Bill Text: NH HB1575 | 2018 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Permitting hunting with an air rifle.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 7-0)
Status: (Passed) 2018-05-29 - Signed by Governor Sununu 05/25/2018; Chapter 77; Eff. 7/1/2018 [HB1575 Detail]
Download: New_Hampshire-2018-HB1575-Introduced.html
HB 1575 - AS INTRODUCED
2018 SESSION
18-2292
04/08
HOUSE BILL 1575
AN ACT permitting hunting with an air rifle.
SPONSORS: Rep. Spillane, Rock. 2; Rep. Howard, Belk. 8; Rep. Notter, Hills. 21; Rep. Itse, Rock. 10; Rep. J. Moore, Hills. 21; Sen. Reagan, Dist 17; Sen. Sanborn, Dist 9
COMMITTEE: Fish and Game and Marine Resources
-----------------------------------------------------------------
ANALYSIS
This bill permits the taking of game with an air rifle.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
18-2292
04/08
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Eighteen
AN ACT permitting hunting with an air rifle.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 General Provisions as to Fish and Game; Definitions. Amend RSA 207:1, I to read as follows:
I. Air rifle: A rifle with a minimum 16 inch barrel operated by compressed air or nonflammable gas cylinder by which a projectile of any size or kind can be discharged or propelled. For use in taking small game, such device shall deliver not less that 24 foot pounds of kinetic energy at the muzzle, and for use in taking all other game, such device shall deliver not less than 500 foot pounds of kinetic energy at the muzzle.
I-a. Angling: The taking of fish by line in hand, or rod in hand to which is attached a cast of artificial flies, or an artificial bait, or hooks or other devices for the attachment of bait. A person may have in use not more than 2 such lines at one time Nothing in this title shall prohibit the use of a rod-holder in a boat.
2 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 fired at arm's length, air rifle, or bow and arrow, unless otherwise specifically permitted.
3 Deer; Taking; Mode. Amend the introductory paragraph in RSA 208:3 to read as follows:
208:3 Taking; Mode. Wild deer shall not be taken by the use of a firearm, other than a pistol as permitted in RSA 208:3-d, a shotgun loaded with a single ball or loose buckshot, muzzle-loading rifle, bow and arrow, air rifle, or crossbow as provided in RSA 208:7-a, in the towns of the following counties as follows:
4 Deer; Illegal Night Hunting. Amend RSA 208:8, I(b) to read as follows:
(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, air rifle, or muzzle-loading firearm with live ammunition to fit the weapon, whether loaded or unloaded.
5 Fur-Bearing Animals; Raccoons. Amend RSA 210:2 to read as follows:
210:2 Raccoons. No person shall hunt raccoons at night by the use of a rifle, air rifle, revolver, or pistol larger than .22 caliber long rifle or by the use of shotgun shells carrying shot larger than number 4. Lights may be used to take or attempt to take raccoons, except by use of a light from a motor vehicle.
6 Traps, Spring Guns, and Snares; Visiting Traps. Amend RSA 210:13 to read as follows:
210:13 Visiting Traps. Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, a person shall visit his traps at least once in each calendar day, provided, however, that a person trapping for beaver through the ice during the open season therefor, shall visit his traps once in each 72 hours. Trappers shall be permitted to use artificial lights during the hours of darkness to facilitate the checking of traps under this section, subject to the following restrictions: no person shall check traps at night by the use of a rifle, air rifle, revolver, or pistol larger than a .22 caliber long rifle or by use of shotgun shells carrying shot larger than number 4 birdshot; and checking traps by the use of lights from a motor vehicle shall be prohibited. Only a person whose name is either stamped or engraved on the traps or on a durable tag securely affixed to the traps shall have the authority to tend the traps. In case of an emergency, the owner of the traps may grant written permission to another duly licensed trapper to tend the traps.
7 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.
