Younger New Brunswickers will now be able to hunt for deer and bear in the province.

The minimum age to buy a hunting licence has been lowered from 16 to 12 years of age.

It is one of several changes the provincial government recently made to the Fish and Wildlife Act.

“We encourage more New Brunswickers to take part in outdoor activities, such as hunting, while making it easier for them to participate,” Natural Resources Minister Mike Holland said in a news release.

While younger New Brunswickers can now buy a deer or bear hunting licence, youth aged 12 to 15 will have to be with an adult while hunting.

The province said by lowering the age to buy a licence, their hope is to create new hunting mentorship opportunities for young people.

Meanwhile, a one-week period will be added to the end of the regular firearms deer hunting season during which licence holders can only hunt with muzzle-loading firearms.

The province is also eliminating the option to buy a second resident bear hunting licence after the harvest of a bear. Instead, a resident licence holder will now be able to harvest up to two bears.

Hunters will also now have to pay $4 when registering with deer registration agents in a move meant to address the reduction of registration agents in recent years. Online deer harvest registration will remain a no-cost option for hunters.

Deer hunters must also register their harvested deer no later than 24 hours after the close of hunting season.