Clyde Jackman, Minister of Environment and Conservation, announced today that applications for the 2006-07 moose and caribou draw and black bear licences have been mailed to all qualified big game hunters in the province. Enclosed with the applications is the 2006-2007 Newfoundland and Labrador Hunting and Trapping Guide.

Minister Jackman advised hunters to thoroughly read the 2006-2007 Hunting and Trapping Guide before completing their application. The guide contains detailed information on this year's wildlife management plan for provincial game and furbearer species, including opening and closing dates, hunting and non-hunting zones and other changes related to big game and small game hunting and trapping.

In this year's management plan, 26,255 moose licences and 4,635 caribou licences are available on the island for the 2006-07 hunting season. This represents an overall provincial decrease of 205 moose licences and a decrease of 970 caribou licences compared to the 2005-06 hunting season. Recent evidence suggests that many of the major caribou herds on the island are experiencing a population decline. Neither the extent nor the rate of decline, have been ascertained to date.

"The big game hunt is of considerable economic and social value to the province," said Minister Jackman. "Ensuring that the management of the hunt is continued in a sustainable manner, approximately $3 million has been committed this year to proceed with a two-year caribou monitoring program and develop a caribou management strategy to address the caribou declines.

Minister Jackman also noted that government will establish an advisory committee to help guide the development of a caribou strategy, as recommended by the Newfoundland and Labrador Outfitters’ Association.

In Labrador, 185 moose licences are available for the 2006-07 hunting season. Hunters are advised that aerial surveys of several island moose management and caribou management areas are being conducted and analyzed. In light of these surveys, changes may occur to licence quotas in these areas before the draw is complete.

"Our wildlife resources provide tremendous benefits to us socially, economically and culturally," said Minister Jackman. "That is why we must continue to manage wildlife and wildlife habitat in a sustainable way and in a manner that we can all benefit. Most importantly, we must all share in the responsibility to ensure that wildlife continues to be enjoyed now and for generations to come."

Applications for the big game draw and spring black bear licences for the island should be filed online or may be returned to the Wildlife Division in Corner Brook before the close of business on Friday, April 21. Applications for the fall black bear licences for the island should be filed online or be received by the close of business on Friday, June 16. Applicants should note that at least two weeks are required for the processing of black bear licences.

All eligible resident big game hunters have the option of applying in the provincial moose and island caribou draw for a licence or pool advancement on the Internet by visiting www.wildlife.gov.nl.ca. Minister Jackman said that a considerable number of hunters are now using government's online service which has a direct benefit of being able to complete the draw process in a much shorter time period. He added that big game hunters who prefer to use the mail-in application process can still do so if they do not have access to a computer.

"Responsible hunting and trapping is important to the overall success of our fur and game management programs," said the minister. "I encourage all hunters and trappers to keep conservation in mind and hope each of you have a safe and enjoyable season."

Media contact: Tina Coffey, Communications, (709)729-5783, 728-8650

Resident big game licence draw applicants for provincial moose and island caribou can apply and view their licence draw results via the Internet. The results will be available only after the draw is complete. Big game applications mailed out to all eligible resident big game hunters will include online access code information specific to each individual application. Hunters are advised to keep this information in a secure location. Specific information regarding the online big game licence application process is included in the 2006-07 Newfoundland and Labrador Hunting and Trapping Guide.

The Wildlife Division continues to update individual files for all residents on our Wildlife Information Management System. Hunters, trappers and guides are required to provide a photo identification number or driver licence number from the Department of Government Services, Motor Registration Division by November 1. For more information on obtaining a photo identification number please visit: http://www.gov.nl.ca/gs/mr/dl.stm

The Labrador Inuit Land Claims Agreement (Agreement) between the Labrador Inuit Association, the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador and the Government of Canada came into effect December 1, 2005. The agreement brings changes every harvester should know about with respect to hunting, fishing and gathering. Subject to conservation restrictions, agreement beneficiaries have the right to harvest up to their level of need in the Settlement Area without permits or licenses. Non-beneficiaries will continue to harvest under provincial laws but must obtain permits from the Nunatsiavut Government to access Labrador Inuit Lands for harvesting purposes. To find out more about your rights and responsibilities on Labrador Inuit Lands, please contact: Department of Lands and Resources, Nunatsiavut Government, Telephone: (709) 896-8582, Fax: (709) 896-2610, E-mail: soliver@nunatsiavut.com

Beginning November 5, 2006, hunting on a Sunday is permitted up until the general closure of big game seasons for moose or caribou on the island and caribou in Labrador. Eastern Region – November 5, 2006 to January 7, 2007, Western Region – November 5, 2006 to December 10, 2006 and Labrador – November 5, 2006 to April 30, 2007. Hunters who possess a valid hunting licence may hunt game on a Sunday up until the general closure for big game in each region or the close of the season for the species being hunted, whichever comes first. Please review the 2006-07 Newfoundland and Labrador Hunting and Trapping Guide for more details.

Youth Hunting/Fishing Exchange Program

To encourage participation among young hunters and anglers in Atlantic Canada, the provinces of Newfoundland and Labrador and New Brunswick have endorsed Youth Hunting/Fishing Exchange Program for 2006. 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 Firearm Safety/Hunter Education Course between July 2005 and June 2006. More details are outlined in this year’s Hunting and Trapping Guide.

BIG GAME QUOTA CHANGES

Moose (Island)

On the island, increases to licence quotas have occurred in 10 Moose Management Areas (MMA) - MMA 1 (+100), MMA 6 (+50), MMA 11 (+50), MMA 29 (+100), MMA 32 (+50), MMA 33 (+100), MMA 35 (+75), MMA 36 (+50) and MMA 43(+50) and MMA 45 (+100) while decreases have occurred in eleven MMA= s, MMA 7 (-110), MMA 9 (-100), MMA 15 (-150), MMA 16 (-100), MMA 22 (-100), MMA 25 (-100), MMA 26 (-100), MMA 27 (-50), MMA 41 (-50) and MMA 42 (-100) and MMA 44 (-50).

On the island, decreases to the licence quota have occurred in seven Caribou Management Areas (CMA) - CMA 61 (-300), CMA 63 (-400), CMA 64 (-100) and CMA 66 (-50) CMA 67(-50), CMA 78 (-20) and CMA 79 (-50)

A significant boundary change has occurred between CMA 62 (Buchans) and 63 (Grey River) that better reflects the current range and distribution of caribou herds for these areas. Hunters applying for a licence in these areas are advised to consult the quotas and reference map in the 2006-07 Hunting and Trapping Guide before applying for a licence in these areas.

Beginning in this fall (2006), a two black bear bag limit per licence will be reinstated for the fall and spring (2007) seasons on the island. Black bear hunting will also be permitted in Moose/Bear Management Area 47 beginning this fall.

• The Wildlife Division will continue to monitor the use of approved snaring devices in modified snaring zones (Charlottetown Enclave, Terra Nova, Northwest Grand Lake and Red Indian Lake). Approved snaring devices include 22 gauge brass wire and six-strand picture cord. These wires can be set without a coil device but must be attached to a solid anchor to ensure that they will effectively release marten. Snare sets using other wire types (ie. stainless steel) may be used but must be attached to a coil device. For more information, please contact the Wildlife Division office in Corner Brook at (709) 637-2004.
• The ptarmigan shooting season on the island opens on September 23, 2006. This is the fourth year of a five year management plan for ptarmigan seasons on the island.
• In Labrador, small game licence holders are permitted to harvest porcupine (shooting only) during the open season for small game. This hunting season (2006-07) represents the second year of a three year pilot program which allows the harvest of porcupine in Labrador. The Wildlife Division requests that hunters submit the skulls or lower jawbones of harvested porcupines to a Department of Natural Resources office. Hunters are asked to attach a note indicating the licence number, date of kill and location of harvest.

Small Game Seasons 2006-07

For further information, please contact:

John Blake, (709) 637-2354, e-mail johnblake@gov.nl.ca
Chris Baldwin, (709) 637-2020, e-mail chrisbaldwin@gov.nl.ca

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New State Record Alligator for Georgia
I tell ya'll it was the fight of the century. We had been hunting since right after dark. Saw less than a dozen Gators. Most of them were this year's model or last year's. Nothing legal at all. Spotted 2 at about 500 yards that appeared to be legal so we start easing up on them and they just dropped on us. Very skittish. I forgot my rod with 100 lb test line and a 12/0 treble hook, so we let them stay where they were and went on looking.