Merrimack River Valley Chapter Trout Unlimited

Support for New Hampshire Fish and Game Department

The New Hampshire Fish and Game department needs an additional $1.6 million per year for each of the next two years to maintain existing programs and staff, and to perform the bare minimum of maintenance required on facilities and equipment. Cost control measures over the last few years include staff reductions of 14 positions through attrition, deferring required maintenance and limiting new programs. At the same time, Fish and Game has been mandated to provide more services in a climate of shrinking revenue from licenses. Our state is becoming more urbanized and suburbanized and many residents are not buying hunting or fishing licenses. Since 1995 the number of hunters has decreased by 25% and fishing license sales are down 10%. At the same time, more people want to hike, canoe/kayak, and enjoy wildlife viewing, all of which puts a strain on our natural resources and the resources of Fish and Game for search and rescue, access and non-game conservation efforts. Boat and OHRV fees are intended to fund search and rescue missions, but almost 90% of rescues involve people who have neither a boat nor an OHRV. Currently, Fish and Game receives almost no funding from the General Fund. In addition to requesting General Fund financial support, other funding options are being considered, including a Conservation Decal fee for non-motorized boats, and a saltwater fishing license, among other possibilities.
Some factions are looking to break up the Fish and Game department and absorb the pieces into other agencies. This would be a disaster for good wildlife management practices and risks politicizing wildlife management decisions. We need a Fish and Game department governed by best practices in wildlife management and not one that is forced to serve the whims of local politicos.
We will continue to track the progress of the various funding alternatives and keep the membership informed of opportunities to make your voice heard. Right now a good idea would be to call or write your state rep and let them know that breaking up the Fish and Game department would be a very bad idea and that some level of funding from the general fund would be a good idea.
You can acces information about your representatives at: State Rep listing.  Contact the governor at email Governor Lynch

Here is the what I sent my state reps, senator and the governor in an email:

Dear ____________,

Recently I have read about the funding issues with New Hampshire Fish and Game Department. I am writing to let you know that I believe the New Hampshire Fish and Game department is well-managed and utilizes best-practices and scientific data wherever possible to govern their decisions. It does not seem fair to me that a department that serves all residents in their wildlife conservation and search and rescue missions should only be funded by hunters and fishermen. I support funding the Fish and Game department from the General Fund to the extent necessary to cover the cost of search and rescue missions, enforcement for OHRV, non-game wildlife management and habitat acquisition and improvement, access to public waters, public wildlife education and pensions and benefits of retired personnel, and other expenses that are not directly related to hunting and fishing, which should continue to be funded by license sales.

I have also heard of legislation being proposed that would break up the Fish and Game department and absorb it into other agencies. This would be a big mistake. All the elements of the Fish and Game department complement each other and separating them would decrease overall synergy and efficiency of the department. NH Fish and Game is probably the least politicized department in the State of New Hampshire, and retaining it intact will keep it that way.

Thanks for your consideration,

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