’s Day, this Sunday, June 19, as the first of two “Free Fishing License” days scheduled for 2016. A second “Free Fishing License Day” is scheduled for Saturday, August 13.

http://www.backwoodssportsman.com/state-news-1.html

Residents Asked to Report Wild Turkey Sightings

The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) is asking the public to report sightings of wild turkey hens - both with brood and without - to help with research efforts. The Department is currently evaluating the state's wild turkey population which is estimated at 3,000 birds.

http://www.backwoodssportsman.com/state-news-1.html

Dry Weather Causing High Number of Nuisance Bear Complaints; Tips for Avoiding Conflicts

With an early spring and dry weather conditions, Maine’s black bears have been causing more conflicts with many Maine residents this spring. The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife reminds homeowners that bears may be attracted to bird feeders, garbage cans, dumpsters, and grills in your backyards in the spring and summer, where food or the odor of food is prevalent.

http://www.backwoodssportsman.com/state-news-1.html

NH Moose Hunt Lottery Drawing Is Friday, June 17, 2016

The annual drawing to select the lucky hunters who will be offered a permit to hunt moose in New Hampshire this fall will be held on Friday, June 17, at 9:00 a.m. at the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department, 11 Hazen Drive in Concord, N.H. The public and interested media are invited to be on hand to watch the excitement as the names are drawn.

http://www.backwoodssportsman.com/state-news-1.html

NH Becoming an Outdoors-Woman Fall Workshop

Women interested in learning outdoor skills in a beautiful setting can sign up for New Hampshire's fall Becoming an Outdoors-Woman weekend workshop, which will take place September 9-11, 2016, at Rockywold/Deephaven Camps on Squam Lake in Holderness, N.H.  The workshop fee of $335 includes two nights of lodging, plus all meals, instruction and equipment use. Participants must be age 18 or older.

http://www.backwoodssportsman.com/state-news-1.html

Vermont bass fishing season to open June 11

Vermont’s regular bass fishing season is set to kick off on Saturday, June 11, marking the start of some of the hottest and most-renowned bass fishing in the northeast.

http://www.backwoodssportsman.com/state-news-1.html

Grand Isle Family Fishing Festival set for June 11

The 16th annual Grand Isle Family Fishing Festival will be held on Saturday, June 11 and organizers are planning for an exciting day of fishing fun and trophy catches.

http://www.backwoodssportsman.com/state-news-1.html

DEEP Completes 2016 Catfish Stockings

Connecticut’s Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) today announced that one of the most sought after freshwater game fish species in the country, the Channel Catfish, has been stocked into twenty-four water bodies across Connecticut (see list of locations). This marks the tenth consecutive year DEEP has been able to stock Channel Catfish purchased with Federal Sport Fish Restoration Funds.  This year approximately 15,800 fish were stocked.

http://www.backwoodssportsman.com/state-news-1.html

NH Fishing Report - June 3, 2016

Summer-like temperatures have really turned the fishing on for trout and bass in the Granite State.   Insect hatches are coming on strong in southern New Hampshire, and will soon be in abundance up north.  Bass spawning is in various stages depending on the type of waterbody.  Many of the shallow warmer lakes in southern New Hampshire have seen bass come and go on the nests and now the sunfish have moved in.  Bass are still on nests in some of the deeper, colder lakes in the Lakes Region and on north.  Catch and release season for bass continues through June 15.  Be aware of those guardian males!

http://www.backwoodssportsman.com/state-news-1.html

Free Fishing Weekend is June 4 & 5

The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife is encouraging everyone to get out on Maine’s waters this weekend to take advantage of free fishing days.

http://www.backwoodssportsman.com/state-news-1.html

Fish and Game's Online Survey: Report Wild Turkey Brood Sightings

The New Hampshire Fish and Game Department is asking for the public's help in tracking wild turkey broods in New Hampshire this spring and summer. It's easy to take part.  If you observe groups of turkeys with young between now through August 31, 2016, report your sightings on Fish and Game’s web-based turkey brood survey at www.surveymonkey.com/r/2016_Brood_Survey.

http://www.backwoodssportsman.com/state-news-1.html

Brook Trout Flourish In Little Moxie Pond After Removing Suckers, Shiners

Wonder what can happen when you remove nearly two tons of suckers and shiners from a small, 73-acre native trout pond? Brook trout flourish. Fisheries management can take many different forms. For some lakes or ponds, all it may take to improve the fishing is a tweak in a regulation or an adjustment on how many fish are stocked.

http://www.backwoodssportsman.com/state-news-1.html

Muzzleloader Antlerless Deer Permit App Available

Vermont’s muzzleloader season antlerless deer hunting permit applications are now available on Vermont Fish & Wildlife’s website (www.vtfishandwildlife.com). A quick-link to the information and online applications is on the home page. Applying online automatically enters you to win one of ten $50 Cabela’s gift cards.

http://www.backwoodssportsman.com/state-news-1.html

Fishing Report May 23 2016 Massachusetts

A local pond had been hot for this spring’s crappie bite, but my last trip there you can definitely tell that this bite is starting to slow down. Checked the prime areas from the previous trip and only a couple of locations there were any bites.

Prime places that the crappie were still holding shallow involved having wood in the water that a few of these fish were still relating to. The bites are getting further between as a majority of the crappie have already started their ...movements back out towards deeper waters.

http://www.backwoodssportsman.com/reports-1.html

Free Fishing Day in New Hampshire - Saturday, June 4

Take advantage of New Hampshire's Free Fishing Day, coming Saturday, June 4, 2016, to fish anywhere in New Hampshire without a fishing license. Get out and enjoy the day fishing with your family and friends! Both state residents and nonresidents may participate. All other fishing regulations must be followed, including season dates and bag limits.

http://www.backwoodssportsman.com/state-news-1.html

Kittery Trading Post Hosting Maine Moose Permit Lottery on June 11

The Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife is pleased to announce that the drawing for Maine’s moose permit lottery will be held on Saturday, June 11, 2016 at Kittery Trading Post in Kittery, Maine.

http://www.backwoodssportsman.com/state-news-1.html

Help Protect Endangered Piping Plovers on NH Beaches

The public is being asked to help protect endangered birds on the beaches this holiday weekend and beyond, as the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department reports there are seven pairs of piping plovers nesting along the sandy shores of Hampton and Seabrook. Piping plovers are endangered in New Hampshire and threatened nationally. Their breeding habitat is fenced with yellow roping to indicate the birds' presence to beach-goers and to allow the mating pairs space to nest and raise their young.

http://www.backwoodssportsman.com/state-news-1.html

Manchester Bear Relocated

A young bear that wandered into Manchester today near Gramby and Warner streets was captured and relocated further north in New Hampshire.

http://www.backwoodssportsman.com/state-news-1.html

Fawns are Arriving; Leave them Alone Urges F&W

The Vermont Fish &Wildlife Department says deer fawns are being born this time of year and asks that people avoid disturbing or picking them up.

http://www.backwoodssportsman.com/state-news-1.html

Help Keep NH CWD-Free: Don't Use Urine-based Deer Lures

New Hampshire’s white-tailed deer population once again showed no evidence of chronic wasting disease (CWD), based on monitoring data gathered during the 2015 hunting season.

http://www.backwoodssportsman.com/state-news-1.html

Dead eagle shot and killed

We need your help. On April 15, a female, adult Bald Eagle was found dead beside a logging road in Days Academy Grant, east of Moosehead Lake. A concerned sportsman reported it to game wardens which responded and collected the bald eagle. The eagle was taken to Avian Haven in Freedom, Maine where an examination revealed it had been shot. It is believed to have been killed in early April.

http://www.backwoodssportsman.com/state-news-1.html

Kids Fishing Event on Swan Island

On Saturday May 21 from 9am – 1pm, the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife will be holding a ‘learn to fish’ event on Swan Island in Richmond. This event offers the opportunity for children 15 and under to learn basic angling skills. All equipment, bait and tackle will be provided at no charge, and volunteer instructors will be on hand to assist. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

http://www.backwoodssportsman.com/state-news-1.html

New Version of Lead Jig Law Takes Effect June 1

On June 1, 2016, a new law takes effect that redefines what a lead jig is for the purposes of taking fish in the freshwaters of New Hampshire. All lead jigs less than or equal to one ounce will be prohibited.  It is well documented that lead, when ingested, is toxic to loons and other water birds.  Changing lead sinkers and jigs to a non-toxic alternative is not only the right thing to do, but it’s also the law.  Visit www.fishleadfree.org/nh/ for alternatives to lead tackle.

http://www.backwoodssportsman.com/state-news-1.html

Last Chance to Enter the NH Moose Hunt Lottery

If you haven't submitted an application yet and want a chance to hunt moose in New Hampshire this fall, then you better get moving! The deadline for entering the New Hampshire moose hunt lottery is Friday, May 27, 2016.  The New Hampshire Fish and Game Department is proposing to offer permits to 71 lucky winners for New Hampshire's 2016 moose hunt, which runs from October 15-23. Last year's statewide hunter success rate for moose was 69%.

http://www.backwoodssportsman.com/state-news-1.html

National Safe Boating Week Kicks Off Connecticut’s

Connecticut’s Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) announces National Safe Boating Week (May 21-27) and encourages all boaters to be safe on Connecticut’s waters while enjoying the upcoming boating season, which unofficially begins Memorial Day Weekend.

http://www.backwoodssportsman.com/state-news-1.html

Moose Lottery Deadline is May 27, 2016

Want to hunt moose in New Hampshire this fall? The deadline for entering the New Hampshire moose hunt lottery is May 27, 2016. It costs just $15 for residents and $25 for non-residents to enter the lottery (non-refundable). A total of 71 permits are proposed to be issued this year. The state's moose hunt will run from October 15 - 23, 2016. Last year, the statewide hunter success rate was 69%.

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

Vermont’s Walleye Fishing Starts May 7

The best walleye fishing in New England will begin soon in several Vermont rivers and lakes, according to the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department. The department is reminding anglers that walleye fishing season starts in much of the state on the first Saturday in May and that regulations vary, depending on the water you are fishing.

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

Free Fishing Day in New Hampshire - Saturday, June 4

Take advantage of New Hampshire's Free Fishing Day, coming Saturday, June 4, 2016. On Free Fishing Day, you can fish anywhere in New Hampshire - freshwater or saltwater - without a fishing license. Plan to get out and enjoy the day fishing with your family and friends. Both state residents and nonresidents may participate. All other fishing regulations must be followed, including season dates and bag limits.

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

Take a Kid Hunting on Youth Turkey Weekend

New Hampshire’s 2016 youth turkey hunt will take place Saturday, April 30, and Sunday, May 1, the weekend before spring gobbler season gets underway.  This year marks the eleventh annual youth turkey hunt weekend in New Hampshire. During the 2015 youth weekend, young hunters took 446 turkeys, about 11% of the total spring turkey harvest.

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

Steelhead Rainbow Trout Runs Are Happening Now

One of the state’s premier wildlife watching opportunities is happening right now in Vermont. The steelhead rainbow trout have started their upstream migration, leaping up waterfalls in a spectacular display of determination on their way to their spawning grounds.

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

Winooski Spring Fish Lift Now Open

“The Winooski One fish lift typically opens in mid-March and operates through mid-May, with the purpose of allowing steelhead rainbow trout to make their natural spring migration, along with helping to support quality fishing opportunities for anglers,” said Brian Chipman, fisheries biologist with Vermont Fish & Wildlife.

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

Hunt Safely This 2016 Turkey Season

Vermont’s spring youth turkey hunting weekend is April 23-24, and the regular turkey season is May 1-31. While Vermont’s spring turkey seasons are safe (Vermont has not had any incidents in the last six years) precautions are needed to ensure they stay that way. Camouflage or drab colored clothing is almost mandatory to outwit a keen-sighted gobbler. Unfortunately, camouflage often makes it just as hard for hunters to spot one another as it does for turkeys.

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

Designated Trout and Fly-Fishing-Only Ponds Open

Fishing in New Hampshire's designated trout ponds and fly-fishing-only ponds opens on the fourth Saturday in April -- this year's opening day is April 23. Fishing is allowed through October 15 (a few ponds managed under wild trout regulations are open only through Labor Day). These waters are managed specifically for trout and offer anglers the chance to experience exciting fishing in some of the Granite State's most scenic surroundings.

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

Fishing Report April 10 2016 Massachusetts

Multi Species Change Up

This past week has been a cold one for spring and that has dropped the water temperatures and changing where the fish are positioned. Before this past week, the fish were migrating to the shallows, but they have backed off a bit waiting for the waters to warm some again.

So utilizing my electronics, I scoured the deeper water and found small schools of crappie in 14 FOW and were suspended 8 feet down. Using the Clam Blade Spoon, this allowed getting the bait back to the strike zone quickly and these fish were slamming the bait.

http://www.backwoodssportsman.com/Fishing_Reports_2016.html

Outlook Good for Spring Turkey Hunt

Hunting opportunity looks good for the 2016 spring gobbler season, according to N.H. Fish and Game Turkey Biologist Ted Walski. The spring turkey hunt opens on Tuesday, May 3, and runs through Tuesday, May 31, statewide. Last year (2015), spring turkey hunters in New Hampshire took more than 4,000 birds.

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

2016 VT Moose Hunting Applications Are Available

A total of 135 regular moose season permits and 25 archery moose season permits will be issued for Vermont’s 2016 October moose hunt. The regular season will be October 15-20, and the archery season is October 1-7.

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

Vermont’s 2016 Spring Turkey Hunting Starts Soon

It’s almost time for spring turkey hunting in Vermont. Youth spring turkey hunting weekend is April 23-24 this year, and the regular spring turkey season is May 1-31.

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

Big Fish and Kids Opportunities Highlight Rangeley Area Ice Fishing Season

The 2016 winter fishing season started off slow statewide with warm weather and thin ice conditions. Ice thickness varied greatly from pond to pond and even from cove to cove. It was one of the most dangerous January’s that we had seen in recent years.

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

Boat Ramp at Wellington State Park (Newfound Lake) to Re-open April 1

The public boat access facility to Newfound Lake at Wellington State Park in Bristol, NH, which had been closed due to unsafe ice conditions, will reopen on April 1, 2016, to coincide with the first day of open water fishing on lakes managed for lake trout and salmon.

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