September 4, 1998
(Forest Resources and Agrifoods)

1998/99 Big Game Licence Seasons and Quotas

Kevin Aylward, minister responsible for inland fish and wildlife, wishes to remind hunters of the following information. The Hunting Guide, containing detailed information on this year's wildlife management plan for provincial game species, has been distributed to; vendor outlets of small game licences, Government Service Centers, and the offices of the Department of Forest Resources and Agrifoods.

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.

On the island, 28,320 moose licences and 5,990 caribou licences are available for the 1998/99 hunting season. This represents a decrease of 20 moose licences and an increase of 50 caribou licences from the 1997 hunting season.

In Labrador, 175 licences are available for the 1998/99 hunting season. This represents no change to the overall quota from the previous hunting season.

The minister encourages all hunters to consult the 1998-99 Hunting Guide prior to the beginning of this year's hunting season. The minister also wishes to remind hunters that his department is committed to ensuring hunting opportunities continue to exist for the people of this province. 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, enjoyable and successful hunting season.

HIGHLIGHTS - BIG GAME

MOOSE - NEWFOUNDLAND

• Quota Reductions: The results of aerial surveys conducted during this past winter supports a reduction of 250 licences to the quota for moose management area 11. The new quota is now 750 licences (375 either-sex and 375 male-only). Changes to the quotas in other moose management areas are listed in the 1998 Big Game Licence Application Guide.

• Quota Increase - Calves: The 1997 Selective Harvest Strategy Study supports changes to the types of licences available in moose management areas for the island. These changes will help increase the percentage of calves taken during the annual harvest which has normally been low. Starting this hunting season, three categories of licences are available 1) either-sex , 2) male-only or calf and 3) female-only or calf.

• Moose Season Extended: The season on the island portion of the province has been extended to January 9, 1999 for most areas starting in the 1998/99 hunting season to provide additional hunting opportunities for big game hunters. Also, area 3A and 39A has been extended and will run from September 12, 1998 to January 30, 1999.

• Hunting Boundaries: A significant modification has been made to the boundary line separating moose/blackbear management areas 4 and 14 that uses physical land feature rather than a straight line boundary. These new changes are reflected in the Big Game Hunting Area Maps which accompany licences for these areas.

MOOSE - LABRADOR

• Quota Reductions: A decrease of five licences in each has occurred for moose management areas 49 and 50 respectively. A new moose management area, Area 85 - Snegamook has been created and has a quota of 10 licences.

• Moose Season Extended: Seasons normally closing in December in Labrador will now run from September 12, 1998 to January 9, 1999.

• Hunting Boundaries: Boundary changes have occurred between Area 53 and 53a near Lake Melville and between Area 51 and 52 near Churchill Falls. These changes are reflected in the Big Game Hunting Area Maps that accompany licences for these areas.

CARIBOU-NEWFOUNDLAND

• Quota Changes: The quota for area 65, published in the 1998 Big Game Licence Application Guide, was subject to review pending the results of aerial surveys conducted this past winter. This area has experienced a significant decline in population size and the results of the aerial survey do not support any further changes to the newly established quota of 150 either-sex licences.

However, other aerial survey work carried this past winter support changes to the quotas in caribou management area 76 and 79. Area 76, which has been closed in previous years, now has a total of 200 licences (80 either-sex and 120 male-only) while area 79 now has a total quota 170 licences (70 either-sex and 100 male-only). Changes to the quotas in other caribou management areas were published in the 1998 Big Game Application Guide.

• Caribou Season Extended: The season dates for caribou management areas 61 to 69 and 76 to 79 have been extended and will open September 12, 1998 and close January 9, 1999. Also the season dates for area 72 has been moved ahead and will open on September 12, 1998 and close on October 10, 1998.

• Hunting Boundaries: A boundary modification has been made to caribou management area 76 that better reflects the range and distribution of caribou in that area.

BLACK BEAR - NEWFOUNDLAND

The bag limit for black bears has been reduced to one bear per spring or fall hunt.

 

BIG GAME SEASONS

MOOSE - NEWFOUNDLAND

MOOSE - LABRADOR

CARIBOU - NEWFOUNDLAND

CARIBOU - LABRADOR

BLACK BEAR - NEWFOUNDLAND

BLACK BEAR - LABRADOR

DISABLED HUNTER PROGRAM

As announced last spring by Minister Aylward, a new Disabled Hunter Program will begin this fall that will allow persons with certain disabilities to be able to participate in the big game licence draw and in the hunting experience itself.

 

HIGHLIGHTS - SMALL GAME

PTARMIGAN - NEWFOUNDLAND

• The shooting season for ptarmigan on the Avalon and Burin area has been extended by one week and will open on September 19, 1998 and close October 31, 1998. The snaring season for ptarmigan has been extended by one week and will open October 10, 1998 and close February 20, 1999 for those areas that have ptarmigan snaring.

• A new daily bag/possession limit has been implemented for all open areas on the island, except the Avalon and Burin area. The new daily bag/possession limit is 12/24.

PTARMIGAN - LABRADOR

• A new daily bag and possession limit has been established for all of Labrador at the request of local hunters and interest groups in that area. The new daily bag/possession limit is now 25/50.

• Hunters are advised that changes to grouse zones and bag limits may occur following a review of population information and consultation with local interest groups.

GROUSE - NEWFOUNDLAND

• The snaring season for grouse for all open areas on the island has been extended by one week and will open on October 10, 1998 and close February 20, 1999.

SNOWSHOE HARE

• The shooting and snaring season for snowshoe hare for most open areas on the island, except Little Bay Islands and Great Island, has been extended by one week and will now open October 10, 1998 and close February 20, 1999.

MODIFIED SNARING PROGRAM

Last year it was announced that efforts to enhance the recovery of the endangered Newfoundland Pine Marten would occur in three new key habitat and dispersal areas; Northwest Grand Lake, Red Indian Lake and Terra Nova. At that time, hunters were requested to use a modified snaring device in the Northwest Grand Lake as an alternative to closing the area to small game snaring and to evaluate the benefits of implementing this program in other areas. As result of this review, it has been determined that the modified snaring device will be mandatory for the Northwest Grand Lake area and Terra Nova area starting this hunting season. The modified snare will not be mandatory in the Red Indian Lake area for at least two more years until researchers gather additional information on the impacts of snaring and trapping on marten mortality. Public information workshops to demonstrate and explain the use of the modified snare are scheduled to begin this fall and will be announced.

CUT OFF FOR FIREARM SAFETY/HUNTER EDUCATION COURSES

To qualify for the 1999 Big Game Licence Draw, new hunters must complete the Firearms Safety/Hunter Education Course before November 30, 1998. To register for a course, contact a College of the North Atlantic campus.

Media contact: Cynthia Layden-Barron, Communications, (709) 729 6183.

1998 09 04 12:25 p.m.