TITLE XVIII
FISH AND GAME

CHAPTER 214
LICENSES

Hunting, Fishing, and Trapping

Section 214:9

    214:9 Application. –
To obtain any of the following licenses, an applicant shall fill out and subscribe on a blank to be furnished by the executive director and pay the agent the license fees, established under RSA 214:8, II, and the agent fee as provided in RSA 214-A:4:
I. Resident hunting license, which shall entitle the licensee to hunt, shoot, kill, or take, except by the use of traps, and to transport wild birds and wild animals under the restrictions of this title.
II. Resident fishing license, which shall entitle the licensee to kill, take, and transport all species of freshwater fish, under the restrictions of this title.
II-a. [Repealed.]
II-b. One-day resident fishing license, which shall entitle the licensee to kill, take, and transport all species of freshwater fish, for said time only, under the restrictions of this title.
III. Resident hunting and fishing license, which shall entitle the licensee to hunt, shoot, kill, or take, except by use of traps, and to transport wild birds, wild animals, and all species of freshwater fish under the restrictions of this title.
IV. Resident trapping license, which shall entitle the licensee to take fur-bearing animals and coyote by the use of traps and sell and transport them under the restrictions of this title.
V. Resident minor's trapping license, which shall entitle the licensee under 16 years of age to take fur-bearing animals and coyote by the use of traps and sell and transport them under the restrictions of this title.
VI. Nonresident hunting license, which shall entitle the licensee to hunt, shoot, kill, and take, except by the use of traps, and to transport wild birds and wild animals under the restrictions of this title.
VI-a. Nonresident hunting and fishing license, which shall entitle the licensee to hunt, shoot, kill, or take, except by use of traps, and to transport wild birds, wild animals, and all species of freshwater fish under the restrictions of this title.
VII. [Repealed.]
VII-a. Nonresident small game license, which shall entitle the licensee to hunt, shoot, or take small game as defined in RSA 207:1, XXVI; provided, however, this license shall not authorize the taking of fur-bearing animals as defined in RSA 207:1, VIII.
VII-b. 3-day nonresident small game license, which shall entitle the licensee to hunt, shoot, or take small game as defined in RSA 207:1, XXVI, for 3 consecutive days; provided, however, this license shall not authorize the taking of fur-bearing animals as defined in RSA 207:1, VIII.
VIII. Nonresident fishing license, which shall entitle the licensee to kill, take, and transport all species of freshwater fish under the restrictions of this title.
VIII-a. [Repealed.]
VIII-b. [Repealed.]
VIII-c. 7-day nonresident fishing license, which shall entitle the licensee to kill, take, and transport all species of freshwater fish, for 7 consecutive days, under the restrictions of this title.
VIII-d. 3-day nonresident fishing license, which shall entitle the licensee to kill, take, and transport all species of freshwater fish, for 3 consecutive days, under the restrictions of this title.
VIII-e. One-day nonresident fishing license, which shall entitle the licensee to kill, take, and transport all species of freshwater fish, for one day, under the restrictions of this title.
IX. Nonresident trapping license, which shall entitle the licensee to take fur-bearing animals and coyote by the use of traps and sell and transport them under the restrictions of this title. If the applicant's state or province does not permit nonresident trappers, said applicant shall be denied a nonresident license in this state.
X. (a) Pheasant license, which shall entitle the licensee to hunt, shoot, kill, and take, except by the use of traps, pheasants during the open season.
(b) The fee for such license shall be set by the executive director pursuant to RSA 206:10, I.
XI. Resident wild turkey license, which shall entitle the licensee to hunt, shoot, kill, and take turkey, except by the use of traps.
XI-a. Nonresident wild turkey license, which shall entitle the licensee to hunt, shoot, kill, and take turkey, except by the use of traps.
XII. Migratory waterfowl license, which shall entitle the licensee to hunt, shoot, kill, and take migratory waterfowl during such time and in such manner and numbers as may be allowed under RSA 209:6.
XIII. (a) Any recognized summer camp or educational facility operated within the state may apply to the executive director of the fish and game department for a group fishing license that may be utilized by individual campers or students while participating in camp or school approved activities. The fee for the license, the definitions, requirements for participation, and criteria for obtaining the license shall be determined by the executive director pursuant to rules adopted under RSA 541-A.
(b) [Repealed.]
XIV. [Repealed.]
XV. If the applicant wishes to take wild animals, excluding fish and marine species, or wild birds, a fee set by the executive director pursuant to RSA 206:10, I, and the agent shall thereupon issue a wildlife habitat license as provided in RSA 214:1-f. For any year in which a license is issued, the agent shall be entitled to retain a portion of the fee as set by the executive director pursuant to RSA 206:10, I for each wildlife habitat license sold and all licenses sold at the department headquarters or any subagency thereof shall retain the same portion of the fee which, notwithstanding RSA 214:1-f, V, shall be credited to the general fish and game fund. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, there shall be no agent fee for a wildlife habitat license issued pursuant to RSA 214:1-f.
XVI. (a) Recreational saltwater license, which shall entitle the licensee, 16 years of age or older, to take, possess, or transport finfish from coastal and estuarine waters, under the restrictions of this title, provided that any person participating in a recreational saltwater fishing opportunity on a for-hire vessel, which is licensed under subparagraph (b), shall be exempt from the license requirement of this subparagraph.
(b) A resident or nonresident owner or operator of a for-hire vessel who wishes to provide recreational saltwater fishing opportunities for persons taking finfish from coastal and estuarine waters, shall pay a fee, set by the executive director pursuant to RSA 206:10, I, for each charter boat and each party boat, which shall entitle the owner or operator of the licensed for-hire vessel to take, possess, or transport finfish from coastal and estuarine waters, under the restrictions of this title.
(c) A nonresident holding a valid recreational saltwater license or a for-hire charter or party boat saltwater license from Maine or Massachusetts, shall be allowed to take, possess, or transport finfish from New Hampshire coastal and estuarine waters, provided that the state in which such person purchased a recreational saltwater license or in which the for-hire vessel is registered allows an angler with a New Hampshire recreational saltwater license or a saltwater for-hire vessel with a for-hire license from New Hampshire to recreationally take, possess, or transport finfish in that state's coastal and estuarine waters.
(d) In this paragraph:
(1) "Coastal and estuarine waters" means all waters within the rise and fall of the tide, and water below any fishway or dam which is normally the dividing line between tide water and fresh water, or below any tidal bound which has been legally established in streams flowing into the sea under the jurisdiction of the state.
(2) "For-hire vessel" means a party boat, charter boat, dive boat, head boat, or other boat hired by persons to engage in recreational saltwater fishing opportunities.
(3) "Recreational saltwater fishing" means taking of any marine finfish, by any means for personal use only and which are not sold.
(4) "Charter boat" means a vessel less than 100 gross tons (90.8 metric tons) that meets the requirements of the U.S. Coast Guard to carry 6 or fewer passengers for hire.
(5) "Party boat" or "head boat" means a vessel that holds a valid Certificate of Inspection issued by the U.S. Coast Guard to carry passengers for hire.
(e) The executive director shall adopt rules under RSA 541-A on the further definitions, criteria, and requirements for obtaining the licenses under this paragraph.

Source. 1935, 124:7. 1937, 156:1. 1941, 67:2, 3. RL 247:6. 1947, 163:2, 3; 217:1-3, 5. 1949, 245:1. 1951, 49:1; 181:1-5. RSA 214:9. 1955, 105:1; 324:1-3. 1961, 32:2. 1965, 49:1-4. 1969, 7:1; 63:2. 1971, 545:1. 1973, 72:22; 348:3-7. 1975, 66:1; 70:1; 337:1; 440:2. 1977, 15:1; 252:2; 459:6. 1981, 89:1, 2; 366:1; 498:1, 2. 1983, 40:2-4; 47:1; 87:1; 173:2. 1985, 291:18, 19, 23. 1986, 214:7-11. 1989, 159:1-3. 1990, 48:2. 1991, 125:1. 1994, 131:1; 151:3; 372:3. 1995, 153:3. 1997, 10:15-18, 24, 25, III-VIII. 1998, 241:2. 2001, 180:6; 252:11-32. 2005, 143:4; 153:1. 2007, 263:64; 298:3. 2008, 151:2, 3. 2009, 103:2, 5-9, eff. Jan. 1, 2011; 144:133, 136-140, eff. Jan. 1, 2011. 2011, 224:231, eff. July 1, 2011. 2015, 186:25, eff. July 1, 2015. 2017, 160:9, 10, eff. July 1, 2017.