Long before daylight breaks over the North Atlantic, a dense maritime fog clings to the stunted balsam fir and wind-twisted black spruce known across Newfoundland as tuckamore. In this vast subarctic wilderness, the profound silence of the boreal forest is broken only by the sharp snap of deadfall and the low, guttural grunt of an Eastern Canadian bull moose seeking a receptive cow. Moments later, across a saturated peatland carpeted in autumn crimson, the wide, multi-pointed rack of a mature woodland caribou stag appears through the mist, its white neck contrasting against the copper barrens. Somewhere in the bushes, a black bear munches on mulberries, keeping an eye and an ear open for a chance of a meat meal. 

Newfoundland and Labrador presents an elemental sporting arena unlike anywhere else in North America. Known colloquially as “The Rock,” the island portion of the province, alongside the vast mainland territory of Labrador, is an unspoiled wilderness with amazing wildlife densities. For the traveling hunter, the province represents both a demanding physical test against Atlantic maritime weather and an unmatched destination for iconic northern big game.

Read on to learn about best hunting grounds in Newfoundland and Labrador, the province’s big game animals, hunting seasons and regulations, how to travel to Newfoundland and Labrador, best gear choices, how much does it cost, and how to book the trip of your lifetime.

Where to Hunt in Newfoundland and Labrador

Newfoundland and Labrador is a Canadian province that lies on the Northern Atlantic coast and consists of over four hundred thousand square kilometers of rugged, glacially carved terrain. As the name suggests, the province is divided into two distinct geographical entities. Labrador lies on the mainland, bordering eastern Quebec and stretching northwards until the jagged peaks of the Torngat Mountains. It is an immense expanse of taiga, subarctic tundra, and barren rock. Newfoundland is an island, separated from mainland Canada by the Strait of Belle Isle and the Gulf of St. Lawrence; it forms the easternmost edge of the Appalachian mountain system and the Canadian Shield.

Labrador is a place where few non-resident hunters ever set foot. Reaching the continental river corridors such as the Churchill River basin calls for specialized bush plain transit, and hunting the vast stretches of black spruce muskeg and sprawling subarctic tundra requires extensive bushcraft. But the hunters who dared this are rewarded by a chance to hunt untouched habitat for big game pursuit, northern predators, and wilderness waterfowl.

Most hunting opportunities of the province are found in Newfoundland. The interior of the island is an intricate mosaic of saturated peat bogs, granite barrens, pristine river drainages, and dense boreal timber. The surrounding North Atlantic exerts a constant influence over the local climate, producing rapid weather shifts where clear morning skies can deteriorate within hours into dense sea fog, driving rain, or early autumn sleet. Navigating this landscape requires traversing muskeg capable of sinking boots past the knee, dense stands of wind-sheared spruce that resist foot travel, and expansive highland barrens that stretch unbroken to the horizon.

Western Newfoundland is widely recognized as one of the most prolific big game corridors on the continent, defined by the dramatic topography of the Long Range Mountains and the fertile river bottomlands of the Humber Valley. The terrain creates ideal feed and sanctuary that sustain dense populations of moose and black bears. Further north along this corridor, the Great Northern Peninsula narrows toward the subarctic, offering a combination of coastal spruce barrens and interior lakes where hunting pressure remains remarkably light and remote fly-in camps provide access to prime territory.

The interior heartland of Central Newfoundland, extending outward from Grand Falls-Windsor and the Exploits River watershed, forms the traditional core of woodland caribou and moose hunting. This rolling country features extensive bog systems interspersed with low forested ridges and gravel barrens, allowing hunters to glass vast swaths of open ground from elevated knobs. Further south, the remote wilderness buffering the Middle Ridge Wildlife Reserve represents one of the most isolated and untouched ecosystems on the island. Devoid of maintained roads, this mosaic of trackless marshes and isolated lakes is accessible almost exclusively by floatplane or helicopter. This is a true wilderness, where animals can roam and reach impressive age and size without ever seeing a human. 

Big Game Animals of Newfoundland and Labrador

The premier quarry for visiting sportsmen traveling to the province is the Eastern Canadian moose (Alces alces americana). Originally introduced to the island in 1878 and 1904, the species flourished within a boreal habitat lacking natural apex predators such as wolves. Today, the moose population of Newfoundland is estimated at over one hundred thousand animals, and the island features some of the highest ungulate densities on earth. 

While Eastern Canadian moose do not reach the body mass or antler widths of their Alaskan-Yukon counterparts, mature Newfoundland bulls carry heavy, palmated racks averaging thirty-five to forty-five inches, with exceptional specimens exceeding fifty inches. The prime hunting period centers on the autumn breeding season, when vocal bulls respond aggressively to cow calls and antler raking along timber fringes and marsh edges.

What makes Newfoundland truly unique, though, is that it is the only destination where non-resident hunters can legally pursue the woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou). Unlike migratory barren-ground herds, woodland caribou inhabit the high interior barrens and timbered marshes in resident bands. Mature woodland stags are striking animals, sporting dense white capes, dark chocolate bodies, and intricate antler configurations characterized by broad shovels and prominent bez tines. 

The provincial wildlife agency strictly limits non-resident harvest quotas, which makes hunting opportunities limited. But on the plus side, the herd genetics and mature age structures remain well preserved, rewarding guided hunters with historical harvest success rates consistently exceeding ninety to one hundred percent.

Black bears (Ursus americanus) in Newfoundland and Labrador represent an exceptional big game trophy. Nourished by high-protein diets consisting of spawning Atlantic salmon and vast coastal berry barrens, the island’s bears achieve impressive body sizes, with mature boars regularly exceeding four hundred to six hundred pounds. These animals produce thick, lustrous hides and heavy skull structures that frequently qualify for Boone and Crockett record books. Outfitters offer dedicated spring bait hunts as well as autumn spot-and-stalk excursions, frequently booking bears as an attractive combination harvest alongside moose or caribou.

Beyond big game ungulates and bears, the province offers world-class opportunities for specialized waterfowl and predator pursuits. Coastal bays and open saltwater reaches host extraordinary late-season hunts for common eider (Somateria mollissima), long-tailed ducks, and scoters, delivering an authentic maritime seafowl gunning tradition. Mainland Labrador and designated sections of the island also offer legal opportunities to harvest northern wolves and abundant coyotes, rounding out a diverse selection of northern game species.

Hunting Seasons, Regulations, and Legal Framework

Provincial wildlife conservation is overseen by the Department of Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture, which establishes annual quotas and manages individual Moose Management Areas and Caribou Management Areas. 

For the island of Newfoundland, hunting seasons follow an established annual schedule. Archery-only seasons open at the beginning of September, granting bowhunters an exclusive window to pursue undisturbed game prior to firearms pressure. The general firearm season for moose and caribou typically opens during the second weekend of September and extends through December or early January, depending on the specific management unit. Spring black bear hunting occurs from early May through early July, while the autumn bear season runs concurrently with big game dates from September through November. Specialized sea duck gunning begins in late autumn and extends into the mid-winter months.

Typically for Canada, non-resident hunters can only hunt moose, woodland caribou, and black bear as clients of a licensed guide-outfitter. Non-resident big game licenses are not available over the counter; they are allocated directly to licensed outfitters through a quota system. Non-resident hunters pursuing small game, migratory birds, or coyotes are exempt from the guiding requirement and may purchase standard hunting licenses through regular commercial vendors.

Big game hunting requires a centerfire rifle chambered in a minimum of .243 calibre, firing an expanding bullet weighing no less than 100 grains and producing at least 1,500 foot-pounds of muzzle energy. Shotguns deployed for big game must be 20 gauge or larger and fire single solid slugs. Archery tackle must meet specific draw weight thresholds: compound, recurve, or longbows must possess a minimum draw weight of 20 kilograms (44 pounds) at full draw and utilize broadheads with at least two sharpened cutting edges. Crossbows must have a minimum draw pull of 68 kilograms (150 pounds). 

Big game hunting is restricted to legal shooting hours, defined as one-half hour before sunrise until one-half hour after sunset, and firearms transported in vehicles or outside legal shooting hours must be cased or securely wrapped and tied.

International sportsmen traveling to Canada must comply with border crossing protocols regarding firearms and wildlife export. Traveling hunters must declare firearms at the port of entry using the Non-Resident Firearm Declaration (Form RCMP 5589), which serves as a temporary registration certificate and firearms license once confirmed by a border services officer. Handguns, fully automatic weapons, and certain semi-automatic centerfire rifles are classified as prohibited items and cannot be imported into Canada.

Hunters from the USA may bring home not only the trophies, but also the meat of the animals they harvested, but there are certain agricultural and wildlife trade regulations that must be followed. To carry moose and caribou meat across the border, you should have a valid provincial hunting license, export permit, and legible species labeling. As a measure to prevent the spread of CWD, import of full carcasses is forbidden, so the meat must be processed, antlers completely detached from the carcass and thoroughly cleaned. Black bear is a CITES species; your outfitter will help with all necessary forms.

Planning Your Hunt: Travel, Gear, Outfitting, and Costs

Hunters travelling to Newfoundland basically have two options: plane and ferry. Commercial flights land at Deer Lake Regional Airport (YDF) in the western region and Gander International Airport (YQX) in the central region, both of which serve as primary staging hubs where outfitters meet arriving clients. St. John’s International Airport (YYT) handles traffic on the eastern Avalon Peninsula.

You can drive your car to Newfoundland, using Marine Atlantic commercial ferry services to cross the border. The ferries sail from North Sydney, Nova Scotia, to either Port aux Basques on southwestern Newfoundland or Argentia on the eastern coast. Many hunters choose this route, even though driving takes a lot of time and energy, because you’re not limited by airline rules and weight limits. This comes especially handy if you intend to take home a freezer full of caribou or moose meat. 

Essential Gear for a Newfoundland Hunt 

Hunting in Newfoundland, you can be sure of three things: damp, mud, and wind. Your gear should be able to withstand all these three elements. Leather boots don’t always live up to the challenge; most experts recommend high-performance, knee-high vulcanized rubber boots with aggressive outsoles. As for clothes, you’ve probably already guessed where this is going. Right: Layers. Heavy-duty, waterproof and windproof, capable of resisting tuckamore brush that puts the famous wait-a-bit African plants to shame, on top. Merino wool base garments and high-loft synthetic insulation under. 

Premium optics tend to withstand 100% humidity better; 10×42 waterproof binoculars are recommended, a compact spotting scope optional. For a rifle, if you have a trusty one in the .30-06 – .300 Win. Mag. class, fitted with sealed, multi-coated optics, and a stock that has proven it won’t change the POI no matter how wet it gets, you don’t need anything more.

How Much Does it Cost?

A drive-in lodge-based moose hunt in Newfoundland is one of the most affordable moose hunting opportunities in North America; a 6-7 day hunt will cost around $6,750 – $9,000. If you want to venture deeper into the island, floatplane or helicopter transport will boost the price to around $15,000. Black bears are similarly priced, and often come as a combo offer. Woodland caribou hunts are more expensive, think at least $20,000. On the most budget side, a 3-5 day coastal eider hunt will set you back $2,000 – $2,500. 

That doesn’t include such “other” costs as travel, licenses, and meat processing. At the time of writing, non-resident hunting license fees were $502 CAD for moose, $675 CAD for woodland caribou, and $150 CAD for black bear, plus applicable sales taxes. Meat processing pricing has dramatically increased these years, with processors in Western and Central Newfoundland charging $2-2.5 per pound hanging weight, which means your butcher costs for a mature moose may push $2,000. For hunters who fly rather than drive, specialized freight companies transport boxed, frozen meat and crated antlers directly to central distribution centers across the United States for between $800 and $1,500.

Book Your Hunt in Newfoundland and Labrador 

Newfoundland and Labrador is an exceptional destination, if you’re looking for a big-game hunt in an untouched boreal landscape. The sheer abundance of Eastern Canadian moose, the thrill of calling bulls across damp spruce bottoms, and the singular distinction of harvesting a mature woodland caribou on the high barrens make an expedition to this Atlantic province a definitive accomplishment.

Because outfitters operate under strict annual license quotas established by provincial wildlife authorities, prime hunting dates routinely book one to two seasons in advance. Planning a hunt demands comparing camp locations, terrain profiles, transportation methods, and outfitter track records. Navigating these commercial options is made simple through BookYourHunt.com. 

As a premier global marketplace for hunting adventures, BookYourHunt.com connects hunters directly with licensed, thoroughly vetted outfitters across Newfoundland and Labrador without broker markups or hidden booking surcharges. The platform enables hunters to evaluate transparent package pricing, review verified client feedback, and book their hunts with complete confidence backed by a best-price guarantee. For any hunter prepared to test their skills against the rugged expanse of “The Rock,” researching and booking through BookYourHunt.com ensures a direct, trustworthy pathway to an unforgettable northern hunting expedition.

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Hunting in the United Kingdom: What you need to know

Ask an American hunter to picture hunting in Britain, and the mind usually supplies the props before the animals: tweed, a side-by-side that costs more than a pickup, a castle, a Labrador waiting beside a Land Rover, and a red stag somewhere in the mist.

That picture is not wrong. It is merely incomplete. CONTINUE READING