By BOB MARTIN
Eagle Times Staff
CHARLESTOWN, N.H. — New Hampshire Fish and Game recently announced that two men from Sullivan County were arrested and charged with multiple wildlife crimes after being caught night hunting for deer from a truck in Charlestown.
According to a release by the N.H. Fish and Game Law Enforcement Division, on Nov. 15 conservation officers were working in Charlestown with a focus on detection and apprehension of illegal night hunting.
“Approximately 40 minutes after the end of legal shooting hours, a Conservation Officer observed a truck enter a field and use the headlights of the truck to locate deer while a passenger utilized a spotlight to attempt to locate deer,” the statement read. “Upon stopping the vehicle, two Sullivan County men were found in the truck. A cocked crossbow was found on the lap of the passenger, whose hunting privileges were currently under suspension for a previous night hunting conviction. A compound bow was found in the vicinity of the driver.”
Both men were charged with night hunting, hunting under suspension, trespassing while hunting, a cocked crossbow in a motor vehicle and no name and address on bolts. They have plead guilty to all charges, which resulted in a total of $2,976 in fines, eight years of hunting privileges suspended and the forfeiture of a crossbow, compound bow, lights, and “all other implements that were used in commission of their wildlife crimes.”
There is currently no night hunting allowed in the state of New Hampshire until Jan. 1 when coyotes can be hunted until March 31 at night. State law, included in RSA 208:8, says that a person is guilty of a misdemeanor for the following:
“a: Knowingly takes wild birds or wild animals between 1/2 hour after sunset and 1/2 hour before sunrise.
b: Knowingly uses an artificial light between 1/2 hour after sunset and 1/2 hour before sunrise to illuminate, locate, or attempt to locate wild birds or wild animals while possessing on the person or in a motor vehicle, OHRV, snowmobile, boat, aircraft, or other craft propelled by mechanical power, a bow and arrow, crossbow and bolt, rifle, pistol, revolver, shotgun, or muzzle-loading firearm with live ammunition to fit the weapon, whether loaded or unloaded.
II. Any person convicted of illegal night hunting shall forfeit such firearms, lights, or any other equipment used or usable in the illegal night hunting at the time of such offense.
III. The knowledge or belief required for paragraph I is presumed in the case of a person who:
- Uses or is found in the possession of a bow and arrow, crossbow and bolt, a muzzle-loading firearm with live ammunition components to fit, or a rifle, revolver, or pistol larger than .22 caliber long rifle; or
- (b) Uses shotgun shells carrying shot larger than number 4 birdshot.
IV. Nothing contained in this section shall be construed to prohibit the use of lights for checking traps as permitted in RSA 210:13.”
The names of those arrested were withheld by authorities in the statement that was posted on Facebook. With more than 1,800 “likes,” 280 comments and 133 “shares” since Monday, it is an issue that members of the public cares about.
Most of the comments were calling for the hunters to be identified, and many felt that the fines and suspensions were not enough. Some were outraged, calling the hunters “poachers,” and many called for the laws to be harsher. Others thanked N.H. Fish and Game for their work in making the arrests.
One person posted, “Just curious why their names are not posted…seems as though they should be, I live in this area and would like to know who these people are personally.”
Another posted, “Didn’t learn the first time why would they a second time.”
There was no official press release sent to the newspaper, and nothing on the Fish and Game website. N.H. State Police Public Information Officer Tyler Dumont responded to an email, and while acknowledging it, he said all questions should be deferred to Fish and Game.
Multiple calls and emails were made to N.H. Fish and Game Law Enforcement, and the information requested was passed onto arresting officer Sgt. Kevin Bronson to return the call. As of Wednesday afternoon, a call had not been returned.
