Newfoundland & Labrador Hunting Season Calendar 2026-2027: Permits, Dates & Zone Information
If you’re planning to head afield in Newfoundland and Labrador this year, you’ve landed in the right spot. This guide walks you through the full 2026-2027 wildlife calendar: big game draw deadlines, species-specific open dates, permit requirements, the management areas you’ll be hunting in, and where to find the official paperwork. Whether you’re a lifelong resident who knows every back road or a visiting hunter booking your first outfitted trip, it pays to review the schedule before you start making plans — the province runs on draw licences and firm application cutoff dates, and missing one can cost you a whole season.
Everything below reflects the current 2026-27 information available from the provincial wildlife office at the time of writing. Where a date is still pending final publication, we’ve flagged it as expected based on recent seasons rather than guessing.
📅 Quick Reference Points
- Moose — Draw licence required; island rifle season typically runs mid-September to late December, with bow season opening in early August; Labrador’s season runs far longer (opening September 12, 2026 and closing March 14, 2027).
- Woodland caribou — Island-only, issued through the resident draw; a fall hunt managed by area-specific quotas.
- Black bear — Two windows: spring (May 1–July 15 on the island) and fall (September 11–November 14 on the island); a single licence covers both.
- Grouse & ptarmigan — September 19 through late December (island), bag limits up to 20 grouse and 12 ptarmigan per day.
- Snowshoe hare — October 3 through mid-March; snaring and shooting both allowed on the island.
- Waterfowl — Ducks open September 16 (fixed date for 2026-27), with geese, snipe, and murres zoned by coast; a federal permit and habitat stamp are mandatory.
- Youth — Hunters 12 and up can take small game and waterfowl under direct adult supervision; big game starts at 16.
🦌 Big Game Schedules
Big game in Newfoundland and Labrador is a quota-driven affair, so the draw deadline matters more than almost anything else. Resident moose and caribou applications must be received by May 1, 2026, submitted online through the Wildlife Information Management System. New applicants need a Hunter Certificate Number plus proof of completing the Canadian Firearms Safety Course and Hunter Education Course (or transferred credentials) by November 30 of the prior year.
| Species | Area | 2026-27 Window | Permit & Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Moose | Island of Newfoundland | Rifle/shotgun: mid-Sept to late Dec (recent pattern Sept 13–Dec 31); Bow: opens early August | Draw licence; quota set per Moose Management Area; muzzleloaders permitted within the general season where listed |
| Moose | Labrador | Opens Sept 12, 2026; closes Mar 14, 2027 | Draw licence; long backcountry season, many fly-in areas |
| Woodland Caribou | Island of Newfoundland | Fall hunt by draw; exact dates vary by management area | Island only; resident draw; non-residents via licensed outfitter |
| Black Bear | Island | Spring: May 1–Jul 15; Fall: Sept 11–Nov 14 | One licence valid for both windows; apply online |
| Black Bear | Labrador | Spring: Apr 1–Jul 13; Fall: Aug 10–Nov 30 | Licence covers both seasons; CITES permit needed for transporting bear parts outside Canada |
The biggest change hunters should track this year is the May 1 draw deadline — it’s earlier than many people expect, and late applications are simply not accepted. Island moose dates above follow the 2025-26 pattern and the announced 2026-27 Labrador dates; the final island dates for 2026-27 are published in the official guide, so give them a quick look before booking time off work.
🦃 Turkey Schedules
| Season Type | Availability | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Spring Turkey | Not available | Wild turkeys are not established in Newfoundland and Labrador |
| Fall Turkey | Not available | No turkey populations exist on the island or in Labrador |
| Youth Turkey | Not available | No youth-specific turkey programs |
One honest note before you scroll further: there are no wild turkey hunts in this province, and there never have been — the regional climate and habitat haven’t supported a population. Hunters craving an upland-bird experience should pivot to the ptarmigan and grouse seasons in the small-game table below. That’s where this province really shines, with generous bag limits and wilderness access you won’t find in more settled parts of the country.
🦝 Furbearer Season Dates
Furbearer hunting and trapping in Newfoundland and Labrador covers a mix of island predators and classic northern fur species. A resident small game/coyote/wolf licence covers coyote and wolf, while trappers need a general trapper licence or a beaver trapline licence, all available online. Remember the snaring rules: snares can only be set once the open season begins, must come down by the close, and must use brass wire no heavier than 22 gauge or six-strand braided wire.
| Species | Typical Open Window | Licence / Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Coyote (island) | Fall through early spring (typical Sept–Mar) | Resident small game/coyote licence; snaring in winter months |
| Wolf (Labrador) | Winter months, zone-specific | Small game/coyote/wolf licence |
| Red Fox | Fall–winter trapping window | General trapper licence |
| Lynx | Winter trapping window | General trapper licence; pelt tags may apply |
| Beaver | Fall–winter | Beaver trapline licence or trapper’s beaver licence |
| Muskrat, Mink, Weasel, River Otter | Fall–winter trapping windows | General trapper licence |
These windows follow the province’s customary open-seasons order; because trapping dates shift slightly by wildlife division each year, treat the table as a planning tool and confirm the exact dates in the current Hunting and Trapping Guide before setting any gear.
🐦 Small Games Dates
Small game is where Newfoundland and Labrador’s hunting calendar gets genuinely generous — long seasons, healthy populations, and terrain ranging from coastal barrens to thick spruce cover. These are the confirmed island dates from the 2026-27 provincial schedule:
| Species | Shooting Season | Snaring Season | Daily Bag / Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Willow & Rock Ptarmigan (remainder of island) | Sept 19–Dec 6, 2026 | Oct 3, 2026–Mar 14, 2027 | 12 bag (max 6 rock) / 24 possession |
| Ruffed & Spruce Grouse (island) | Sept 19–Dec 27, 2026 | Oct 3, 2026–Mar 14, 2027 | 20 / 40 |
| Snowshoe Hare (remainder of island) | Oct 3, 2026–Mar 14, 2027 | Oct 3, 2026–Mar 14, 2027 | 40 possession |
| Red Squirrel (remainder of island) | Oct 3, 2026–Mar 7, 2027 | Not applicable | No set limit listed |
| Ptarmigan (all of Labrador) | Oct 1, 2026–Apr 20, 2027 | — | Ptarmigan Shooting Licence required |
A few quirks worth knowing: Bell Island is closed entirely to hare shooting and snaring, ptarmigan snaring is off-limits there, and a dedicated Ptarmigan Shooting Licence is needed even if you already hold a small game licence. The Avalon/Swift Current and Burin areas have tighter ptarmigan limits and shorter windows, so check your region before you head out.
🦆 Complete Waterfowl Seasons
Waterfowl hunting here runs under federal Migratory Birds Regulations layered over provincial rules, which means two pieces of paper: a valid Migratory Game Bird Hunting Permit and a Canadian Wildlife Habitat Conservation Stamp, both available at Canada Post counters or online. The province is carved into distinct coastal zones (northwestern, northern, northeastern, Avalon-Burin, southern, southwestern), a Newfoundland inland zone, and four Labrador zones (northern, western, southern, central) — plus four numbered murre zones.
| Species | Typical Season Window | Bag / Possession Limits |
|---|---|---|
| Ducks (other than harlequin, mergansers, long-tailed ducks, eiders, scoters) | Fixed opening of Sept 16 for 2026-27; runs through late Dec/Feb depending on zone | 6 per day (max 1 Barrow’s goldeneye) / 18 possession |
| Eiders, Scoters, Long-tailed Ducks, Mergansers | Zoned coastal seasons within the same window | Included in duck totals by zone |
| All Geese | Zoned fall–winter window (Nov 1–Feb 15 in the main waterfowl/snipe window) | 5 per day / 10 possession |
| Snipe | Within the Nov–Feb waterfowl window | Check federal summary |
| Murres (Turrs) | Winter season in Zones 1–4 | Zone-specific limits |
The wetland zones matter more here than almost anywhere else in Canada — a change of a few kilometres of coastline can shift your opening date. When the season was reformed for 2026-27, duck hunting moved from the third Saturday in September to a fixed September 16 start, so pencil that in now.
🐗 Other Available Game
Beyond the headline species, a few extras round out the provincial game list — and a couple of famous gaps are worth knowing about before you pack:
| Species | Availability | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Wolf | Labrador only | Huntable with the small game/coyote/wolf licence; winter season |
| Wild Turkey | Not present | No population, no season |
| Ring-necked Pheasant | Not present | Not stocked for hunting in NL |
| Dove | Not present | No dove seasons anywhere in the province |
What the province lacks in exotic species it makes up for in sheer wilderness — much of the game here is pursued in country that sees very few boots in a given year.
🗺️ Zones Active for Hunting
Newfoundland and Labrador divides its hunting country into Moose Management Areas (MMAs) on the island, each with its own quota and sometimes its own season length, plus wildlife management divisions that govern small game and trapping. Waterfowlers navigate the coastal zone system described above, and murre hunters work with four numbered zones stretching around the island’s coastline. The official provincial wildlife map — published through the government’s geographic portal and referenced throughout the Hunting and Trapping Guide — is the definitive tool for pinning down exactly which area you’re in (map link placeholder).
Two standing reminders apply everywhere: most backcountry is Crown land open to licensed hunters, but posted private property and settled areas are off-limits without landowner permission, and some islands (Bell Island among them) carry local closures that override the general schedule. Always confirm both your zone and your land status before that first morning in the field.
🎟️ Licenses, Tags & Permits
| Licence / Permit | Who It’s For | How to Get It |
|---|---|---|
| Big Game Licence (moose, caribou) | Residents | Draw application by May 1, 2026 via wildlife.gov.nl.ca |
| Black Bear Licence | Residents | Online through the wildlife portal |
| Small Game / Coyote / Wolf Licence | Residents | Licensed vendor outlets; ID required |
| Ptarmigan Shooting Licence | Residents | Vendors, alongside small game licence |
| Non-Resident Big Game Licence | Visitors | Only through licensed outfitters; guide mandatory |
| Minors Licence | Ages 12–17 | For small game, waterfowl, coyote under adult supervision |
| Migratory Game Bird Permit + Habitat Stamp | Everyone | Canada Post or the federal permit portal |
| Trapper Licences (general, beaver trapline) | Trappers | Online only |
Beyond the base licences, a few add-ons come into play: the game export permit (free, for taking game out of the province), the federal habitat stamp for waterfowl, and a CITES permit if you plan to move bear parts across an international border. Non-residents hunting small game or waterfowl don’t need guides, but big game is outfitter-only — that’s a hard rule with no workaround. For the complete legal picture, the official 2026-27 Hunting and Trapping Guide published by the provincial government is your authority for every date, zone, and fee listed here.
❓ Newfoundland & Labrador (Canada) Hunting Quick FAQ
When is the 2026-27 moose and caribou draw deadline?
Applications must be received by May 1, 2026, submitted online via the Wildlife Information Management System. Once the draw closes, there’s no late entry — mark the calendar early.
Can non-residents hunt big game in this province?
Only through a licensed outfitter, and you must hunt with a licensed guide. Non-resident licences for moose, caribou, and bear are sold exclusively by outfitters.
Are there turkeys to hunt in Newfoundland and Labrador?
No. Wild turkeys haven’t established here, so there’s no turkey season in any form — spring, fall, or youth.
What do I need to hunt ptarmigan?
A resident small game licence plus a separate Ptarmigan Shooting Licence, both available at vendor outlets. Snaring ptarmigan requires the same licences.
Can my teenager hunt with me?
Yes. Ages 12–15 can hunt small game, waterfowl, and coyotes with a firearm while under the direct, immediate supervision of an adult with a valid possession licence. Big game waits until 16 (by August 31 of the licence year).
What paperwork does waterfowl hunting require?
A federal Migratory Game Bird Hunting Permit with the Canadian Wildlife Habitat Conservation Stamp attached — plus the provincial small game licence where applicable. Both are sold through Canada Post or online.
Do visiting hunters need a guide for small game?
No. Only big game carries the mandatory-guide rule. Non-residents can hunt small game, coyote, wolf, and waterfowl on their own, provided they meet hunter education requirements.
🔗 List of Related Guides
- Nova Scotia hunting season guide — the neighbouring province’s dates, draw system, and licence fees, handy if you’re planning a multi-province trip.
- Quebec hunting seasons — bigger deer and turkey options just a ferry ride west.
- New Brunswick hunting seasons — strong whitetail country if you’re continuing through the Maritimes.
Conclusion
Newfoundland and Labrador quietly offers one of North America’s most rewarding hunting calendars: dependable moose quotas, the island’s famous caribou draw, two black bear windows, long ptarmigan and grouse seasons, and waterfowling along some of the wildest coastline on the continent. The catch is preparation — the May 1 draw deadline, outfitter rules for visitors, and zone-by-zone date variations mean the hunters who succeed are the ones who read the fine print first. Buy your permits early, double-check the current regulations before opening day, and plan your trips around the management area quotas rather than assuming one season fits the whole province. Bookmark this page and check back each spring when 2027-28 dates land. Good luck out there — and hunt safe.
