Bill 8: Wild Life Act (Amdt.)

This bill primarily affects people who work in hunting, trapping, guiding, and the fur trade in Newfoundland and Labrador. If you trap fur-bearing animals, coyotes are now formally included in that category, which means your licensing and regulatory obligations extend to them. Outfitters, licensed guides, and hunting lodge operators face significantly higher fines — up to $25,000 — if they obstruct wildlife officers or allow harvested game to go to waste, so day-to-day compliance on hunts and in the field matters more than before. Non-resident hunters and their guides should be aware that violations related to moose or caribou carry steeper penalties and can result in permanent loss of hunting licences for repeat offenders. The changes mostly affect small operators and solo practitioners — trappers, guides, and outfitters — rather than large businesses.