NH Moose Season Results for 2022

October 26, 2022

The 2022 moose hunting season ran from October 15-23 and the overall statewide moose hunting success rate was 62% (26 of 42 permits filled, see Table 1 for success by WMU). The average success rate over the last five years was 72% and the primary difference between 2022 and previous years is that no moose were taken in wildlife management units D1, D2, and F.

Composition of the harvest was 22 bulls (1.5 yrs and older) and 4 cows (1.5 yrs and older). With a statewide moose population estimated at 3,000-3,300 moose, this represents a conservative harvest.  Several large bulls were taken including one bull taken in WMU B that had a 65 inch spread (statewide record is 68.5”) and weighed 850 lbs dressed; also blind in one eye.

Winter tick infestation level based on counts on harvested moose were available for northern New Hampshire (Route 2 north) as this is where the majority of moose were taken; low sample sizes in other parts of the state precludes annual interpretation. Winter tick infestations on moose at this time are moderate and much will depend on how long the questing season turns out to be (questing season = Sept. 1 until snow on the ground for 3+ days). There is substantial variation in tick load by individual and the proportion of moose with >37 ticks (in portion of hide sampled) at harvest is a useful metric that seems to indicate years with high tick impact. Preliminary interpretation suggest that if the questing season is not unusually long (no snow and warm into late November) then this may be an overall moderate, rather than high, winter tick impact year.  Areas with moderate to high localized moose density are likely to see high winter tick impact.

Thank you to all staff that assisted with the hunt. Please see our 2022 Moose Hunt press release for a motivating story about ethical NH hunters.

Henry Jones
Moose Project Leader / Wildlife Biologist
New Hampshire Fish & Game Department
P.O. Box 417, New Hampton, NH  03256
Office: (603) 744-5470 

Table 1. Permit issuance and harvest results for the 2022 New Hampshire moose hunting season by wildlife management unit (WMU).

Table 2. Winter tick counts (all four count areas) on harvested moose in October from WMU A1, A2, B, C1, C2, and D1. Years with high winter tick impact the following winter and spring are noted with an ** for years based on data from marked moose and * for years based on anecdotal information.