CHAPTER 21
HB 211-FN - FINAL VERSION
20Feb2025... 0073h
2025 SESSION
25-0081
08/02
HOUSE BILL 211-FN
AN ACT relative to the use of air rifles for hunting game.
SPONSORS: Rep. Spillane, Rock. 2; Rep. Cole, Hills. 26; Rep. Darby, Hills. 11; Rep. Kofalt, Hills. 32; Rep. Popovici-Muller, Rock. 17; Rep. Roy, Rock. 31; Rep. McFarlane, Graf. 18; Sen. Pearl, Dist 17; Sen. Watters, Dist 4
COMMITTEE: Fish and Game and Marine Resources
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ANALYSIS
This bill:
I. Allows the taking of game in New Hampshire with air rifles.
II. Further defines "air rifle."
III. Requires the fish and game commission to make rules creating and administering a hunting tag program for air rifle hunting.
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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.
Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]
Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
20Feb2025... 0073h 25-0081
08/02
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty Five
AN ACT relative to the use of air rifles for hunting game.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
21:1 Lawful Methods of Taking. Amend RSA 207:3, I to read as follows:
I. Wildlife shall be taken in the daytime between 1/2 hour before sunrise and 1/2 hour after sunset with a gun, firearm, muzzleloader, or an air rifle which produces a quantity of foot-pounds of kinetic energy at the muzzle set by the executive director in rules adopted under RSA 541-A, fired at arm's length, bow and arrow or crossbow, or a rifle chambered in a straight-walled pistol cartridge of .357 caliber or greater in any area where hunting is restricted to handgun or pistol, unless otherwise specifically permitted. An air rifle may be used to take small game. [, but shall not be used to take] An air rifle may be used to take moose, bear, [turkey,] or deer, however, the foot-pounds of kinetic energy at the muzzle required for each type of animal shall be set by the executive director in rules adopted under RSA 541-A. The executive director shall specify the method and manner of taking small game, moose, bear, or deer with an air rifle in rules adopted pursuant to RSA 541-A.
21:2 Illegal Night Hunting; Air Rifles. Amend RSA 208:8, I(b) to read as follows:
(b) Knowingly uses an artificial light between 1/2 hour after sunset and 1/2 hour before sunrise to illuminate, locate, or attempt to locate wild birds or wild animals while possessing on the person or in a motor vehicle, OHRV, snowmobile, boat, aircraft, or other craft propelled by mechanical power, a bow and arrow, crossbow and bolt, rifle, pistol, revolver, shotgun, or muzzle-loading firearm with live ammunition to fit the weapon, whether loaded or unloaded, or an air rifle with ammunition which fits the rifle on the person.
21:3 Definitions; Air Rifle; Loaded. Amend RSA 207:1, I to read as follows:
I. Air rifle: A gun operated by compressed air or nonflammable gas cylinder by which a projectile of any size or kind can be discharged or propelled. For use in taking small game, such device shall be not less than .22 caliber and shall deliver not less than 12 foot-pounds of kinetic energy at the muzzle. An air rifle shall be considered loaded when a projectile is inserted in the chamber. "Air rifle" also means air gun and pneumatic rifle.
21:4 Unauthorized Use of Firearms; Air Rifles. Amend RSA 644:13 to read as follows:
644:13 Unauthorized Use of Firearms.
I. A person is guilty of a violation if, within the compact part of a town or city, such person fires or discharges any cannon, gun, pistol, air rifle or other firearm, except by written permission of the chief of police or governing body.
II. For the purposes of this section:
(a) "Blank ammunition" means a cartridge loaded with propellant and a wad, but no projectile.
(b) "Compact part" means the territory within a town or city comprised of the following:
(1) Any nonresidential, commercial building, including, but not limited to, industrial, educational, or medical buildings, plus a perimeter 300 feet wide around all such buildings without permission of the owner.
(2) Any park, playground, or other outdoor public gathering place designated by the legislative body of the city or town.
(3) Any contiguous area containing 6 or more buildings which are used as either part-time or permanent dwellings and the spaces between them where each such building is within 300 feet of at least one of the others, plus a perimeter 300 feet wide around all the buildings in such area.
III. Paragraph I shall not apply to the firing or discharge of a cannon, gun, pistol, air rifle, or other firearm within the compact part of a town or city for the following events, provided that the person responsible for organizing the event notifies the police department and the fire department prior to the following events using blank ammunition:
(a) The celebration of, or practice for the celebration of, military events, military funerals, national holidays, or other military or veterans commemorations, conducted by United States armed forces personnel; or
(b) Military re-enactors registered with the secretary of state's office and who meet the requirements of the state fire code pursuant to RSA 153:5; or
(c) Funerals or commemorative events conducted by law enforcement agencies, fire departments, emergency medical services, or other public safety agencies, or official veterans organizations including, but not limited to the American Legion or Veterans of Foreign Wars.
21:5 Issuance of License; License Agents; Tags for Air Rifle. Amend RSA 214-A:2, VI to read as follows:
VI. The executive director may adopt rules, pursuant to RSA 541-A, for the electronic issuance of licenses, permits, and tags under the provisions of this title, by an agent or by the department. Any such rules shall include procedures for verification of residency, the determination of sufficient proof of hunter education or other certification requirements, and any requirements of the licensee as to the use of the license, permit, or tag acquired electronically. The executive director may further adopt rules pursuant to RSA 541-A to create, issue, and sell a tag specifically for hunting with an air rifle.
21:6 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.
Approved: May 14, 2025
Effective Date: July 13, 2025
| Date | Amendment |
|---|---|
| Feb. 10, 2025 | 2025-0073h |
| Date | Body | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Feb. 5, 2025 | House | Hearing |
| Feb. 5, 2025 | House | Exec Session |
| Feb. 5, 2025 | House | Floor Vote |
| March 25, 2025 | Senate | Hearing |
| April 3, 2025 | Senate | Floor Vote |
May 21, 2025: Signed by Governor Ayotte 05/14/2025; Chapter 21; eff.07/13/2025
May 6, 2025: Enrolled Adopted, VV, (In recess 05/01/2025); SJ 12
May 6, 2025: Enrolled (in recess of) 05/01/2025 HJ 13
April 17, 2025: Ought to Pass: MA, VV; OT3rdg; 04/17/2025; SJ 10
March 25, 2025: Committee Report: Ought to Pass, 04/17/2025; Vote 5-0; CC; SC 17
March 20, 2025: Hearing: 03/25/2025, Room 103, SH, 09:20 am; SC 14
March 11, 2025: Introduced 03/06/2025 and Referred to Energy and Natural Resources; SJ 7
Feb. 20, 2025: Ought to Pass with Amendment 2025-0073h: MA VV 02/20/2025 HJ 6 P. 7
Feb. 20, 2025: Amendment # 2025-0073h: AA VV 02/20/2025 HJ 6 P. 7
Feb. 10, 2025: Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-0073h 02/05/2025 (Vote 15-0; CC) HC 12 P. 7
Feb. 10, 2025: Executive Session: 02/05/2025 11:00 am LOB 307
Jan. 22, 2025: Public Hearing: 02/05/2025 11:00 am LOB 307
Jan. 7, 2025: Introduced 01/08/2025 and referred to Fish and Game and Marine Resources HJ 2 P. 10