Every two years, New Hampshire citizens have the opportunity to comment on our state’s hunting rules, and 2023 is one of those years

Dear Linda,

Every two years, the NH Fish and Game Department reviews data from their wildlife biologists and proposes changes to the state’s hunting rules that would apply in the upcoming two hunting seasons (2023 and 2024, in this case).

This process includes a public comment period during which citizens can submit written remarks and/or attend one of three public hearings (scroll down for dates and locations).

Historically, hunters are over-represented at these public hearings, even though only 4% of the population has a hunting, fishing, or trapping license.

Please attend one of the hearings

We ask that you attend one of the public hearings, so that we can fill the room with friends of wildlife. Whether you want to speak or simply stand/sit in silent support, please come to represent the wildlife.

As thanks, we’ll be giving out Voices of Wildlife mugs to everyone who signs up with us and attends a public hearing. 

How do I prepare for the public hearing?



All the proposed rules for the different species of hunted animals (deer, bears, moose, and so on) can be found on the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department’s Wildlife Rules Proposals page.

As mentioned above, you do not need to speak at the public hearing. Just being there in support of wildlife will help.

That said, the podium is open to anyone who has a request, complaint, or suggestion about how the state’s wildlife is managed. The hunters always have a lot to say, so the more voices speaking for the animals the better.

Where do I send written comments?

Whether or not you attend one of the public hearings, you can submit written comments about the proposed hunting rules.

Email comments to: [email protected].

The deadline for submitting comments is April 20, 2023.



What should I say?

Sadly, there is no end to the number of ways our state’s hunting rules harm wildlife, but you might focus on the most unfair hunting practices (such as coyote hounding) or the most imperiled animals (such as moose).

Below are some suggested topics. If you wish to speak or comment on these issues, please try to use your own words.

You may want to choose just one issue to focus on, and do a bit of research so your remarks or comments will be well informed.

• Unfair hunting practices — Rather than continuing to support unfair hunting practices, such as bear baiting and hounding, New Hampshire Fish and Game should abide by its own principles of fair chase and prohibit these methods.
• Baiting and nuisance bears — Providing food to bears can habituate them to human food and also cause females to have more cubs. Bears with a taste for human food are more likely to become a nuisance, putting both humans and bears at risk. “A Fed Bear Is a Dead Bear,” as the slogan goes.
• Coyote hounding — The practice of hunting coyotes with dogs should end. This method is unfair and cruel. Unlike a hounded bear, coyotes cannot escape the dogs by climbing a tree. Coyotes are not eaten and the fur is of no use once the dogs get done with it. Therefore, coyote hounding is an example of “wanton waste,” which NH Fish & Game opposes.
• Open season on coyotes — Year-round coyote hunting, including the months when they are raising their pups, is cruel and unjustified. New Hampshire’s deer population is thriving, so killing coyotes to protect deer is just an excuse. 
• Moose — NH Fish & Game should end the moose hunt. Our state is rapidly losing our moose herds, and hunting them just accelerates this decline.
• Pheasant hunting — Pheasant hunting in NH is nothing more than a state-sanctioned “canned hunt.” Farm-raised birds with no survival skills are released in an unfamiliar landscape to become easy targets. Since hunters are told in advance when and where the pheasants will be released, birds are often shot down within hours of taking their first flight of freedom.
• Trapping — Trapping is not only cruel but also contributes to our state’s decreasing population of foxes and other small predators. Predators provide safe and natural “pest control” by keeping rat and mice populations manageable.

Please contact us at [email protected] if you have any questions or concerns, or if you’d like to focus on a topic not included here and need some help.



Thank you for being a voice for wildlife!

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