Concord (ap) — New Hampshire’s Fish and Game Department is seeing a higher-than-average number of searches and rescues this year in its mountains, forests and waterways, and it may set a record, the agency’s chief of law enforcement says.

Col. Kevin Jordan said the department averages about 180 searches and rescues annually. He didn’t have an exact number yet for 2017, but said the number is already above that.

Jordan said last year’s winter brought a lot of snowfall. Much of it stayed in the higher elevations into May. He said that contributed to a higher number of unprepared hikers who didn’t bring enough warm clothing, food and equipment.

But now, it’s fall — prime hiking and tourism season — and that’s bringing in a lot of calls, too, of people who don’t have the basic items or who wander away from their groups.