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.  

For the last 50+ years, the NB Department of Natural Resources and Energy Development (DNRED) has captured lake depth (bathymetry) data for various lakes across New Brunswick. This data was originally captured by ‘sounding’ which is the process of measuring depth at a point using a weighted, marked line. (This process could easily miss significant variations since measurements were taken at intervals.) These points were then mapped, and these maps have since been converted to digital GIS data. Newer data has been collected using sonar and GPS technology. Due to the technique used, the number of points will vary by waterbody and within waterbodies. These points, and any products made from them, should not be used for navigational purposes.

NOTE: The information collected and/or stored at DNRED is considered the authoritative source, and no individual or organization has the authority to prevent others from using and manipulating this data.