2023 Hunting Season

[Slickcraft]

Originally Posted by granitebox

It changed this year - hunting on islands (assuming proper property access is in place) is allowed.


"Deer may be hunted on islands. Special permits are still required to hunt deer on Long and Governor's Islands in Lake Winnipesaukee. See Deer Hunting Regulations for details."

Yes I checked this morning and was very surprised to see the change. I fail to see the sport in that, kind of like hunting in a fenced in preserve. Also, somewhat dangerous in the small confines of an island. Any direction that you shoot will be toward someone's camp.

Alan

[Descant]

I agree with Slickcraft about dangers and proximity to camps and hikers just going to visit other camps with no expectation of island hunters.
You can park on the highway and walk into the woods to hunt. You don't have permission to tie up at my dock to go hunting on an island, so access is limited.

I was always under the impression that discharge of firearms (hunting or otherwise) was not allowed on Gilford islands..
Does LRCT allow hunting on Stonedam, Rattlesnake or 5 Mile? Can't imagine 3 Mile and Sandy allow hunting.

[ishoot308]

Originally Posted by Slickcraft

Yes I checked this morning and was very surprised to see the change. I fail to see the sport in that, kind of like hunting in a fenced in preserve. Also, somewhat dangerous in the small confines of an island. Any direction that you shoot will be toward someone's camp.

Alan

Completely agree...

Dan

[granitebox]

Sorry, didn't intend to start a discussion about the pro and cons, that was decided by F&G last year - the islands are overrun with a non-sustainable population of deer, they are cute but they are doing more harm than good now.

There are plenty of folks that allow access to the islands, without markings, the default is you allow access to your property for hunting.

From NH F&G website:

"Based on long-standing tradition, nearly all lands in the state of New Hampshire are open to hunting. The "rule of thumb" in New Hampshire is: all state, federal, municipal, county and private land is open to hunting unless it is posted against hunting. However, hunting is a privilege granted by the landowner -- not a right granted to the hunter. "

[ishoot308]

Originally Posted by granitebox

Sorry, didn't intend to start a discussion about the pro and cons, that was decided by F&G last year - the islands are overrun with a non-sustainable population of deer, they are cute but they are doing more harm than good now.

There are plenty of folks that allow access to the islands, without markings, the default is you allow access to your property for hunting.

From NH F&G website:

"Based on long-standing tradition, nearly all lands in the state of New Hampshire are open to hunting. The "rule of thumb" in New Hampshire is: all state, federal, municipal, county and private land is open to hunting unless it is posted against hunting. However, hunting is a privilege granted by the landowner -- not a right granted to the hunter. "

I can totally understand controlling the herd...but I think maybe opening to bow and arrow only first would of been a hell of a lot smarter....

I love to hunt and fish, but I would get no pleasure island hunting deer on Winni with a gun...that's just unsportsmanlike in my opinion...

Dan

[jazzman]

Seems crazy. I guess on a lot of islands you can find spots more than 300 ft from houses if you know the island well. But... The center of islands is elevated by definition and if you miss the chances of hitting a house are certainly non zero. If the average camp is 40 feet wide on a 100 foot lot then 40% of the land around the island lakefront has a house on it. Of course the Z axis is in play too but the drop over 200-300 yards is only a few feet. Maybe the trees would save us :-)

[DickR]

On Long Island, at least, and perhaps for other islands on the lake where permitted, there is a fall bow "hunting" season from mid-October, mid-week only, until I think after Thanksgiving, into December. At least one group, BWMANH, refers to this as a "deer reduction" program, not hunting. A minimum of one acre is required, with one owner giving permission, or combined one acre for two or more abutting owners all giving permission. Crossbows are used, from tree stands, so shooting is downward. The signed permission slips must be with the hunter. The land owner may impose any restrictions whatsoever on use of his property for the purpose, such as times, where on the property to use, parking. Of course, if the restrictions are too onerous, that property is effectively not allowing it.

I am in favor of the program; my wife is not. Our compromise is to allow it every other year.

[John Mercier]

Originally Posted by ishoot308

I can totally understand controlling the herd...but I think maybe opening to bow and arrow only first would of been a hell of a lot smarter....

I love to hunt and fish, but I would get no pleasure island hunting deer on Winni with a gun...that's just unsportsmanlike in my opinion...

Dan

And circumstance or property owner discretion may lead to that.
The restrictions are not void; just island property is no longer going to be treated different than other property.

I can still allow written permission on my property after posting.

[Descant]

Originally Posted by granitebox

Sorry, didn't intend to start a discussion about the pro and cons, that was decided by F&G last year - the islands are overrun with a non-sustainable population of deer, they are cute but they are doing more harm than good now.

There are plenty of folks that allow access to the islands, without markings, the default is you allow access to your property for hunting.

From NH F&G website:

"Based on long-standing tradition, nearly all lands in the state of New Hampshire are open to hunting. The "rule of thumb" in New Hampshire is: all state, federal, municipal, county and private land is open to hunting unless it is posted against hunting. However, hunting is a privilege granted by the landowner -- not a right granted to the hunter. "

Which (non-bridged) islands are overrun? Whose dock can you tie up to without permission? Different sets of rules at work here. I have observed Marine Patrol order uninvited boaters to leave my neighbor's beach--neighbor wasn't home, no signs, but somebody reported them.

[Garcia]

Originally Posted by Descant

Which (non-bridged) islands are overrun?

Bear Island has too many deer. I can’t see how hunting will ever be allowed there.