NLIS 2
September 12, 2002
(Tourism, Culture and Recreation)
Hunting seasons officially
open
Julie Bettney, Minister of Tourism, Culture
and Recreation, and minister responsible for wildlife, advises the general
opening of the hunting season for big game in many parts of the island
begins September 14, 2002. In Labrador, some of the big game season has
already opened.
For the 2002-2003 hunt, there is a slight
reduction in moose quotas from 27,820 to 27,650 less 170. "Out of the
47 management areas, three have increased and four have decreased the number
of issued licences. There were no essential changes to the caribou
quota," said Minister Bettney. "These changes are based on annual
planning and ensure we do not over-harvest."
Hunters should note that information for this year's hunting and trapping
seasons can be found in the 2002-2003 Hunting and Trapping Guide available
at various government offices including the Department of Forest Resources
and Agrifoods, Government Services Centres, and Inland Fish and Wildlife
Division offices. Also, the public can view the 2002-2003 Hunting and
Trapping Guide on the government Web site: www.gov.nl.ca/tcr/wildlife/publications/wildlifeguide.pdf
"Hunting and trapping are important parts of the culture and lifestyle
enjoyed by thousands of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians, as well as by
visitors to the province each year," said Minister Bettney.
"Hunters and trappers play an important part in helping to manage the
province's wildlife resources and we all share the responsibility to sustain
these resources for future generations. I wish all hunters and trappers a
safe and enjoyable season."
Media contact: Carmel Turpin, Communications, (709) 729-0928
Backgrounder
HIGHLIGHTS - BIG GAME
Moose
On the island, increases to licence quotas
have occurred in three Moose Management Areas (MMA) - MMA 2 (+100), MMA 20
(+30) and MMA 45 (+100) while decreases have occurred in four MMAs, MMA 3
(-200), MMA 13 (-50), MMA 33 (-50) and MMA 42 (-100).
The season for MMA 14 and 41 have been
adjusted to reflect an earlier opening and closure (September 14/2002 to
December 14/2002) and is now consistent with other MMAs in the central
region of the province.
Caribou
On the island, increases have occurred to
Caribou Management Areas (CMA) - CMA 61 (+50) and CMA 63 (+50). CMA 65,
Avalon Peninsula, will be closed to caribou hunting starting this season
pending a review of the Avalon herd�s status during the winter/spring of
2002 with a possibility of a hunt being established for 2003. It is believed
that the stag (male) component of the Avalon herd is low and must be
addressed before a new harvest strategy is determined.
Black Bear (Labrador)
Beginning in 2002, the spring black bear
season in Labrador has been extended and will have a new fixed closing date,
July 13, 2002.
Big Game Seasons
Moose - Newfoundland
Areas 1 to 13, 14,15 to 27, 37, 39 to 40 to 43 and
45
Sept. 14, 2002 to Dec. 14, 2002
Areas 28 to 36, 38, 44 and
47
Oct. 5, 2002 to Jan. 4, 2003
Area
3A
*Feb. 1, 2003 to Feb. 15, 2003
*Open to Harbour Deep residents (and members of a party licence for Area
3A) only who hold a valid big game licence for Area 3A
Moose - Labrador
Areas 48, 51 to 53, 57 and
58
Sept. 14, 2002 to Jan. 4, 2003
Areas 49, 50, 53A to 56 and
85
Sept. 14, 2002 to Mar. 15, 2003
Areas 59 and
60
Sept. 7, 2002 to Mar. 15, 2003
Caribou - Newfoundland
Areas 61 to 64, 66 to 69, 76 to
79
Sept. 14, 2002 to Dec. 14, 2002
Area
70
Sept. 14, 2002 to Sept. 28, 2002
Area
71
Sept. 7, 2002 to Nov. 9, 2002
Area
72
Sept. 14, 2002 to Oct. 12, 2002
Caribou - Labrador
Torngat
Mountains
Aug. 10, 2002 to April 30, 2003
George
River
Aug. 10, 2002 to April 30, 2003
Other
zones
To be announced
Black Bear - Newfoundland
Spring (2002) - All open
areas
May 11, 2002 to July 13, 2002
Fall (2001) - All open
areas
Sept.14, 2002 to Nov. 2, 2002
Spring (2003) - All open
areas
May 10, 2003 to July 12, 2003
Black Bear - Labrador
Spring (2002) All open
areas
April 1, 2002 to July13, 2002
Fall (2002) Torngat Mountains and George
River
Aug 10, 2002 to Nov. 30, 2002
Fall (2002) Labrador
South
Sept. 1, 2002 to Nov. 30, 2002
Spring (2003) All open
areas
April 1, 2003 to July 13, 2003
HIGHLIGHTS - SMALL GAME
On the island, the opening and
closing of ptarmigan shooting seasons have been adjusted in response to the
general opinions and preferences of a majority of hunters in the province to
have a later opening for ptarmigan hunting. The overall season length in
each of these zones has been unchanged (see season dates below).
New daily/field bag limits, six daily and 12
field bag, are in effect for ptarmigan shooting and snaring in the Topsails
area (island) starting this season.
Small Game Seasons
Ptarmigan
Shooting
Snaring
Avalon/Swift Current |
Sept. 28, 2002 to Nov. 9, 2002 |
Oct. 12, 2002 to Feb. 22,2003 |
Burin |
Sept. 28, 2002 to Nov. 9, 2002 |
CLOSED |
The Topsails |
Sept. 28, 2002 to Nov. 30, 2002 |
Oct. 12, 2002 to Feb. 22,2003 |
Remainder of Island |
Sept. 28, 2002 to Dec. 14, 2002 |
Oct. 12, 2002 to Feb. 22,2003 |
Labrador |
Oct. 1, 2002 to April 20, 2003 |
Oct. 1, 2002 to Mar. 31, 2003 |
Grouse
Shooting
Snaring
Island |
Sept. 21, 2002 to Dec. 28,2002 |
Oct. 12, 2002 to Feb. 22,2003 |
Labrador |
Oct. 1, 2002 to April 20, 2003 |
Oct. 1, 2002 to Mar. 31, 2003 |
Grouse
Shooting
Snaring
Island |
Sept. 21, 2002 to Dec. 28,2002 |
Oct. 12, 2002 to Feb. 22,2003 |
Labrador |
Oct. 1, 2002 to April 20, 2003 |
Oct. 1, 2002 to Mar. 31, 2003 |
Snowshoe Hare
Shooting
Snaring
Great Island |
Oct. 12, 2002 to Dec. 28,2002 |
Oct. 12, 2002 to Feb. 22, 2003 |
Little Bay Islands |
Oct. 12, 2002 to Nov. 2, 2002 |
Oct. 12,2002 to Nov. 2, 2002 |
Bell Island |
CLOSED |
Oct. 12, 2002 to Nov. 2, 2002 |
Remainder of island |
Oct. 12, 2002 to Feb. 22,2003 |
Oct. 12, 2002 to Feb. 22,2003 |
Labrador |
Oct. 1, 2002 to April 20, 2003 |
Oct. 1,2002 to Mar. 31, 2003 |
Arctic
Hare
Shooting
Snaring
Island |
CLOSED |
CLOSED |
Labrador |
Oct. 1, 2002 to April 20, 2003 |
Oct. 1,2002 to Mar. 31, 2003 |
HIGHLIGHTS - TRAPPING
Trapping seasons for island furbearer
species remain unchanged compared to last year, except the lynx season for
Zone C, which now opens Oct. 20, 2002 and closes Feb. 1, 2003. Licenced
trappers are advised that compulsory lynx registration and carcass
submission is required for the island. The deadline for lynx registration is
the close of business hours on Friday, February 7, 2003. Lynx carcass
submission for licenced trappers in Labrador is voluntary.
Renewal applications for beaver trapline
licences on the Island must be received on or before October 15, 2002.
Failure to renew beaver trapline licences may result in forfeiture of the
trapline.
In Labrador, boundaries and season dates
remain consistent with those announced in a press release by the Minister of
the Department of Tourism, Culture and Recreation on October 3, 2001.
Revisions were made at that time which included the creation of the Labrador
North and Labrador South Zone and adjustments to trapping season dates for
each of these new zones.
Trapping Seasons
Newfoundland
SPECIES |
Season Date |
Beaver |
Oct 20, 2002 - Mar 15,
2003 |
Ermine |
Oct 20, 2002 - Feb 28,
2003 |
Fox-colored |
Oct 20, 2002 - Feb 1,
2003 |
Fox - White |
Oct 20, 2002 - Feb 1,
2003 |
Coyote |
Oct 20, 2002- Feb 1,
2003 |
Lynx |
ZONES A & B
Jan 1, 2003 -Feb 1, 2003
ZONE C
Oct 20, 2002 - Feb 1, 2003 |
Marten |
No Open Season |
Mink |
Nov 1, 2002 - Feb 28,
2003 |
Muskrat |
Oct 20, 2002 - Mar 15,
2003 |
Otter |
Oct 20, 2002 - Mar15,
2003 |
Squirrel |
Oct 20, 2002 - Feb 28,
2003
|
Wolf |
No Open Season |
Fisher |
No Open Season |
Wolverine |
No Open Season |
Labrador
SPECIES |
Labrador North |
Labrador South |
Beaver |
Oct 15/2002 - May
31/2003 |
Oct 15/2002 - May
31/2003 |
Ermine |
Oct 15/2002 - Mar
31/2003 |
Nov 1/2002 - Mar 20/2003 |
Fox-colored |
Oct 15/2002 - Mar
31/2003 |
Nov 1/2002 - Mar 20/2003 |
Fox - White |
Oct 15/2002 - May
31/2003 |
Nov 1/2002 - Mar 20/2003 |
Coyote |
Oct 15/2002 - Mar
31/2003 |
Nov 1/2002 - Mar 20/2003 |
Lynx |
Oct 15/2002 - Mar
31/2003 |
Nov 1/2002 - Mar 20/2003 |
Marten |
Oct 15/2002 - Mar
31/2003 |
Nov 1/2002 - Mar 20/2003 |
Mink |
Nov 1/2002 - Mar 31/2003 |
Nov 1/2002 - Mar 20/2003 |
Muskrat |
Oct 5/2002 - May 31/2003 |
Oct 15/2002- May 31/2003 |
Otter |
Oct 15/2002 - Mar
31/2003 |
Oct 15/2002 - Mar
20/2003 |
Squirrel |
Oct 15/2002 - Mar
31/2003 |
Nov 1/2002- Mar 20/2003 |
Wolf |
Oct 15//2002 - Apr
30/2003 |
Nov 1/2002 - Apr 30/2003 |
Fisher |
No Open Season |
No Open Season |
Wolverine |
No Open Season |
No Open Season |
General Highlights
Coyote Hunting Program
Starting this year, hunters who hold a valid
big game or small game licence will be permitted to shoot coyotes during the
open season and during the period in which the licence is valid. For
licenced big game hunters, coyotes may only be harvested within their big
game management area where the licence is valid and up until the big game
licence is filled. Firearms and ammunition used for big game hunting may be
used to harvest coyote. For licenced small game hunters, coyotes may be
harvested in areas open to small game hunting and during the open season.
For the purposes of harvesting coyotes, small game hunters must use shotgun
ammunition, shot size # 2 or larger (ie. BB) or they may use a .22 rimfire
rifle as is currently permitted for small game hunting. All big game hunters
and small game hunters must report the numbers of coyotes taken and must
submit coyote carcasses to their nearest DFRA Office. Hunters may offer
coyote pelts for market. Fur Export Permits may be required for hunters
shipping furs out of province that are not handled through a fur agent.
NEW CLOSED AREA - Corduroy Brook, Grand
Falls-Windsor
A new NO SHOOTING area is in effect
for the Corduroy Brook Development Complex near Grand Falls-Windsor. Hunters
are advised that hunting with firearms is prohibited within this zone. For
complete information on area boundary description, please contact your
nearest DFRA Office.
White Moose Protection, MMA 43
Special protection has been provided for a
rare and interesting white moose that currently resides on the Port au Port
Peninsula, MMA 43. Sightings of this particular moose are common and local
residents have assumed a stewardship responsibility towards this unique
animal. Hunters who hold a valid moose hunting licence for MMA 43 should
be aware that these licences are not valid to shoot moose that are
predominately white in colour.
Media contact: John Blake, Manager,
Conservation Services, Wildlife Division, (709) 637-2354 or Chris Baldwin,
Training Specialist, Wildlife Division, (709) 637-2020 or
2002 09
12
10:10 p.m.
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