New Hampshire Code of Administrative Rules
Fis - Executive Director, Fish and Game Department
Chapter Fis 300 - WILDLIFE SEASONS AND RULES
Part Fis 311 - USE OF LEASHED DOGS FOR TRACKING BIG GAME ANIMALS
Section Fis 311.03 - Use of Leashed Dogs for Tracking Big Game Animals

Universal Citation: NH Admin Rules Fis 311.03

Current through Register No. 40, October 3, 2024

(a) A hunter who has killed or wounded or reasonably believes they have killed or wounded a big game animal during the applicable open season may engage a person licensed to use a leashed tracking dog to track and recover the animal.

(b) A licensed tracker may use a leashed tracking dog to locate wounded or dead big game animals:

(1) During the appropriate open hunting season and until midnight the day immediately following the last day of the appropriate hunting season;

(2) During the day or at night; and

(3) With or without the use of an artificial light.

(c) A licensed tracker using a licensed tracking dog may temporarily possess big game animals until lawfully tagged by the hunter or delivered to a New Hampshire fish and game conservation officer.

(d) Unless physically incapacitated, the hunter shall accompany the licensed tracker while tracking the animal. For purposes of this paragraph, "accompany" means to be within sight and hearing, excluding electronic devices, of the tracker.

(e) The licensed tracker shall make notification between the hours of 7:00 am and 7:00 pm, directly to the conservation officer, by telephone by calling 603-271-3361, or by the NH Operation Game Thief Tips 411 application and provide:

(1) The licensed tracker's name and tracking license number;

(2) The hunter's name, address, telephone number, and hunting license number;

(3) The species and general location of the wounded or dead animal; and

(4) Whether the hunter is physically incapacitated and unable to participate in the recovery of the big game.

(f) When tracking wounded or dead big game, the licensed tracker shall wear 2 articles of hunter orange clothing to include:

(1) A solid-colored hunter orange hat; and

(2) A jacket, vest, coat, or poncho which is a minimum of 50 percent hunter orange in color to cover a major portion of the torso.

(g) The licensed tracker shall maintain physical control of the leashed tracking dog(s) at all times while tracking big game animals by means of a lead attached to the dog's collar or harness.

(h) No person other than the licensed tracker or the hunter, who shot the animal and who has engaged the licensed tracker, may carry a firearm or bow of any description while tracking dead or wounded big game.

(i) During legal hunting hours, the hunter or licensed tracker shall euthanize the wounded big game animal when found by the licensed tracker by a means which is lawful during the open season.

(j) In addition to the methods in paragraph (i) above, the licensed tracker may use a handgun of no less than .35 caliber and in accordance with RSA 208:3-d.

(k) Outside of legal hunting hours or outside the open season, only the licensed tracker shall euthanize wounded big game animals and only with a handgun of no less than .35 caliber.

(l) After the big game animal has been recovered, the hunter shall immediately complete and affix the appropriate tag to the animal, as required by existing hunting rules.

(m) If the hunter was unable to accompany the licensee due to physical incapacitation, then the hunter shall provide the licensed tracker, prior to the onset of tracking, with a written signed statement to take and possess the wounded or dead animal.

(n) The written signed statement in paragraph (m) above shall include:

(1) The hunter's name, address, telephone number, license number, and tag number;

(2) The name of the licensed tracker;

(3) The date and time of the tracking effort; and

(4) The general location of the wounded animal.

(o) The licensed tracker shall sign the written statement specified in paragraph (m) above prior to tracking the wounded animal.

(p) If the hunter is unavailable to accept the recovered animal, the licensed tracker shall notify a conservation officer in person or by calling 603-271-3361 and advising the department of that fact, and the animal shall be turned over to a conservation officer.

(q) The licensed tracker shall report any suspected game law or rule violations to a conservation officer.

(r) If requested, the licensed tracker, the hunter, or both shall accompany a conservation officer in a review of the wounding site, tracking line, and recovery site.

#8839, eff 7-1-07

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