REGISTRATION AND LICENSING OF GUIDES

RSA tit. XVIII, ch. 215

in effect

RSA 215:1 When Required.

215:1. When Required. No person shall engage in the business of guiding, until he has registered with the executive director and procured from him a license so to do. Source. 1935, 124:8. RL 248:1.

RSA 215:2 Application for License; Issue.

215:2. Application for License; Issue. Application for a license shall be made to the executive director, or their designee. The executive director shall prescribe rules and regulations under which such licenses shall be issued. I. Every new applicant applying for a New Hampshire guide's license for the first time shall submit to the fish and game department a criminal history record release form, as provided by the New Hampshire division of state police, which authorizes the release of any criminal history record to the department. II. The applicant shall submit with the release form a complete set of fingerprints taken by a qualified law enforcement agency or an authorized employee of the department of safety. In the event that the first set of fingerprints is invalid due to insufficient pattern, a second set of fingerprints shall be necessary in order to complete the criminal history records check. If, after 2 attempts, a set of fingerprints is invalid due to insufficient pattern, the department may, in lieu of the criminal history records check, accept police clearances from every city, town, or county where the person has lived during the past 5 years. III. The department shall submit the criminal history records release form and fingerprint form to the division of state police which shall conduct a criminal history records check through its records and through the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Upon completion of the records check, the division of state police shall release copies of the criminal history records to the department. IV. The chief of the fish and game law enforcement division or their designee shall review the criminal record information prior to making a registration decision and shall maintain the confidentiality of all criminal history records received pursuant to this section. V. The applicant shall bear the cost of a criminal history record check. [RSA 215:2 effective until November 1, 2026; see also RSA 215:2 set out below.] Source. 1935, 124:8. RL 248:2. 2024, 366:27, eff. Sept. 1, 2025; 366:28, eff. Oct. 22, 2024.

RSA 215:2-a Information; Register of Licensed Guides.

215:2-a. Information; Register of Licensed Guides. The executive director shall furnish a copy of the rules and regulations under which such licenses are issued, with the necessary application form to applicants for license under this chapter. The executive director shall maintain a register of all persons licensed as guides in this state. Source. 1961, 190:1, eff. Aug. 21, 1961.

RSA 215:3 Cancellation of License.

215:3. Cancellation of License. Any licensed guide who violates any provision of this title, or who violates any rule or regulation promulgated by the executive director, or who makes any false statement in his application for a license, or who otherwise, in the judgment of the executive director, is deemed unsuitable to act as a guide, shall immediately forfeit and surrender his license. Source. 1935, 124:8. RL 248:3.

RSA 215:4 Fee for License.

215:4. Fee for License. The executive director shall set the fees for resident and nonresident licenses to guide under this chapter pursuant to RSA 206:10, I. Source. 1935, 124:8. RL 248:4. 1951, 181:6. RSA 215:4. 1961, 190:2. 1975, 168:1. 1983, 251:2. 1986, 214:15, eff. Nov. 15, 1986. 2015, 186:30, eff. July 1, 2015.

RSA 215:5 Qualifications of Licensee.

215:5. Qualifications of Licensee. I. A person licensed as a guide shall be at least 18 years of age. He shall furnish such recommendations as the executive director shall require. He shall be skilled in the use, management and handling of such boats or canoes as are customarily used in fishing and hunting, and shall be a safe and competent person under all circumstances to be a guide for hunting or fishing parties. II. Notwithstanding RSA 215:4, every resident 65 years of age or older who has been a licensed guide in this state for 5 or more years may obtain a license as a guide to fish or to hunt by payment of only the cost of issuing said license as determined by the executive director. III. Individuals who are licensed operators of for-hire vessels pursuant to RSA 214:9, XVI(b) for recreational fishing in coastal and estuarine waters shall possess a United States Coast Guard issued Master License or an Operator of Uninspected Passenger Vessels License, and shall have current basic first aid and CPR certification from a course requiring a practical examination or have a crew member on board the licensed for-hire vessel who possesses the required certification. Such individuals licensed pursuant to RSA 214:9, XVI(b) shall be exempt from all other provisions of this chapter when operating such for-hire vessels in coastal and estuarine waters. Any individual exempted under this paragraph shall present the vessel license and first aid certification upon demand of any person. Source. 1935, 124:8. 1937, 188:27. RL 248:5. RSA 215:5. 1983, 251:3, eff. Aug. 17, 1983. 2011, 55:1, eff. Jan. 1, 2012. 2015, 186:31, eff. July 1, 2015.

RSA 215:6 Expiration of License.

215:6. Expiration of License. Every license issued shall expire with the calendar year. Source. 1935, 124:8. RL 248:6.

RSA 215:7 Badges.

215:7. Badges. Every licensed guide, while engaged in the business of guiding, shall wear in a conspicuous place on his clothing a badge to be furnished by the executive director upon the issuance of the license. Source. 1935, 124:8. RL 248:7.

RSA 215:9 Penalty.

215:9. Penalty. Whoever violates any provision of RSA 215 or any rule or regulation of the executive director made thereunder, shall be guilty of a violation, and, if a licensed guide, shall forfeit his license in the discretion of the executive director. Source. 1935, 124:8. RL 248:9. RSA 215:9. 1973, 531:64, eff. Oct. 31, 1973 at 11:59 p.m.

RSA 215:10 Apprentice Guide License.

215:10. Apprentice Guide License. I. Any person who wishes to become a hunting or fishing guide but who has not completed the written and oral board requirements to become a licensed guide as required in RSA 215:2, may purchase an apprentice guide license. Additional requirements for an individual to qualify for the apprentice guide license shall include passing a criminal background check and certification in first-aid and CPR before an application may be submitted. A person holding a valid apprentice guide license, along with the proper license for the activity they will be assisting with, may guide in activities, including hunting or fishing, only when accompanied by a properly licensed guide who is 18 years of age or older. The fees for a resident or non-resident apprentice guide license shall be set in rules pursuant to RSA 541-A, as provided in RSA 215:4. II. The properly licensed hunting or fishing guide, who is 18 years of age or older, accompanying the apprentice shall be fully accountable for any and all damage incurred or for any violations which may be committed by the apprentice while guiding. The apprentice guide license shall not be used as proof of a previous license under RSA 214:23-a, I or II. An apprentice guide license may be purchased only once in the lifetime of the applicant wishing to guide. Source. 2025, 113:1, eff. Jan. 1, 2026.

Source: New Hampshire General Court (gc.nh.gov)URL: https://gc.nh.gov/rsa/html/NHTOC/NHTOC-XVIII-215.htmFetched: 10/20/2026