​2022 Dream Hunt Article
By Mark Edwards

                             The 2022 New Hampshire Wildlife Federation’s “Dream Hunt” is officially in the books with another super challenging but successful hunt. 
As many of you know, this program has been running since 2007 and each year we are allowed to take up to two candidates 21 years old or younger on a dream hunt for any animal (or fishing) that we are allowed to hunt in NH. 
Every year they have chosen MOOSE and this year was no different. Although I did spend a great deal of time explaining how tough the hunt would be on a candidate with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy and in a wheelchair (or in this case a “action track wheelchair”), they were not deterred.  
Not only did I review how taxing on the body this hunt was going to be - going over all the bumps in the roads and trails but also temperatures and the over all conditions in October. But both son and dad said this is what they wanted. Next, LOL, I went into the actual chance of us getting a moose in an area that we could set up in, get the firearm on target, and get a clean and ethical harvest - they were still all for it! 
So the first step was to get to the range and make sure the candidate could safely shoot a firearm with the accuracy enough to take down a 700- 1,200 pound animal. Day one was not a success - other than the family meeting some of the other members of our team, Buck and Jean. Jean is a firearms instructor and heads our safety program and would work with Cam throughout the hunt so it was important that connection be made. A couple things needed addressing. Number one: we needed an adapter for the scope because Cam was not able to get close enough to see as well as he should in order to acquire the target in a timely fashion. Number two: (and a bigger challenge) the shooting sticks just wouldn’t allow the chair to get the firearm in position (we had two different sets, Primos and Bog Deathgrip). No shots were even taken. We all went home and started investigating other options and even speaking with fabricators who may be able to assist us. 
About a week later we identified the BOG tree pod that had a flat plate that we felt we could attach to the bottom foot rest of the action track chair. We also identified the needed scope adapter so we set up a new date to go to the range. This time, however, I enlisted a gentleman I have known for some years who also is in a wheelchair but is an avid hunter and has harvested numerous moose. Our hopes were that Matt may be able to share some insight with Cam to ease his mind. This time at the range we had shooting success and, with everyone’s help, felt we were on the right track but would like one more range day (Sept 23rd). September 23rd came and the day was a success and the team even timed how long it would take to mount the firearm and acquire the target (1 minute 40 seconds). 
I had one last follow up conversation with David (Cam's dad) and voiced a couple concerns. First was the fact that it is going to be cold and very taxing on the young man. Second, the likelihood of us getting a moose to sit still for two plus minutes would be like the Red Sox winning another championship (sorry - another tough year for you Sox fans) but I guaranteed him we would make great memories and give it our all. David felt very comfortable with what we have already done and committed to being ready themselves. 
Friday September 30th arrived and we were to meet at LL Cotes in Errol then head to the camps of Northern NH Guide Services on Akers Pond and get them checked in. Once unpacked, we met up with Keith Roberge, the guide for our dream hunt program, and explained to Cam we wanted to conduct a couple dry runs which we did and everyone felt comfortable. 
Buck and Craig Mercier hosted a dinner of fried NH clams that were out of this world. Seems that they are a part of a group that call themselves the “Seacoast Mother Shuckers” and go clamming or oystering regularly. At dinner it was decided we would take the tracked chair up into a cut that Keith had seen six moose in a couple days ago the next morning. We all called it a night and planned to be up by 4:30 and  head out. 
Saturday morning, we arrived and unpacked the track chair. Jean set up the shooting rest and up we started. The road was dirt for about a quarter mile with some water bars that Cam needed to navigate then it got much tougher with slash and limbs throughout the trail. I thought to myself "way to break the kid in with a nice little warm up hunt". Heck no let’s take him on a death march but finally we were where Keith wanted to call. Side note this action track wheelchair is absolutely amazing on where it will go and how quiet it is and actually Cam said he has a snow plow set up for it that he uses. So we got Cam and his sub permittee set into position and Keith started calling but no response. We decided to try a little further up but again no luck so we decided to head back. Not 300 yards from after heading back down both of the action track wheelchair batteries go empty and we had no power. Luckily we had cell service and the call goes out to the cavalry and they arrived with tow straps. This chair has the option to put the two motors into neutral so we did and everyone pitched in pulling and pushing to get him back. We arrived at camp, plugged the chair in, had some lunch, and made a plan for the evening. 
Saturday afternoon we decided to head to a grown up cut that we had harvested the last two years moose out of. We had scouted it Friday and it still had a lot of sign ( I had sat and heard two different bulls.) We got up onto the cut and Keith started calling and it was just about sundown and the sound of grunting could be heard at the top of the cut. It took about ten minutes for him to make his way down but then we could hear a hot cow bellowing and I thought the hunt was over. Why leave a sure thing to come to our calling was my thought, but Keith got aggressive with his cow calling and the bull actually left his cow to come see what this one looked like. He appeared about 25 yards away so that David could see him clear as day but Cam being in a seat and slightly to the right couldn’t see him. Then it finally got too dark and that ended a great first day . 
Sunday came with another early trip where again moose had been seen regularly. It was another long hike and ride for Cam. We finally got to where they had been seeing the bulls and Keith noticed a bull go across the power lines. Quickly they were set up and Keith called. Within seconds the bull appeared and started walking down the trail directly head on towards the hunter then stopped at about 170 yards. It was a stand off but no one felt comfortable with the shot at that distance head on. The hopes were that he would come closer but after three or four minutes the wind shifted and off he trotted. At least we were seeing a lot of bulls. We were about 300 yards from where the trucks could meet us and guess what? Dead battery. Don’t get me wrong - it’s not like this chair eats batteries, it’s the fact that the days of seeing moose basically every turn are long gone, you have to work to get to areas they are in. At lunch, during our down time, I decide to drive to my camp and get my Honda generator just in case we run empty again. The great thing about this chair is you can hook a generator to it and it runs right away vs having to charge. While I was out, Leo, Keith’s dad, was kind enough to take Cam and his dad for a couple hour tour in his 6 person side by side. 
On Sunday night Keith announces to Cam we are going up to the place we went day one - there was just too much sign for us not to. Cam quickly looks at dad and says "HELL NO that beat my body to death" and there was no way he was going back up there. I told him that the boys had gone up and smoothed the water bars out so it would be nowhere near as aggressive and that we were only going to the first landing. He looked at me with a very skeptical look but I didn’t flinch and really tried to sell it…. He agreed and said ok. 
We got up there a bit early and there were about five possible skidder trails that one might come down. We looked at which way the wind was blowing so that reduced a couple. We set up on a spot where we thought Cam would be able to get a shot. Once set up Keith put on his "sexy voice" and started moaning. It wasn’t five minutes and I thought I heard a grunt. I looked at David and said was that a grunt. He said no it was his stomach he missed grabbing something for lunch and was starving, I laughed. Not two minutes later Keith said get ready and definite grunts could be heard from two different directions. Yes there were two bulls - one down wind and one sounding like it would come right down the trail Cam’s chair was pointing. The next thing that was heard was a large crrrrrack of a moose breaking branches as he walked. Hearts started racing and I looked at Cam I thought "how can he be so calm?" Then the bull appeared at about 70 yards and he stopped on a mound not presenting the best of shots but a shot. Cam chose to wait. Keith made one more call and the bull took his two final steps. That’s right! BOOM went Cam's gun and the bull was falling where he never got up again. Cam's shot was a perfect 10 ring shot taking out both lungs and making for a quick and ethical harvest. 
Once the moose was down, we cheered and hugged and thanked God for such a great life, memories and friendships that we were able to make over the past six month during this year's Dream Hunt. 
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NHWF 2022 Launches Fishing Class
Seacoast Charter School
Dover, NH 
                 

  

 2020 Goffstown Fish and Game Association Events

“I Froze My Butt Off” Shoot: January 19th 2020  

• $20 fee and sign up on the day of the shoot.
• It will be a military theme.  It would be great if you could wear uniforms, or as much as you have.  There will be a prize for best uniform.  Now for the shoot.....There will be two categories of shooters. In all cases, iron sights only. You may shoot the course as often as time allows. Rifles require 20 rounds but bring at least 50. Handguns require 50 rounds bring LOTS.

·All center fire.

• Category 1: Handguns and Rifles used by the military, any country, before 1960. This excludes AR platforms.

·         You will be firing from positions you have never shot.  But they are positions our soldiers surely used.  Handgun                             magazines are limited to 16 rounds and you need at least 25 maybe 40 for each relay. No time to reload during the relay.             Bring plenty of handgun mags.  If your rifle has magazines, bring as many as you have. Capacity limited to 8 rounds
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Archery League: April 5th, 2020 

• Initial kick off meeting for sign up and daft pick of teams to be announced.
• $60 fee includes all 8 weeks of the archery league and barbeque at the end in June.

 
 
 “Women on Target”: May 17th, 2020 

• Limited seating available.
• NRA certified instructors.
• Contact GF&GA for more information.

2019 Game Picture Contest

​GAME PICTURE CONTEST
The 2019 Game Picture Contest launches August 1, 2019.   The contest will be open to everyone including our current New Hampshire Wildlife Federation (“NHWF”) members with monthly winners receiving a free year’s membership to the NHWF.  Given the popularity of game cameras we know there will be some great pictures and it will be fun to share with fellow members.   Winning pictures will be posted on our website and one of the deciding factors for the winning picture will be the number of likes a picture receives on our Facebook page.
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The NHWF Game Picture Contest (“Game Picture”) open to everyone including our current New Hampshire Wildlife Federation. To submit a picture please e mail admin@nhwf.org.  All winner shall be selected at the end of each month with winning picture being posted on our website.   
 
Rules Regulation
ELIGIBILITY
By submitting an entry to the Game Picture, entrants certify that their participation in this Game Picture is not illegal or in violation of any law, regulation, treaty or administrative act, and that the laws of their governing jurisdiction of residence at the time of entry do not prohibit or restrict the receipt of any Prize under this Gaming Picture Contest.
 
The NHWF reserves the right to reject any entry, it is in The NHWF’s sole discretion, the laws of an applicable jurisdiction, including but not limited to the entrant’s jurisdiction of residence at the time of entry, would prohibit or limit NHWF from proceeding with the Contest as intended or the consideration or awarding of any Prize would impose additional administrative, tax, operational, or legal burdens on NHWF.
ENTRY PERIOD
The Game Picture Contest begins at 12:00am on August 1, 2019, and ends at 11:59pm on December 31, 2019, Eastern Daylight Time (the “Entry Period”). Entries submitted before or after the Entry Period will not be eligible.

NHWF 37th Annual Conservation Banquet April 13th 2019 Doors Open at 4pm with dinner beginning at 5:30pm