26apr01...0009h

2001 SESSION

01-0177

10/09

HOUSE BILL 152-FN

AN ACT relative to expanding the legal methods of taking deer.

COMMITTEE: Fish and Game

AMENDED ANALYSIS

This bill expands the permitted methods of hunting deer to include crossbow for persons holding a firearms deer tag and adds a rulemaking provision allowing the executive director of fish and game to adopt rules regarding the regulation and use of crossbow.

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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.

Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]

Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

26apr01...0009h

01-0177

10/09

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand One

AN ACT relative to expanding the legal methods of taking deer.

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

161:1 Prohibited Devices; Crossbow for Hunting Removed. Amend RSA 207:10 to read as follows:

207:10 Prohibited Devices. A trotline, tips-ups, set and trap lines, crossbows, spears, grappling hooks, naked hooks, snatch hooks, eel wires, eel pots, and nets, shall not be used in any fresh waters of the state to take fish, unless otherwise specifically permitted. No person shall possess, while hunting or trapping any wild bird, or wild animal, including bear, any snare, jack or artificial light, swivel, pivot or set gun, [or crossbow] except as otherwise permitted. Any person convicted of illegal night hunting shall forfeit such firearms, jacks or other equipment used or usable in the illegal night hunting at the time of the violation. Prohibited articles, upon conviction of a violation of illegal night hunting, shall become the property of the fish and game department, and shall be sold at auction by the director within one year of the forfeiture. Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit the use of lights for checking traps as permitted in RSA 210:13.

161:2 New Section; Taking Deer by Crossbow; Rulemaking. Amend RSA 208 by inserting after section 7 the following new section:

208:7-a Taking Deer by Crossbow; Rulemaking. The executive director of fish and game, with the consent of the commission, may adopt rules under RSA 541-A to allow for the taking of deer by crossbow during the regular firearms season, for persons holding a valid firearms deer tag, or as specified in RSA 206:23-c. Such rules may include, but not be limited to, conditions or limitations as to the portions of the state crossbows may be used, the manner and method of taking with a crossbow, mandatory education requirements for the use of a crossbow, and any additional licensing requirements and associated fees.

161:3 Effective Date. This act shall take effect January 1, 2003.

(Approved: July 5, 2001)

(Effective Date: January 1, 2003)