I was in a discussion about deer hunting and food plots with my friend who is from New Hampshire and he stated that food plots (for deer ) in New Hampshire is considered baiting deer which is illegal, in addition no feeders are allowed either, you can not put any food of any kind out while hunting. He also stated you are allowed 1 deer for archery, 1 for muzzleloader, and 1 for rifle season. I do not know what there bag limits are. I recently looked at New Hampshire’s hunting laws, the State is divided into WMU’s ( Wildlife Management Units) , and each unit there are different dates at which they start and stop. The longest rifle season lasts only 3 weeks to harvest your deer. They are divided into 2 catagories, any deer or antlered only. Rifle season started this past season on Nov 12,2008 ending on Dec 7,2008 varying thru the different WMU’s. The information that I listed is from the N.H Fish and Game Dept. Archery you can hunt from Sept. 15 thru Dec 15 in units B-M, and unit A from Sept 15 thru Dec 8. Muzzleloader season is from Nov 1 thru Nov 11 with restrictions on does during that time frame. Are there any other states that restrict hunters from planting food plots specificly for deer herds and or even the use of feeders? If anybody has more information or to add to this subject I would like to hear more about this. I could not verify this about food plots or feeders, I’ll have to take his word for it, in which the information that he passed on to me come from his friend in N.H. who has been hunting there for 20 yrs plus.

I have read a lot of information on supplimental feeding in states.  In Texas, we can use feeders or food plots as needed.  In some states you can use feeders but not during hunting season.  Other states allow food plots but not feeders. The best advise I would have would be to contact the state game and fish agency directly, as they would be the only ones I would trust with the real information. 

The reason this varies so widely is the perception of what is baiting by each state, and for that matter hunters within that state.  It is very difficult to judge hunting or what is required to harvest animals within states if you have never hunted in them.  For example, I have hunted in South Dakota, Oklahoma, Texas, Colorado and promise that the use of food plots or feeders in each of these states would be very different and the laws very widely.  I have never hunted in NH but I am sure the agriculture of the region, size of the property hunted, season dates, etc.  are very different then Texas hunting. My opinion, if you feel it is ethical hunting, you are helping the deer herd, and you are following the local laws, then do what you feel is best and enjoy the outdoors.

I agree with TXHunter. As hunters, if we set our own code of conduct/ethics within the rules/regulations of the state or county, we can only better our heard. Aside from the realm of age-old question of baiting deer and what is considered as such, I tend to lean towards using all that I can (legally) to harvest a mature buck. That being said, if it is legal to hunt over a food plot, I would consider this not as bait, but as a food source. Wouldn’t it be the same as hunting over a scarce water hole?  Deer can use a foodplot or water source at any part of the day or night. It’s not a timed feeding as say a feeder. But on the opposite side of that, I would rather use a foodplot as a safe haven for those deer. I would work the funnels and draws to the plots.

I have just returned from the website for the State of New Hampshire, and a phone call to a New Hampshire Game Warden not far from my home. There is no legislative action in the State of New Hampshire regarding “food plots”. My interest was immediate because our organization is campaigning to show hunters and landowners how to increase food-plot production (including nut trees, apple trees and berry bushes) as a matter of “year-round” wildlife habitat improvement impacting ALL species of wildlife. “Deer specific” food attractants and temporary food sources are “baiting”: the laws for a region are to be adhered to no matter what occurs in another state.  But the cultivation of “wildlife” specific food sources, plots, and crops, are not considered “baiting” as are mechanical feeding devices popular in other regions.  Keep this in mind...if you plant 100 square feet of sweet corn in the middle of a forest, then set your stand overlooking that spot, you are probably walking a thin-line toward “baiting for the purpose of taking game”.  If you plant and/or release apple trees, and cultivate food sources of benefit to all wildlife (including deer) throughout the year, this is called “habitat improvement”.  As a point for consideration, go beyond the idea of planting food-plots to “attract” animals for harvest.  Improve wildlife habitat for all species, and hunt with an eye toward ‘carrying-capacity’ and harvest-committment balancing a resident population ratio against food sources. Then structure your harvest plan to allow for increased age/development of harvested animals. The “point”: don’t do it for the chance to shoot a bigger buck...do it because the science of habitat management and wildlife management “allows” the game you hunt to grow to their potential and live within a habitat of abundance. Food-plot plans are not short-term. Enter into a long-term “way of life” with friends and neighbors so that habitat conservation becomes a part of the future. In some states (New England included) there is a huge difference between 3 acres of alfalfa/clover, and a bag of C’mere Deer! Our primary “ethic” is to hunt (and act) according to the regulations impacting the areas we hunt. Giving back to habitat is very high on everyone’s list right now, so please take advantage of it.

William,
That is some very nice information. It really paints a picture of bettering your herd along with the wildlife that inhabit the area. It really discripts the segregation between habitat improvement and purposeful baiting. By increasing your means of ways to add nutrition to the game/non game species is definitely a great way to give back to the habitat.
On a side note: I personally feed year round with corn from feeders, protein blocks, and alfalfa. This year, I will be implementing, by what you have described, foodplots of different caliburs (i.e. oats, clover etc.) to my small acre hunting ground. The game is already there but this is a great way to add nutrition to their diet as well as to feed non game species that tends to be overlooked. There is such importance to habitat improvement with the increase of land development that without it, it can be a major scale tipper with our ecosystem. It’s great that many of people are doing this...every little bit helps if done correctly.