Why It Matters: Though hunting, fishing, and harvesting wildlife (including by trapping) have long been an American tradition, dating back to before the first Europeans arrived in North America, only in recent decades has the “right” to hunt, fish, and harvest wildlife come into question. To establish in perpetuity what has been assumed for centuries, twenty-four states have now amended their constitutions to give their citizens a right to hunt, fish, and harvest wildlife and to continue a consumptive, yet responsible, use of natural resources. New Hampshire now has such an opportunity and looks to become the 25th state to codify this right, and the first significant step was just taken towards that effort.
Highlights
- New Hampshire CACR 15, Right to Hunt and Harvest Game and Fish, had its first hearing on February 3, 2026, in Representatives Hall at the New Hampshire State House.
- CACR 15 was brought forward and sponsored by New Hampshire Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus Co-Chair Rep. James Spillane, working alongside CSF.
- CACR 15 only amends the New Hampshire State Constitution to guarantee Granite Staters the right to hunt, fish, and harvest wildlife by traditional means; nothing else changes.
- Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) Senior Manager, Eastern States, Fred Bird testified at the hearing in full support of the proposed amendment.
For generations, New Hampshire families have passed down the traditions of hunting and fishing. This year, we have a rare opportunity to protect those traditions for our children and grandchildren by enshrining the right to hunt, fish, and harvest wildlife in the New Hampshire State Constitution.
Heading into the New Hampshire House Fish and Game and Marine Resources Committee hearing on February 3, expectations were mixed as to what the potential public turnout would be for a Tuesday afternoon. The expected crowd of opposition was in attendance, but no more than the same personalities who typically find themselves at such events, armed with the same decades-old talking points. To that end, the crowd did not skew heavily to those who are opposed to the measure.
Conversely, while there was also not a great show of force from regular citizens attending in person from the support camp, our community in-state and national partners did show up in force on behalf of their members and CSF stood up on behalf of all of New Hampshire’s sporting community. The testimony provided was articulate and armed with facts backed by science as well as the support of the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department.
The days leading up to the hearing saw a groundswell of support by way of the ongoing CSF Action Alert campaign, the online Committee support/opposed portal, and a host of outdoor personalities taking to their personal social channels to show support for CACR 15, many of whom call New Hampshire home. Over the weekend and up until the bill was heard at 12:45 p.m., comments sent to the committee supported the measure by nearly a 5:1 margin.
While this first hearing appears to have been a successful first step in the legislative process, citizens still need to keep the pressure on and continue to submit testimony to the Committee as well as all House members. Should CACR 15 advance out of committee with an Ought To Pass, it will head to the full house for a vote, where a 60%” Yea” vote will be required to advance.
CACR 15 respects and works in concert with property rights, landowners, and Fish and Game laws, and has nothing but an upside for conservation, habitat, wildlife management, and the protection of our deep-rooted sporting culture and traditions in the Granite State.
CSF looks forward to the continued work with the New Hampshire Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus, other members of the General Court, in-state and national partners, neighbors, and the over 232,000 license holders of New Hampshire to get CACR 15 to the ballot in November.
New Hampshire citizens are encouraged to take action by emailing the elected officials assigned to the House Fish and Game and Marine Resources Committee by submitting your support for CACR 15 here.
