Environment and Conservation
Labrador and Aboriginal Affairs
February 25, 2011
Labrador Hunters Encouraged to Participate in
George River Caribou Harvest Survey
Labrador hunters are encouraged to participate in the George River caribou harvest survey by submitting both the lower jawbone and licence return for any caribou killed during the 2011-12 hunting season. Information from harvested animals is critical to research and management of game populations, with jawbones, in particular, providing important information on the age and overall health of the population of the animals being studied.
“The return of caribou jawbones and licence returns will help wildlife officials better quantify the harvest, and also provide valuable data regarding herd demographics,” said the Honourable Ross Wiseman, Minister of Environment and Conservation. “The information provided by hunters will allow our biologists to analyze important information regarding trends not only pertaining to the harvest, but age as well. At this stage in the decline of the George River herd, it is crucial to the management of this herd that as much information as possible be collected and analyzed to ensure its long-term sustainability.”
In response to the current decline in the George River caribou herd, the Provincial Government announced conservation measures 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 was suspended. Additionally, the allowable harvest was reduced to one caribou per licensed hunter from the former limit of two.
“Caribou hunting is an important aspect of Labrador culture, and employing adequate conservation measures is integral to the survival of the George River herd,” said the Honourable John Hickey, Minister of Labrador Affairs and MHA for Lake Melville. “This program will further our efforts, as we rely on the information we receive from hunters to help ensure the herd’s survival.”
The current population of the herd is 74,131, representing a significant decline from the previous census estimate of 385,000 in 2001. In 1993, a similar census estimated the herd at 776,000 animals.
The success of a management strategy for the long-term conservation of this important resource is dependent on cooperation and participation by all stakeholders. The Provincial Government is currently investigating an advisory committee option with all stakeholders, built on the common interest of caribou conservation. A multi-pronged approach will be utilized which includes: increased biological and harvest monitoring and research, adaptive harvest management, and education and stewardship programs.
Hunters are reminded that it is a condition of a caribou licence that the jawbone and hunting licence return be submitted within seven days after a caribou has been harvested. If an animal is not successfully harvested, hunters are still required to submit the licence return within seven days of the close of the hunting season. Jawbones can be dropped off at the wildlife division office in Happy Valley-Goose Bay, or offices of the Department of Natural Resources in Happy Valley-Goose Bay, Churchill Falls or Wabush. The wildlife division encourages the submission of jawbones and harvest information from all hunters, including those Aboriginal hunters who may not require a licence.
As an additional incentive to encourage hunters to participate in the Labrador caribou licence and jawbone return program, a special draw will be held on May 9, 2011 for a number of prizes, including hunting, outdoor safety, survival, and navigation equipment. More details on the draw will be provided in the 2011-12 Newfoundland and Labrador Hunting and Trapping Guide.
For more information about the Labrador caribou jawbone and licence return program, contact the wildlife division in Happy-Valley Goose Bay at 709-896-5107 or e-mail shannoncrowley@gov.nl.ca
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Media contacts:
| Melony O’Neill Director of Communications Department of Environment and Conservation 709-729-2575, 689-0928 moneill@gov.nl.ca |
John Tompkins Director of Communications Department of Labrador and Aboriginal Affairs 709-729-1674, 728-7762 jtompkins@gov.nl.ca |
2011 02 25 2:15 p.m.