Licenced wolf and coyote hunters and trappers now have extra incentive to support wildlife research through the Newfoundland and Labrador Outfitters Association’s newly launched Canid Incentive Program.

Wildlife managers document the occurrence of gray wolf from Labrador on the Island of Newfoundland by collecting samples from canid carcasses to determine whether an animal is a coyote, wolf, or a hybrid of both. The Provincial Government currently offers licenced hunters and trappers a $25-fee for each canid carcass submitted to the department. Starting this hunting season, the Newfoundland and Labrador Outfitters Association is investing $50,000 to supplement the provincial fee through the Canid Incentive Program, which offers hunters and trappers an additional $35 for each legally harvested animal.

All canid carcasses must be submitted to a Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture office to be tagged with a unique registration number. This information is forwarded to the Newfoundland and Labrador Outfitters Association for an additional $35 payment, administered on a first-come, first-served basis to a maximum of 1,400 registered carcasses. All seasons and methods of capture must align with provincial regulations. For more information, contact the Wildlife Division at 709-637-2025 or the Newfoundland and Labrador Outfitters Association at 709-639-5926.

Wildlife managers use the information submitted by hunters and trappers to make science-based recommendations about wildlife management, including quotas and regulatory changes. Other programs include:

• Hunter Return Forms: These forms reflect trends hunters observe in the field, including harvest success rates, hunt duration, number and sex of moose observed, sex of harvested moose, and harvest locations. This information helps biologists monitor the status of moose populations and note any changes in hunter behaviour or moose populations that may occur between annual aerial surveys. Successful hunters, including those from last season who have not yet done so, are encouraged to submit their hunter return forms as soon as possible.
• Moose and Caribou Jawbone Collection Program: Jawbones collected from harvested moose and caribou provide wildlife managers with information on the health and status of populations, including age and growth patterns, condition, productivity, and recruitment. While all moose and caribou hunters are encouraged to cooperate, due to the limited harvest of caribou on the island of Newfoundland, it is very important that all resident and non-resident caribou hunters make a special effort to submit the lower jawbone of their harvest at the nearest Jawbone Drop Box. All participating big game hunters will receive a Cooperating Big Game Hunter Crest for supporting research and management objectives.
• Black Bear Tooth Collection Program: Analyzing the teeth of harvested black bears helps us better monitor bear populations, make management decisions, evaluate black bear hunting trends and evaluate the age structure and reproductive success of their population. Successful bear hunters can return information using the tooth envelope and instructions included with their licenses. Participating black bear hunters will receive a Cooperating Big Game Hunter Crest.

Quotes
“Wildlife managers rely on information provided by hunters and trappers to help paint a more complete picture of the status of our wildlife resources. With current changes in wolf and coyote populations, it is especially important for hunters, and particularly those in Labrador, to submit canid carcasses, which are critical to predicting the presence of wolves among resident coyotes on the island of Newfoundland. I encourage hunters and trappers to support this important research, and I thank the Newfoundland and Labrador Outfitters Association for their foresight and important contribution to sustainable wildlife management.”
Honourable Elvis Loveless
Minister of Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture

“The Newfoundland and Labrador Outfitters Association wants to help provincial wildlife managers learn more about canid predators in an effort to further help the survival and population growth of our Woodland Caribou. The best way we thought we could help was to aid the Provincial Government in its current program by investing $50,000 to increase the incentive for hunters and trappers to participate. Our hope is that this program results in the collection of more samples to support the department in its scientific research.”
Brad Ledrew
President, Newfoundland and Labrador Outfitters Association

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Learn more
Hunters and Trappers Play Vital Role in Assessing Wildlife Populations

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