The Department of Environment and Conservation advises the public that the Seal Lake zone in Labrador is now open for caribou hunting.

The movement of the George River caribou herd will continue to be monitored and additional management areas may be opened, pending movement of animals to those areas. The opening of any additional zones will be publicly announced. The Labrador caribou hunting zones currently open are the George River, Bay of Islands, Big River and Seal Lake.

Additional conservation measures for the George River caribou herd were announced on November 9, 2010. As of that date, the commercial caribou hunt, non-resident caribou hunting via the use of outfitters, and the resident caribou licence transfer system for Labrador residents have been suspended. Additionally, the allowable harvest has been reduced to one caribou per licensed hunter from the former limit of two.

Resident hunters are also reminded that they must possess their Outdoor Identification Card (OIC) while hunting. The OIC is issued by the Wildlife Division and acknowledges that a person has met the province's compulsory hunter education training requirements.

Hunters can also contact the Department of Environment and Conservation office in Happy Valley-Goose Bay or Department of Natural Resources offices in Wabush, North West River and Happy Valley-Goose Bay to obtain additional information on hunting zone openings and boundary descriptions.

For further information, please call 709- 896-5107 or e-mail shannoncrowley@gov.nl.ca 

Hunting zone descriptions and maps can be found at: www.gov.nl.ca/env/wildlife/hunting/cariboulab.html

- 30 --