Province Announces New Requirements for First Time Hunters

Dr. Rex Gibbons, minister responsible for wildlife in the province, announced today changes to the licensing requirements for first time hunters. Effective April 1, 1996 on the island and April 1, 1997 in Labrador, all new first time big and small game hunters will be required to complete the newly developed Firearm Safety/Hunter Education Program prior to becoming eligible to hunt. This program replaces the Hunter Capability Test as the licensing requirement. According to Dr. Gibbons, this new program is a provincial initiative with the goal to provide a one stop shopping approach addressing the needs of the firearm owners and hunters throughout the province. Those persons completing the program will meet the federal requirements for persons wishing to acquire firearms as well as the provincial requirements for those wishing to hunt game. Persons who have previously completed the hunter capability test will not be required to complete this program in order to continue hunting.

"The introduction of this program represents the next step in the evolution of hunter training in this province. It will provide participants with the necessary tools to become safe, responsible, knowledgeable hunters. These new requirements will also apply to a large portion of the general population who, under the old Hunter Capability Testing Program, were not required to complete any training, including small game hunters and Labrador caribou hunters."

The Firearm Safety/Hunter Education Program is coordinated by the wildlife division and delivered through the province's regional community colleges. It will be offered on a year round basis, and take approximately 14 hours to complete. The course itself involves lectures and demonstrations on safe firearm handling, wildlife management, hunting laws and firearm regulations, survival and first aid techniques and other relevant and important hunter field techniques.

"The key to successful management of our natural resources lies in the involvement and assistance of the resource users. Hunters, as users of wildlife, have the potential to act as front line managers of the resource. As such, it is the intention of this new program to ensure future hunters have the basic tools necessary to become safe and responsible stewards of our very valuable wildlife resource and assist it its continued successful management." Dr. Gibbons said further details specific to the program will be announced well in advance of the April 1 start up date.

Contact: John Blake or Chris Baldwin, Wildlife Division, DNR, (709) 729-3509; or Anna Buffinga, Department of Natural Resources, (709) 729-3750.