I know this iisn't going to be a popular response but it needs to be said. A license in required to fish or hunt in NH once you reach 16 PERIOD! That's the law and it doesn't only appy to "bad kids" - it applies to everyone. Fines are not just revenue generators, they are designed for a purpose and need to be followed. The F&G officer was doing his/her job and should be commended for correcting the action and the fine was 100% warrented and necessary.
If you got pulled over on the highway for doing 100 mph and said "but I'm a good guy and besides, I only drive this highway one time per year" do you think the officer would be a jerk for fining you? Of course not.
I run into F&G regularly while hunting and fishing and have always ALWAYS found them to be polite and professional. They have a job to do and deserve our support. Given that I don't think either of these young people will make this mistake again, I would rate the COs response as 100% effective. If it were my boy being cited, I wouldn't (under any circumstance) indicate that the officer was a jerk but would rather recommend that he take responsibility for the action and pay the fine himself.
I'm sorry if this seems harsh but I don't see anything done by F&G in this occasion as a problem.
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