NASHUA — After hunters voiced strong opposition to an ordinance that would have prohibited the dressing of wild game in residential areas, city officials voted Monday to indefinitely postpone it, effectively killing the proposal.

“At first glance, this ordinance is broadly viewed as an anti-hunting effort,” Rick Olson, president of the New Hampshire Wildlife Federation, said Monday. “This is an infringement upon sportsmen rights.”

Alderman-at-Large Mark Cookson proposed the ordinance, which he said is constituent-driven.

The legislation states that it shall be unlawful in a residential zoning district to slaughter, dress or skin animals or fowl. The regulation does not apply to wild game or fowl (legally taken for sport and not to be sold), or poultry and livestock that are dressed in an enclosed area not open to public view.

It goes on to say that no wild game or fowl may be delivered for processing between the hours of 10 p.m. and 7 a.m.

While Olson said he empathizes with citizens who may be uncomfortable with witnessing the dressing of deer or other animals, he explained that not everyone has the luxury of dressing game in a garage or enclosed area. In addition, he stressed that the work must be done in a timely manner, especially during the warmer months, or the meat will spoil quickly.

“Although there may be one or two hunters out there that are in-your-face about this, which is unfortunate, hunters are taught to be discreet,” said Olson. “In many communities, especially in northern New Hampshire, this is very socially accepted.”

In public view

Cookson, on his blog, wrote that the proposed legislation is not intended to limit or discourage those who enjoy hunting, only that they be cognizant of their surroundings and neighbors when dressing game, or when having their game processed in a residential zone.

He explained that there are now several instances where game is being processed in public view within the city, including the cutting of limbs with a band saw.

“The essence of it is to allow neighbors that don't want to see it the ability to have it done in a private area so that it is not done in their front yard,” Cookson said Monday. “... It was not intended to limit the hunting or limit the enjoyment of hunting.”

The aldermanic Personnel and Administrative Affairs Committee was presented with the proposed ordinance Monday night. In addition to the NHWF, the Horse Pond Fish and Game Club of Nashua and the Nashua Fish and Game Association also voiced disapproval of the legislation, in addition to six aldermen.

Two local hunters who opposed Cookson's legislation last month when it was initially introduced shared specific concerns Monday about the time limit for dressing game.

“Time is of the essence,” Robert Valade of Underhill Street said Monday, adding that animals must be properly skinned and processed or the meat will spoil. “To deny a sports person the right to do this is not only fundamentally wrong, it is morally wrong.”

The hunting experience

Valade, a hunter education instructor for more than 40 years, previously urged city officials to dismiss the “frivolous” legislation, adding the immediate dressing of wild game and the preparation of meat is part of the hunting experience.

John Richard of Flintlocke Drive agreed, maintaining the proposed regulation is based on a difference of opinion between neighbors.

Several city officials questioned how the legislation would be enforced, and whether there was a need for such limitations on hunters.

According to Olson, there are no other communities in New Hampshire that have ordinances or regulations on the dressing of wild game. “I think Nashua would be the first,” he said.

Following several comments from hunters who filled the aldermanic chambers to voice opposition, a vote was made by the committee to indefinitely postpone the proposed ordinance.

khoughton@newstote.com