The NL Outfitters Association is working hard to get answers on the sale of non-resident licences for the fall big game hunt.

The outfitting industry, which relies heavily on visitors from outside the province, has been hit hard by the travel bans in place due to COVID-19.

Association Executive Director Cory Foster says 80 to 85 per cent of their clients are from the United States, while the remainder are from other parts of Canada and Europe.

Foster says the only aspect of the business that could benefit from staycation travel is angling, but that business alone won’t sustain operators.

They’re looking at a complete loss for some operations if the travel bans are not lifted, and non-resident licences are not issued.

Foster says they’re in regular contact with government officials. He says officials with Tourism and Fisheries and Land Resources are telling them the same thing, that the decisions rest with public health officials.