Legislation
Voices of Wildlife has introduced or been a key supporter of the following legislative initiatives. While not working on these bills, it has worked on many other legislative efforts to protect wild animals in NH. VOW also supports candidates who work to support efforts to improve the humane protection of wildlife. Check out this webpage to learn who is good for wildlife and who isn’t.
- NH Senate Bill 346 – Prohibit the use of dogs to hunt coyotes (2024)
- NH House Bill 1326 – Prohibit the use of second generation anticoagulant rodenticides (2022)
- NH House Bill 1308 – End the capture of snowshoe hares for hunting dog training (2021)
- NH House Bill 442 – Prohibit hunting coyote during certain months to coincide with coyote pup rearing (2019)
Rulemaking
According to New Hampshire’s Administrative Procedures Act (Chapter 541-A), any interested person may petition an agency to adopt, amend, or repeal a rule.
Voices of Wildlife has exercised this ability on many occasions by petitioning the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department to modify their hunting rules to better protect wildlife:
Coyotes
2023 – Rulemaking petition to prohibit coyote hounding | Response to petition
2019 – Rulemaking petition to require reporting by hunters of coyotes
2017 – Rulemaking petition to shorten coyote hunting season | While this petition was denied, in the subsequent rulemaking period wildlife biologists also proposed a shortened coyote season, citing the petition as part of their basis. The proposal was voted down by the Commission.
Snowshoe hares
2020 – Rulemaking petition to Repeal Fis 806.05 snowshoe hare live-capture requirements | New Hampshire Fish and Game did not repeal Fis 806.05, as requested, but instead amended the rule to require an annual health check for the hares.
