New Hampshire Fish And Game Turns 160
by Gary Moore
June 26, 2025
On June 30, 1865, the New Hampshire Legislature authorized the Governor, “to appoint two Commissioners to consider the subject of the restoration of sea fish to our waters and the introduction of new varieties of fresh water fish.” What we know today as the NH Fish and Game Department began as a Commission of Fisheries. In 1880 the Commission was reorganized as a “Commission of Fisheries and Game” and was given the authority to enforce game laws. Every city and town in the state was mandated to hire their own Game Wardens or face a $50 fine.
The three Commissioners who made up the Commission of Fisheries and Game were also given the authority to hire up to five Special Detectives.
In 1890, the NH Commission of Fisheries and Game hired the first state fish and wildlife enforcement officer known as a Fish and Game Detective. Mr. B. P.
Chadwick was the first detective hired at $250 a year.
These early “detectives” were hired for the counties of Coos and Carroll to
prevent “crust-hunting” or the killing of deer in deep snow. The job required,
“men who could strap on snowshoes, and with blanket, axe, and provisions,
tramp through the snow and unbroken forest, camping wherever night overtook them.”
After the Legislative Session of 1914-1915, Special Fish and Game Detectives
became State Game Wardens. Their salary was not to exceed $100 per month
plus their necessary expenses when continuously employed, and three dollars
per day when not continuously employed for more than two weeks.
There were seven State Game Wardens in 1915. Handicapped as it was by
inadequate funding, enforcement under a centralized agency was, from the start, an improvement over earlier systems. Violators were apprehended and
punished, a rare accomplishment under local administration. Much of the credit for the Department’s early success was due to the cooperation of sportsman’s clubs and a dawning public appreciation of conservation.
The law limiting the number of State Game Wardens to ten was repealed in 1925 and, in 1926, the warden force was nearly doubled. The 1926 Biennial Report of the Department of Fisheries and Game reported that the additions to the warden force cut down the average territory covered by each warden from one thousand square miles to about five hundred square miles. Within four years, automobiles and outboard motors were purchased, greatly increasing the efficiency of the wardens.
The report also went on to say, “After a great deal of deliberation, it was decided to try providing uniforms to the field men. This plan has been both praised and ridiculed by the public. It certainly adds a degree of dignity not before experienced. A Warden is expected to have other clothing with him at nearly all times and can change very quickly if it seems best.”
In 1934-35, reorganization raised the standards of the force and resulted in more careful screening. State Game Wardens were now officially called Conservation Officers (CO’s) and worked under the NH Fish and Game Department. The scope of their duties included many activities beyond enforcement; they assisted research and hatchery personnel, checked game and fish, maintained feeding stations for game and songbirds, conducted searches for lost persons and suppression of forest fires, represented the Department at sporting meetings, and inspected wildlife breeding farms. Conservation Officers now also instruct hunter safety programs and other outdoor education programs.
There were 26 Conservation Officers in 1935. This complement of officers cut
down the average area covered by each officer to 384 square miles. Additional Conservation Officers were added as World War II ended and hunting and fishing license sales increased dramatically. In 1964, Fish and Game provided CO’s state-owned vehicles. This idea was originally started in 1926 but was discontinued until 1964.
In the 1960’s, the new outdoor recreational activity of snowmobiling became
popular. With its popularity came enforcement issues, as landowners and riders clashed over where snowmobiles were allowed to ride. NH Conservation Officers became the lead law enforcement agency to deal with these problems.
In 1967 the registration of snowmobiles became state law as a way to fund the construction and maintenance of trails. Conservation Officer Carl Carlson issued the first summons for an unregistered snowmobile in Pittsburg in 1968.
Today’s Conservation Officers spend much of their winter on issued “sleds”
patrolling the nearly 7,000 miles of snowmobile trails throughout the state. Just as the 1960’s saw the advent of snowmobiles, the early 1980’s was the
beginning of the wheeled vehicle popularity with the 3-wheel All Terrain Vehicle (ATV). Technology and enthusiasm for riding would greatly increase over the years as would the need for law enforcement. Again, CO’s would take the lead for enforcing New Hampshire’s Off Highway Recreational Vehicle (OHRV) laws.
In some areas of the state, complaints concerning OHRV’s outnumber all other calls to service. New Hampshire CO’s would reach a milestone in 1972 as the number of officers reached an all-time high of 50. The number of Conservation Officers would fluctuate between 25 and 50 for the next several decades. Even today, with an ever increasing population of both people and wildlife, and the inevitable conflicts that come with those increases, there are only 40 Conservation Officers for the State of New Hampshire. These officers serve a resident population of 1.3 million people, in addition to the seasonal influx of hunters, fishermen, and other outdoor enthusiasts from nearby metropolitan areas such as Massachusetts and New York.
Note: Most of this piece came from historical records of the Fish and
Game Department.
Bits and Pieces
The Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department is asking for volunteers to help in
rounding up and placing identification bands on the legs of Canada geese at its Dead Creek Wildlife Management Area off Route 17 in Addison, starting at 8 a.m. on Wednesday, July 2.
“We are hoping to have between 30 and 70 individuals volunteer to help,” said Andrew Bouton, state waterfowl biologist. “We request that children be
accompanied by adults to help them work with the geese.”
Call the Fish and Wildlife office in Essex at 878-1564 to volunteer and leave your phone number in case the event must be rescheduled due to bad weather.
The Canada geese nesting in Vermont today are the result of work begun at
Dead Creek Wildlife Management Area in the 1950s by the Vermont Fish and
Wildlife Department. The geese banded this year will be monitored to gather
biological information to help monitor their population.
***
The Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department has announced the 2025-2026
migratory game bird hunting season dates and bag limits.
A printable copy of the Migratory Bird Syllabus can be downloaded from the
Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department’s website ,
https://www.vtfishandwildlife.com/, under “Hunt” – “Waterfowl.” A printed version
also will be available from license agents and post offices in August.
***
Women interested in learning outdoor skills in a beautiful setting can sign up for this fall’s Becoming an Outdoors Woman Weekend Workshop, which will take place September 5–7 at Geneva Point Center on Lake Winnipesaukee in
Moultonborough, NH. The registration fee of $360 includes two nights of lodging, all meals, instruction, and equipment use. Participants must be age 18 or older.
Attendees will select one class during each of the four sessions from more than 30 different outdoor skills workshops including archery, fishing, fly fishing, camping, field dressing game, hiking, kayaking, rifle, shotgun, nature
photography, outdoor survival, campfire cooking, map and compass, and more.
Registration for the 2025 Fall Weekend opens on Monday, June 23 at 8 a.m. and will be an entirely online process. To register, visit nhbow.com ; classes fill quickly and are on a first-come, first-served basis. Registration closes July 28. The last day to cancel and receive a full refund is July 14.
***
Mark Breen reports in the Fairbanks Museum's Skywatch Almanac that on June 26, 1986: “‘Black frost’ in Kirby, VT, thermometers fell to 26 degrees, killing vegetation, but the air was too dry for typical frost to be seen.”
On June 27, 1950: “Bennington was struck by hail 1 to 2 inches in diameter, some containing metallic nuclei, possibly originating from the coke plant in Troy, NY.”
Mark also provided the June Records and Averages.
Warmest: 69.6°F/2005 Coldest: 59.2°F/1958
Wettest: 9.65”/1973 Driest: 0.66”/1936
Parting Shots
I turned 79 last week and to celebrate I spent a night at the Appalachian
Mountain Club’s Zealand Falls Hut.
Back in March, after a long winter during which I seemed to be spending far too much time at one or more hospitals for various treatments and tests, I decided I needed to test myself and see if I could make it to one of the “high huts” in the White Mountains.
The morning I left home three different weather reports listed morning showers south of Route 4 and an occasional shower in the north. Soon after I headed up the Zealand Trail in Bethlehem the occasional changed to constant and by 3 p.m. a downpour that continued until about 2 a.m.
My plan had been to get to the hut early enough to pick a lower bunk as far from the door as I could then sit on the porch and read the book I took with me.
I did get an ideal bunk but reading did not work out. There was no sitting on the rain drenched porch or by the adjacent waterfalls and, with so many hikers inside the main room of the lodge, the cacophony of voices was not conducive to enjoying a good book. The best option was to climb into my bunk and take a nap.
A delightful and plentiful dinner cooked and served family style by the “Croo” was enjoyed by all. I shared a table with a couple from southeast NH, a couple from NJ and a woman from Pennsylvania. The conversations were mostly focused on hiking around the country and, of course, the weather.
Following dinner, the hut naturalist presented a talk about logging in the Zealand Valley, logging railroads and the Week’s Act. It was then to bed for me.
I awoke the next morning at my usual time of 5 a.m. and went to the kitchen
where the day’s cook was making coffee and preparing for breakfast. As the
wakeup call is at 6:30 all was quiet as I sipped my coffee.
I donned my pack and headed out at 6, skipping breakfast, at which time only
two of the 22 who spent the night in the two bunk rooms had appeared.
Fog filled the valley making it difficult to even see the outline of the surrounding mountains but I enjoyed the quiet. The rain had stopped a few hours before but all the vegetation was soaked and soon, so was I.
Moving along at a decent pace, I was mesmerized by the sound of flowing water, both in the Zealand River and the little seasonal tribs. Passing by two ponds, I was enthralled by the loud calling of the frogs in the early morning mist, likely looking for love.
I was back at my car and headed home by 8, satisfied that I could still do
moderate hikes despite my age and medical issues.
Syndicated columnist Gary W. Moore may be reached by e-mail at
gwmoore1946@icloud.com or at Box 454, Bradford, VT 05033.
copyright 2025 Gary W. Moore
The three Commissioners who made up the Commission of Fisheries and Game were also given the authority to hire up to five Special Detectives.
In 1890, the NH Commission of Fisheries and Game hired the first state fish and wildlife enforcement officer known as a Fish and Game Detective. Mr. B. P.
Chadwick was the first detective hired at $250 a year.
These early “detectives” were hired for the counties of Coos and Carroll to
prevent “crust-hunting” or the killing of deer in deep snow. The job required,
“men who could strap on snowshoes, and with blanket, axe, and provisions,
tramp through the snow and unbroken forest, camping wherever night overtook them.”
After the Legislative Session of 1914-1915, Special Fish and Game Detectives
became State Game Wardens. Their salary was not to exceed $100 per month
plus their necessary expenses when continuously employed, and three dollars
per day when not continuously employed for more than two weeks.
There were seven State Game Wardens in 1915. Handicapped as it was by
inadequate funding, enforcement under a centralized agency was, from the start, an improvement over earlier systems. Violators were apprehended and
punished, a rare accomplishment under local administration. Much of the credit for the Department’s early success was due to the cooperation of sportsman’s clubs and a dawning public appreciation of conservation.
The law limiting the number of State Game Wardens to ten was repealed in 1925 and, in 1926, the warden force was nearly doubled. The 1926 Biennial Report of the Department of Fisheries and Game reported that the additions to the warden force cut down the average territory covered by each warden from one thousand square miles to about five hundred square miles. Within four years, automobiles and outboard motors were purchased, greatly increasing the efficiency of the wardens.
The report also went on to say, “After a great deal of deliberation, it was decided to try providing uniforms to the field men. This plan has been both praised and ridiculed by the public. It certainly adds a degree of dignity not before experienced. A Warden is expected to have other clothing with him at nearly all times and can change very quickly if it seems best.”
In 1934-35, reorganization raised the standards of the force and resulted in more careful screening. State Game Wardens were now officially called Conservation Officers (CO’s) and worked under the NH Fish and Game Department. The scope of their duties included many activities beyond enforcement; they assisted research and hatchery personnel, checked game and fish, maintained feeding stations for game and songbirds, conducted searches for lost persons and suppression of forest fires, represented the Department at sporting meetings, and inspected wildlife breeding farms. Conservation Officers now also instruct hunter safety programs and other outdoor education programs.
There were 26 Conservation Officers in 1935. This complement of officers cut
down the average area covered by each officer to 384 square miles. Additional Conservation Officers were added as World War II ended and hunting and fishing license sales increased dramatically. In 1964, Fish and Game provided CO’s state-owned vehicles. This idea was originally started in 1926 but was discontinued until 1964.
In the 1960’s, the new outdoor recreational activity of snowmobiling became
popular. With its popularity came enforcement issues, as landowners and riders clashed over where snowmobiles were allowed to ride. NH Conservation Officers became the lead law enforcement agency to deal with these problems.
In 1967 the registration of snowmobiles became state law as a way to fund the construction and maintenance of trails. Conservation Officer Carl Carlson issued the first summons for an unregistered snowmobile in Pittsburg in 1968.
Today’s Conservation Officers spend much of their winter on issued “sleds”
patrolling the nearly 7,000 miles of snowmobile trails throughout the state. Just as the 1960’s saw the advent of snowmobiles, the early 1980’s was the
beginning of the wheeled vehicle popularity with the 3-wheel All Terrain Vehicle (ATV). Technology and enthusiasm for riding would greatly increase over the years as would the need for law enforcement. Again, CO’s would take the lead for enforcing New Hampshire’s Off Highway Recreational Vehicle (OHRV) laws.
In some areas of the state, complaints concerning OHRV’s outnumber all other calls to service. New Hampshire CO’s would reach a milestone in 1972 as the number of officers reached an all-time high of 50. The number of Conservation Officers would fluctuate between 25 and 50 for the next several decades. Even today, with an ever increasing population of both people and wildlife, and the inevitable conflicts that come with those increases, there are only 40 Conservation Officers for the State of New Hampshire. These officers serve a resident population of 1.3 million people, in addition to the seasonal influx of hunters, fishermen, and other outdoor enthusiasts from nearby metropolitan areas such as Massachusetts and New York.
Note: Most of this piece came from historical records of the Fish and
Game Department.
Bits and Pieces
The Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department is asking for volunteers to help in
rounding up and placing identification bands on the legs of Canada geese at its Dead Creek Wildlife Management Area off Route 17 in Addison, starting at 8 a.m. on Wednesday, July 2.
“We are hoping to have between 30 and 70 individuals volunteer to help,” said Andrew Bouton, state waterfowl biologist. “We request that children be
accompanied by adults to help them work with the geese.”
Call the Fish and Wildlife office in Essex at 878-1564 to volunteer and leave your phone number in case the event must be rescheduled due to bad weather.
The Canada geese nesting in Vermont today are the result of work begun at
Dead Creek Wildlife Management Area in the 1950s by the Vermont Fish and
Wildlife Department. The geese banded this year will be monitored to gather
biological information to help monitor their population.
***
The Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department has announced the 2025-2026
migratory game bird hunting season dates and bag limits.
A printable copy of the Migratory Bird Syllabus can be downloaded from the
Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department’s website ,
https://www.vtfishandwildlife.com/, under “Hunt” – “Waterfowl.” A printed version
also will be available from license agents and post offices in August.
***
Women interested in learning outdoor skills in a beautiful setting can sign up for this fall’s Becoming an Outdoors Woman Weekend Workshop, which will take place September 5–7 at Geneva Point Center on Lake Winnipesaukee in
Moultonborough, NH. The registration fee of $360 includes two nights of lodging, all meals, instruction, and equipment use. Participants must be age 18 or older.
Attendees will select one class during each of the four sessions from more than 30 different outdoor skills workshops including archery, fishing, fly fishing, camping, field dressing game, hiking, kayaking, rifle, shotgun, nature
photography, outdoor survival, campfire cooking, map and compass, and more.
Registration for the 2025 Fall Weekend opens on Monday, June 23 at 8 a.m. and will be an entirely online process. To register, visit nhbow.com ; classes fill quickly and are on a first-come, first-served basis. Registration closes July 28. The last day to cancel and receive a full refund is July 14.
***
Mark Breen reports in the Fairbanks Museum's Skywatch Almanac that on June 26, 1986: “‘Black frost’ in Kirby, VT, thermometers fell to 26 degrees, killing vegetation, but the air was too dry for typical frost to be seen.”
On June 27, 1950: “Bennington was struck by hail 1 to 2 inches in diameter, some containing metallic nuclei, possibly originating from the coke plant in Troy, NY.”
Mark also provided the June Records and Averages.
Warmest: 69.6°F/2005 Coldest: 59.2°F/1958
Wettest: 9.65”/1973 Driest: 0.66”/1936
Parting Shots
I turned 79 last week and to celebrate I spent a night at the Appalachian
Mountain Club’s Zealand Falls Hut.
Back in March, after a long winter during which I seemed to be spending far too much time at one or more hospitals for various treatments and tests, I decided I needed to test myself and see if I could make it to one of the “high huts” in the White Mountains.
The morning I left home three different weather reports listed morning showers south of Route 4 and an occasional shower in the north. Soon after I headed up the Zealand Trail in Bethlehem the occasional changed to constant and by 3 p.m. a downpour that continued until about 2 a.m.
My plan had been to get to the hut early enough to pick a lower bunk as far from the door as I could then sit on the porch and read the book I took with me.
I did get an ideal bunk but reading did not work out. There was no sitting on the rain drenched porch or by the adjacent waterfalls and, with so many hikers inside the main room of the lodge, the cacophony of voices was not conducive to enjoying a good book. The best option was to climb into my bunk and take a nap.
A delightful and plentiful dinner cooked and served family style by the “Croo” was enjoyed by all. I shared a table with a couple from southeast NH, a couple from NJ and a woman from Pennsylvania. The conversations were mostly focused on hiking around the country and, of course, the weather.
Following dinner, the hut naturalist presented a talk about logging in the Zealand Valley, logging railroads and the Week’s Act. It was then to bed for me.
I awoke the next morning at my usual time of 5 a.m. and went to the kitchen
where the day’s cook was making coffee and preparing for breakfast. As the
wakeup call is at 6:30 all was quiet as I sipped my coffee.
I donned my pack and headed out at 6, skipping breakfast, at which time only
two of the 22 who spent the night in the two bunk rooms had appeared.
Fog filled the valley making it difficult to even see the outline of the surrounding mountains but I enjoyed the quiet. The rain had stopped a few hours before but all the vegetation was soaked and soon, so was I.
Moving along at a decent pace, I was mesmerized by the sound of flowing water, both in the Zealand River and the little seasonal tribs. Passing by two ponds, I was enthralled by the loud calling of the frogs in the early morning mist, likely looking for love.
I was back at my car and headed home by 8, satisfied that I could still do
moderate hikes despite my age and medical issues.
Syndicated columnist Gary W. Moore may be reached by e-mail at
gwmoore1946@icloud.com or at Box 454, Bradford, VT 05033.
copyright 2025 Gary W. Moore
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