April 18, 2012
Hunting and Trapping Guide and Big Game Licence
Applications Available Online
The 2012-13 Hunting and Trapping Guide and big game licence applications
are now available online at
www.wildlife.gov.nl.ca,
and print copies will be
mailed out at the end of the month to all qualified resident hunters who are
eligible for this year’s big game licence draw. Eligible hunters will be
able to file an application or request priority pool advancement in this
year’s big game moose or caribou licence draw online, as well as process
their spring and fall black bear licence applications and payments.
“We are very cognizant of the diverse interests that exist in managing and sustaining our wildlife resources for the benefit of our residents and those that visit our province,” said the Honourable Terry French, Minister of Environment and Conservation. “This year’s game management plans are reflected in the 2012-13 Hunting and Trapping Guide and support the Provincial Government’s overall objectives in sustaining wildlife populations, while also ensuring continued harvest objectives. By engaging the public and stakeholders on issues that are relevant to wildlife conservation and sustainability, we can ensure the best possible benefits are derived from our resources for present and future generations.”
On the Island of Newfoundland, the overall moose quota for the 2012-13 season is 32,810 (17,620 either-sex, 15,090 male-only or calf and 100 female-only or calf) and is a decrease of 630 licences compared to the 2011-12 season. The ratio of male-only and either-sex licences has also been restructured to reflect past practices where more traditional 50/50 splits occurred. Of the available moose licences, 250 will be provided to registered non-profit and charitable organizations. Applicants for the charitable licences are advised that a new deadline date of June 1, 2012 has been established for submitting applications. The season dates for all provincially-managed moose management areas on the Island have been reduced by one week. Caribou hunting seasons and quotas for the Island remain unchanged from the 2011-12 season.
Further management changes for 2012-13 include a one-week delay in the opening dates for all ptarmigan zones on the Island, as well as a one-week earlier closure, except for the Avalon/Swift Current and Burin zones which have traditionally had earlier closures. These changes are designed to aid the recovery of ptarmigan during a period when their numbers are at a naturally-occurring low in the population cycle. Also, eligible big game hunters who purchase a black bear licence in 2012 for bear management areas on the Island of Newfoundland will be permitted to use the same licence in both the spring and fall seasons.
In Labrador, 205 moose licences are available, 35 of which are provided to the Nunatsiavut Government for use in moose management areas within the Labrador Inuit Settlement Area. Ongoing research and monitoring efforts continue to assess the cause and current rate of the decline that is still occurring within the George River caribou herd. Over the next few months, the Provincial Government will undertake consultations with Aboriginal groups, the Government of Quebec and other stakeholders regarding future conservation measures, including the possible establishment of a Total Allowable Harvest for George River caribou for the 2012-13 season.
Eligible big game hunters may participate in the provincial moose and
Island caribou draw for a licence or pool advancement by returning an
application by mail or by visiting
www.wildlife.gov.nl.ca.
The deadline for
receipt of moose and caribou applications is the close of business on June
1, 2012. In order to ensure receipt of your licence prior to the start of
the season on May 5, spring bear hunters should ensure their applications
are received on or before April 27. However, applications for the spring and
fall bear season will be accepted up until June 29, 2012.
For additional copies of the 2012-13 Hunting and Trapping Guide, please
contact a wildlife division office. The guide is also available online at
www.gov.nl.ca/env/wildlife/hunting/hunttrap.pdf.
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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
BACKGROUNDER
Highlights of the 2012-13 Hunting and Trapping Guide
Application Deadlines
The deadline for receipt of moose/caribou applications (by mail or online)
for the 2012 big game licence draw is the close of business on Friday, June
1, 2012. Black bear applications and payments must be received by the close
of business on Friday, April 27, 2012 for the spring season and on Friday,
June 29, 2012 for the fall season in order to guarantee receipt of your
licence before the season begins. Please note that black bear
applications/payments must be mailed separately from moose/caribou
applications.
Non-Profit/Charitable Moose Licence Applications
The deadline for registered non-profit and charitable moose licence
applications is the close of business on Friday, June 1, 2012. Applications
and additional information about this program is available from the wildlife
division or
www.gov.nl.ca/env/wildlife/permits/nfpapplication.pdf
Hunting on a Sunday
For 2012-13, hunting on a Sunday is permitted between October 7, 2012 and
April 30, 2013 throughout all areas of Newfoundland and Labrador, provided
that a person is in possession of a valid licence and that the season for
the game being hunted is open. The hunting of game on a Sunday is permitted
throughout all inland and coastal areas of Newfoundland and Labrador during
this period.
Coyote Shooting Licence
The season for holders of a coyote shooting licence begins on September 8,
2012 and closes on July 13, 2013. Holders of this licence type are permitted
to use center-fire rifles up to and including a .225 calibre or a shotgun
using shot size #2 or larger (slugs are not permitted).
Small Game
Snarers are only permitted to use 22-gauge brass wire or six-strand picture
cord attached to a firm anchor to snare snowshoe hare (rabbits), grouse or
ptarmigan in all areas open to snaring on the Island of Newfoundland. This
assists with ongoing efforts to prevent the accidental capture of the
threatened Newfoundland marten and other non-target species.
Adjustments have been made to ptarmigan season dates to aid recovery during naturally-occurring low population cycles. The wildlife division is continuing its ptarmigan wing tip collection program in order to assess age structure of the harvest and help in developing population trends. Hunters are asked to cooperate by submitting the wings of harvested ptarmigan. For further information, please see the Hunting and Trapping Guide or contact 709-637-2892 or 709-729-2630.
Furbearers
The lynx trapping season for Zone A on the Island of Newfoundland has been
adjusted to open four weeks later than the 2011-12 trapping season to better
reflect pelt primeness and improve fur prices at auction.
Hunter/Trapper Programs
To recognize and encourage participation among young hunters and anglers in
Atlantic Canada, the provinces of Newfoundland and Labrador and New
Brunswick have endorsed the Youth Hunting/Fishing Exchange Program for 2012.
In Newfoundland and Labrador, the opportunity to be considered for the Youth
Hunting/Fishing Exchange Program is open to all residents between the ages
of 12 and 17 who complete a Firearms Safety/Hunter Education Course or take
part in a wildlife division-sanctioned event between July 2011 and June
2012.
The wildlife division also sponsors a variety of other initiatives such as the Youth Hunter Skills Event, How to Hunt Coyote/Black Bear and How to Trap Coyote workshops. These involve other partnering organizations and are hosted at various locations throughout the province. For more information about these and other conservation education programs, please contact the wildlife division at 709-637-2006 or visit www.gov.nl.ca/env/wildlife/education/index.html.
Big Game Highlights
Moose (Island)
On the Island, increases have been made to licence quotas in Moose
Management Areas (MMAs) 2E (400), 8 (100), 12 (50), 15 (100), 18 (50), 21
(100), 23 (100), 27 (50), 28 (100), 28A (15), 37 (50), 38 (30), 42 (50) and
44 (100). Decreases have been made to licence quotas in MMAs 1 (-255), 2
(-300), 5 (-100), 6 (-50), 13 (-150), 24 (-50), 31 (-300), 32 (-50), 34
(-150), 40 (-100), 43, (-100), 45 (-300) and 47 (-20). 250 licences are
available to charitable and not-for-profit organizations (an additional 5
are available in Terra Nova National Park). The total quota is 32,810 for a
total decrease of 630 licences. Of the 32,810 licences, 17,620 are
either-sex, 15,090 are male-only or calf and 100 are female-only or calf.
28,885 of these licences are available to residents and 3925 to
non-residents. All MMAs have had season dates shortened to reflect those of
the 2010-11 season.
Caribou (Island)
On the Island, licence quotas for caribou will remain the same as the 2011
hunting season at 740 animals consisting of 390 either-sex and 350 male-only
licences. 474 of these licences are available to residents and 266 to
non-residents.
An update on the province’s Newfoundland Caribou Strategy is contained in the 2012-13 Hunting and Trapping Guide and outlines progress to date and an understanding of the current health and status of caribou populations on the Island.
Black Bear (Island)
Beginning this year, black bear licences issued for Island bear management
areas permit hunters to hunt in both the spring and fall seasons under a
single licence. The previous bag limit of two bears per licence still
applies.
Moose (Labrador)
In Labrador, licence quotas for moose will remain the same as the 2011
hunting season at 205 either-sex licences, 35 of which are provided to the
Nunatsiavut Government for use in moose management areas within Labrador
Inuit Lands.
Caribou (Labrador)
Substantial changes were announced for George River caribou for both the
2010-11 and 2011-12 seasons. Changes to Labrador caribou harvest management
guidelines for the 2012-13 hunting season will be announced by the
Department of Environment and Conservation as information becomes available.
These changes may include the implementation of a Total Allowable Harvest
(TAH).
Big Game Seasons 2012-13
| Moose – Newfoundland | |
| Area 1 to 2B, 3 to 27, 37, 39 to 43 and 45 | September 8, 2012 to December 30, 2012 |
| Area 28, 29 to 36, 38, 44 and 47 | October 6, 2012 to January 27, 2013 |
| Area 2E | October 9, 2012 to January 27, 2013 |
| Area 28A | October 9, 2012 to January 13, 2013 |
| Moose – Labrador | |
| All Areas | September 8, 2012 to March 10, 2013 |
| Caribou – Newfoundland | |
| Area 61, 62, 64, 66 to 69 and 76 to 79 | September 8, 2012 to December 9, 2012 |
| Area 70 | September 15, 2012 to October 7, 2012 |
| Area 71 | September 1, 2012 to November 4, 2012 |
| Area 72 | September 8, 2012 to October 14, 2012 |
| Black Bear – Newfoundland | |
| Spring 2012 (All Open Areas) | May 5, 2012 to July 7, 2012 |
| Fall 2012 (All Open Areas) | September 8, 2012 to November 4, 2012 |
| Spring 2013 (All Open Areas) | May 4, 2013 to July 6, 2013 |
| Black Bear – Labrador | |
| Spring 2012 (All Open Areas) | April 1, 2012 to July 13, 2012 |
| Fall 2012 (George River Zone) | August 10, 2012 to November 30, 2012 |
| Fall 2012 (Labrador South Zone) | September 1, 2012 to November 30, 2012 |
| Spring 2013 (All Open Areas) | April 1, 2013 to July 13, 2013 |
Coyote Shooting Season 2012-13
| Province-wide | September 8, 2012 to July 13, 2013 |
Small Game Seasons 2012-13
| Ptarmigan | Shooting | Snaring |
| Avalon/Swift Current | September 22, 2012 to November 11, 2012 | October 13, 2012 to February 24, 2013 |
| Burin | September 22, 2012 to November 11, 2012 | CLOSED |
| The Topsails | September 22, 2012 to November 18, 2012 | October 13, 2012 to February 24, 2013 |
| Bell Island | September 22, 2012 to November 11, 2012 | CLOSED |
| Remainder of Island | September 22, 2012 to December 2, 2012 | October 13, 2012 to February 24, 2013 |
| Labrador | October 1, 2012 to April 20, 2013 | October 1, 2012 to March 31, 2013 |
| Grouse | Shooting | Snaring |
| Island | September 15, 2012 to December 30, 2012 | October 13, 2012 to February 24, 2013 |
| Bell Island | September 15, 2012 to December 30, 2012 | CLOSED |
| Labrador | October 1, 2012 to April 20, 2013 | October 1, 2012 to March 31, 2013 |
| Snowshoe Hare | Shooting | Snaring |
| Great Island | October 13, 2012 to December 30, 2012 | October 13, 2012 to December 30, 2012 |
| Little Bay Islands | October 13, 2012 to November 4, 2012 | October 13, 2012 to November 4, 2012 |
| Bell Island | CLOSED | CLOSED |
| Remainder of Island | October 13, 2012 to February 24, 2013 | October 13, 2012 to February 24, 2013 |
| Labrador | October 1, 2012 to April 20, 2013 | October 1, 2012 to March 31, 2013 |
| Arctic Hare | Shooting | Snaring |
| Island | CLOSED | CLOSED |
| Labrador | October 1, 2012 to April 20, 2013 | October 1, 2012 to March 31, 2013 |
Trapping Highlights
Renewal applications for beaver trapline licences on the Island of Newfoundland must be received on or before October 15, 2012. Failure to renew beaver trapline licences may result in forfeiture of the trapline.
The dates for the lynx season for Zone A on the Island of Newfoundland have been adjusted to run from December 1, 2012 to December 31, 2012 to better reflect pelt primeness. Trappers must surrender all lynx (pelt and carcass) trapped accidentally to a Department of Natural Resources office within seven days of the time of capture. Trappers will be paid $25 for lynx taken this way.
In Labrador, licenced trappers are asked to voluntarily submit lynx carcasses to the nearest Department of Natural Resources office not later than seven days after the date of capture. The Wildlife Division will pay $50 to Labrador trappers for lynx carcass submissions.
Trapping Seasons 2012-13
Newfoundland
| Species | Season Dates |
| Beaver | October 20, 2012 - March 15, 2013 |
| Muskrat | October 20, 2012 - March 15, 2013 |
| Otter | October 20, 2012 - March 15, 2013 |
| Mink | November 1, 2012 - February 28, 2013 |
| Coyote | October 20, 2012 - February 1, 2013 |
| Fox, Coloured | October 20, 2012 - February 1, 2013 |
| Fox, White | October 20, 2012 - February 1, 2013 |
| Lynx | December 1, 2012 – December 31, 2012 (Zone A Only) |
| Ermine (Weasel) | October 20, 2012 - February 28, 2013 |
| Squirrel | October 20, 2012 - February 28, 2013 |
Labrador
| Species | Labrador North | Labrador South |
| Beaver | October 15, 2012 - May 31, 2013 | October 15, 2012 - May 31, 2013 |
| Muskrat | October 5, 2012 - May 31, 2013 | October 15, 2012 - May 31, 2013 |
| Otter | October 15, 2012 - March 31, 2013 | October 15, 2012 - March 20, 2013 |
| Mink | November 1, 2012 - March 1, 2013 | November 1, 2012 - March 20, 2013 |
| Coyote | October 15, 2012 - March 31, 2013 | November 1, 2012 - March 20, 2013 |
| Fox, Coloured | October 15, 2012 - March 31, 2013 | November 1, 2012 - March 20, 2013 |
| Fox, White | October 15, 2012 - May 31, 2013 | November 1, 2012 - March 20, 2013 |
| Lynx | October 15, 2012 - March 31, 2013 | November 1, 2012 - March 20, 2013 |
| Wolf | October 15, 2012 - April 30, 2013 | November 1, 2012 - April 30, 2013 |
| Ermine (Weasel) | October 15, 2012 - March 31, 2013 | November 1, 2012 - March 20, 2013 |
| Squirrel | October 15, 2012 - March 1, 2013 | November 1, 2012 - March 20, 2013 |
| Marten | October 15, 2012 - March 31, 2013 | November 1, 2012 - March 20, 2013 |
| Fisher | No Open Season | No Open Season |
| Wolverine | No Open Season | No Open Season |
2012 04 18 3:35 p.m.