What is the special hunt on the national refuge at Great Bay?
The Great Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve in Newington holds a special hunt on the first weekend of the regular firearms season. The hunt serves the dual purposes of supporting the state’s effort to control the deer population in Unit M and providing recreational opportunities on the 1,100-acre refuge. A total of 40 hunters (20 each day) are selected through a free lottery for one-day hunting permits. Interested hunters can pick up a lottery application at the Reserve’s information kiosk on Merrimack Drive (accessible via Pease Tradeport) or call Refuge Manager Jim Reynolds at (603) 431-7511 after September 1. The deadline to apply for the fall hunt is in early October. In 2004, 280 hunters applied for 40 slots.
