N.H. Admin. Code § Fis 302.01

Current through Register No. 41, October 10, 2024

Section Fis 302.01 - Wild Turkey

(a) No person shall at any time hunt, shoot, pursue, kill, or take wild turkey in this state without first procuring a turkey permit and the applicable license required under RSA 214.

(b) For purposes of this section, the state shall be divided into wildlife management units as described in Fis 301.02.

(c) The spring turkey season shall be May 1 through May 31.

(d) The fall turkey seasons shall be as follows:

(1) The archery season shall be September 15 to December 15, provided that in WMU A the closure date shall be December 8; and

(2) In wildlife management units D2, G, H1, H2, I1, I2, J2, K, L, and M, the shotgun season shall be 7 consecutive days in length, beginning 5 days immediately preceding the moose season as specified in Fis 301.07(c).

(e) Shooting hours shall be as follows:

(1) The shooting hours during the spring turkey season shall begin one half hour before sunrise and end at 12:00 noon; and

(2) The shooting hours during the fall seasons for the taking of wild turkeys shall begin one half hour before sunrise and end one half hour after sunset.

(f) Persons licensed to take turkeys shall be entitled to take no more than 2 turkeys per year as follows:

(1) One bearded or male turkey may be taken in the spring season described in paragraph (c) above and one turkey of either sex may be taken during the fall archery season or during the fall shotgun season described in paragraph (d) above; or

(2) Two bearded or male turkeys may be taken in the spring season described in paragraph (c) above, provided that:

a. No person shall take a second turkey until the first turkey has been legally registered; and

b. One turkey may be taken statewide, and the other turkey shall only be taken in wildlife management units H1, H2, I1, J2, K, L, or M.

(g) Nothing in this section shall prohibit a properly licensed turkey hunter, who has taken a turkey, from assisting another properly licensed turkey hunter by calling only. The person assisting by calling shall not possess a firearm, bow and arrow, or crossbow that could lawfully be used for the purpose of a take.

(h) For purposes of this section:

(1) "Fanning" means the practice of staying in a stationary position while holding, wearing, or using a real or artificial turkey fan as camouflage to entice a turkey to approach the hunters' position; and

(2) "Reaping" means the practice of stalking or approaching a turkey while holding, wearing, or using a real or artificial turkey fan as camouflage.

(i) No person shall employ the practice of fanning or reaping for taking turkey.

(j) The lawful methods of take shall consist of:

(1) Shotguns, with the following shot and loads:

a. Between 10 and 20 gauge inclusively, with shot size of #4 and smaller, in hunting rather than target loads; or

b. 28 gauge and .410, with shot sizes #7 through #9, a minimum shot density of 18 grams per cubic centimeter (G/CC), and a minimum barrel length of 18 inches; and

(2) Bow and arrow or crossbow in accordance with Fis 301.041.

(k) No person shall use live decoys, electronic calling devices, baiting, cooperative drives, or dogs during the spring turkey season.

(l) No person shall use live decoys, electronic calling devices, baiting, or cooperative drives during the fall archery season and fall shotgun season.

(m) No person shall shoot at or take a turkey while the turkey is in a tree, regardless of the method of take.

(n) The licensed hunter taking the turkey shall register and report the kill as follows:

(1) Immediately upon killing a turkey, the licensed hunter shall:

a. Detach the turkey tag from his or her license;

b. Fill out the tag with the name and address of the licensee who killed the turkey, the date and time of kill, and the WMU where the turkey was killed;

c. Securely attach the tag to the leg of the turkey; and

d. Keep the carcass fully feathered and intact, except that the carcass may be eviscerated before completing the registration process;

(2) Not attach a turkey tag to a turkey that person did not kill;

(3) Not possess a turkey tag that was not issued to that person; and

(4) Not transport a wild turkey unless it is tagged with a turkey tag and is accompanied by the licensed hunter who took the turkey.

(o) Any turkey taken during the special youth hunting days for turkey in accordance with Fis 1204.03(a) or during any other turkey season shall be registered within 24 hours of taking in accordance with one of the following methods:

(1) Completion of a turkey registration report and receipt of a confirmation number from a department approved registration station in accordance with Fis 302.012; or

(2) Completion of all required fields in an online registration report using the link available at www.wildlife.state.nh.us and receipt of an electronic confirmation that the report was completed and accepted by the department.

(p) Each hunter shall maintain proof of completion of the registration process for a minimum of 180 days in the form of:

(1) The confirmation number from a department registration station; or

(2) An electronic or printed copy of the computer screen that acknowledges the filing of the registration survey in the online registration tool described in subparagraph (o)(2) above and which shows the confirmation number issued by the online system.

(q) If requested, the carcass of the turkey shall be exhibited to a conservation officer for examination to determine the method of kill.

N.H. Admin. Code § Fis 302.01

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