Hunting Summary 2016
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
2016 NOVA SCOTIA HUNTING & FURHARVESTING SUMMARY OF REGULATIONS Cover photo by Travis MacKinnon 2015 Trail Camera winner This is a summary prepared for the information and convenience of anyone who plans to hunt or trap in Nova Scotia. The full copy of the Wildlife Act and Regulations should be consulted for all purposes of interpreting and applying the law. These laws are subject to change at any time and are available online at novascotia.ca/natr/wildlife/laws/actsregs.asp For detailed information please see our website at novascotia.ca/natr/hunt Report illegal hunting and/or trapping to your local Natural Resources Office or call 1-800-565-2224 Honourable Lloyd Hines Minister Frank Dunn Deputy Minister Please help the environment. Recycle this book. 2 Message from the Minister This booklet outlines fees, bag limits, season dates, a summary of regulations, and other information for the 2016 hunting season. The additional licence and season for hunting deer with muzzleloaders and archery equipment will continue this year. It has increased the number of hunting days available for Nova Scotia deer hunters, with little impact on the deer harvest. The Special Youth Season for hunting deer will take place from October 14–22. Young Nova Scotians may also participate in Waterfowler Heritage Day on Saturday, September 17th. Each year, these special hunts provide qualified young hunters with wonderful opportunities to be introduced to hunting and gain experience under the supervision of experienced adult hunters. In the fall of 2015, we introduced limited Sunday hunting to Nova Scotia on the two Sundays immediately following the last Friday in October. This change provided additional recreational hunting opportunity for most types of hunting. I wish to thank our hunters for hunting safely and being respectful of the rights and concerns of private landowners and other users of Nova Scotia's forest and natural areas. It remains very important that we respect the rules pertaining to private land and the interests of landowners so that hunters can continue to enjoy the bounty these landscapes provide. These rules are outlined in this booklet. Although our province's deer population remains healthy, the harsh winter of 14/15 continues to show its effects, and this year we will continue adapting the antlerless deer harvest to reflect some localized changes in abundance. Zones 102, 105 and 109 will move to a limited antlerless stamp draw, Zone 110 will change to a buck only harvest and antlerless stamps will be reduced in Zones 103, 104, 106 and 108. These adjustments are to help maintain and restore harvesting opportunity in these areas. Please review this booklet carefully and contact the Department of Natural Resources should you have any questions. I wish you a safe and successful hunting and fur-harvesting season. Yours sincerely Lloyd Hines, Minister of Natural Resources 3 Significant Changes for 2016 Hunting 1. Hunting on Sunday is allowed on the two Sundays immediately following the last Friday in October. Hunting is allowed for all species, except moose, for which a season is open at that time. Note: Season opening dates do not change. 2. There are changes for fall 2016 related to the harvesting of antlerless deer in some of the Deer Management Zones. a. Previously Zones 102, 105, and 109 were open to the harvesting of deer of either sex. For 2016, antlerless deer may only be harvested by the holder of an Antlerless Deer Stamp for those Zones. b. The number of Antlerless Deer Stamps available in Zones 103, 104, 106 and 108 has been reduced. c. The number of Antlerless Deer Stamps available in Zone 110 has been reduced from 400 to 0 for 2016 (only antlered deer may be harvested). Please see novascotia.ca/natr/draws/deerdraw/ddZones.asp for full details for each Zone for 2016. Furharvesting 1. The most current list of approved traps is available online at novascotia.ca/just/regulations/regs/wifurhrv.htm or by contacting your local Department of Natural Resources (DNR) office. 2. Submission of all bobcat and fisher carcasses is mandatory. The pelts of both species must be presented at a DNR office and stamped before export. Migratory Bird Hunting Regulations 1. Expecting changes to the Migratory Bird Hunt Regulations. The Migratory Bird Hunting Regulations Summary for Nova Scotia is available online at www.ec.gc.ca/rcom-mbhr/default.asp?lang= en&n=BA8069D0-1 and at your local Canada Post Office. 4 Attention Nova Scotia Trail Camera Users! You are invited to participate in the Deer and Bear Trail Camera Survey and photo competition. Again this year, DNR is asking trail camera operators to provide important data to help in the management of white-tailed deer and black bears in Nova Scotia. If you submit your survey, you can also enter the competition for best trail cam deer and bear photos. For more information about the survey go to novascotia.ca/natr/hunt/ Winner - 2015 Trail Camera Photo by Kathy Braunmiller 5 Contents Respect for Private Landowners ..........................................................7 Setting Traps ......................................................................................9 Illegal Parking ....................................................................................9 Seasons and Bag Limits....................................................................12 Big Game Small Game Furbearers Other Harvestable Wildlife Non-Toxic Shot ................................................................................16 Licences and Permits: Fees and Location Availability ......................17 DNR Offices and Vendors Service Nova Scotia DNR Offices Only Canada Post Offices Only Licence, Stamp and Permit Regulations............................................19 General Licence Stipulations Big Game Small Game Other Harvestable Wildlife and Snowshoe Hare Licencing Requirements and Education Courses ..............................22 New to Hunting/Trapping? Licencing Requirements..........................24 Wildlife Resources Card....................................................................25 Shooting Ranges ..............................................................................27 Bear Harvesting Regulations ............................................................27 Bear Gallbladder Seal Bear Snaring Hunting and Bait Sites Transporting Bear..............................................................................29 Furharvesting Seasons and Bag Limits ............................................29 Furharvester Licence ........................................................................31 Furharvester Licence Stipulations Traps and Snares ..............................................................................33 Use of Lights Accidental Catches General Furharvesting Regulations ..................................................36 Possession and Export of Pelts ........................................................39 Export ..............................................................................................40 Furbearer Specimens To Be Turned In ..............................................40 Taxidermists......................................................................................41 Wanted: Antler Measurements and Deer Jawbones ..........................46 Mandatory Deer Reporting................................................................47 6 Disposal of Deer Hides and Preventing the Spread of Blacklegged Ticks ..........................................................................49 Deer Management Zones ............................................................51–67 Deer hunting in Nova Scotia Antlerless Deer Hunting Deer Management Zone Descriptions Moose Hunting and Annual Licence Draw ..................................71–76 Guides ..............................................................................................76 Permit to Keep Meat..........................................................................78 Deer and Moose Rabbits, Pheasants and Grouse (Partridge) Hunting with Mobility Limitations ....................................................79 Some General Regulations................................................................80 Hunting in Provincial Wildlife Management and Game Sanctuaries ............................................................................83 Chignecto Sanctuary Tobeatic Wildlife Management Area Liscomb Game Sanctuary Survival in the Woods ......................................................................84 Preparation ABC’s of a Night in the Woods Lead Bullet Fragments are Harmful to Your Health............................85 Mandatory Hunter Orange ................................................................87 Youth Exchange Program..................................................................89 Habitat Conservation Fund and Wildlife Habitat Stamp ....................90 Possession and Borrowing of Firearms and Ammunition Under the Age of 18 Years ..............................................................90 Prohibited Weapons and Ammunition ..............................................91 Legal Weapons and Ammunition ......................................................91 Big Game Small Game Furharvesting Other Harvestable Wildlife Automatic Forfeiture of Seized Items ................................................94 Automatic Licence Suspension Order ..............................................95 Report a Poacher ..............................................................................96