Section Fis 806.05 - Snowshoe Hare Live-Capture Requirements(a) As part of the fish and game department's responsibility to recognize, preserve, and promote the state's hunting heritage, these rules allow the continuance of a long-held tradition of hunting hares and rabbits with trained beagles by fostering responsible dog training and breeding and promoting interest in the hunting of snowshoe hares. The purpose of these rules is to allow the limited take of snowshoe hares in a manner that will not have an adverse effect on the population of snowshoe hares. These rules regulate the taking of live snowshoe hares from the wild within New Hampshire and allow a limited number of hares to be held in captivity for propagation and training purposes.(b) Applicants for a "Permit to Live-Capture Snowshoe Hare" shall provide the following on the form: (1) Name and home mailing address and telephone number;(2) Applicant's trapping license number;(3) Beagle club affiliation and the address of the beagle club;(4) A statement with the signature of the beagle club president authorizing the applicant to live-capture snowshoe hare on the club's behalf.(5) The number of a valid permit to propagate wildlife issued to the beagle club as specified in Fis 806.01 and Fis 806.04.(c) The live-capture of snowshoe hares shall only be conducted by licensed trappers who have been designated by the club to live-capture hares on the club's behalf, and be subject to the following conditions:(1) The live-capture of snowshoe hares shall only be done during the open season for taking hares as specified in Fis 301.10(a)(1);(2) Live-capture shall be conducted only on private land with written landowner permission.(3) Live-capture shall be done only by box-trap;(4) Traps shall be securely labeled with the name and contact information of the permittee;(5) Traps shall be equipped with a weatherproof top;(6) Each active trap shall be baited with enough apple, rabbit feed, or alfalfa to provide for the nourishment of a captured snowshoe hare for at least 24 hours;(7) Traps shall be checked at least once in every calendar day;(8) No more than 20 snowshoe hares per season may be live-captured by each qualifying beagle club with no more than 10 snowshoe hares live-captured per season from the combined area of wildlife management units H1, H2, I1, I2, J2, K, L, and M;(9) No live capture of snowshoe hare shall be conducted in those areas closed to the taking of cottontail rabbits as specified in Fis 301.10(c);(10) Snowshoe hares that die during live-capture efforts shall count as part of the 20 snowshoe hares allowed per year per club;(11) Snowshoe hares not kept for training or propagation purposes shall be immediately released at the site of capture; and(12) No more than 10 licensed trappers shall be designated per beagle club to live-capture snowshoe hare on that club's behalf during the term of the permit.(d) No fees shall be charged to any beagle club by persons engaged in snowshoe live-capture. This shall not preclude reimbursement of expenses associated with the live-capture and care of snowshoe hares by club members on behalf of their respective clubs.(e) Live-captured snowshoe hares shall remain on the capturing club's property and not be transferred elsewhere.(f) Progeny of live-captured snowshoe hares may be transferred or exchanged with another permitted beagle club provided that no money shall be charged by either club to the other for the value of the animal.(g) A permittee holding a snowshoe hare in captivity for propagation purposes shall: (1) Hold the animal in accordance with the possession requirements of Fis 804; and(2) At least once each calendar year contact the law enforcement division to request a visit from a conservation officer in order to select and remove one or more animals for inspection by a veterinarian. (h) The conservation officer shall transport the selected animal(s) to the veterinarian, to be examined for disease, general health and condition, with the cost of the inspection to be borne by the permittee.(i) Snowshoe hares that escape from established pens on club property may be recaptured during the open season for taking snowshoe hare within 50 yards of their established pens and shall not count towards the season limit.(j) Any snowshoe hares live-captured and held for release under this program shall be released on club property within 2 days of capture.(k) Each club shall provide to the department an annual "Snowshoe Hare Live-capture Summary Report" to include: (1) The name and address of the beagle club;(3) The name of the individuals who live-captured or attempted to live-capture snowshoe hares on behalf of the club;(4) The total number of: b. Days trapping occurred;(5) The number of snowshoe hares caught, by sex, by town, and by WMU;(6) The number of snowshoe hares that died as a result of live-capture efforts, by cause of death;(7) The number of snowshoe hares retained for training;(8) The number of snowshoe hares retained for propagation;(9) The number of non-target animals captured and released by species, WMU, and town;(10) The number of non-target mortalities by species, town and WMU;(11) The number of snowshoe hares propagated on club grounds through a breeding program during the preceding calendar year; (12) The written report of a veterinarian regarding the general health and condition of animals held for training or propagation purposes; and(13) The name and signature of the person submitting the report, signed subject to the penalties for making unsworn false statements under RSA 641:3.(l) Annual summary reports shall be submitted to the department by April 15th. No permits to live-capture in subsequent years shall be issued to clubs until the annual report from the last year a permit was held is received.N.H. Code Admin. R. Fis 806.05
Amended byVolume XXXIV Number 24, Filed June 12, 2014, Proposed by #10619, Effective 6/2/2014, Expires6/2/2024.Amended by Volume XXXV Number 27, Filed July 9, 2015 , Proposed by #10868, Effective 6/25/2015, Expires12/22/2015.Amended by Volume XXXVI Number 06, Filed February 11, 2016, Proposed by #11029, Effective 1/26/2016, Expires 1/26/2026.Amended by Volume XXXVIII Number 32, Filed August 9, 2018, Proposed by #12591, Effective 7/25/2018, Expires 7/25/2028.Amended by Volume XLI Number 19, Filed May 13, 2021, Proposed by #13194 , Effective 4/24/2021, Expires 4/24/2031.