New Hampshire Code of Administrative Rules
Fis - Executive Director, Fish and Game Department
Chapter Fis 300 - WILDLIFE SEASONS AND RULES
Part Fis 301 - GAME ANIMALS
Section Fis 301.06 - Bear Season

(a) Wild black bear shall be taken only in the places and during the times set forth in Table 300.1 below by means of:

(b) Except as provided in RSA 207:7-a, bear shall not be taken by a bow, crossbow, or firearm while the person is in or on a motorized vehicle.

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

(d) No person shall take a bear with the aid and use of bait except as provided by, and in accordance with, RSA 207:3-d, Fis 307.01, Fis 307.02, and Table 300.1 below.

(e) Dogs may be used for taking bear only in the places and during the times set forth in Table 300.1 below:

Table 300.1

Open Season Dates for the Taking of Wild Black Bear in 2023 and 2024

(f) In accordance with RSA 208:22, III, dogs shall not be run from bait for the purpose of taking bear after September 10, 2023 or September 15, 2024.

(g) Wild black bear may be taken by the aid and use of not more than 6 dogs, after obtaining a permit pursuant to Fis 1102.12.

(h) Training of bear dogs shall be in accordance with Fis 305.02.

(i) In addition to the requirements in RSA 207:3-e, no person shall use telemetry equipment to track or locate bear dogs within 300 feet of a building occupied as a person's principal place of abode.

(j) Licensed guides may guide for taking bear during the open season as specified in Fis 301.06(c), Fis 301.06(d), and Fis 301.06(e). The person licensed for guiding shall, prior to guiding, obtain from the department a permit to guide bear hunters. There shall be a limit of 50 permits per season to guide for taking bear as specified in Fis 1102.06.

(k) Each licensed guide who has been issued a permit to take a bear as described in Fis 1102.06 shall be issued 8 bear guide tags described in Fis 1102.07, subject to the following:

(l) No bear shall be taken without the appropriate bear tag.

(m) Immediately upon killing a bear, the licensee shall fill in the appropriate bear tag, sign the tag, and attach the tag to the bear.

(n) The bear tag shall contain the following:

(o) A bear registration station shall be allowed if:

(p) Bear registration agents shall provide the following information on a "Bear Registration Station Agreement":

(q) The bear registration station owner, operator, and employees shall print legibly, accurately, and completely when filling out the bear registration form described in Fis 301.05.

(r) The bear registration station owner or operator shall sign the agreement in the presence of a witnessing department staff member, who shall also sign the agreement.

(s) Registration station agreements shall not be transferable upon change of ownership and shall not be assigned to any other party.

(t) By signing the agreement, applicants shall agree to abide by the statutes and rules governing bear registration reports and the collection of biological samples and shall sign subject to the penalties for making unsworn false statements under RSA 641:3.

(u) Any person who kills wild bear pursuant to this section shall, within 24 hours, exhibit the whole bear or the following body parts of a bear to a New Hampshire conservation officer, fish and game personnel, or registration agent for tagging with a numbered seal:

(v) At the time of tagging, the conservation officer, fish and game personnel, or registration agent shall remove a tooth from such bear and record other information as specified in Fis 301.05.

(w) If requested, any person who kills a wild black bear shall be required to take fish and game personnel back to the kill site, the site of carcass evisceration, or both for purposes such as verification of kill site or to obtain required biological samples left behind.

(x) Beginning with the 2024 bear season, no person shall take more than 2 wild black bear in a calendar year, as follows:

(y) No person shall take bear by trapping or snaring.

(z) No person shall possess the carcass or any part of the carcass of a wild black bear without the bear tag or registration seal attached to it or by special permission of the executive director or the executive director's agent.

(aa) No person shall possess a bear, or any parts of the carcass of a bear given to the person by another, unless each piece or package given to such person is clearly marked or labeled with the date of its receipt and the name and address of the donor.

(ab) Nothing in this section shall prohibit a licensed hunter who has used his or her archery or firearm bear tag from accompanying a licensed apprentice hunter or an unlicensed minor under the age of 16, while the apprentice hunter or minor is taking bear.