1. (a) As part of the fish and game department’s responsibility to recognize, preserve, and promote the state’s hunting heritage, the purpose of this section is to allow the continuance of a long-held tradition of hunting hares and rabbits with trained beagles by fostering responsible dog training and breeding and promoting interest in the hunting of snowshoe hares. The purpose of this section is to allow the limited take of snowshoe hares in a manner that will not have an adverse effect on the population of snowshoe hares. This section regulates the taking of live snowshoe hares from the wild within New Hampshire and allows a limited number of hares to be held in captivity for propagation and training purposes.
2. (b) The applicant for a permit to live-capture snowshoe hare shall complete and submit the “Permit to Live-Capture Snowshoe Hare” form, Rev 04/2026, available on the department’s website at https://www.wildlife.nh.gov/licenses-and-permits/license-forms.

3. (c) The live-capture of snowshoe hares shall only be conducted by licensed trappers who have been designated by the club to live-capture hares on the club’s behalf, and be subject to the following conditions:

   1. (1) The live-capture of snowshoe hares shall only be done during the open season for taking hares as specified in Fis 301.10(a)(1);
   2. (2) Live-capture shall be conducted only on private land with written landowner permission;
   3. (3) Live-capture shall be done only by box-trap;
   4. (4) Traps shall be securely labeled with the name and contact information of the permittee;
   5. (5) Traps shall be equipped with a weatherproof top;
   6. (6) Each active trap shall be baited with enough apple, rabbit feed, or alfalfa to provide for the nourishment of a captured snowshoe hare for at least 24 hours;
   7. (7) Traps shall be checked at least once in every calendar day;
   8. (8) No more than 20 snowshoe hares per season may be live-captured by each qualifying beagle club with no more than 10 snowshoe hares live-captured per season from the combined area of wildlife management units H1, H2, I1, I2, J2, K, L, and M;
   9. (9) No live capture of snowshoe hare shall be conducted in those areas closed to the taking of cottontail rabbits as specified in Fis 301.10(c);
   10. (10) Snowshoe hares that die during live-capture efforts shall count as part of the 20 snowshoe hares allowed per year per club;
   11. (11) Snowshoe hares not kept for training or propagation purposes shall be immediately released at the site of capture; and
   12. (12) No more than 10 licensed trappers shall be designated per beagle club to live-capture snowshoe hare on that club’s behalf during the term of the permit.
4. (d) No fees shall be charged to any beagle club by persons engaged in snowshoe live-capture. This shall not preclude reimbursement of expenses associated with the live-capture and care of snowshoe hares by club members on behalf of their respective clubs.
5. (e) Live-captured snowshoe hares shall remain on the capturing club’s property and not be transferred elsewhere.
6. (f) Progeny of live-captured snowshoe hares may be transferred or exchanged with another permitted beagle club provided that no money shall be charged by either club to the other for the value of the animal.

7. (g) A permittee holding a snowshoe hare in captivity for propagation purposes shall:

   1. (1) Hold the animal in accordance with the possession requirements of Fis 804;
   2. (2) At least once each calendar year contact the law enforcement division to request a visit from a conservation officer in order to select and remove one or more animals for inspection by a veterinarian; and
   3. (3) Provide an annual written report of a veterinarian to the department summarizing the inspections specified in (2) above.
8. (h) The conservation officer shall transport the selected animal(s) to the veterinarian to be examined for disease, general health, and condition, with the cost of the inspection to be borne by the permittee.
9. (i) Snowshoe hares that escape from established pens on club property may be recaptured during the open season for taking snowshoe hare within 50 yards of their established pens and shall not count towards the season limit.
10. (j) Any snowshoe hares live-captured and held for release shall be released on club property within 2 days of capture.
11. (k) Each club shall report annual snowshoe hare capture activities by completing and submitting the “Snowshoe Hare Live-capture Summary Report” form, Rev 04/2026, available on the department’s website at https://www.wildlife.nh.gov/licenses-and-permits/license-forms.
12. (l) Annual summary reports shall be submitted to the department by April 15th. No permits to live-capture in subsequent years shall be issued to a club until the annual report from the last year a permit was held is received.

Source. #8792, eff 1-9-07; ss by #10619, eff 6-2-14; ss by #10868, INTERIM, eff 6-25-15, EXPIRED: 12-22-15 New. #11029, eff 1-26-16; ss by #12591, eff 7-25-18; ss by #14558, eff 4-21-26, EXPIRES: 4-21-36