Minister announces release of 2000-2001 Hunting and Trapping Guide

Kevin Aylward, minister responsible for inland fish and wildlife, has announced the release of the 2000-2001 Newfoundland and Labrador Hunting and Trapping Guide. The guide contains detailed information on this year's wildlife management plan for provincial game and furbearer species, including opening and closing dates, hunting and non-hunting zones and other changes related to big game and small game hunting and trapping. The guide is being distributed throughout the province at all Government Service Centres and vendor outlets or can be picked up at any office of the Department of Forest Resources and Agrifoods. 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 and Trapping Guide for precise information on each species.

LICENCE QUOTAS

On the island, 28,570 moose licences and 7,460 caribou licences are available for the 2000-2001 hunting season. This represents a increase of 350 moose licences and an increase of 665 caribou licences from the 1999-2000 hunting season.

In Labrador, 175 moose licences are available for the 2000-2001 hunting season. This represents no change to the overall quota from the previous hunting season.

MOOSE - NEWFOUNDLAND

Changes to the quotas in moose management areas were published in the 2000 Big Game Licence Application Guide. No further changes have occurred since that time.

Chapel Island, Fortune Bay is now included as part of moose management area 25. Rencontre Island, Fortune Bay is now included as part of moose management area 26.

CARIBOU-NEWFOUNDLAND

Changes to island caribou licence quotas were published in the 2000 Big Game Licence Application Guide. No further changes to the overall quota have occurred since that time.

A boundary modification has been made between caribou management areas 63 and 67 that now use part of the Chrystal Lake access road and are noted in the Big Game Hunting Area Maps that accompany a big game licence for these areas.

BLACK BEAR - NEWFOUNDLAND

A common opening and closing date is now established for all island black bear management areas open to hunting. The island black bear season opens on September 9, 2000 and closes on October 28, 2000.

Boundary changes noted for moose management areas 25 and 26 also apply to black bear management areas 25 and 26.

BLACK BEAR - LABRADOR

The licence quota in all Labrador black bear management areas has been reduced to two bears per licence. Licences are valid for fall and spring hunts and are available at vendor locations and Government Services Centres throughout the region.

BIG GAME SEASONS

MOOSE - NEWFOUNDLAND

Areas 1 to 13, 15 to 27, 37, 39 to 40, 42, 43 & 45        Sept. 9, 2000 to Dec. 9, 2000
Area 3A                                                                   Feb. 3 - 17, 2001
(Harbour Deep residents only who hold a valid licence)
Areas 14, 28 to 36, 38, 41, 44 & 47                             Oct. 7, 2000 to Jan. 6, 2001

MOOSE - LABRADOR

Areas 48, 51 to 53, 57 & 58                                     Sept. 9, 2000 to Jan. 6, 2001
Areas 49 to 50, 53A, 54 to 56 & 85                          Sept. 9, 2000 to Mar. 17, 2001
Areas 59 & 60                                                        Sept. 2, 2000 to Mar. 17, 2001

CARIBOU - NEWFOUNDLAND

Areas 61 to 69, 76 to 79                                          Sept. 9, 2000 to Dec. 9, 2000
Area 70                                                                  Sept. 9, 2000 to Sept. 23, 2000
Area 71                                                                  Sept. 2, 2000 to Nov. 4, 2000
Area 72                                                                  Sept. 9, 2000 to Oct. 7, 2000

CARIBOU - LABRADOR

Torngat Mountains Zone                                         Aug. 10, 2000 to April 30, 2001
George River Zone                                                 Aug. 10, 2000 to April 30, 2001
Other Zones To be announced

BLACK BEAR - NEWFOUNDLAND

Areas 2 to 30, 37, 39 to 42                                   Sept. 9, 2000 to Oct. 28, 2000
Spring Seasons 2001 - All open areas                   April 28, 2001 to June 30, 2001

BLACK BEAR - LABRADOR

Torngat Mtns. and George River Zones                  Aug. 10, 2000 to Nov. 30, 2000
Labrador South Zone Sept. 1, 2000 to                    Nov. 30, 2000
Spring Seasons 2001 - All open areas                  April 1, 2001 to June 30, 2001

 HIGHLIGHTS - SMALL GAME

PTARMIGAN - NEWFOUNDLAND

The shooting season for ptarmigan on the island is consistent with last year and has been adjusted for Saturday openings and closures. The Avalon/Swift Current Area and Burin Area will open on Sept. 16, 2000 and close Oct. 28, 2000 while the remainder of the island opens on Sept 16, 2000 and close on Dec. 2, 2000. The Topsails opens on Sept 16, 2000 and closes on Nov. 18, 2000.

GROUSE - NEWFOUNDLAND

The shooting season for grouse for all open areas on the island has been extended by one 

week and will open on Sept. 16, 2000 and close Dec. 30, 2000.

SNOWSHOE HARE - NEWFOUNDLAND

The shooting and snaring season for snowshoe hare on the island opens October 9, 2000 and closes February 24, 2001, except Great Island which closes on Dec. 23, 2000 and Little Bay Island which closes on Oct. 28, 2000.

MODIFIED SNARING

Efforts to enhance the recovery of the endangered Newfoundland pine marten continue in the Northwest Grand Lake Area, Red Indian Lake Area, Terra Nova Area and Charlottetown Enclave Area. In the Northwest Grand Lake Area, Terra Nova Area and Charlottetown Enclave Area, mandatory use of the modified snare is required. Public consultations on the management of Newfoundland pine marten in the Red Indian Lake Area will be held prior to the opening of the small game and trapping seasons. As noted in all Hunting Guides since 1997-98, mandatory use of the modified snare in the Red Indian Lake Area for small game and select dryland trapping techniques for furbearers will be required starting in the 2000-2001 hunting/trapping season. Other management activities are being proposed for the Red Indian Lake Area and subject to available funding. These activities may include snarer/trapper registration and seminars, direct monitoring by field staff and distribution of snaring and trapping equipment.

NEW AREAS CLOSED TO SHOOTING 

Starting this fall, shooting will be prohibited in the Carmanville Pond Area, Notre Dame Bay and the Winterland Ecomuseum Area, near the Town of Winterland, Burin Peninsula. These areas are part of wetland stewardship zones established by the provincial government, the Eastern Habitat Joint Venture and respective municipalities and have been closed to shooting due to their close proximity to recently developed boardwalks.

SMALL GAME QUESTIONNAIRE

This year�s Hunting and Trapping Guide contains a small game questionnaire designed to receive input from hunters regarding the current opening dates for ptarmigan, grouse and migratory game birds on the island. The deadline for return of the questionnaire is September 30, 2000.

PTARMIGAN/GROUSE/SNOWSHOE & ARCTIC HARE - LABRADOR

The shooting seasons for ptarmigan, grouse, snowshoe hare and arctic hare opens on Oct. 1, 2000 and closes on April 20, 2001. The snaring season opens Oct. 1, 2000 and closes March 31, 2001. Note that hunting is prohibited where fixed opening and closing dates occur on a Sunday. 

HIGHLIGHTS - TRAPPING 

NEWFOUNDLAND

Trapping seasons for island furbearer species, except lynx, remain unchanged from last year and have been adjusted for Saturday openings and closures.

Lynx populations appear to be stable or increasing on most parts of the island, except in some parts of the Southwest Coast (Zone A) and Northern Peninsula (Zone B). Season dates for Zones A and B will have similar season dates as last year and will run from January 1, 2001 to February 1, 2001. One additional month has been added to Zone C and will now open on December 2, 2000 and close on February 1, 2001.

Compulsory registration of lynx skins and submission of carcasses of lynx taken on the island will be required by trappers again during this season. The deadline for registration and carcass submissions is the close of business on Friday, February 9, 2001. Contact your nearest Forestry & Wildlife Office for more information.

To assist the Inland Fish and Wildlife Division in obtaining more information about coyotes, trappers are being asked to voluntarily submit the entire carcass of coyotes trapped on the island. Trappers will receive a $25 fee for each carcass submitted. Contact your nearest Forestry & Wildlife Office for more information.

LABRADOR

Trapping season dates for furbearers in Labrador will remain consistent with the 1999-2000 trapping seasons.

The Department of Forest Resources and Agrifoods is seeking input into proposed changes to the Labrador 2001-2002 trapping season. These changes include: reducing the size of the Lower Lake Melville zone; adjusting the opening date for aquatic furbearer species to October 15 and closing date to May 31, except mink and otter which opens November 1 and closes March 20; adjusting season dates for all terrestrial furbearers to November 1 to March 20, except wolf, which will close on April 30.

To assist the Inland Fish and Wildlife Division in obtaining further information about lynx populations in Labrador, trappers are asked to voluntarily submit lynx carcasses to the nearest Forestry & Wildlife Office.

FEDERAL FIREARMS LEGISLATION

New regulations under the Federal Firearms Act require licencing of all gun owners and registration of firearms by January 1, 2001. A firearms licence will also be required to purchase ammunition. As these new regulations replace previous firearms laws, hunters of all ages may be affected. For more information about the new federal firearms regulations, please contact:

Canadian Firearms Centre
1-800-731-4000
Website at www.cfc-ccaf.gc.ca

 SUMMARY

Minister Aylward strongly encourages all hunters and trappers to consult the 2000-2001 Hunting & Trapping Guide before the beginning of this year's season. "The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador is committed to maintaining a healthy and productive wildlife resource. Officials with the Inland Fish and Wildlife Division of the Department of Forest Resources and Agrifoods look forward to working with hunters and trappers to ensure all activities continue in a wise and responsible manner. I wish all hunters and trappers in the province a safe and enjoyable season."

For further information contact:

John Blake or Chris Baldwin
(709) 729-3509
johnblake@mail.gov.nf.ca
chrisbaldwin@mail.gov.nf.ca

Cynthia Layden-Barron
Director of Communications, DFRA
(709) 729-6183

2000 08 18                4:45 p.m.