Caribou Hunting Guidelines
Interim Caribou Harvesting Plan 2007-2008
HARVESTING PLAN & GUIDELINES: SUMMARY
1. As of November 01, 2007 Caribou hunting tags will be issued, without cost to LMN members based on family subsistence needs, up to a maximum of four caribou per household. These guidelines do not cover transferals of caribou meat or hunting privileges to individuals who are not members of the LMN.
2. Inuit-metis hunters are authorized to hunt for and use LMN issued tags for LMN members who are unable to hunt themselves. Both the tag recipients and the appointed hunters must sign for the tags, and hunters must present their Inuit-metis Photo ID card.
3. LMN Caribou tags are strictly for food purposes for members of the LMN. No commercial or guided sport hunting is to be carried out under these LMN Guidelines.
4. Any member issued tags is required to report the particulars of the hunt. Reporting will be facilitated by a Caribou Hunt Return to be provided to all hunters, and can be returned by mail or fax, or dropped off at the LMN office in Goose Bay. All returns must be received by the LMN office no later than August 01, 2008 in order to receive tags for the next season. Returns received by May 14, 2008 will be entered in a draw for a Fuji digital camera.
5. All caribou taken in the hunt shall have a tag affixed to one leg of each animal from the time the animal is killed to the point it is processed for domestic consumption. Unused tags are to be returned to the LMN office.
6. All Inuit-Metis hunters are hunting under these guidelines at their own discretion, the LMN can and will provide moral support and advice to hunters that may incur charges from the province, but cannot provide financial or legal support in such circumstances.
INTERIM CONSERVATION AND SAFETY GUIDELINES FOR INUIT-METIS HUNTERS
7. Inuit-metis hunters should hunt and kill only barren-land caribou from the George River herd. Inuit-metis hunters must refrain from harvesting Woodland Caribou from threatened herds such as: Red Wine population, Lac Joseph population and Mealy Mountain population. These measures are a reflection of conservation concerns from within the membership.
8. Inuit-metis hunters should hunt and kill only in the areas deemed appropriate by the LMN and consistent with zone openings.
9. Inuit-metis hunters should not hunt any wildlife with a cross bow and arrows, or an arrow tipped with poison or a drug, or equipped with barbed or explosive arrowheads.
10. Dogs should not be used for tracking or chasing caribou in the Inuit-metis hunt. Dog team use for transportation is supported.
11. Any person who kills, cripples or wounds any game animal should make all reasonable efforts to retrieve that animal.
12. No Inuit-metis hunter should chase caribou with or hunt from any aircraft, motor vehicle, boat, snow-machine or all-terrain vehicle of any type.
13. Respecting safety we recommend that Inuit-metis hunters follow the federal and provincial guidelines for firearm and ammunition. Specifically:
i. Firearm must be cased or securely wrapped and tied if there is intent to
carry, transport or possess firearms or ammunition in a closed zone while
traveling to a hunting area or if traveling on a Sunday.
ii. No pump or auto-loading shotgun should be utilized in the LMN hunt unless
it is plugged or altered so that it cannot carry any more than a total of
three shells in the magazine and chamber combined; or to hunt with any
fully automatic rifle. (Semi-automatic or auto-loading rifles may be used.)
iii. It is recommended to not carry, transport or possess a loaded firearm in or
on, or discharge a firearm from, any aircraft, motor vehicle, snow machine,
or all-terrain vehicle. NOTE: a firearm is considered to be loaded if there is
a live shell or cartridge in the chamber or magazine and the magazine is
attached to the firearm in its usual position.
iv. No Inuit-metis hunter should discharge a firearm from or across any railway
bed, highway, public or private road.
v. It is not recommended to use or possess, in any area frequented by wildlife,
any ammunition that has been cut, ringed or altered in any way.
vi. It is not recommended to discharge a firearm within 1,000 meters of a
school, playground, athletic field or a commercial wood operation or within
300 meters of a dwelling.
14. Hunting must be conducted within the guidelines established by the Labrador Metis Nation. Any violation to these guidelines will be assessed by the LMN Harvesting Compliance Committee and violators could banned from the Metis Caribou Harvest for a period of time determined by the committee.
15. Hunters should have their Inuit-metis photo ID cards in their possession at all times.
16. If you are approached by a Wildlife Enforcement Officer, it is recommended that hunters identify themselves as a Metis person, show their Metis identification card, and state that they are exercising their aboriginal right to hunt under the guidelines of the Labrador Metis Nation.
17. Members should dispose of the remains of their hunt in an appropriate fashion with all due consideration for health and the environment. We recommend that remains are left an adequate distance from the Trans Labrador Highway.
18. The guidelines for conservation and safety were adopted from Provincial and Federal guidelines until such time as the LMN can iterate its own guidelines.
These guidelines have been issued pursuant to Executive Order 11-15-2004 and are designed as an interim measure. Further community consultations and negotiations could result in new guidelines or amendments to existing guidelines. The caribou return system will be used to estimate populations for the purposes of conservation and wildlife management in the interests of Inuit-metis people and the environment.
1. As of November 01, 2007 Caribou hunting tags will be issued, without cost to LMN members based on family subsistence needs, up to a maximum of four caribou per household. These guidelines do not cover transferals of caribou meat or hunting privileges to individuals who are not members of the LMN.
2. Inuit-metis hunters are authorized to hunt for and use LMN issued tags for LMN members who are unable to hunt themselves. Both the tag recipients and the appointed hunters must sign for the tags, and hunters must present their Inuit-metis Photo ID card.
3. LMN Caribou tags are strictly for food purposes for members of the LMN. No commercial or guided sport hunting is to be carried out under these LMN Guidelines.
4. Any member issued tags is required to report the particulars of the hunt. Reporting will be facilitated by a Caribou Hunt Return to be provided to all hunters, and can be returned by mail or fax, or dropped off at the LMN office in Goose Bay. All returns must be received by the LMN office no later than August 01, 2008 in order to receive tags for the next season. Returns received by May 14, 2008 will be entered in a draw for a Fuji digital camera.
5. All caribou taken in the hunt shall have a tag affixed to one leg of each animal from the time the animal is killed to the point it is processed for domestic consumption. Unused tags are to be returned to the LMN office.
6. All Inuit-Metis hunters are hunting under these guidelines at their own discretion, the LMN can and will provide moral support and advice to hunters that may incur charges from the province, but cannot provide financial or legal support in such circumstances.
INTERIM CONSERVATION AND SAFETY GUIDELINES FOR INUIT-METIS HUNTERS
7. Inuit-metis hunters should hunt and kill only barren-land caribou from the George River herd. Inuit-metis hunters must refrain from harvesting Woodland Caribou from threatened herds such as: Red Wine population, Lac Joseph population and Mealy Mountain population. These measures are a reflection of conservation concerns from within the membership.
8. Inuit-metis hunters should hunt and kill only in the areas deemed appropriate by the LMN and consistent with zone openings.
9. Inuit-metis hunters should not hunt any wildlife with a cross bow and arrows, or an arrow tipped with poison or a drug, or equipped with barbed or explosive arrowheads.
10. Dogs should not be used for tracking or chasing caribou in the Inuit-metis hunt. Dog team use for transportation is supported.
11. Any person who kills, cripples or wounds any game animal should make all reasonable efforts to retrieve that animal.
12. No Inuit-metis hunter should chase caribou with or hunt from any aircraft, motor vehicle, boat, snow-machine or all-terrain vehicle of any type.
13. Respecting safety we recommend that Inuit-metis hunters follow the federal and provincial guidelines for firearm and ammunition. Specifically:
i. Firearm must be cased or securely wrapped and tied if there is intent to
carry, transport or possess firearms or ammunition in a closed zone while
traveling to a hunting area or if traveling on a Sunday.
ii. No pump or auto-loading shotgun should be utilized in the LMN hunt unless
it is plugged or altered so that it cannot carry any more than a total of
three shells in the magazine and chamber combined; or to hunt with any
fully automatic rifle. (Semi-automatic or auto-loading rifles may be used.)
iii. It is recommended to not carry, transport or possess a loaded firearm in or
on, or discharge a firearm from, any aircraft, motor vehicle, snow machine,
or all-terrain vehicle. NOTE: a firearm is considered to be loaded if there is
a live shell or cartridge in the chamber or magazine and the magazine is
attached to the firearm in its usual position.
iv. No Inuit-metis hunter should discharge a firearm from or across any railway
bed, highway, public or private road.
v. It is not recommended to use or possess, in any area frequented by wildlife,
any ammunition that has been cut, ringed or altered in any way.
vi. It is not recommended to discharge a firearm within 1,000 meters of a
school, playground, athletic field or a commercial wood operation or within
300 meters of a dwelling.
14. Hunting must be conducted within the guidelines established by the Labrador Metis Nation. Any violation to these guidelines will be assessed by the LMN Harvesting Compliance Committee and violators could banned from the Metis Caribou Harvest for a period of time determined by the committee.
15. Hunters should have their Inuit-metis photo ID cards in their possession at all times.
16. If you are approached by a Wildlife Enforcement Officer, it is recommended that hunters identify themselves as a Metis person, show their Metis identification card, and state that they are exercising their aboriginal right to hunt under the guidelines of the Labrador Metis Nation.
17. Members should dispose of the remains of their hunt in an appropriate fashion with all due consideration for health and the environment. We recommend that remains are left an adequate distance from the Trans Labrador Highway.
18. The guidelines for conservation and safety were adopted from Provincial and Federal guidelines until such time as the LMN can iterate its own guidelines.
These guidelines have been issued pursuant to Executive Order 11-15-2004 and are designed as an interim measure. Further community consultations and negotiations could result in new guidelines or amendments to existing guidelines. The caribou return system will be used to estimate populations for the purposes of conservation and wildlife management in the interests of Inuit-metis people and the environment.