Moose
For the island of Newfoundland a moose quota of 27,590 licenses has been established for the 2024-25 hunting season: these include 18,390 Either Sex, 8,740 Male Only, and 460 Not-For-Profit (NFP) Licences. This represents an overall increase of 15 licences compared to 2023-24. Twenty-three moose management areas (MMA) have had quota adjustments, the breakdown of changes by area is available in the Island Moose Section.
The boundary description for MMA 45 has been amended to include the offshore island known as St. John Island in the MMA. The corresponding adjustments will be included in the hunting area map that accompanies a licence for that area.
In Labrador, there is an overall quota of 370 moose licences available for 2024-25. This represents an overall quota increase of 5 licenses; the breakdown of changes by area is available in the Labrador Moose Section.
Caribou
For the island of Newfoundland, a caribou quota of 583 licenses has been established for the 2024-25 hunting season: these include 373 Either Sex and 210 Male Only Licences. This represents an overall increase of eight licences compared to the 2023-24. The breakdown of changes by area is available in the Island Caribou Section.
The results from earlier initiatives supporting the re-introduction of Newfoundland woodland caribou on the Grey Islands (Bell Island and Groias Island) has provided new opportunities to re-establish quotas and hunting opportunities for both areas, with a new licence quota of five either-sex resident licences and three either-sex non-resident licences.
Advisory to Big Game Applicants
A number of moose and caribou management area surveys are being conducted during the winter of 2024 and 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 Applications Online Only
The big game licence application process for the resident moose/caribou draw is available as an online service only. Applicants will be notified electronically via email when the online big game application becomes available and when the big game draw is completed. Eligible hunters must have an online account to log into the Department’s 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, NL Driver’s Licence/NL Photo ID and telephone number.
Black Bear and Trapper Licence Applications Online Only
The licence application process for the resident black bear and resident trappers licences are now available as an online service only. Eligible hunters and trappers must have an online account to log into the Department’s 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. Please include your name, NL Driver’s Licence/NL Photo ID and telephone number in your email correspondence.
When applying and providing payment please allow 48 hours for payments to go through to avoid purchase of multiple licences. If you are concerned about your payment going through please contact the Wildlife Division through the means listed above.
Program for Hunters with a Disability
As part of the 2022-2026 Moose Management Plan, the Department of Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture acknowledged its commitment to improve access for persons with disabilities as well as creating opportunities to help keep senior hunters involved in hunting to effectively manage moose resources. The Department is continuing its review of current legislation, consulting with various stakeholders and assessing newer licencing strategies with a goal of implementing new provisions in the 2025-26 hunting season.
Notice to Trappers
Breakaway Devices
Current best practices involving the use of breakaway devices being added to neck snares will become mandatory on the island of Newfoundland starting in the 2025-26 season trapping terrestrial furbearers such as lynx, fox, coyote and wolf. These measures are being implemented to reduce incidental captures of moose and caribou. These measures are being announced now to provide trappers with ample opportunity to modify existing snares or replace equipment as necessary. More information is available in the Trapping Practices to Avoid Non-Target Species section.
Migratory Game Bird Hunting
Environment Climate Change Canada, Canadian Wildlife Service is currently considering regulatory changes for Migratory Game Bird Hunting in Newfoundland and Labrador. The public consultation period for these regulatory changes has concluded, and it is anticipated that the final regulations will be published in the Canada Gazette, Part II in late spring 2024. For more information, please see, Proposals to amend the Canadian Migratory Birds Regulations – 2024: consultation document, hunting seasons 2024-2025 and 2025-2026 – Canada.ca