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Hunting ban on Willand pond?

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This coming Wednesday, October 19 the Fish and Game Department will hold a public hearing on closing part of Willand Pond to hunters.

Willand Pond is located between Dover and Somersworth. There are some parks and residential properties on the pond. The state owns the pond itself. Duck hunters are therefore allowed to hunt on the water and below the high water mark.

Residents argue that the proximity to homes and walking paths makes any hunting on Willand Pond a safety issue. They argue there are plenty of other state lands better suited to hunting.

"I don’t know the trajectory or how far the bullets can travel," said Somersworth City Councilor Jen Soldati. "They said there haven’t been any accidents, yet. I hope they don’t come regret it." 

On the other hand, development has encroached on the land available to hunters, so hunters support access to Willand Pond.

According to state Sen. David Watters, residents in New Hampshire also have a constitutional right to hunt, so there must be a very compelling reason to deny hunters access to state property. 

The public hearing will take place at 1:00 p.m. at the N.H. Fish and Game Department, 11 Hazen Drive, Concord, NH. If you can't make the public hearing, you can write to comments@wildlife.nh.gov.

Rep. Peter Bixby has also requested a 2017 bill to ban hunting on Willand Pond.

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