My father (from Europe) is an avid hunter and would like to visit me this fall. I would like to organize a small hunting trip for him in MA, NH, or VT but I am totally lost because of all the options. Does anybody have some advice on how to proceed? The thing is that he is really into smaller game (the equivalent of Whitetail deer), so no bears or moose.

Thanks in advance!

Your choice depends on alot of factors. When is your father coming?? What states seasons does it coincide with, as the states firearms seasons vary. Are you looking at weekends only? States like MA are closed sunday while VT is open. Don' t forget too that he' d need an FID card to hunt in MA. Do you want to hunt shotgun, rifle or bow?

Putting that aside, MA offers some good deer hunting, and the pressure is spread out statewide now. VT takes more #' s of deer, but mostly smaler bucks. It also has higher pressure. NH has some good deer with some real big ones in the upper CT river valley.

Thanks, that was quite helpful. Here is some more information:
- Timing: October/November, 2-6 days, not necessarily weekends
- Rifle (probably)

Does it make sense to go with an outfitter for Whitetail Deer hunting? Would somebody perhaps have a recommendation?

Thanks in advance!

Well...to hunt Rifle you must hunt in VT, ME or northern NH. MA is shotgun only. Those states deer firearms seasons begin sometime in November (check the webpages) For a guided trip, I would look at Maine, as from what I understand, VT and NH have few guides for deer.

FRBC...jf gave some sound advice...Are you a hunter? Do you hunt deer in New England? I have hunted in both Maine and NH for many (yes, many) years...You can check the F&G web-site of these states for data on hunting dates, type of seasons etc. NH site is www.wildlife.state.nh.us/ Good luck and please let me know if I can be of any more help...

don' t hunt in MA. unless you like people all over the place in the woods.

look at N.H.

Quilly,

Are you still seeing that many people in MA woods??? In the past 3 seasons I have only seen 1 other hunter other than my friend. This is on public land. With hunter numbers down, and pressure spread out statewide, I am finding MA a good place to hunt!!

jf5...

i don' t spend that much time in the field anymore in MA. i spend my $$ and time scouting in maine. but when i hutn it is in zone 11 stoughton bridgwater. if i went out western part of MA. it would be a differant story..

If you only have a small window of opportunity for him to hunt it most certainly makes sense to look into an outfitter and guided hunt. It' ll cost but you' ll have a better chance of coming away with a great memory and possibly more.

If you need a place to hunt and want to be in an area that is not over run with hunters, Maine rifle season offers awesome grouse hunting as well as secluded hunting area with little to no human pressure in Northern areas. Central Maine has
large populations of deer, but you have to deal with a hunter or two in the areas you may be hunting. If you need a good Guide, send me an email and I will set you up with a phone number!!