The Ministry of Forestry, Agriculture, and Lands for Newfoundland and Labrador has officially opened the big game license draw for the 2026-27 season, bringing good news for resident hunters. Citing healthy population surveys, the province has increased the total moose quota for the Island of Newfoundland to 28,705 licenses—an increase of 1,090 over the previous year. This expansion is designed to maintain sustainable population levels while providing more opportunities for local hunters to fill their freezers.
While the moose quota is rising, the province is also implementing stricter conservation measures for other species. Starting in the spring 2026 season, new regulations prohibit the harvest of black bear cubs under one year of age, as well as female bears accompanied by cubs. This move aligns the province with broader North American 'best practices' for predator management, ensuring the long-term viability of the bear population. Furthermore, the province announced that starting in 2027, hunters will be limited to two bear licenses (four bears total) annually to prevent over-harvesting in specific regions.
For caribou hunters, the news is more tempered. The island quota for 2026 is set at 614 animals, representing an increase of only two licenses from 2025. This 'ultra-cautious' approach is a direct result of ongoing efforts to recover caribou herds, which have faced significant pressures from habitat loss and predation. Resident hunters have until May 1, 2026, to apply for the draw through the Wildlife Information Management System (WIMS).
This is a textbook example of North American Wildlife Conservation in action. Increase the tags where the science says the habitat is reaching carrying capacity (moose), and tighten the rules where population recruitment is sensitive (bears and caribou). For hunters, it's a reminder that our license dollars are the primary funding mechanism for these studies. If you want to keep hunting, you have to support the biology, even when it means 'no' on certain tags.