CHAPTER 12

HB 342 - FINAL VERSION

 

24Feb2021... 0136h

2021 SESSION

21-0348

04/05

 

HOUSE BILL 342

 

AN ACT relative to the taking of game by certain lever-action firearms and relative to the number of rounds permitted in a firearm used to take deer.

 

SPONSORS: Rep. Spillane, Rock. 2; Rep. Pearl, Merr. 26; Rep. Roy, Rock. 32; Rep. Verville, Rock. 2; Rep. Love, Rock. 6

 

COMMITTEE: Fish and Game and Marine Resources

 

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AMENDED ANALYSIS

 

This bill allows the taking of game with certain lever-action firearms.  The bill also specifies that a firearm used to take deer shall not be loaded with more than 6 rounds of ammunition.

 

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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

24Feb2021... 0136h 21-0348

04/05

 

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

 

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty One

 

AN ACT relative to the taking of game by certain lever-action firearms and relative to the number of rounds permitted in a firearm used to take deer.

 

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

 

12:1  Fish and Game; Lawful Methods of Taking.  Amend RSA 207:3, I to read as follows:

I. Wildlife shall be taken in the daytime between 1/2 hour before sunrise and 1/2 hour after sunset with a gun, firearm, muzzleloader, or air rifle, fired at arm's length, [or] bow and arrow or crossbow, or a lever-action carbine chambered in .357, .44 Magnum, or .45 Colt in any area where hunting is restricted to handgun or pistol, unless otherwise specifically permitted. An air rifle may be used to take small game but shall not be used to take moose, bear, turkey, or deer. The executive director shall specify the method and manner of taking small game with an air rifle in rules adopted pursuant to RSA 541-A.

12:2  Lawful Methods of Taking.  Amend RSA 207:3, II to read as follows:

II.  A full automatic rifle shall not be used at any time nor shall a semi-automatic rifle be used to which is attached a magazine or clip holding more than [5] 6 cartridges, nor shall a full jacketed metal case bullet be used, either in its original form or any alteration thereof.

12:3  Game Animals; Pistols Permitted.  Amend RSA 208:3-d to read as follows:

208:3-d Pistols Permitted.  Pistols permitted under RSA 208:3, 3-a, 3-b, and 3-c shall include a .357 Magnum, 10mm Automatic, .41 Remington, .44 Magnum, .45 Long Colt, .480 Ruger, and .50 Magnum, provided that a pistol used for taking deer under this section shall be loaded with no more than [5] 6 rounds of ammunition at any time.

12:4  Effective Date.  This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.

 

Approved: April 23, 2021

Effective Date: June 22, 2021