Newfoundland & Labrador Hunting Regulations

📋 ISLAND (Newfoundland) MMAs 1-47 plus 100/101; season dates 2026-27 generally 'Sept. 12 - Dec. 31'. Bow hunting begins August 29, 2026 (does not include cross bows) for areas opening on September 12, 2026. MMA 2E (Gros Morne National Park zones): Zone 1 Sat Sept 26, 2026-Sun Jan 31, 2027; Zone 2 Sat Oct 17, 2026-Sun Jan 31, 2027; Zone 3 Sat Nov 14, 2026-Sun Jan 31, 2027; Zone 4 closed to hunting. MMA 28A (Terra Nova National Park): Oct. 13, 2026 - Jan. 31, 2027. Island totals: 18,492 either-sex + 5,803 male-only (resident), 3,930 non-resident, 480 not-for-profit = 28,705 total (+1,090 vs 2025). NFP licences: 'Foresty, Agriculture and Lands, 370; Gros Morne National Park 90 (+15); Terra Nova National Park 20 (+5)' [quota text as printed]. Non-resident licence quotas are provided to licenced outfitters in various MMAs. MRZs: MMA 100 (Avalon, 600 either-sex licences) and MMA 101 (Central, 400) open Sept 12-Dec 31, 2026; valid licence holders for an overlapping MMA may hunt the MRZ portion, including during the pre-season bow hunt. LABRADOR MMAs 48-96: all 'Sept. 12, 2026 - Mar. 14, 2027', either-sex only; an additional 25 licences are assigned to moose management areas 88, 89, 91, and 92 and issued by the Nunatsiavut Government (New for 2026-27 states a Labrador total of 373 either-sex licences, unchanged from 2025-26). Bow hunting for Labrador begins August 29, 2026 (no cross bows). Non-beneficiaries of the Labrador Inuit Land Claims Agreement require permission to access Labrador Inuit Lands. Quotas for some MMAs may change pending winter 2025/26 aerial census; changes announced by news release before the draw.

📋 Table column headed '2026 Season'. Bow hunting season begins August 29, 2026 in all CMAs, excluding 70, 71A, 71B, & 72 (no cross bows). Hunters advised against harvesting adult male caribou during the peak of the rut (generally the first three weeks of October). Totals: 30 either-sex + 362 male-only (resident), 222 non-resident, total 614 (+2 vs 2025-26). New for 2026-27 states 'a total quota of 614 caribou licences including 36 either sex and 578 male only' and that CMA 71A is now titled Grey Islands (Lower) and 71B Grey Islands (Upper). Quotas for some CMAs may change pending winter 2026 aerial census. Non-resident quotas provided to licenced outfitters and include promotional licences administered by the Department of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Recreation.

📋 The guide's Caribou Conservation and Management page describes four nationally significant caribou groups (Newfoundland Island population ~27,115 in 2021; George River herd 8,600 in 2024; Torngat Mountains caribou 2,997 in 2024; Boreal caribou of southern Labrador <4,000). No open season is provided for any Labrador caribou population in the 2026-27 guide.

📋 Regional Black Bear Management Areas (BBMAs) incorporate former BMAs corresponding to Moose Management Areas; open season boundaries are the MMA boundaries described in Schedule A of the Moose Hunting Order. Female bears accompanied by cubs less than 1 year old and cubs less than one year old may not be harvested by shooting. Fall bow hunting season on the island begins August 29, 2026 (no cross bows); no preseason bow hunt for the spring season; no preseason bow hunt in Labrador for either season. Hunters may apply for additional licences in the same or other BBMAs. Trapping: licenced black bear hunters may trap bears using Aldrich foot snares or similar devices in a covered 'cubby set' (checked daily, warning sign); must possess a valid big game black bear licence and a valid trapping licence; 2026 spring season - a 2025-26 General Trapper's Licence suffices, fall season requires a 2026-27 General Trapper's Licence. Beginning spring 2027, black bear licence applications throughout the province will be limited to two licences (four bears) per hunter.

📋 Hunters must possess a Ptarmigan Shooting Licence in order to harvest ptarmigan by shooting. Bell Island is closed to snaring of ptarmigan. Island table carries note '* Updated 04/29/2026'. It is unlawful to set snares for small game until the first day of the open season; snares must be removed on or before the last day of the open season; snare wire must be brass wire not larger than 22 gauge or six-strand braided wire.

📋 On the Island the species are combined ('Ruffed and Spruce Grouse'); in Labrador the table combines them per zone as 'Ruffed and Spruce Grouse (combined)'.

📋 Season dates for duck hunting in NL changed (as of September 2024) from the third Saturday in September to a fixed date of September 16th for all areas on the Island portion of the province (NL guide, Migratory Game Bird Hunting section). Harlequin Ducks: no open season. Black ducks fall under 'other ducks' combined. Federal Migratory Game Bird Hunting Permit required; free minor's permit (under 18) available.

📋 Listed only as 'All geese, combined' - no separate Canada goose category or special conservation season in the ECCC NL summary.

📋 This hunt is only open to residents of Newfoundland and Labrador; murres are the only migratory bird that can be legally hunted from a boat moving under motor or sail power. NL guide (Migratory Game Bird Hunting section): 'it is an offense to harvest more than 20 murres per day or to be in possession of more than 40 murres. It is illegal to sell, buy or barter murres.' Murre Conservation Fund stamp required for residents aged 18+. For murres the possession limit applies to all murres including those preserved.

📋 Island small-game table lists Red Squirrel shooting only (Snaring column N/A).

📋 Trappers who hold a valid trapping licence may also shoot lynx, fox and coyote using rifles up to .225 calibre during the open trapping seasons except during the big game moose season (September 12 - December 31, 2026) on the island of Newfoundland.

📋 On the Island, Newfoundland Marten are protected; the guide's 'Snaring and Trapping Requirements to Support Newfoundland Marten Recovery' (Best Management Practices) imposes conditions in the Pine Marten Study Area, Little Grand Lake Wildlife Reserve, Glover Island Public Reserve and Main River Study Area (closed to all small game snaring).

📋 Canid carcass collection program: hunters/trappers asked to submit entire canid carcasses ($25 fee paid); NLOA Canid Incentive Program may add $35. Restrainting traps certified for coyotes under the Fur Institute of Canada will become mandatory in the 2029-2030 trapping season.

📋 Hunters asked not to shoot wolves marked with radio collars and/or ear tags; lower jawbone or complete skull of all harvested wolves must be submitted to a Department of Forestry, Agriculture and Lands or Wildlife Division office by May 14, 2027. The gray wolf (from Labrador) occurrence has been documented on the Island of Newfoundland.