CONTACT:
Lt. James Kneeland: (603) 744-5470
Lt. Heidi Murphy: (603) 271-3127
June 28, 2019
CONCORD, NH — As you make plans for the holiday week, and throughout the summer, to get outside to hike, bike, kayak, or climb, be sure you buy your voluntary Hike Safe card for 2019. Card sales help ensure that New Hampshire Fish and Game Conservation Officers, trained in wilderness rescue, are ready to come to your aid if the unexpected happens.
2019 Hike Safe cards cost $25 for an individual, or $35 for a family, and are good for the calendar year ending December 31, 2019. The price is the same for residents and nonresidents. You can purchase the card for someone else — they make a great gift for any adventurer.
Cards can be purchased online at www.wildnh.com/safe or by mail; they are also sold at New Hampshire Fish and Game Department Headquarters, 11 Hazen Drive, Concord.
Hikers are urged to be prepared for changeable conditions at all elevations. Because of unpredictable weather and rugged terrain, especially in the White Mountains, the Hike Safe card has become popular among outdoor enthusiasts, and revenues raised through their sale go to the Department’s Search and Rescue Fund. During 2018, the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department sold 5,311 cards, which generated $134,349 for the fund. In 2018, Fish and Game conducted 148 search and rescue missions. The card also exempts holders from certain liability for repaying search and rescue costs.
“Whatever outdoor activity you enjoy — hiking, biking, paddling, cross country skiing, walking the nature trails in your town— the Hike Safe card is your back-up plan for the great outdoors,” said Fish and Game Law Enforcement Chief Colonel Kevin Jordan. “Buying a card is also a great way to help support Fish and Game’s search and rescue activities.”
New Hampshire Fish and Game reminds hikers to prepare themselves before venturing out by packing these ten essential items for any adventure: map, compass, warm clothing, extra food and water, headlamp, fire starter, first aid kit, whistle, rain- and wind-resistant jackets and pants, and a knife. For additional information, please visit www.hikeSafe.com.
Purchasing a hunting or fishing license also provides you with the same protection as a Hike Safe card. In addition to Hike Safe card revenues, Fish and Game’s Search and Rescue Fund is supported by a $1 fee collected for each boat, snowmobile, and OHRV registered in New Hampshire.
Visit www.wildnh.com/safe today to buy your Hike Safe card for 2019!