Past Grant Projects
Hosted by NH Fish and Game, 20 states and 4 foreign countries participated in this conference to discuss the declining moose population in the US and Canada, and plan for research to preserve this majestic animal.
AERIAL FISH STOCKING OF REMOTE PONDS
Aerial fish stocking allows for fishing in some of NH’s most isolated wilderness. A Foundation grant and funds from the NH Chapters of Trout Unlimited supported this program in 2011, 2012 and again in 2014.
BARRY CONSERVATION CAMP
Barry Conservation Camp is a highly acclaimed youth conservation camp located within the White Mountain National Forest in Berlin, NH. A Foundation grant and a public Barry Camp Challenge in 2011 provided major renovations to repair and upgrade the land and buildings. On-going donations have established an endowment fund for renovations and maintenance of this popular summer camp. Read More
BERLIN FISH HATCHERY ANTI-PREDATION
FRAMES & NETTING
Predatory birds cause a 30% loss of fish stock at this hatchery, increasing the cost of fish stock as well as phosphorus runoff damaging the ecosystem of nearby ponds and rivers. This 2013 grant is providing frames and netting to protect the hatchery bins to increase production and lower costs.
BLACK BEAR CAPTURE EQUIPMENT
To safely and efficiently remove bears from trees in varied bear/human situations, this 2014 grant will provide tarps, ropes and carabiners to be used with chemical immobilization, to provide a humane and protective method to remove bears in populated areas where culvert traps are inappropriate.
B.O.W. (Becoming An Outdoors Woman)
General operating support was given in 2009 for this program. The program hosts over 200 women of all ages at a weekend with workshops to explore and learn outdoor skills that range from fishing, shooting, kayaking, wilderness survival, camping and hiking. BOW also hosts one-day classes in the winter, spring and summer. Click here to Visit Becoming An Outdoors Woman
B.O.W. (Becoming An Outdoors Woman) Scholarships
Two scholarships have been provided for the Fall 2015 B.O.W. Weekend Workshop and again for the Fall 2016 Workshop, to allow women to explore new and exciting outdoor pursuits. The 3-day workshop comprises 1/3 shooting and hunting skills, 1/3 fishing skills, and 1/3 non-consumptive skills (camping, map & compass reading, and survival skills. Click here to Visit Becoming An Outdoors Woman
CANINE UNIT
Funding in 2010 provided for the purchase of SIG, one of the program’s American Black Labrador Retrievers and the training of SIG and his officer/trainer handler. SIG has since been joined by RUBY and RUGER. The dogs and their Conservation Officer handlers take part in numerous searches each year, locating lost persons, finding evidence containing human scent and gun power. They also assist other law enforcement agencies tracking criminal suspects ranging from homicides to the illegal taking of wildlife. The Foundation maintains a restricted fund for donations received specifically for the canine unit’s ongoing and future equipment and training needs. Read More
DISCOVERY CENTER AT GREAT BAY
(Educational Pavilion)
Daily spring and fall programs at the Center in Greenland, NH allows students to learn the animals and plants of the estuary and why it is important. Completed in 2014, the Pavilion provides a covered outdoor classroom, protecting participants from sun and rain. Click to visit the Discovery Center at Great Bay
DISCOVERY CENTER AT GREAT BAY (Special Exhibit)
Opened to the public in June 2011, the Foundation contributed to the establishment of the Special Collections Exhibit, which contains over 100 historical artifacts from the 19th and 20th century age of hunting and fishing in the Great Bay area in Greenland, NH. Click to visit the Discovery Center at Great Bay
DISCOVERY CENTER AT GREAT BAY
(Boardwalk Replacement)
A 2014 grant will contribute to the replacement of the 22 year old boardwalk that guides visitors through coastal uplands and to a spectacular saltmarsh adjacent to the Great Bay National Estuarine Reserve. The Center hosts over 3,000 visitors each year as well as over 1,600 school children. Click to visit the Discovery Center at Great Bay
DIVE TEAM BOAT, TRAILER AND EQUIPMENT
A 2013 grant provided for the purchase of a boat, motor and trailer along with specific electronics and other equipment needed for the 14 member team to operate more efficiently and safely. The only aquatic search and rescue team in the state, the team is responsible for recovery of drowning victims as well as retrieval of evidence thrown into bodies of water. Before this grant, the team did not have a dedicated Dive Team boat anywhere in the state.
FRESH WATER ANGLER SURVEY
A 2015 grant was awarded to the Inland Fisheries Department for a public survey of anglers’ preferences. Coupled with biological factors, this information will provide data to update the 2004 freshwater fisheries management program.
KARNER BLUE RESTORATION PROJECT
A 2011 grant to clear the pine barrens and plant native flowers was provided by TAFA Inc., a division of Praxair Corporation for the restoration of the Karner Blue butterfly’s natural habitat in East Concord. An ongoing project, TAFA employees work closely with NH Fish and Game to increase numbers for this endangered species.
KIDS FOR KARNERS PROGRAM
A 2012 Foundation grant provides for the transportation of Concord school children who are participating in the Karner Blue project. Classes are bused to the pine barrens to help plant wild lupines which are the Karner Blue Butterfly’s larval host plant.
KARNER BLUE GROWTH CHAMBER
A 2014 donation from Praxair Corporation and a donation from TAFA Inc., a Praxair Surface Technologies Company, is being used for the purchase of an insect growth chamber to closely monitor environmental conditions and increase the survival rate of the endangered Karner Blue butterfly in Fish and Game’s captive rearing facility.
LAND HABITAT CULTIPACKER
To enhance wildlife habitat, the Foundation provided funding in 2014 for a cultipacker which breaks up clods after plowing and prepares a firm seedbed for planting food and cover crops in fields and wildlife openings.
LANDOWNER RELATIONS PROGRAM
A 2012 grant helped fund a program to recognize the important contributions hunters, anglers and landowners made to the Department’s efforts to maintain and enhance access to private lands.
LANDOWNERS AND LAW ENFORCEMENT CAMERA MONITORING
A 2013 grant provided Conservation Officers with motion cameras to help monitor illegal activities on private lands and ultimately prevent private landowners from closing their property to wildlife related outdoor recreation opportunities.
LAW ENFORCEMENT – ALL SEASON JACKETS
A 2015 grant gifted by an anonymous donor provides officers with a single 4-season jacket to be worn throughout the year by adding or reducing insulating layers. With the previous vendor out of business, this grant also provides jackets for new recruits, and provides a consistent look for public recognition of Conservation Officers throughout the year.
LAW ENFORCEMENT – EQUIPMENT UPGRADES
A 2015 grant funded by an anonymous donor provided for the replacement of all field duty holsters to an upgraded model with automatic locking and the addition of a high powered light mounted on the current issue Sig duty pistol. The modernized holster will accommodate the duty pistol and attached light, providing a significant upgrade to the current weapon system.
LAW ENFORCEMENT SURVIVAL JACKETS
Proceeds from the 2013 30/30 gun raffle were used to purchase Mustang Survival Jackets for some Conservation Officers. An additional 2014 grant provided the remainder of funds needed to outfit all officers with these jackets which are winter snowmobile jackets with a USCG certified flotation device. These jackets give warmth to officers as they patrol on snowmobiles and ice boats to enforce rules and regulations on land and water during the winter months. The longer design also protects officers’ pistols from freezing due to wind, snow and cold temperatures.
LOW PLAINS STEWARDSHIP ENDOWMENT
A matching grant was awarded in 2011 to create a conservation endowment fund in the Chandler Brook – Cascade Brook in New London, NH. Matched by the Town of New London, the income from the fund will help sustain the stewardship management of the property in perpetuity.
NON-GAME ENDANGERED WILDLIFE CAMERA MONITORING
This 2013 grant allows the remote monitoring of habitat use, predator density and survival of timber rattlesnakes and piping plovers as part of the priority goals of the NH Wildlife Action Plan.
MOOSE CADMIUM TESTING
To help determine the causes of a declining moose population, a 2014 grant was given towards a federal matching grant to test for the heavy metal cadmium in moose livers and kidneys and its possible effects on the moose mortality and production.
NEW HAMPTON FISH HATCHERY
LIGHT HOUSE PROJECT
This grant in 2014 was for the renovation of an existing hatchery structure to provide for special lighting and times to allow for photomanipulation and egg procurement, resulting in an increased survival rate and larger trout. The New Hampton Hatchery supplies brook and brown trout eggs to all other state hatcheries.
OPERATION LAND SHARE
For this 2011 grant, private owners opening their lands to hunters, fishermen, hikers and wildlife watchers, received assistance in the form of management signage and guidance so that the public and landowners can respectfully share open spaces.
ORPHAN BEAR CUB REHABILITATION CENTER
The Foundation provided funding in 2012 to renowned bear expert Ben Kilham to feed the 15 orphaned bear cubs at his bear rehabilitation center in Lyme, NH.
OWL BROOK HUNTER EDUCATION CENTER
The Foundation provided a 2010 grant to build a new storage facility that has freed up space to expand the educational programming for shooting sports, hunting and trapping at the Center in Holderness, NH. Owl Brook also provides classes in wilderness skills for people to become stewards of NH’s natural resources. Click to visit the Owl Brook Education Center Website
OWL BROOK HUNTER EDUCATION CENTER
A second grant to Owl Brook in 2011, along with matching federal funds, upgraded the small bore training range. Electricity and heat were installed at this range which is used for classes year round, increasing the classroom capacity at the entire Center. Click to visit the Owl Brook Hunter Education Center Website
SEARCH & RESCUE TEAM
Gifted by a hiker aided by the Search & Rescue Team, this grant provided for the purchase of additional safety rope so that each team member carries 100′ of rope. The team also received six new cold weather stoves specifically designed to be light weight and dependable at sub-freezing temperatures, which will allow the team to heat up fluids for those being rescued.
SIGNS AND KIOSKS IN CONNECTICUT LAKES NATURAL AREAS
A 2012 grant provided for signs and information kiosks to be built and installed in the upper regions of the state-owned wilderness areas of the Connecticut Lakes Region to provide hikers and walkers with trail maps and usage rules.
SIGNS AND KIOSKS IN WILDLIFE
MANAGEMENT AREAS
This 2013 grant allows for new or renovated signs and information kiosks providing trail maps and usage rules for hikers, walkers, anglers, hunters and trail riders. Eventually all state land areas will have these signs and kiosks.
SIGNS AND KIOSKS IN WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT AREAS
With another grant in 2014, the Foundation continues to support new or renovated signs and information kiosks in Wildlife Management Areas throughout the state.
STUDY OF RIVER HERRING PASSAGE AT
WADLEIGH DAM
An important food source for various marine fish species, as well as bait for the commercial lobster fishery, river herring migrate to NH rivers in the spring to spawn. This 2013 grant provided funding to research the loss of their spawning areas due to the construction of new dams, and the unrepaired breach of the Wadleigh Dam in southeast NH.
TRACKING AND MAPPING OF OVIGEROUS
FEMALE LOBSTERS
This 2012 grant mapped the location of ovigerous female lobsters in NH state waters and tracked their movement and associated growth. This species is important to NH economy as well as commercial and recreational fishermen who harvest this resource.
WILDLIFE RECREATION ACCESS PROGRAM (WRAP)
This 2014 grant provides financial incentives in the form of access management grants, to private landowners who agree to keep their lands open for at least 5 years for hunting fishing, and wildlife watching. This includes installing gates, creative parking areas, putting up signage and maintaining access trails.
Durant Fund Educational Grants
DISCOVER WILD NEW HAMPSHIRE DAY
Each Spring more than 35 outdoor, wildlife, environmental and conservation groups from throughout the state present exhibits and demonstrations exploring all that’s WILD about New Hampshire. The free family event draws more than 5,000 people each year. The Foundation has underwritten or sponsored this event since 2008. Read More
ANNUAL NH HUNTING & FISHING EXPO
Held each year on the 3rd Saturday in September, hunting and fishing groups as well as vendors exhibit and demonstrate equipment and related education. The Foundation underwrote this event from 2009-2014 when the event moved to the Bass Pro Shop. The Foundation continues to hold a raffle for visitors during this event.
WILD TIMES FOR KIDS
Wild Times for Kids is a publication targeting students in third to sixth grade classrooms throughout the state with information and activities exploring fish, wildlife, conservation and the natural worlds. Distributed free to schools, the Foundation is proud to have supported this nationally acclaimed children’s magazine since 2008.
WILD TIMES FOR KIDS
A 2014 grant provides the costs of printing and mailing two issues of Wild Times for Kids for the 2014-15 school year to classrooms throughout the state.
150th NH FISH AND GAME ANNIVERSARY
In 2014, the NH Fish and Game Department will celebrate its 150th anniversary with a series of programs and events. The Foundation has awarded a grant to research the history of the department for a special edition of Wildlife Journal, as well as celebration banners.
FISH AND GAME WEBSITE UPDATES
A 2014 grant funded the redesign of the Fish and Game website to make it compatible with mobile devices from smart phones to tablets, as well as desktops. An earlier grant in 2011 provided for redevelopment work on the website and allowed for online license registration.