Why a Big Game Licence Allows Only Five Trips
A big game licence does not turn every hunting trip into permission to ride an ATV wherever you want. In Newfoundland and Labrador, the five-trip limit is a narrow allowance connected to moving harvested game. Knowing what it covers—and what it does not—helps you plan a recovery without treating a hunting licence as a general off-road permit.
What the five-trip limit is for
The five-trip allowance concerns using a machine to retrieve big game. It is not a general limit on how many times you may ride during hunting season, nor does it authorize an ATV or side-by-side to travel across land that is otherwise closed to machines.
The practical idea is to allow a hunter to move harvested game out of the field while limiting repeated vehicle travel over sensitive ground. A carcass can be heavy and awkward to move, especially when the kill is far from a road or a permitted route. A limited number of trips provides some practical recovery access without turning a barren, wetland or other fragile area into an unrestricted transport corridor.
That distinction matters because the licence and the machine serve different legal purposes. A big game licence relates to hunting. Separate rules govern where an off-road vehicle may travel, when it may travel, and what the operator must carry or observe. A hunting licence does not automatically override land-access restrictions, trail closures, machine-use rules or private land rights.
| Question | What the five-trip allowance means | What it does not mean |
|---|---|---|
| Why is there an allowance? | To provide limited machine trips connected with retrieving harvested big game | Permission for unrestricted recreational riding |
| Does a big game licence authorize every route? | No. The route still has to be legally available to the machine | A right to cross any Crown or private land |
| Can the machine be used for unrelated hunting travel under the allowance? | The allowance is tied to game retrieval, not general hunting transportation | A blanket permit for scouting, carrying people or exploring |
| Should a hunter assume five round trips? | No. Confirm how the applicable rule counts a trip | An automatic allowance of five out-and-back journeys |
The number is a cap, not a target. If you can retrieve the animal with fewer trips, that is the better plan for the ground and for staying within the rule. If you cannot complete the recovery within the allowance, do not assume that the licence gives you more trips. Check the current requirements with the relevant provincial authority before moving the machine or carcass.
For a closer look at the purpose of the limit, see Newfoundland Big Game Transport Trips and Newfoundland Game Transport Trip Limits. Those details are especially important when a hunter is planning a recovery route in advance.
What counts as a trip, and what to confirm
The phrase “five trips” can sound straightforward until a recovery involves several riders, a loaded machine, more than one animal, or multiple journeys between the kill site and a trail. Do not rely on a casual interpretation of the word. Confirm the current rule’s definition and how it applies to your particular situation.
In particular, avoid assuming that “five trips” means five round trips. A round trip contains an outward leg and a return leg, and the rule may count movement differently from the way a rider would describe a complete outing. Similarly, do not assume that each passenger, vehicle or load creates a separate allowance. The allowance is attached to the relevant hunting and retrieval circumstances, not simply to the number of people in a group.
Before the season, confirm these points with the official source responsible for the current hunting and off-road vehicle rules:
- What activity qualifies as retrieval? Check whether the allowance applies only to transporting harvested game, and whether equipment or people may be carried as part of those movements.
- How is a trip counted? Ask whether the rule counts one-way movement, a complete return journey, or another defined unit.
- Who or what does the limit attach to? Clarify whether the limit applies to a licence holder, a harvested animal, a machine, a location or another part of the situation.
- Which routes are available? Verify whether the planned route is open to the type of machine you intend to use.
- Are there seasonal or area restrictions? A route that is normally available may have a seasonal closure or a local restriction.
- What proof should you carry? Confirm what documents or permissions an officer may ask you to produce.
If you are planning to recover an animal from a barren, Retrieving an Animal From a Barren is a useful related topic. The terrain can make a short distance difficult, and a route that looks usable on a map may include soft ground, wetlands or a restricted section.
Keep the plan simple and conservative. Identify the legal access point, the route to the recovery area, and the return route before leaving. If conditions make the route impassable, do not improvise by crossing land or wet ground where machine travel is not allowed. A recovery problem does not itself create permission to ride somewhere else.
The licence does not replace land and trail rules
The five-trip allowance is only one part of a lawful recovery. You still need to know whether the machine may travel in the place where the animal was taken and along the route you intend to use. Newfoundland and Labrador has different rules for different land types and areas. A general understanding of “Crown land” is not enough to establish that a particular route is open to an ATV or UTV.
Check whether the location is an approved area, a restricted area, a marked trail, private land or another category with its own conditions. For help understanding the access framework, see Newfoundland Crown Land Access Rules and Finding Approved Areas on the Provincial Map. Do not use a map alone as proof that a route is currently open; check for signs, closures and current notices as well.
The hunting context also matters. The rules for riding during hunting season may affect when or where a machine can be used, even if the rider holds the right licence. Review Newfoundland Hunting Season Trail Rules and Newfoundland Big Game Licence and Machine Use before relying on the retrieval allowance.
Private land requires particular care. A hunting licence does not necessarily give a person permission to cross private property with a machine. Seek the landowner’s permission when it is needed, and keep to the route and conditions agreed upon. A gate, posted sign or established trail does not necessarily mean that the public has permission to travel through the property.
The same caution applies to a trail that appears to connect the kill site to a road. A route may be used by other people, may have a seasonal restriction, or may not be open to the machine you are operating. If the route is unclear, stop and verify access before riding. Do not treat the five-trip allowance as a substitute for finding out who manages the land or trail.
Plan the recovery before you hunt
A little planning can keep the five-trip limit from becoming a problem after a successful hunt. Think about the recovery route before setting out, especially if the area is remote or the terrain is soft. A machine that can reach a location does not necessarily have legal access to it, and a route that is legal in one area may not be legal in another.
Use this checklist before the hunt:
- Confirm the current rule. Check the official hunting and off-road vehicle requirements, including how the five-trip cap is counted.
- Check the area and route. Identify whether the land and trail are open to your machine and whether restrictions apply during the relevant season.
- Choose a realistic recovery plan. Consider the distance, terrain, weather and the animal’s likely location. Do not plan on making extra trips beyond the limit.
- Carry required documents. Keep your licence and any required registration, training or other proof available while riding.
- Tell your group the plan. Make sure everyone understands that the allowance is for retrieving game, not extra recreational riding or scouting.
- Have another option. If the route is closed or too difficult, be prepared to use a legal alternative rather than riding through an area that is off-limits.
When the animal is down, keep a clear record of the movements you make and avoid adding unnecessary journeys. If more than one machine or hunter is involved, do not assume that sharing the work changes how the cap applies. Confirm that point beforehand rather than trying to settle it in the field.
It is also sensible to separate the recovery trip from other activities. Do not combine it with an extra ride, a visit to another location or a general scouting loop and then assume that the whole outing is covered by the big game allowance. The safer approach is to use the machine only for the permitted purpose, stay on a legal route and stop once the recovery is complete.
The central takeaway is simple: the five-trip allowance is a limited means of moving harvested big game, not a broad ATV or UTV permit. Your licence, the location, the route and the trip-counting rule all matter. Confirm the current details with the official authority before hunting, and do not exceed the limit based on an assumption about what a “trip” means.
Disclaimer
This article is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Laws, prices and regulations vary by location and change over time. Consult a qualified professional for guidance on your specific situation.
