I WON! Past NH
moose hunt permit winner Steven Johnson of Franklin (right) with his dad, Jim.
New Hampshire's moose
hunt is nine days, starting the third Saturday in October. This
year's hunt will take place October 17-25, 2009. By permit only.
The 2009 N.H. Moose Hunt Lottery Drawing takes place at
9 a.m. on Friday, June 19, 2009, at
N.H. Fish and Game headquarters in Concord, N.H.
The public is invited to attend. The drawing is a computerized random selection. Click here for more details on drawing day.
NOTE:You must have landowner permission before using an
ATV on privately owned land. All hunters should be prepared
to get their moose out of the woods on foot.
2008 N.H. MOOSE SEASON by Kris Rines, N.H. Moose Project Leader
The 2008 New Hampshire moose season brought wonderful weather for hunters, with cold crisp mornings and daytime temperatures that ranged from the 50's to 80's. Moose were very actively rutting and many hunters found they could call in bulls, while others were fortunate enough to watch bulls sparring and wooing cows. However, due in part to the large number of antlerless-only permits issued in the White Mountain Region, the statewide success rate was down from the previous year (65.5% vs 71.1%). There were 516 permits issued in 2008, down substantially from the preceding two-year average of 675.
During the 9-day season, 333 moose were taken in N.H. The take consisted of 180 (54%) adult bulls, 132 (40%) adult cows and 21 (6%) calves. Success rate for all permits combined was 64.5%; 65.2% for either-sex permits and 62.2% for antlerless-only permits. Regional success rates were up from the previous year (North Region - 83.3%, Central Region - 68.3%, Southwest Region - 45%, Southeast Region - 37.5%), with the exception of the Connecticut Lakes and the White Mountain regions, which were down. The Connecticut Lakes Region was down slightly from 88.1% to 79.7%; while the White Mountain Region was down significantly, from 62.3% to 46.7%, due primarily to the first-time issuance of antlerless-only permits in this area. The regional adult harvest sex ratio (bulls per cow) for either-sex permits increased or remained stable in 2008, as compared to 2007: (Connecticut Lakes - 2.6:1, North - 3.5:1, Southwest - 8:1, Southeast - 1.0:1), with the exceptions of the White Mountains Region, which declined from 3.9:1 to 1.9:1, and the Central Region, which declined from 3.9:1 to 2.2:1.
Hunters traveled from 17 states and one foreign country (Scotland) to participate in the 2008 New Hampshire moos hunt season. Non-residents took 79 moose (24%), while residents took the remaining 254 moose (76%). Moose were taken by rifle (325), muzzleloader (5), shotgun (2), and bow (1). The preferred caliber used for rifles was the 30.06. Permittees accounted for 68% of the moose harvest (227), while subpermittees accounted for 32% (106). Women took 16 moose. 61% of the 2008 moose harvest was taken in the first three days of the season.
The oldest hunter was Kneiland Wheeler, an 80-year-old man from Pittsurg, NH, who took a 720-lb bull with a 50.25 inch spread. The youngest hunter was 9-year-old Keith Locke of Concord, NH, who took an adult bull with a 37-inch spread during the newly established "Hunt of a Lifetime" program. The largest bull of the season weighed 840 lbs (dressed weight) and was taken in D1 by Robert Whitten of Litchfield, NH. Walter Celley of Vermont called in and took the bull with the largest spread (61 inches) in Unit B. Brian Cole of Antrim took the largest cow (715 lbs dressed weight) in Unit A1. <Return
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Regional Moose Hunt Information:
Hunters are advised to seek landowner permission before hunting on any properties, including timber company lands. ATV use is prohibited in the state of the New Hampshire without written land owner permission. Please respect landowner’s rights and never tamper with closed or locked gates or block roads.
The Connecticut Lakes Region(WMUs A1 & A2): This region has large acreages in timber company ownership. As a result there is little human development and good access on logging roads. Forestry practices provide an abundance of clear cuts of many ages. Forty either-sex and 40 antlerless-only permits were issued in 2008. The five year average success rate is 86%. The success rate in 2008 was 80% for all permits combined, 80% for either-sex permits and 80% for antlerless-only permits. Sixty-eight percent of the either-sex permits were antlered bulls, and successful hunters saw 0.20 moose/hour hunted.
The North Region(WMUs B, C2 & D1): This region is very similar to the Ct. Lakes region. D1 is the most developed of all the units but still has large undeveloped acreage. 66 either-sex permits and 24 antlerless-only permits were issued here in 2008. The five-year average success rate is 85%. The success rate in 2008 was 83% for all permits combined, 86% for either-sex permits and 75% for antlerless-only permits. 74 percent of the either-sex permit take was antlered bulls, and successful hunters saw 0.31 moose/hour hunted.
The White Mountain Region(WMUs C1, D2, E1 – E3 & F): This region is composed primarily of the White Mountain National Forest and offers hunters the opportunity of a true wilderness hunt. Human development is very limited and access is restricted and often limited to foot traffic only. Hunters must be prepared to get their moose out without the use of motorized vehicles. 95 either-sex permits and 55 antlerless-only permits were issued here in 2008. The five-year average success rate is 62%. The success rate in 2008 was 48% for those with either-sex permits and 44% for antlerless-only. 61 percent of the take was antlered bulls and successful hunters saw 0.14 moose/hour hunted.
The Central Region(WMUs G, H1, I1, I2, J1 & J2): This region is more heavily settled than those to the north but access is good. Land ownership, as in the two other southern regions, is primarily by individual private landowner. One hundred and sixty one either-sex permits were issued here in 2008. The average five year success rate is 65%. The 2008 success rate was 68%. Sixty-eight percent of the take was antlered bulls. Hunters saw an average of 0.10 moose/hour hunted.
The Southwest Region(WMUs H2N, H2S & K): This region is very similar to the Central region in both human density and land ownership patterns and access.Twenty either-sex permits were issued here in 2008. The average five-year success rate is 46%. The 2008 success rate was 45%. Eighty-nine percent of the take was antlered bulls. Hunters saw an average of 0.11 moose/hour hunted.
The Southeast Region(WMUs L & M): This region is the most heavily developed and access is limited. Hunters will need to do considerably more scouting and contacting of property owners than in other regions to have a successful hunt. Sixteen permits were issued here in 2008. The five-year average success rate is 33%. The 2008 success rate was 38%. Fifty percent of the take was antlered bulls. Hunters saw an average of 0.10 moose/hour hunted.<Return
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Moose
Season Quick Facts
Average dressed weight of all yearling bulls taken in 2008 was 436 pounds. The average dressed weight of all bulls aged 5.5 and older in 2008 was 702 pounds.
The largest bull moose ever taken weighed in at 1,040 pounds, dressed weight. Live weight of this moose would have been approximately 1,400 pounds. The largest cow ever taken dressed at 815 pounds. These two animals came from Zone A2 and both were taken in 1993.
Greatest antler spread measurement for moose taken in New Hampshire is 68 inches. This bull was 9.5 years of age, had 22 points and weighed 785 pounds dressed. The antler beam diameter was 67mm. This animal was taken in A1 in 1996.
Moose have been taken with the use of conventional firearms and archery, handguns, muzzleloaders (including flintlocks) and the longbow. In 2008, 98% of hunters took their moose using conventional firearms (rifle or shotgun).
61% of the harvest occurred in the first 3 days of the 2008 season.
Successful hunters spent, on average, 33 hours scouting, saw .14 moose/hour in the scouted area and 75% of them got their moose in the area they scouted. <Return
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Moose Hunt Basics Each permit holder (permittee) may select one person
of any age (subpermittee) to join him or her on the moose
hunt.
Both either-sex and antlerless-only permits may be issued
in some units.
The limit is one moose per
permit, which may be shot by either hunter. Those drawing
an antlerless-only permit may take one antlerless
moose. All other permit holders may take either an antlered or
antlerless moose.
Archery, muzzleloader, and regular firearms hunting are
allowed, according to the hunting license type the hunter possesses.
Hunting is permitted by unit assignment, made as a result
of the preferences listed on the application form and the order
in which the applicant ranks in the drawing. Hunters may hunt
only in the unit assigned to them.
The percentage of permits issued to nonresidents is
the same as the percentage of hunting licenses sold to nonresidents
in the previous year (recently about 15 to 17 percent of the
total.)
The odds of winning a New Hampshire moose hunt permit
in the 2008 lottery were 1 in 22 for New Hampshire residents, and 1 in 67
for nonresidents, some of the best odds in the nation for
moose hunting.
Moose hunters must carry
their valid moose permit and N.H. hunting license with
them at all times while hunting and registering their moose.
License and permit fees
Resident
Nonresident
Hunting
$
22.00
$103.00
Archery
$
22.00
$
73.00
MoosePermit (regular hunting or archery license also
required)
Moose Hunt Lottery
Moose hunting permits are offered to successful lottery applicants
following a computer-generated random drawing. Anyone who
obtained a moose permit in 2006, 2007 or 2008 is not eligible
to obtain a permit in 2009. Applications must be postmarked
or purchased online by midnight Eastern Time on May 29, 2009,
or delivered to the Licensing Office at N.H. Fish and Game headquarters in Concord, N.H.,
by 4 p.m. on that day.Click here for FAQs about the lottery.
N.H. Fish and Game has a bonus point system to improve the
chance of success for unsuccessful applicants who apply each
year. Unsuccessful applicants accrue one point for each consecutive
year that they apply for the lottery. Each point translates
to a chance in the drawing. NOTE: applicants lose all accrued
points if they do not apply to the lottery for one year, or
if they are offered and accept a moose permit. Click
here for about the bonus point system.
Lottery Drawing/Unit Assignment Permittee candidates
are selected through a computer-generated random number draw.
The 2009 drawing will take place on June 19 at 9 a.m. at
Fish and Game headquarters on Hazen Drive in Concord.
Each applicant selected in the lottery drawing is assigned
to hunt within a unit of his or her choice, except when
the permit quota for that unit has already been filled. In
cases where the quota in the appliant's first choice unit
has been filled, the applicant will be assigned to the next
unfilled unit of his or her choice, as indicated on the application.
Applicants are considered for antlerless-only permits if no
either-sex permits are available and the application indicates
the applicant is willing to accept an antlerless-only permit.
Any unit not ranked on the application form indicates that
the applicant does not wish to hunt in that unit, even if
it is the only unit where a permit quota has not yet been
filled. Alternate candidates are selected to fill any permits
not taken by the original applicants selected.
Notification of winners Successful applicants
are notified within 10 working days of the drawing. Moose hunting
information packets are mailed in mid- August, and permits are mailed in mid-September.
If your name is drawn, a nonrefundable payment of $150 for
residents and $500 for nonresidents must be postmarked no
later than midnight July 17, 2009, or received at Fish and
Game headquarters in Concord, N.H., no later than July 31, 2009.
Failure to submit payment by the deadline will result in disqualification
of the applicant and the permit will be offered to an alternate
candidate.
NH MOOSE POPULATION MANAGEMENT GOALS BY REGION
(As measured by moose seen per 100 deer-hunter hours, 2006-2008)
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