FREDERICTON (CNB) - Applications can be submitted by New Brunswick residents for the annual moose draw until the end of Friday, June 11, Natural Resources Minister Wally Stiles announced today.

"The number of available licences for New Brunswick moose hunters will be increased this year based on scientific evidence gathered by department staff," said Stiles. "I am pleased that almost 150 more New Brunswickers will have the opportunity to take part in this year's hunt."

Stiles noted the continued success of the new three-pool structure for the moose licence draw, which is based on the number of times people have applied unsuccessfully to the draw. The system was implemented three years ago and creates more equitable chances for hunters.

Pool A consists of hunters who have applied unsuccessfully at least 12 times since 1994 or since they were last drawn. Those applicants have about a one in six chance of being drawn.

Pool B consists of hunters who have applied between five and 11 times without being drawn. Applicants have approximately a one in 22 chance of being drawn.

Pool C consists of new hunters, infrequent applicants and hunters who have applied one to four times since they were last drawn. For those applicants, the chance of being drawn is about one in 42.

"The provincial government has been responsive to the needs of New Brunswickers in making available a comprehensive and flexible process for applications that provides persistent and long-suffering applicants with better odds of being selected," Stiles said, "Moose hunting is one of the most popular outdoor activities in our province - last year we had more than 60,000 applicants - so we want everyone to have a fair chance of being able to enjoy this hunt within a reasonable timeframe."

Since the new system was introduced in 2007, more than 1,000 additional, long-time applicants have been selected to receive a moose licence than would have been selected under the previous draw system.

The three-day moose season for residents and non-residents runs from Thursday, Sept. 23, through Saturday, Sept. 25. There will be 3,554 resident licences available this season, which is up by 143 from last year. Another 100 licences are available for non-resident hunters.

There are three ways for New Brunswick residents to apply for moose licences: by using a touch-tone telephone; in person at a Department of Natural Resources office or at any Service New Brunswick centre; or online at the Department of Natural Resources website.

Hunters have until 5 p.m. Friday, June 11, to apply for the draw in person or until 8 p.m. June 11 to apply on the telephone-application line. Online applications will be available until midnight on June 11.

Hunters are encouraged to visit the Department of Natural Resources website for more detailed information. Fact sheets are also available at all department offices and Service New Brunswick centres.

The cost of applying for a moose licence is $9.04 (HST included) using the telephone system or online options, or $13.56 (HST included) if applying in person at a Department of Natural Resources or Service New Brunswick.

Successful applicants will be drawn on an individual basis based on their entire nine-digit Medicare number.

The following is a list of Wildlife Management Zones and the 2010 quota of resident moose licences allocated for each zone:

1 - 23
2 - 140
3 - 203
4 - 229
5 - 181
6 - 99
7 - 270
8 - 239
9 - 49
10 - 85
11- 103
12 -208
13 - 79
14 - 101
15 - 86
16 - 168
17 - 55
18 - 111
19 - 51
20 - 400
21 - 194
22 - 100
23 - 234
24 - 86
25 - 60

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17-05-10