The Department of Fisheries and Land Resources has completed the Big Game Licence Draw for the 2020-21 hunting season. Applicants can view the results online at the Wildlife Information Management System website. Applicants will also receive notification by mail in the coming days.
For the 2020-21 season there is an overall total of 28,339 licences for Newfoundland and Labrador. For the island portion of the province this includes 17,124 Either Sex, 10,356 Male Only; and 475 allocated to Not-for-Profit groups. This is a decrease of 1,205 licenses compared to 2019.
The 1,205 license reduction includes an additional 425 license reduction beyond the 780 announced in February 2020. This is the result of an extensive 2020 winter survey program that covered ten Moose Management Areas (MMAs) and identified three MMAs requiring quota reductions (MMAs 8, 28, and 44). This represents the largest number of MMAs ever surveyed in one season by the department.
For Labrador there is a total of 384 Either Sex moose licences – an increase of 15 licences compared to last year.
For the 2020-21 season all island Moose Management Area seasons will open on the same date, including Moose Management Reduction Zones 100 and 101. Effective for 2020-21 the moose hunting season starting date for the entire Island will be September 12, 2020 and close December 31, 2020, except in National Park zones. Bow-hunting seasons for moose in all island MMAs begins August 29, 2020.
Other new initiatives and changes for 2020-21 include:
- Moose/Caribou Jawbone Program: Beginning in 2020, successful big game hunters will be requested to submit the lower jawbone of a moose or caribou that has been harvested under their licence. A jawbone tag will be supplied with the licence (and) tags that accompany the big game licence. Jawbone drop boxes will be established at Department of Fisheries and Land Resources offices throughout the province.
- Black Bear: Beginning fall of 2020, black bear licences in Labrador will only be able to be purchased using the online process or mail-in application process. Hunters may choose to login to the Wildlife Information Management System or file a paper application. Black bear licences will no longer be sold at vendor locations in Labrador.
- Boundary Information: Moose Management Area 51 previously known as Grand Falls is now named Baikie Lake.
- Hunters are also encouraged to review the Hunting and Trapping Guide online at the Department of Fisheries and Land Resources website for important information regarding big and small game hunting regulations, season dates and hunter safety.
For information on the big game licence draw procedure, please call the department’s Wildlife Division at 709-637-2025 or email wildlifelicence@gov.nl.ca.
Individuals can pay for their big game licence online. If you are unable to pay online, payments may also be sent by mail to the Central Cashier’s Office via cheque of money order payable to the Newfoundland Exchequer to the address noted on the back of the Big Game Licence Draw Notice, or by contacting the Central’s Cashier’s Office at (709) 729-3042 to arrange for payment by VISA, MasterCard or debit card. Payments must be received by June 26, 2020 4:30 pm. In-person payments are not available at this time as counter service has been suspended in accordance with COVID-19 public safety protocols.
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“The annual completion of the big game draw is an occasion marked with great anticipation by thousands of hunters. Thanks to the dedicated efforts of staff with our Wildlife Division in processing applications, particularly in light of challenges associated with COVID-19, hunters are being informed of draw results in a timely manner. These efforts will enable hunters to effectively plan this year’s hunting and staycation activities.”
Honourable Gerry Byrne
Minister of Fisheries and Land Resources
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Media contact
Craig Renouf
Fisheries and Land Resources
709-637-2923, 640-6922
craigrenouf@gov.nl.ca