Wildlife Heritage Foundation of NH

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Wildlife Heritage Foundation of NH

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The official non-profit partner of the NH Fish and Game Department. Our mission is to promote and protect NH’s great outdoor traditions.

10/01/2026

Yesterday's Outdoor Heritage Hero Awards was an incredible afternoon of community, food and celebration. Folks from all walks of the New Hampshire outdoor community came together under one roof to recognize six individuals who have dedicated their lives to the wildlife, wild places and outdoor traditions we all love.

The Wildlife Heritage Foundation of NH was proud to honor Laura Ryder, Angus Boezeman, Carol Foss, Brandon Reed & Bryan Clark, and Maria Colby. Thank you for the years of time, passion and hard work you've given, and for inspiring so many others to do the same.

Thank you to wildlife biologist Eric Orff for such an impactful keynote presentation, filled with lively stories throughout his long career that had the whole room hanging on every word.

Huge shoutout to all of this year’s sponsors for helping make this event possible:

Event Sponsor: Bellavance Beverage Co., Deborah Coffin
Media Sponsor: Hawkeye Hunting & Fishing News
Brook Trout Sponsor: NH Guides' Association, Kathleen & Jim Paine, Tall Timber Lodge, Trout Unlimited Basil Woods Chapter, Londonderry NH Fish and Game Club
Ruffed Grouse Sponsor: NH Trappers Association, Ruffed Grouse Society Granite State Chapter, Carl Thunberg
Pheasant Sponsor: Nashua Fly Casting Association, NH Operation Game Thief, Pittsburg Anglers, NHTU Youth Trout Camp

09/28/2026

The day is almost here. As we close out our honoree spotlights ahead of September 30th, we've saved our highest honor for last.

Maria Colby is receiving the Charles & Rebecca Barry Outdoor Champions Award, the Foundation's highest honor, given for exceptional leadership, vision, and enduring impact in championing New Hampshire's outdoor traditions.

As Director of Wings Wildlife Rehabilitation Center in Henniker, Maria has devoted nearly 40 years to the state's wildlife, one injured or orphaned animal at a time.
What began as volunteer work in college became a life's calling. Each year she and her all-volunteer team care for hundreds of birds and mammals, working closely with NH Fish and Game Conservation Officers. Her work is quiet, demanding, and done with little fanfare, but its impact is extraordinary. For Maria, success is simple: stepping outside and hearing a wild animal she may have helped return home.

Please join us in congratulating Maria on a lifetime of pure compassion and service to New Hampshire's wildlife!

Thank you to the sponsors making this event possible:

Event Sponsors: Deborah Coffin, Bellavance Beverage Co.

Media Sponsor: Hawkeye Fishing & Hunting News

Brook Trout Sponsors: Trout Unlimited Basil Woods Chapter, Tall Timber Lodge, Kathleen & Jim Paine, NH Guides' Association

Ruffed Grouse Sponsors: Carl Thunberg, Ruffed Grouse Society Granite State Chapter, NH Trappers Association

Pheasant Sponsors: NHTU Youth Trout Camp, Pittsburg Anglers, Operation Game Thief, Nashua Fly Casting Association

09/25/2026

We're almost to September 30th. Today's spotlight recognizes a partnership that has kept New Hampshire's outdoor traditions strong for two decades.

Brandon Reed (top right) and Bryan Clark (bottom right) are receiving the Dr. James G. Paine Impact Award, which recognizes a business or organization whose partnership has significantly advanced the Foundation's mission and exemplifies leadership in sustaining outdoor heritage.

For 20 years, the Trinity Sportsmen's Event in Concord has brought the outdoor community together, creating an affordable and welcoming place for sportsmen, families, and exhibitors to connect and share their traditions. At the heart of that success are Brandon and Bryan. Both were introduced to hunting, fishing, and the outdoors by people who took the time, and they've spent years returning that gift, especially for young people and families.

For Brandon, the legacy is personal, with his six children and their spouses now helping run the event. For Bryan, it lives in the camaraderie of volunteers and the opportunities they create for local sportsmen. Together they show what partnership is all about.

Please join us in congratulating Brandon and Bryan on twenty years of keeping New Hampshire's outdoor traditions alive and welcoming.

Thank you to the sponsors making this event possible:

Event Sponsors: Deborah Coffin, Bellavance Beverage Co.

Media Sponsor: Hawkeye Fishing & Hunting News

Brook Trout Sponsors: Trout Unlimited Basil Woods Chapter, Tall Timber Lodge, Kathleen & Jim Paine, NH Guides' Association

Ruffed Grouse Sponsors: Carl Thunberg, Ruffed Grouse Society Granite State Chapter, NH Trappers Association

Pheasant Sponsors: NHTU Youth Trout Camp, Pittsburg Anglers, Operation Game Thief, Nashua Fly Casting Association

09/24/2026

The countdown to September 30th continues. Today we're proud to spotlight an honoree whose dedication has protected New Hampshire's wildlife for generations.

Carol R. Foss is receiving the Helenette Silver Award, which celebrates a woman who has made lasting contributions to New Hampshire's outdoor legacy through leadership, advocacy, and inspiration.

Senior Advisor for Science and Policy at NH Audubon, Carol has spent five decades protecting the state's wildlife and inspiring others to appreciate the natural world. Her connection to nature began as a child, exploring the woods with her father and paging through field guides with her grandmother. That curiosity became an extraordinary career.

Through her leadership, Carol helped advance the NH Endangered Species Program, protect critical habitat, strengthen conservation research, and build partnerships that benefit wildlife statewide. As a scientist, advocate, and mentor, she has created a legacy that reaches far beyond her own accomplishments.

Please join us in congratulating Carol on five decades of protecting the wildlife and wild places we all love.

Thank you to the sponsors making this event possible:

Event Sponsors: Deborah Coffin, Bellavance Beverage Co.

Media Sponsor: Hawkeye Fishing & Hunting News

Brook Trout Sponsors: Trout Unlimited Basil Woods Chapter, Tall Timber Lodge, Kathleen & Jim Paine, NH Guides' Association

Ruffed Grouse Sponsors: Carl Thunberg, Ruffed Grouse Society Granite State Chapter, NH Trappers Association

Pheasant Sponsors: NHTU Youth Trout Camp, Pittsburg Anglers, Operation Game Thief, Nashua Fly Casting Association

New Hampshire Audubon

09/24/2026

The New Hampshire Fish and Game Department was one of many agencies to assist State Police with this serious crash in Manchester. Fish and Game divers were able to hook up the box truck so that the tow company could remove it from the river.

NEWS RELEASE: SERIOUS CRASH ON INTERSTATE 293

MANCHESTER, N.H. – A box truck fell into the Merrimack River, and a minor passenger was seriously injured in a series of crashes on Interstate 293 in Manchester.

At 7:38 a.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2026, State Troopers assigned to the Troop B barracks responded to a report of a crash involving serious injuries and a box truck that broke through the guardrail on the bridge and fell into the Merrimack River on I-293 northbound in Manchester.

The preliminary investigation determined that up to six vehicles were involved in a series of at least two chain crashes. The most severe of which resulted in serious injuries to a minor passenger. As part of the chain of events, Dylan Pagan Rodriguez, 26, of Fall River, Massachusetts, was driving a box truck over the bridge when he lost control, broke through the guardrail, and plunged approximately 50 feet into the river. Rodriguez was not injured.

I-293 was down to one lane for multiple hours as responding crews cleared the scene and got the truck out of the water.

Troopers were assisted by Marine Patrol Officers, as well as members of the Bedford police and fire departments, the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, the New Hampshire Department of Transportation, the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department, and the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services.

All aspects of the crash remain under investigation. Anyone who witnessed, or took photos or videos of the crash, is asked to contact Trooper Matthew Howe via [email protected] or (603) 451-9588.

09/23/2026

Our honoree spotlights continue as we count down to September 30th. Next up is someone who has spent a lifetime passing New Hampshire's outdoor traditions on to others.

Angus Boezeman is receiving the Volunteer of the Year Award, honoring dedicated service and enduring devotion to New Hampshire's natural world through hands-on conservation, teaching, and mentorship.

Angus discovered the state's outdoor heritage through a simple invitation from his father-in-law to go fly fishing at Stonehouse Pond. What began with two beginners learning together became a passion he has spent more than four decades sharing.

Across 45 years of volunteer service with Trout Unlimited's Basil W. Woods Jr. Chapter, the NH Guides Association, the Wildlife Heritage Foundation of NH, and Project Story NH, Angus has taught children and adults to fly fish and tie flies, ran a fly-fishing school for more than 30 years, guided anglers, and encouraged generations to care for the waters and landscapes that make these traditions possible. His greatest reward comes from meeting former students on the water who have become volunteers and mentors themselves.

Please join us in congratulating Angus on 45+ years of generously passing our outdoor traditions on to the next generation.

Thank you to the sponsors making this event possible:

Event Sponsors: Deborah Coffin, Bellavance Beverage Co.

Media Sponsor: Hawkeye Fishing & Hunting News

Brook Trout Sponsors: Trout Unlimited Basil Woods Chapter, Tall Timber Lodge, Kathleen & Jim Paine, NH Guides' Association

Ruffed Grouse Sponsors: Carl Thunberg, Ruffed Grouse Society Granite State Chapter, NH Trappers Association

Pheasant Sponsors: NHTU Youth Trout Camp, Pittsburg Anglers, Operation Game Thief, Nashua Fly Casting Association

09/22/2026

On September 30th, we're honoring the people who've shaped New Hampshire's outdoor legacy. Over the next few days we'll be spotlighting this year's honorees, and we're kicking things off with someone who inspired generations to know and care for our wildlife.

Laura Ryder is receiving the Educator of the Year Award, presented to an educator who goes above and beyond to spark curiosity and respect for the natural world, shaping the next generation of outdoor stewards.

As former Education Programs Supervisor at NH Fish and Game, Laura spent nearly four decades helping New Hampshire residents understand and appreciate the state's wildlife. Inspired early by mentors who saw her gift for teaching, she connected students, teachers, hunters, anglers, and families to conservation and traditional outdoor skills in ways that made learning personal and memorable.

Laura has always believed education should lead to action, and her greatest reward is the moment curiosity becomes understanding and people are inspired to act on behalf of wildlife.

Please join us in congratulating Laura on a career spent inspiring New Hampshire to know and care for its wildlife.
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Thank you to the sponsors making this event possible:

Event Sponsors: Deborah Coffin, Bellavance Beverage Co.

Media Sponsor: Hawkeye Fishing & Hunting News

Brook Trout Sponsors: Trout Unlimited Basil Woods Chapter, Tall Timber Lodge, Kathleen & Jim Paine, NH Guides' Association

Ruffed Grouse Sponsors: Carl Thunberg, Ruffed Grouse Society Granite State Chapter, NH Trappers Association

Pheasant Sponsors: NHTU Youth Trout Camp, Pittsburg Anglers, Operation Game Thief, Nashua Fly Casting Association

NH Fish and Game

09/22/2026

We are still looking for 6 volunteer boats for our event on Sunday at Winnisquam. $100 gas card to all volunteer boats thanks to Wildlife Heritage Foundation of NH!! Picture for attention.

Address

54 Portsmouth Street
Concord, NH
03301

Telephone

(603)496-2778

Website

http://www.nhwildlifeheritage.org/

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