More than 5,000 moose licences added

The Newfoundland and Labrador government significantly raised the number of moose it will allow to be killed in this year's hunt, a day after Parks Canada lifted a moratorium in two of its parks.

The government said it will add an extra 5,020 licences, bringing the total quota to 33,645. Most of the licences are dedicated to Newfoundland with 205 reserved for Labrador.

Most of the new licences are targeted to areas along the Trans-Canada Highway and major regional highways "in an attempt to counteract the number of moose-vehicle incidents that are occurring," Environment and Conservation Minister Ross Wiseman said in a statement.

Hunters will, for the first time, be allowed to legally shoot moose in Gros Morne National Park in western Newfoundland and in Terra Nova National Park in eastern Newfoundland.

The government said 530 licences will involve areas in the parks, and that hunting will be allowed in an area called the Charlottetown Enclave, which includes land near and in Terra Nova National Park.