FREDERICTON (GNB) – From May 20 to June 13, New Brunswick hunters can apply for one of the more than 4,600 moose licences that will be available for the 2014 hunt.
"We will be maintaining the same number of licenses as last year, although this number has grown by 1,000 since 2010 based on advice from our biologists," said Natural Resources Minister Paul Robichaud.
The season runs from Sept. 25-27, but the legislative assembly is currently considering an amendment to the Fish and Wildlife Act which would add an additional two days to the season. If the proposed changes are accepted, the season would begin Sept. 23.
Applications for a moose licence can be made by:
● calling 1-900-565-1500, callers will have the application fee billed to the number they call from;
● calling toll-free 1-888-922-3729, the application fee will be billed to the caller's Visa or MasterCard account;
● online at the Department of Natural Resources' website, the application fee will be billed to the applicant's Visa or MasterCard account; and
● in person at any Service New Brunswick centre.
The cost of applying for a moose licence is $9.38 (HST included) using the telephone or online options, or $14.13 (HST included) if applying in person at a Service New Brunswick centre.
Hunters have until closing time on June 13 to apply for the draw in person; until 8 p.m. the same day to apply by phone; and until midnight to apply online.
More detailed information can be found on the department's website as well as all department offices and Service New Brunswick centres.
Successful applicants will be drawn on an individual basis based on their Medicare number. The results will be available July 7.
The hunt this fall will use the new pool system introduced three years ago.
Under the system, applicants move into a new pool for every five years they have applied unsuccessfully to the moose draw since 1994, where their number of ballots in the draw would triple.
New hunters or those who have been drawn within the past four years will be in Pool 0, with a single ballot in their name. Hunters who have been unsuccessful for at least five years will be in Pool 1, with three ballots in their name. Anyone who has been unsuccessful for at least 10 years will be in Pool 2, with nine ballots in the computerized draw. Pool 3 is for those who have been unsuccessful for at least 15 years, with 27 ballots per applicant. This year, pool 4 comes into effect for applicants who have been unsuccessful for at least 20 years, with 81 ballots in the draw.
"We realize how popular the moose draw is and our government was pleased to put this system in place to increase chances of hunters obtaining a license," said Robichaud.
Individual zone quotas are adjusted on an annual basis. Quotas by wildlife management zone (WMZ) are:
WMZ Licences
1 129
2 367
3 370
4 391
5 258
6 181
7 389
8 258
9 75
10 119
11 129
12 274
13 109
14 95
15 119
16 177
17 87
18 152
19 57
20 221
21 146
22 124
23 238
24 78
25 69
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