Black Bear Management Areas
Regional Black Bear Management Areas are in effect with for the Spring and Fall 2026 Season on the island of Newfoundland. Regional BBMAs incorporate the area boundaries for previous Black Bear Management Areas (BMAs) that correspond to Moose Management Areas (MMAs).
When applying for a Black Bear Licence you can use the map and table below to identify the Regional BBMA(s) you wish to hunt.
** The open seasons for the trapping and shooting of black bear noted above for the island of Newfoundland means those moose management area boundaries described in Schedule A of the Moose Hunting Order, Newfoundland and Labrador.
Licence Returns and Reporting Harvest
When filling out 2026 Licence returns to report a harvest, please include the relevant MMA map and appropriate block information to complete your return. Maps are available through the links in the table above.
Important Notes:
- A valid black bear licence may be used for both the spring and fall 2026 season.
- Bag limits remain at two black bears per licence. Hunters may either harvest two bears in spring, two in fall, or one in each season.
- Female bears (sows) accompanied by cubs less than 1 year old may not be harvested by shooting. Cubs less than one year old must not be harvested by shooting. See the figure below to help determine black bear age classification.
- Black bear hunters may apply for additional licences in the same Regional BBMA or other BBMAs.
- The fall bow hunting season on the island of Newfoundland begins on August 29, 2026 (Note: this does not include cross bows). There is no preseason bow hunt for the spring season.
- Licenced black bear hunters are permitted to trap black bears using Aldrich foot snares or similar devices (designed to capture and hold bears by the foot) set in a covered “cubby set”. The set must be checked daily and clearly marked with a warning sign indicating that a bear snaring device is set in the cubby.
- Black bear hunters must possess a valid big game black bear licence and a valid trapping licence to set foot hold trapping devices for black bear.
- Note that for licencing purposes for the 2026 spring Black Bear season, individuals who possess a 2025-26 General Trapper’s Licence and a 2026 Black Bear Licence will be permitted to use Aldrich foot holding traps or similar devices for harvesting Black bear. A person who intends on using these trapping devices during the 2026 fall Black Bear season will be required to purchase a 2026-27 General Trapper’s Licence which will be available during the normal trapper application/licence processing period in July.
- Apply for your 2026 Resident Black Bear licence online by visiting wildlife.gov.nl.ca.
