A friend and I would like to try our hand at hunting. We're new to this, but we've taken a hunter ed course and would like to start by hunting small game, primarily gray squirrels and if possible rabbits.
I live near Bedford and am looking for some recommendations on some places to hunt squirrels and also rabbits/hares. My friend and I were planning to go a little west in New Boston/Weare, or even farther west and try some wooded areas to hunt for gray squirrels.
However, do you have any recommendations on places to hunt within an hour or two drive from Manchester?
Also, I read in the 2009 NH Hunting Digest and also on the NH Fish & Game website that there are areas in the state which are closed off to cottontail hunting in order to protect the native New England cottontail rabbits. Do you have any recommendations for places in southern NH where we could hunt cottontails or snow shoe hares? Is the rabbit hunting in Southern NH OK? Are there any rabbits in this part of the state?
Someone once told me that there aren't many rabbits in Southern NH and that I would need to go up north (north of plymouth) to have a good rabbit hunt. Also, would we need a hunting dog/beagle to hunt rabbits? I have a dog, but I doubt she'd qualify as a hunting dog (more of a family dog - not too smart, but very affectionate).
I have not seen too many people hunting what you speak of,but there are plenty of squirrels around here.As you can see buy my avatar,I don't live too far from you.
There are plenty of coyotes around,and they can be hunted year round with no bag limit.Coyotes are fun to hunt and can be a challenge,a lot more than squirrels.They can be hunted all over the state,and a lot of farm owners would be more than happy to have you on there land hunting them.
Good luck to you,and welcome to Gun and Game.
Jason
Thanks for the reply Jason. My friend and I have scouted out some places in the region for squirrels. We're going to pattern our shotguns and hopefully get some hunting done soon.
