The provincial government will open the caribou season in Labrador tomorrow with additional conservation measures.
The caribou season for non-aboriginals is now reduced from eight months to three.
It opens tomorrow and will close on March 20, 2012.
The commercial caribou hunt, non-resident caribou hunting via the use of outfitters and the license transfer system are all suspended again this season.
Licenses will only be distributed through provincial government offices to allow more efficient monitoring of the sales.
The fee for licenses has been cut in half because of the fact that only one caribou is permitted per hunter this season.
The government has also implemented a herd health monitoring program which requires each hunter to submit biological samples from their caribou.
All of this information was provided in a press release by the provincial Department of Environment and Conservation today.
The release states that the herd continues to decline at an alarming rate.
The number of animals in the George River Caribou Herd is estimated to be around 50, 000.
That’s compared to last year’s estimate of 74, 000.
The precise reason for the continuing decline is still uncertain.
The quantity, quality and accessibility of food are being considered contributing factors.