November 14, 1996
(Forest Resources and Agrifoods)

Firearm Safety / Hunter Education Course deadline for Big Game Licence Draw

Beaton Tulk, Minister responsible for wildlife, wishes to advise hunters that the deadline for completing the Firearm Safety / Hunter Education Course for new hunters wishing to enter the 1997/98 big game licence draw will be December 31, 1996. Those who do not complete the course before the deadline will not be eligible to enter the 1997/98 draw.

"The deadline is necessary in order to prepare for the mailing of big game licence applications for the 1997/98 draw for moose and caribou on the island, and for moose only in Labrador." The minister added: "Individuals who complete the course after January of 1997 will be eligible for the 1998/99 big game licence draw."

Since the implementation of the mandatory Firearms Safety/Hunter Education Program in April of 1996, nearly 4,000 people have completed the course. It is expected that by the end of December of this year, well over 5,000 new people will have completed this training.

Contact: John Blake, Wildlife Division, Department of Forest Resources and Agrifoods, (709) 729-2549, or Chris Baldwin, Wildlife Division, Department of Forest Resources and Agrifoods, (709) 729-0032.