Is it legal to shoot archery in New Hampshire without a hunting licsence if you aren't shooting animals?

My 14 year old daughter is really into archery. She owns a recurve bow and arrows, but only uses it for competitions, not for hunting animals. We are traveling to New Hampshire next weekend and I want to know if it is against the law if she wants to go shoot in the woods. She will probably just be aiming at targets pinned up on trees, not harming animals. The house we are going to is isolated in the woods with no one around, so there is really no chance of her hitting anyone. (she wouldn't hit anyone anyways because she has won several archery awards)Is it legal to shoot archery in New Hampshire without a hunting licsence if you aren't shooting animals?
She should NEVER shoot at trees with an arrow for several reasons. Mostly it tears up the arrows and it's dangerous. Plus if a game warden does catch her in the woods she will be fined.


I suggest going to a sporting goods store and buying a target. There are some that look like bean bags and others that are a hard Styrofoam. They would be easy to take on the trip.Is it legal to shoot archery in New Hampshire without a hunting licsence if you aren't shooting animals?
Just to play it safe call the Department of Wildlife in that state and ask them.





I would bet they will tell you don鈥檛 shoot the trees, to get a 3D target or some other target that stands up on it鈥檚 own.


To prevent her, her equipment and the trees from being damaged.


Most states have laws where you cant even drive a nail or screw on to a tree because of the damage it can cause to the tree.


Their trying to protect our forest from damage that you can understand.





But other then that if she is just target shooting no license will be needed.


Most states don鈥檛 require license for any one under 16 years old to hunt anyway.


But she not hunting so that makes her safe in two ways.





Tell her I said she is an intelligent Lady for not shooting trees.


Hope this was of some help.





D58
to answer your question directly, YES, stop at most any sporting store, Dick's in Concord or others further up north or south, they sell the ';self sealing'; Styrofoam (ethafoam tech. name) type, she can shoot them all day for years and they will not break down. As long as she is not practicing in a populated area and she knows there is plenty of CLEAR area behind her target in case she does miss so that nothing or no one gets injured, it is perfectly legal, and a great sport I might add. AS JZ points out, this is assuming you are on PRIVATE PROPERTY
If she's on private property, it's perfectly legal. If she's on state or public land, there is no target shooting permitted. There are government owned public shooting area's, but they're very rare these days. You are perfectly legal on private property (in rural areas such as your situation) and on private shooting ranges, such as sporting good store ranges or club ranges. Most cities and towns have laws against bow or gun target practice within city limits.. but it doesn't sound like you have that problem. Hope you have fun!
I would think if you are target shooting safely with the bow it is legal anywhere.