August 27, 1996
(Forest Resources and Agrifoods)

1996/97 Newfoundland and Labrador Hunting Guide

Beaton Tulk, Minister responsible for Wildlife, announced today the release of the 1996/97 Hunting Guide. The guide contains detailed information on the opening and closing dates, hunting and non-hunting zones and other changes related to big game and small game hunting. The guide is being distributed with all big game and small game licences or can be picked up from any Wildlife Division Office. While the following is a summary of this year's seasons and changes, the minister wishes to stress that because the province is divided into various management zones with different opening and closing dates, hunters are strongly advised to consult the Hunting Guide for precise information on each species.

BIG GAME

While the province's big game season dates, boundary changes and quotas were announced last spring in the Big Game Application Guide, the following is a brief summary of changes and seasons.

Changes

Major changes for 1996-1997 big game season include:

0. Increase in harvest in Moose Management Areas 1, 2, 15, 15A, 31, and 40 and a reduction in Moose Management Areas 6, 9, 12, 16, 23, 28, 29 and 37. Overall, there is an increase of 10 moose licences for the 1996/97 hunting season for a total quota of 25,760.
1. One boundary modification that affects area 27 and 28 in the Sam's Pond and Maccle's Lake area.
2. The elimination of submanagement areas 16A and 23A.
3. A one week longer season for all Moose Management Areas on the island.
4. Moose Management Areas 14 and 41 have moved to a later opening and closing date and will begin on October 5, 1996 and end on January 4, 1997.
5. Beginning this season, Moose/Blackbear Management Area 40 will have a pre season for bowhunting that begins on August 31, 1996.
6. An increase in harvest for Caribou Management Areas 64, 65, 66, 67, and 69 and a new Caribou Management Area, Area 77, on the Cape Shore of the Avalon Peninsula. Overall, there is an increase of 695 caribou licences for the 1996 hunting season.
7. Area boundary for Caribou Management Area 69 has been expanded.
8. A one-week longer season for Caribou Management Areas 61-69.
9. An increase in harvest for Moose Management Area 53 in Labrador and a decrease in Areas 54 and 58.
10. A new Moose Management Area for Labrador, Area 48 near Wabush, and Area 53A has been opened for the 1996 hunting season.
11. A modification to the boundary line that separates Labrador Moose Management Areas 53 and 54.
12. Three new Labrador Caribou Management Zones; Seal Lake, Grand Lake and Nipishish.
13. Several boundary modifications to the Colville Lake and Michikamau East Caribou Management Zone in Labrador.
14. The Twin Falls Caribou Management Zone in Labrador has been expanded to include the previous Unknown River Zone.

Seasons

Moose - Newfoundland

Moose - Labrador

Caribou - Newfoundland

Caribou - Labrador

The caribou season for the Torngat Mountains and George River Zone is August 10/96 to April 26/97. All other zones will open and close as caribou move in and out of them.

A review of the Labrador Caribou Hunt was announced in the spring of 1995 and is still ongoing. Changes to aspects of hunting Labrador caribou will be announced if and when they are made.

Black Bear - Newfoundland

Black Bear - Labrador

SMALL GAME - Changes and Seasons

Newfoundland

Snowshoe Hare

of the island for shooting and snaring. This year the season will run from October 12, 1996 to February 15, 1997 with the exception of Great Island where the season will open on October 12, 1996 and close on December 28, 1996. A snaring only season will occur on Bell Island, Conception Bay from October 12, 1996 to November 2, 1996. A reduced season has been established for Little Bay Island and will begin on October 12, 1996 and end on November 2, 1996 for shooting and snaring.

Ptarmigan

The shooting season west of the Avalon and Burin Areas have been reduced by two weeks in response to growing concerns of over ptarmigan populations. This year, the season will open on September 21, 1996 and close on December 7, 1996. The season for the Avalon and Burin Areas will begin on Septerber 21, 1996 and end on October 26, 1996. However, starting this hunting season, the Burin Area will be closed to snaring of ptarmigan. The Topsails Area will open on September 21, 1996 and close on November 23, 1996. The Fairhaven Study Area will remain closed.

Grouse

The snaring season on the island for Spruce and Ruffed Grouse has been reduced by two weeks and will begin on October 12, 1996 and end on February 15, 1996. The shooting season will remain the same and will open on September 21, 1996 and close on December 21, 1996.

Glover Island in Grand Lake will continue to be closed to snaring of all small game to eliminate the possibility of accidental captures of endangered pine marten. The Loggers School Rd./Stag Lake Study Area will remain closed to small game shooting and snaring of all small game due to ongoing research. A newly-established Main River Study Area near Sop's Arm will be closed to snaring of all small game to eliminate the possibility of accidental captures of pine marten.

Labrador

Small game shooting seasons for Labrador have been reduced by two weeks as a result of concerns raised by hunters. The shooting season this year will open on September 21, 1996 and close on April 19, 1997, while the duration of the snaring season remains unchanged and will begin on September 21, 1996 and end on March 22, 1997. The boundary for the Northern and Southern Zone has been changed.

NEW NO HUNTING ZONES

Red Fir Lake Provisional Ecological Reserve in western Labrador and Baccalieu Island Ecological Reserve off Conception are now established and are closed to hunting. Hunters are advised to consult the 1996/97 Hunting Guide for more information.

NEW HUNTING REQUIREMENTS

As announced by the province in January 1996, all persons who have not completed any previous hunter training will be required to complete the new mandatory Firearms Safety/Hunter Education Course in order to become eligible to hunt game (includes big game, small game and migratory game birds). The course became effective on the island in April 1996 and will be effective in Labrador beginning in April 1997.

Persons who have completed the Hunter Capability Test or the Canadian Firearms Safety Course before April 1996 are not required to complete any further training in order to hunt game. Persons who complete the new course are also eligible to enter the big game licence draw.

Effective on the island this hunting season, all hunters must possess an Outdoor Identification Card while hunting game with a firearm(s). The Outdoor Identification Card is issued to all hunters who have completed the Hunter Capability Test or Canadian Firearms Safety Course before April 1996 and to those who complete the new Firearm Safety/Hunter Education Course.

NEW LICENCE FEES

Changes to resident and non-resident hunting licence fees are in effect for the 1996/97 hunting season.

CORRECTION NOTICE

An error on page five of the Hunting Guide has been noted regarding the cost of the resident small game licence. Hunters are advised that the cost of resident small game licence is $18 + $1.26 GST which includes a $15 licence fee and a $3 vendor administration fee.

SUMMARY

The minister strongly encourages all hunters to consult the 1996/97 Hunting Guide prior to the beginning of this year's hunting season. The minster also wishes to remind hunters that our province's wildlife resources are one of our most valuable possessions and that we all have a responsibility to ensure that they are used in a wise manner. He further added his wishes that hunters have a safe and successful hunting season.

Contact: John Blake/Chris Baldwin, (709) 729-3509 or Rubin Vineberg (709) 729-3760.