Big Game
Moose
On the Island of Newfoundland, a total quota of 27,515 moose licenses including 19,165 either sex, 7,890 male only and 460 not-for-profit are available for this coming hunting season. This represents an overall decrease of 75 licenses compared to the 2024-25 season. Thirteen moose management areas (MMA) have quota adjustments. The breakdown of changes is available in the Island Moose Section.
In Labrador, a total quota of 373 either sex moose licenses are available. This represents an increase of three licenses compared to the 2024-2025 season. Three MMA’s have quota adjustments. The breakdown of changes is available in the Labrador Moose Section
Caribou (Island)
On the Island of Newfoundland, a total quota of 612 caribou licences including 353 Either Sex and 259 Male Only are available. This represents an increase of 16 licences compared to the 2024-25 season. Quotas have been adjusted in two caribou management areas (CMA) which include the new CMA 80 (Upper Grey Island). A new season date is established for CMA 71 (Lower Grey Island) and CMA 80 which opens September 14 and closes November 22, 2025. The breakdown of changes is available in the Island Caribou Section.
Black Bear (Island)
Beginning in the spring of 2025, former Black Bear Management Areas on the island of Newfoundland will be consolidated into newly established regional Black Bear Management Areas (BBMA) to enhance opportunities for hunting and to improve harvest return information that supports black bear management. Additionally, all fall black bear management zones that are open to hunting will have season dates extended by one week, now closing November 30, 2025. For more information, please refer to the Island Black Bear Management Area section.
Survey Advisory to Big Game Applicants
Moose and caribou management area surveys conducted during the winter of 2025 may potentially influence quotas once the results are analyzed. Any changes to quotas will be announced prior to the big game licence draw.
Big Game Area Maps
Big game area paper maps will no longer be mailed out with the moose/caribou and black bear licence package. Online maps are available for print or download by clicking here and provide a legal description of big game moose, caribou and black bear management area boundaries that hunters may use for reference purposes and to report harvest information. For more information, please contact the Wildlife Division.
Reminder – Online Applications Only
The big game licence application process for the resident moose/caribou draw and black bear, trapper and guide licences are available online only. Applicants will be notified electronically via email when the big game online applications become available, and the big game draw is completed. Applicants must have an online account to log into the Department of Forestry, Agriculture and Lands Wildlife Information Management System (WIMS) portal. For further information about our online services, please contact the Wildlife Division at 709-637-2025/709-729-2630 or by email at wildlifelicense@gov.nl.ca. Include your name, Newfoundland and Labrador Driver’s Licence/Photo ID and telephone number.
Ptarmigan Survey (Island)
A targeted study hunter attitudes regarding ptarmigan harvesting will be conducted through a mail-out survey, sent to a group of license holders on the Island of Newfoundland. These surveys offer wildlife managers a clearer picture of harvest and harvest activity and provide an opportunity for hunters to share feedback. The Ptarmigan Shooting License was separated from the Small Game License in efforts to improve ptarmigan management and to enhance direct engagement of ptarmigan hunters participating in the activity.
Participation in the survey will be completely voluntary and anonymous. Participants will have an opportunity to participate in a prize draw.
Heavy Metal Monitoring
A monitoring program is under development to assess the levels of heavy metals that may have accumulated in harvested big game animals and examine how these concentrations vary across the Island of Newfoundland. Elevated levels of heavy metals in meat or organs can pose health risks for humans if consumed in large quantities, making routine monitoring important.
Hunters may be asked for voluntary submissions of biological samples from harvested black bears, moose, and caribou, such as liver and kidney, to test for heavy metals. Incentives similar to cooperating hunter crests will be available for those who participate in the program.
Notice to Trappers
Breakaway Devices (Island)
Use of breakaway devices added to neck snares will become mandatory on the Island of Newfoundland starting in the 2025-26 trapping season for terrestrial furbearers such as lynx, fox, coyote and wolf. The snare shall include a breakaway device to cause the snare loop to disassemble when 340 kilograms or less of static force is applied. These measures are being implemented to reduce incidental captures of moose and caribou. More information is available in the Trapping Practices to Avoid Non-Target Species section.
Beaver Trapline Licensing System (Island)
Beginning in 2025-26, beaver traplines that are vacant at the start of the trapping season will be included for the entire season on a general areas list that will then be made available to holders of a trapper’s beaver licence. A person who is currently assigned a beaver trapline and continues to hold a valid beaver trapline licence and engages in active trapline activities required as part of the licence conditions will not be impacted by this change. More information is available in the General Information for Trappers section.
*Updated 9/12/25