New Hampshire Code of Administrative Rules
Fis - Executive Director, Fish and Game Department
Chapter Fis 900 - RULES FOR LANDS AND WATERS UNDER DEPARTMENT CONTROL
Part Fis 902 - USE OF DEPARTMENT CONTROLLED LANDS
Section Fis 902.02 - Standards Applicable to All Areas

Universal Citation: NH Admin Rules Fis 902.02

Current through Register No. 12, March 21, 2024

(a) Subject to the specific restrictions set forth in Fis 903.01 to Fis 903.07, public use of all lands listed in Table 900.01 shall be subject to the following general standards and restrictions:

(1) The lands and waters shall be open to the public year round for the purpose of hunting, trapping, fishing, birding, and wildlife observation;

(2) The taking of wildlife shall be permitted on all such lands during the open seasons in accordance with the statutes and rules under Title 18 except as provided in Fis 903;

(3) Watercraft may be left overnight on lands listed in Table 900.1, provided that:
a. The watercraft shall be present only between April 1 and November 15; and

b. The watercraft shall be permanently identified by a current NH boat registration number or the owner's name and address affixed to the craft;

(4) All watercraft present on such lands after November 15 shall be subject to removal and disposal pursuant to RSA 471-C:14. In the event the value of the craft exceeds $250.00, the matter shall be referred to the office of the attorney general seeking assistance to obtain appropriate legal relief against the apparent owner of the craft;

(5) No watercraft may be left overnight in any area that is a public boat access area as defined in RSA 233-A:1, IV, and controlled under Fis 1600;

(6) Decoys for the purpose of waterfowl hunting shall not be left unattended and shall be deployed so that the user maintains contact with unaided eyesight;

(7) No person shall consume or possess any open container of liquor or alcoholic beverage as defined by RSA 175:1 while hunting on WMAs;

(8) No person shall construct a permanent structure on such lands, including but not limited to a permanent tree stand, observation or hunting blind, rope swings, or diving platforms;

(9) Portable or temporary tree stands or observation or hunting blinds shall be erected only between August 1 and January 31 on such lands;

(10) All tree stands or observation or hunting blinds left after January 31 on such lands shall be subject to removal and disposal without further notice by the fish and game department;

(11) Except in accordance with Fis 904, no person shall discharge a firearm on such lands except while lawfully engaged in hunting or trapping activities;

(12) Paint ball and air soft activities shall not be allowed on such lands;

(13) The use of OHRVs and snowmobiles shall be prohibited on such lands, except:
a. On frozen state-owned public waters as defined in RSA 271:20; and

b. On trails approved by the executive director and the department of resources and economic development pursuant to RSA 215-A:42;

(14) Unless otherwise posted, the maximum speed limit on land shall be 45 miles per hour for a snowmobile and 35 miles per hour for an OHRV;

(15) Except when specifically permitted by the executive director or his designee, no person shall attach, affix or mount any commercial or private numerals, notice or advertisement of any description to a department kiosk, gate, tree, or any other part of such lands; and

(16) No person shall block or obstruct the pedestrian or vehicular ingress or egress access to any such land, other than:
a. A law enforcement officer; or

b. Department personnel, or their agents or contractors, while acting in performance of their duties of management, construction, or repair of such lands or public waters, or any improvements to such properties.

(b) In the absence of a special use permit obtained in accordance with Fis 902.03, no person shall:

(1) Stay on a department property overnight;

(2) Conduct an organized activity on the property involving 15 or more persons;

(3) Remove any naturally occurring material or vegetation from the site;

(4) Alter the existing condition of the site by adding or altering any structure or changing the flow of stormwater drainage; or

(5) Conduct or cause to be conducted any investigation, including the use of metal detection equipment, that could discover, yield, or alter a known or previously unrecorded historic resource, even if in receipt of a permit for such investigation issued in accordance with RSA 227-C:7.

#1670, eff l1-20-80;; ss by #2079, eff 7-5-82-; ss by #2433, eff 7-21-83; ss by #2839, eff 8-31-84; ss by #4934, eff 9-19-90; ss by #6332, INTERIM, eff 9-4-96, EXPIRED: 1-2-97

New. #6765, eff 6-15-98; ss by #8505, eff 12-7-05; ss by #10262, eff 1-29-13

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