2025 Island Ptarmigan Mail Out Survey

In 2022, the Wildlife Division of the Department of Forestry, Agriculture and Lands introduced a separate license for individuals wishing to shoot ptarmigan in the province. This change was made to isolate ptarmigan hunters from others who purchased small game licenses in the province and allow for a targeted study of ptarmigan harvest and hunter behavior.

More specifically, this study is designed to better quantify the number of ptarmigan hunters in the province and to gather valuable data on harvest and hunter attitudes. The survey will explore the social dynamics and harvest patterns providing insights into the motivations and experiences of hunters, thereby informing better management practices and policy decisions.

In collaboration with Grenfell Campus of Memorial University, a targeted study on ptarmigan harvest and hunter attitudes will be conducted this fall/winter through a mail-out survey. This survey will be sent to a subset of license holders on the island of Newfoundland. The data gathered will give managers a clearer understanding of harvest and hunting activity and at the same time provide an opportunity for hunters to provide feedback to resource managers.

Participation in the survey is completely voluntary and anonymous. As a thank you for participating, survey respondents will have the chance to enter a prize draw for a $200 gift certificate.

A similar survey is intended to be developed and delivered to Labrador ptarmigan hunters in 2026.