Fish & Wildlife

Delineates the administrative units used by the NB Department of Natural Resources and Energy Development (DNRED) to manage populations and harvest of deer, moose, bear and furbearer species. Examples of furbearer species are beaver, muskrat, otter, mink, fox, and raccoon.

Wildlife Management Zones were first established by Fish & Wildlife Branch in the early 1990s by combining climate, topography, geology and soils layers to identify unique zones with differences in basic landscape features relevant to wildlife. These were adjusted to boundaries easily recognized by the public. Most boundaries follow roads, rivers, lakes, streams or railroads.

Do not confuse Wildlife Management Zones with Wildlife Management Areas and Wildlife Refuges (in the Wildlife Refuge GIS layer).

For more information, including the latest Hunting Regulations, please see the GNB ERD website.
  

The Wildlife Refuge feature class provides the geographical boundaries (polygons) of New Brunswick's Wildlife Refuges and Wildlife Management Areas. Most of these entities were established in the mid 1900s for the management of wildlife species that were hunted, trapped or snared by providing areas where hunting, trapping or snaring could be prohibited or restricted. Some areas were included because they were recognized tourist destinations (Acadian Village and Kings Landing Wildlife Management Areas) or other areas designated for "protection". As of early 2008, hunting, trapping and snaring is not allowed in any Wildlife Refuge and some Wildlife Management Areas; while in some Wildlife Management Areas trapping and snaring are allowed but no hunting; and in other Wildlife Management Areas hunting, trapping and snaring are allowed; ie, no restrictions.

Most of New Brunswick's Wildlife Refuges and Wildlife Management Areas were established in the mid-1900s for the management of wildlife species that were hunted, trapped or snared by providing areas where those activities could be prohibited or restricted. Some areas were included because they were recognized tourist destinations (Acadian Village and Kings Landing Wildlife Management Areas) or other areas designated for "protection". 1. 2.

Do not confuse Wildlife Refuges and Wildlife Management Areas with Wildlife Management Zones (WMZ GIS layer).

For more information, including the latest Hunting Regulations, please see the GNB ERD website and NB Fish and Wildlife Act Regulation 94-43.