Update: New Location For Public Hearing On Draft Regulations For Fishing, Hunting, Falconry, Recreational Areas

The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) will hold a public hearing this month in Providence to discuss proposed changes to regulations governing freshwater fishing, falconry, hunting, and parks and management areas.

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

Last Call: Moose Photo Survey Closes May 15

The New Hampshire Fish and Game Department’s spring moose survey will be closing soon.  The public is being asked to submit photos of moose taken in New Hampshire from May 1 through May 15.

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Brake for Moose: It Could Save Your Life

Remember to brake for moose when traveling New Hampshire roadways. There were 116 moose/vehicle collisions in New Hampshire in 2016; in the last five years the state has averaged 136 per year.  The months May through October are high-risk months for encountering moose on the roads, as moose come out to the roads to eat salt during these months. 

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Antlerless Deer Proposal, Hearings May 11 and 16

The Vermont Fish & Wildlife Board recently voted on the Fish & Wildlife Department’s proposal for antlerless deer hunting for 2017. Public hearings will be held May 11 in Randolph and May 16 in Manchester. 

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

Registration Opens for North Country Fly-Fishing Workshop

Learn to fly fish while visiting beautiful northern New Hampshire! The New Hampshire Fish and Game Department is offering a beginning fly-fishing weekend course called "Fly-fishing, A-Z" on June 3-4, 2017, at Coleman State Park in Stewartstown, NH.  The course is presented by the Department’s “Let’s Go Fishing” program. It is open to anyone age 13 and older, however, those 16 and under must be accompanied by an adult.

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DEM Seeks Input On Draft Regulations For Fishing, Hunting, Falconry, Recreational Areas

The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) will hold a public workshop and public hearing this month to discuss proposed changes to regulations governing freshwater fishing, falconry, hunting, and parks and management areas.

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

Read the latest NH Fishing Report

First I want to thank those anglers who responded to my call for help in getting information for this report.  Drop me a line anytime at scott.decker@wildlife.nh.gov to let me know what’s going on in your fishing world and if it’s timely, I will get in the Fishing Report.  It’s spring and the suckers are spawning!

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Make Plans to Stay Tick Smart

As more Vermonters venture outside to enjoy warming weather, Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department reminds hikers, hunters and others to be tick smart while fishing, turkey hunting, or watching birds. 

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2016 Testing Shows No Evidence of CWD in NH; Hunters Urged to Avoid 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 2016 hunting season.

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Moose Photo Survey Open Through May 15

The New Hampshire Fish and Game Department’s spring moose survey is now underway.  The public is being asked to submit photos of moose taken in New Hampshire from May 1 through May 15, 2017. 

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

Learn to Fish this Spring For Free!

Celebrate the arrival of warm weather by attending one of the many MassWildlife Angler Education Program events being held across the state this spring. There are events for adults and for kids and families looking to learn how to fish in a non-competitive environment.  Fishing equipment and bait are available to use at most events, and no fishing license is required to participate in the event. Most events are also free to attend. Find an event near you.

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With ice-out nearing, Rangeley, Mooselook and Richardson Lakes Should Offer Some Fine Fishing

While the lakes in the Rangeley area are still locked up with ice, open water fishing will begin soon. Based on our records, the average ice-out for Rangeley Lake is about May 3rd, but this year it will most likely linger on for a time after that date. The latest ice-out date for the lake in our dataset (going back to 1979) is May 14, 1992. This spring could be similar to that year.

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Keep Wildlife Wild -- Leave Young Animals Alone

With the arrival of spring, many species of wildlife are giving birth to their young. Finding young wildlife can be exciting, but in most cases, even if it appears abandoned, the mother is not far off. If you encounter young wildlife -- even young animals that appear to need help -- the kindest and safest thing to do is to leave them alone and let nature take its course.

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Antlerless Deer Proposal Voted on by F&W Board

The Vermont Fish & Wildlife Board voted on the Fish & Wildlife Department’s proposal for antlerless deer hunting for 2017 at its meeting on April 26 in Montpelier. 

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

Turkey Season Starts Monday Throughout The State

Spring turkey season starts on Monday, May 1 throughout the state, and youth hunters have their own day this Saturday, April 29. IFW biologists believe that hunters are in for a successful season.

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Spednic Lake, Maine

In addition to overseeing Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs), the Management Section of the Wildlife Division also oversees other lands owned either in fee or that are included as Conservation Easements.   Spednic Lake is one such location where both lands owned in fee and conservation easement s are in place.  Several acquisition efforts over the last 25 years have resulted in the creation of the Booming Ground WMA (650 acres), 16 miles of shoreline held in fee, and an additional 14.4 miles of shoreline held in a conservation easement.  The shoreline conservation efforts are 500 feet deep and are intended to restrict future development.  As part of these conservation efforts, MDIFW has also acquired 12 islands in Spednic Lake.

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Reminder: Bring Your Family to Discover WILD New Hampshire Day, April 29, 2017

Get in on the fun at Discover WILD New Hampshire Day on Saturday, April 29, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the grounds of the Fish and Game Department, 11 Hazen Drive, Concord, NH. Free admission!

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DEM Stocks Ponds With Golden Trout For Free Fishing Weekend

The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) today announced Free Fishing Weekend will take place Saturday, May 6 – Sunday, May 7. As part of the event, the public is invited to fish without a fishing license or trout conservation stamp in the state's freshwaters. Six local ponds will be stocked with over 6,000 rainbow trout and 4,000 golden trout for the event.

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Vermont Walleye Fishing Season Opens May 6

The Vermont walleye fishing season is set to open up on Saturday, May 6, marking the return of some of the best walleye fishing in New England. 

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

Moose Lottery Deadline is May 26, 2017

Whether you're applying online or with a paper application, don't wait until the last minute to apply! The deadline for entering the New Hampshire moose hunt lottery is May 26, 2017. It costs just $15 for residents and $25 for non-residents to enter the lottery (non-refundable). A total of 51 permits are proposed to be issued this year. The state's moose hunt will run from October 21 - 29, 2017. Last year, the statewide hunter success rate was 72%.

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Access to Ossipee Lake Boat Ramp (Pine River/Route 25) Remains Closed

The trailered boat ramp, kayak/canoe access and dock at the public boat ramp facility on Pine River (off Route 25) that provides access to Ossipee Lake in Ossipee, NH, will remain closed while the NH Fish and Game Department finishes refurbishments.  The ramp is currently closed, with no opportunity to launch or retrieve boats. 

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Vermont’s Catch-and-Release Bass Fishing

Vermont’s celebrated catch-and-release bass fishing season is underway with some of the hottest bass fishing action in the Green Mountain State happening right now. 

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

DEEP Reminds Residents to Be Bear Aware

Connecticut’s Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) reminds residents to take steps to reduce encounters and potential conflicts with black bears. These steps are increasingly important because Connecticut’s bear population continues to grow and expand and bear activity increases in early spring. In 2016, approximately 6,700 bear sightings from 134 of Connecticut’s 169 towns were reported to the DEEP Wildlife Division.

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2016 NH Wildlife Harvest Summary Available

As hunters gear up for the fall season in New Hampshire, a rich source of information available to them is the 2016 New Hampshire Wildlife Harvest Summary, which presents final data summarized by wildlife biologists from the 2016 New Hampshire hunting seasons. This annual publication provides a complete breakdown of hunting season statistics, including some information by town and Wildlife Management Unit (WMU).

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IFW Fishing Report For April 21, 2017

Region A – Sebago Lakes Region

“It’s prime time for salmon right now,” says IFW fisheries biologist Jim Pellerin, who added that in most of the lakes in the Sebago Lakes region, the smelt runs have just ended or are about to end. As a result, the salmon are feasting.

“The ice is out on nearly all our lakes, except for Kezar Lake in the northwest corner of our region,” said Pellerin. Anglers have been out and are reporting good catches of landlocks on Thompson and Sebago, and a few on Auburn Lake.

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New Hampshire Waterfowl Hunting Seasons Set

The New Hampshire Fish and Game Department has set final season dates and bag limits for the 2017-18 waterfowl hunting season, after considering comments from sportsmen at a recent public meeting.

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

Fish Stocking Underway Across Vermont

The Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department has kicked off fish stocking work across the state, an effort that will ultimately result in over 1 million fish being distributed into Vermont waters in 2017. 

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

Spring Turkey Season Opens 4/24: Hunting Reminders and Safety Tips

The spring turkey hunting season opens in Massachusetts on April 24, 2017 and runs through May 20, 2017. MassWildlife offers the following information for turkey hunters regarding regulations, harvest reporting, and safety.

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

Public Asked to Participate in Moose Photo Survey from May 1 through May 15

As part of its ongoing efforts to monitor New Hampshire's moose, the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department is asking the public to participate in a spring moose survey and submit photos of moose taken in New Hampshire from May 1 through May 15, 2017.

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

Read the latest NH Fishing Report

Welcome to the first issue of our 2017 New Hampshire Fishing Report. We've been working on updating and improving our format to bring you more fishing news -- the "what's biting where" info that you can really use.

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Young Wildlife Belong in the Wild

Watching wildlife is enjoyable, especially when young animals appear in the spring. But it’s best to keep your distance. Picking up young wildlife can do more harm than good, according to the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department. It’s also against the law. 

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

Free Fishing Day in New Hampshire - Saturday, June 3

Take advantage of New Hampshire's Free Fishing Day, Saturday, June 3, 2017. 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.

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Steelhead Rainbow Trout Runs Are Happening

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/state-news-1.html

Reminder - Youth Turkey Weekend is April 29-30, 2017

New Hampshire’s 2017 youth turkey hunt is coming up on Saturday/Sunday April 29-30, the weekend before spring gobbler season gets underway on May 3.

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

Be Alert to Avoid Moose on the Highway

Drivers need to be alert and cautious because moose are on the move, according to the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department. Moose are more likely to be crossing roadways at this time of year, especially after dark or early in the morning as they move from wintering areas to spring feeding locations.

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

Now Is The Time To Head Out To Your Favorite Small Pond For Brook Trout

Some of the best of the Downeast Maine’s small brook trout pond fishing is now upon us! These ponds are the first to warm up and higher inshore water temperatures activate insect activity that attract trout. Whether you fish from shore or from a boat spin casting, worm dunking or fly fishing, this is the time year you can have great trout action.

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CT DEEP invites outdoor enthusiasts to become volunteers

Connecticut’s Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) invites environmental stewards who enjoy wildlife and the outdoors to get involved in protecting important species and preserving habitat by becoming volunteers for DEEP.

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

Free Outdoor Adventure Talk: Turkey Hunting 101

Join seasoned turkey hunters Carter Heath and Fred Bird for a special Turkey Hunting 101 seminar at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, April 19, 2017, at the N.H. Fish and Game Department, 11 Hazen Drive, Concord, N.H. No pre-registration is required.

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

VT F&W to Host Free Bass Fishing Clinic

The Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department is reminding anglers that it will be hosting a free “Introduction to Bass Fishing” clinic in late April. 

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

GPS Collars On Lynx Provide Valuable Information As Maine’s Lynx Population Grows and Expands Its Range

Between 1999 and 2011, the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife researched lynx in northwestern Aroostook County in order to assess demographic rates and sources of mortality.

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

New Hampshire's Turkey Hunting Season Approaching

N.H. Fish and Game Turkey Biologist Ted Walski predicts a possible record harvest in the upcoming 2017 spring gobbler season. The spring turkey hunt opens on Wednesday, May 3, and runs through Wednesday, May 31, statewide.

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

Hunt Safely This Turkey Season

Hunting safely during turkey season is easy if you follow tips issued by the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department. 

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

2017 Spring Wild Turkey Hunting Season Opens April 26

Connecticut’s Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) is reminding hunters that the 2017 Connecticut spring wild turkey hunting season runs from April 26 through May 27.

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

Creel Surveys Provide Fisheries Biologists Insight Into Many Favorite Fisheries

Creel Surveys are an essential tool for IFW fisheries Biologists. These short, interactive surveys with anglers provide our biologists with the essential information they need to maintain or create a healthy fishery.

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CT DEEP Advises Boaters to Be Safe on Waterways

With warmer weather arriving, Connecticut’s Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) reminds all boaters that even though the air temperatures are rising, the State’s waters are still in the mid to upper 40’s – which is considered “cold” water. The real danger of cold water boating is often masked by the anticipation and joy of spending a wonderful day on the water.

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

DEM Reminds Residents To Remove Potential Food Sources As Black Bears Emerge From Hibernation

The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) reminds residents to remove potential food sources from their properties as black bears emerge from hibernation. Increasing bear populations in the region have led to more frequent sightings – especially in rural areas of Providence, Kent and Washington counties.

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

VT Bass Fishing Featured on World Fishing Network

Well-known among local and regional anglers for years, Vermont’s spring catch and release bass fishing opportunities will soon receive a boost in national and international attention as they will be the focus of the Canadian-based television show, “Outdoor Passion”, scheduled to air on the renowned World Fishing Network (WFN) in mid-April. 

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

Registration Opens for "Becoming an Outdoors-Woman" Deep Sea Fishing Adventure

Registration opens April 10 for an exciting day of deep sea fishing off New Hampshire's coast with the Becoming an Outdoors-Woman program. The trip takes place on Sunday, June 4, 2017. The cost for the day is $75, which includes instruction, bait and rod rental.  Participants should bring their own lunch.

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Designated Trout and Fly-Fishing-Only Ponds Open April 22

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 22. 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/state-news-1.html

Opening Day is this Saturday, April 8th Connecticut ready for trout season, 306,000 trout stocked for Opening Day

Opening Day of the trout fishing season is this Saturday -- April 8th -- and Connecticut’s Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) has the state’s rivers, streams, lakes and ponds stocked and ready. Over 306,000 trout have already been released this spring into nearly 100 lakes and ponds and more than 120 rivers and streams located throughout Connecticut and are awaiting Opening Day anglers. DEEP’s spring trout stocking effort began in late February and will continue through mid-May. When the spring stockings are completed, DEEP expects to have stocked approximately 530,000 trout.

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