Government is committed to the inclusion for persons with disabilities and access to recreational hunting and angling opportunities. These activities are an important part of wildlife management and are valued cultural pursuits in our province.

PHAD Application Form

Information for the Applicant and Health Care Provider

“Health Care Provider” means a person licensed as a medical practitioner under the Medical Act, 2011, as a nurse practitioner under the Registered Nurses Act, 2008 or as a practitioner under the Optometry Act, 2012.

“Disability affecting hunting activities” means a permanent impairment or other permanent medical condition which, in the opinion of a health care provider, restricts a person’s ability to perform the activities of hunting, including shooting and retrieving a big game animal.

Note: General examples of hunting activity may include but is not limited to: walking and negotiating various outdoor terrain, streams, rivers or ponds; carrying, holding, operating and/or discharging a firearm or drawing a bow; and, lifting or carrying animal parts or equipment which may be in excess of 100 pounds.

“Disability affecting angling activities” means a permanent impairment or other permanent medical condition which, in the opinion of a health care provider, restricts a person’s ability to perform the activities of angling, including accessing a place from which to angle, retaining and releasing fish.

Note: General examples of angling may include but is not limited to: walking and negotiating various outdoor terrain, streams, rivers and ponds; carrying, holding and operating a fishing rod and reel; and, lifting or carrying animal parts or equipment which may be in excess 20 pounds.

“Designated hunter” means a person who has completed a hunter training course or program recognized by the minister and is specified by a hunter with a disability to shoot and retrieve a big game animal of the kind and sex named on the licence of the hunter with a disability, but does not include a person who is prohibited by the court from possessing a firearm or holding a big game licence.

“Designated angler” means a person who holds a valid inland fishery licence, river specific inland fishery licence or a valid family inland fishery licence and is specified by an angler with a disability to angle and retain a species of fish that the angler with a disability is permitted by law to catch and retain, but does not include a person who is prohibited by the court from holding an inland fishery licence.

“Hunter with a disability” means a person who holds a valid big game licence issued by the Minister and has a disability affecting hunting activities as prescribed in the Wild Life Act.

“Angler with a disability” means a person who holds a valid inland fishery licence, a river specific inland fishery licence or a valid family inland fishery licence issued by the Minister and has a disability affecting angling activities as prescribed in the Wild Life Act.

Hunting

All first time hunters, or those hunters who have not previously completed a hunter training course or program recognized by the minister, including a person who has a disability affecting hunting activities, shall, before becoming eligible for a big game licence draw, complete the Canadian Firearm Safety Course/Hunter Education Program, or similar hunter training course or program in another jurisdiction that is recognized by the Minister.

For the purposes of the Wild Life Regulations, a person who is legally blind may be exempted from the standard practical testing in the Canadian Firearm Safety/Hunter Education Program which requires vision to perform if he or she provides a certificate from a health care provider certifying that he or she is legally blind.

A person who is legally blind who completes the Canadian Firearm Safety/Hunter Education Program may apply for and receive a big game licence but is not entitled to possess or use a firearm for the purpose of hunting.

A hunter with a disability who receives a big game licence, shall in the case of person who is legally blind, and may in the case of a person with a disability affecting hunting, specify one designated hunter to shoot and retrieve the type and sex of big game animal named on the licence of the hunter with a disability provided that;

1. the designated hunter shall, at all times keep the hunter with a disability within sight or keep within 800 meters of the hunter with a disability and;
2. the designated hunter possesses the licence and tags of the hunter with a disability at all times while hunting for that hunter with a disability.

A designated hunter is not required to keep the hunter with a disability within sight, or keep within 800 meters of the hunter with a disability, when that designated hunter is in pursuit of an animal that he or she has injured.

A designated hunter may be designated by not more than one disabled hunter per season.

Angling

An angler with a disability may specify one designated angler to angle and retain the species set out in licence of the angler with a disability, in the area permitted and within the bag limits set by law.

A designated angler shall:

1. keep within 100 metres of the angler with a disability, except when in pursuit of a fish that has been hooked for the angler with a disability;
2. possess the licence and tags of the angler with a disability at all times while angling for that angler with a disability;
3. immediately affix and lock a tag to a salmon caught for the angler with a disability in the manner described in the Wild Life Regulations (i.e. affix the tag through the gills and mouth of the salmon so that it cannot be removed and by cutting out the month and day of retention).

Where a designated angler retains and tags a salmon, the angler with a disability shall immediately take possession of and retain the salmon.

How to Apply

1. If you already receive applications for the resident big game licence draw and have a Hunter Certificate Number you may apply for the PHAD by completing the application form and forwarding it to the Wildlife Division’s, Licencing Section at the address below, or
2. New big game licence applicants not presently receiving an application for the resident big game licence draw may submit this form after enrolling and completing a Firearm Safety/Hunter Education Course available at a College of the North Atlantic Campus near you.
   A person who is registered with the Wildlife Division as a “Hunter with a Disability” will receive an Outdoor Identification Card (OIC) with the a code “D” or “DN” on the card; D means disability affecting hunting and DN means legally blind. Possession of an OIC with either of these codes is also sufficient to designate an angler to angle on their behalf. Replacement OIC cards are available upon request.
3. Anglers with a disability who are not registered as a hunter with a disability and wish to designate an angler, must complete the application contained herein and forward to the Wildlife Division’s, Licencing Section at the address below. Once approved, a letter of confirmation will be issued to the applicant indicating their enrolment in the Program. An angler with a disability must possess this letter at all times while a designated angler is angling on their behalf.

For additional inquiries or to mail an application:

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