Wildlife Habitat Fee

The check-off's proceeds are dedicated solely to funding wildlife habitat management and protection.

$2.50 per year.

Once a year, when you purchase your first hunting license. If you buy a bowhunting license first, you'd pay the $2.50 then; if you buy a general hunting license later that year, you won't pay it again.

No. Among those exempt from paying the habitat fee every year are those with lifetime licenses or those with special licenses, such as paraplegics and disabled veterans. However, future lifetime license buyers will have to pay the $2.50 fee when the license is purchased.

For the first year (1999), it was a stamp, a bull moose in his North Country terrain painted by Department artist Victor E. Young. Since 2000, the habitat fee has been a check-off on the license.

Yes, the Department has several good technical assistance programs that provide habitat management recommendations on both public and private lands. But funding for actual on- the-ground work has been very limited. The dedicated habitat account will allow us to fund recommended projects, in partnership with landowners.

For two reasons: first, because the natural and human challenges facing New Hampshire's wildlife habitats are serious and require reasonable, effective and responsible action. It is part of the mission of the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department to manage, protect and restore this state's habitats.

Second, because the public -- hunters and nonhunters alike -- understands these complex issues and demands sound action to protect New Hampshire's wildlife habitats. In 1996, this Department heard from hundreds of people on all aspects of its operations as part of a strategic planning process. One message heard loud and clear consistently around the state was: "Pay more attention to habitat."

The continued health of our wildlife populations depends on the availability of high-quality habitats. All across the state, wild lands that provide habitat are being lost to residential and commercial development. Large forested blocks are being fragmented by subdivisions and converted to other use.

Natural changes are also affecting habitat. Our forests continue to mature, and in some parts of the state, young forests and early successional habitats have declined significantly. Open grassland habitats have also declined dramatically, along with populations of wildlife that depend on them -- both game and nongame. Among the species that need these habitats are ruffed grouse, woodcock, wild turkey, deer, rabbits and a variety of songbirds.

In addition to helping sustain good game covers, such as early succession upland habitats, hunters will benefit from maintaining, and in some cases improving, hunter access to lands upon which these funds are spent.

The work will take two tracks: first, managing habitats on private and public lands; and second, protecting significant habitats via the purchase of land or conservation easements (development rights). One possible scenario of management projects funded from the dedicated account would be to:

• mow 400 acres of grassland habitat;
• restore 100 acres of early successional habitat;
• release 400 wild apple trees and plant another 400 fruiting trees to establish "wild orchards" for wildlife.
   

Habitat protection through the purchase of land or easements quickly gets very expensive. Income to the dedicated habitat account will only allow for a modest level of land acquisition, which will be employed only when significant benefits to wildlife and the hunting public will be realized. To maximize the account's effectiveness in habitat protection, funds may be allowed to accumulate for several years.

To enhance the volume for land protection efforts, the Department will draw on the benefits of partnering with other organizations, such as local land trusts, the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests, Audubon Society of New Hampshire, The Nature Conservancy and others.

Whether you hunt or not, you can help, particularly by helping us make connections. Department staff will be identifying areas around the state that need attention, either by management strategies or protection. If you know of some important areas, contact our regional biologists, conservation officers or the Wildlife Division in Concord.