CONCORD, N.H. (MyKeeneNow) With winter coming to an end, New Hampshire officials are reminding ice fishing enthusiasts that all bobhouses—also known as ice shanties—must be removed from frozen lakes and ponds by April 1. The deadline, set by state law, is intended to prevent the structures from sinking into the water as ice conditions deteriorate.

While April 1 is the latest possible date for removal, authorities warn that warmer temperatures and thinning ice could require earlier action. “The law is designed to ensure that bobhouses and their contents do not fall through the ice and become a hazard to boaters, or get left behind on shore,” said Lieutenant Robert Mancini of the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department’s Law Enforcement Division.

Once off the ice, bobhouses must be moved to the owner’s property. Leaving them on public land or someone else’s private property without permission is illegal. Those who fail to remove their structures by the deadline—or who attempt to dispose of them by burning them on the ice—could face fines and the loss of their fishing license for a year. Additionally, Fish and Game officials have the authority to seize abandoned bobhouses and their contents.

For further details or assistance, residents can contact their local Conservation Officer or the Fish and Game Law Enforcement Division at 271-3127.