Jeremy: Your real problem is you live in CT...way more deer there than here. However, in the Southern areas of NH there are plenty of deer if you can get to them. We have a small herd that come into our feeder on a daily basis with about 20 animals all told as far as we can tell. Most of the land down this way is private and usually posted. This winter has been rough on the deer is some places so the regs will vary in relation to the winter kill, most likely in the more northern areas. Interestingly enough they are going to be giving our extra doe permits in the area I live in. My perception is that as the southern area of the state gets developed the deer herd actually improves...that's why they are giving out more doe tags down this way...more deer and fewer hunters.

Bill, I can't argue about the CT deer herd - it's out of control - but growing up in a heavily hunted area of upstate NY I still cut more deer sign walking through the woods than I did in my, admittedly only one, trip up to NH.  I was up North though.  Walking through broken fields with lots of apples for a morning and only cutting one or two deer tracks was something I wasn't used to.  I also wasn't used to the amount of Moose sign   :eek:   :D
Deer do seem to like the 'burbs... all you can eat buffets at every house... "have you tried the tulips"
I can't wait to get back to NH... gorgeous hunting grounds you guys have up there!

Management decisions on wildlife populations are driven these days by the 2005    NH Wildlife Action Plan .  You can sort of anticipate upcoming decisions by reviewing the plan, the recent harvest info, winter severity, etc.

Reminder for those interested --   the NH moose lottery drawing is this Friday, June 20, starting at 9:00 a.m., at Fish and Game headquarters in Concord.  If other obligations (or $4.00 gas) are deterrents to attending, you can listen to a live broadcast on WTPL-FM starting at 6:00.  The station broadcasts on 107.7 FM, "which can be heard from Nashua to the Lakes Region; or in the Upper Valley, the broadcast can be heard on 94.3 FM or 1400 AM."  Or you can listen to live streaming audio at  http://www.wtplfm.com/.   Just leave some room on the server for me, please.    

I'm keeping my fingers crossed.    

Hopeing all my preference points pay off finally
good luck everyone

I know beginning in 2004, they started preference points and that they accumulate, although I missed the deadline that year.

Put in 2005 for preferences points only, but missed deadline 2006 and 2007, and now again in 2008.


What I'm wondering, do I still have my preference point from 2005 or did I loose it?

QuoteOriginally posted by Zbone:
I know beginning in 2004, they started preference points and that they accumulate, although I missed the deadline that year.

Put in 2005 for preferences points only, but missed deadline 2006 and 2007, and now again in 2008.


What I'm wondering, do I still have my preference point from 2005 or did I loose it?

Sorry to tell you -- from the    Moose Lottery FAQ :   "Applicants lose all accrued points if they do not apply to the lottery for one year or if they accept a moose permit."

Good Luck to all that apply. My Dad found last week he pulled a bull moose tag for Maine.  

Thanx for the info Charles

Well, I have one less excuse for not taking a deer this upcoming season -- can't blame it on time spent scouting for moose.     :(

If you want to see who  did draw a permit, here are the    2008 NH Moose Lottery Winners.   Here are the    alternates .  Congrats if you're on either list!

I'm with you Charlie, another year gone without my name on "the list".........I might have a bear or two lined up though......


David

!@#$% missed it again, theres always next year or the year after that or the year after.....

Roughly, how many years does it take to draw?

QuoteOriginally posted by lt-m-grow:
Roughly, how many years does it take to draw?

Pretty complicated to answer without some serious probabilistic determinations.  There are 22 WMUs to rank by your choices, you accumulate a bonus point each year that you're not drawn and apply continuously, and some people don't fill out the entire choice list.  (That last matter improves the odds for the poorly-regarded units for the folks like me who fill out all 22.)  

Short answer:  The   overall odds  this year for residents were 1 in 29.  At that rate, if you apply annually, it would take "something less than" 29 years for a sure thing.  For non-residents, it was 1 in 67 this year.  Note that the number of applicants dropped substantially this year (I don't  have the # at hand right now), undoubtedly because the number of permits dropped from 675 to 515.  

I expect next year's number will be closer to 515 than 675; the 2007 number was driven by a decision to reduce the herd in some WMUs.

Theres no telling on how long it could take and there is a good possibility that you will never be drawn. ie its totally random, but you do build bonus points, however the bonus points, regardless of the number you have, don't guarantee that you will ever get drawn. I have been applying for many, many years and the closest I ever got was 32nd alternate once, a lot of good that did me!

no permit for me this year, always next year.Another 25 bucks GONE!!!!!!!      :(