Environment and Conservation
June 5, 2009

2009 Big Game Draw Completed and Licence Notifications Sent Out

Newfoundlanders and Labradorians once again expressed great interest in taking part in the 2009-10 big game hunting season, as 50,166 resident applications, representing over 61,000 resident hunters, were submitted online or by mail for the big game licence draw.

A total of 27,815 moose licences (which includes Labrador and non-resident licences) and 825 caribou licences (resident and non-resident) are available for this year�s hunt.

"Each year tens of thousands of residents and several thousand non-resident visitors take to the field to pursue our big game species � caribou, moose and black bear," said the Honourable Charlene Johnson, Minister of Environment and Conservation. "Our wildlife and wild spaces belong to the people of this province, and it is important that we all share in the responsibility of being good environmental stewards and use these resources wisely."

During this past winter, population census work was conducted in several moose and caribou management areas in the province. The results of this work have warranted changes to the licence quotas in two moose management areas. The quota for Area 41 has been decreased by 150, and Area 42 has been decreased by 75. This brings the total allocation of moose licences available for this year�s hunt on the island to 27,630, an increase of 345 licences from the 2008-09 hunting season. This is slightly less than the total quota published in the 2009-10 Hunting and Trapping Guide.

Significant reductions to island caribou quotas were previously announced in the hunting guide due to the overall decline in woodland caribou populations. Since the guide was published, additional winter census work has also been conducted in Caribou Management Area 77 and, along with other research information gathered under the caribou strategy, a further quota reduction of 80 licences has occurred. In total, Area 77 now has 180 less licences compared to the 2008-09 hunting season. In another caribou management area, Area 70, populations have shown a slight increase and have resulted in an additional 25 licences for that area. Overall, the total quota for caribou on the island is now 825 licences, and represents a decrease of 410 licences from last year.

"The information on the health and status of caribou and other wildlife in the province guides our planning around their long-term sustainability and management," said Minister Johnson. "Our government has committed significant resources to ensure that appropriate measures are taken towards research, management and public education regarding our various wildlife populations. Hunters, trappers and the general public also play a vital role in helping us meet our wildlife conservation and management objectives."

All big game applicants have been notified by mail whether they have been awarded a licence. Additionally, individuals who submitted applications can check results online by logging into the provincial Wildlife Information Management System using the login information contained in the application. To ensure licences and tags are received prior to the opening of the big game season, successful applicants are asked to pay licence fees online by July 31. These fees may also be paid by mail, or in person at the Central Cashier�s Office, East Block, Confederation Building, by June 26. Applicants who make payments after these dates may not receive their licences and tags prior to the opening of the big game season.

Hunters are reminded that fall black bear licences are also available, and individuals may apply for a licence and make payments online. Payments for a black bear licences are subject to the same deadlines as those for big game.

Resident hunters can obtain information about their draw results and priority status by visiting www.wildlife.gov.nl.ca or by calling 709-637-2025 or 709-729-2630.

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Media contact:

Melony O�Neill
Director of Communications
Department of Environment and Conservation
709-729-2575, 689-0928
moneill@gov.nl.ca 

2009 06 05                                                   11:50 a.m.


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