Caribou Today

Caribou Today.  Although the caribou still move across the northern tundra, recently the Government of the Northwest Territories has imposed a hunting ban affecting outfitters on the Bathurst Herd, Bluenose East Bathurst and Ahiak Herds. *Studies conducted by the Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) Department of Environment and Natural Resources conclude that barrenground caribou herds in the Northwest Territories have been declining and are at low numbers. To assist in the conservation and recovery of these herds, there is currently no outfitted hunting for barrenground caribou in the NWT. The government does not propose to do another survey of the Bathurst Herd until 2012, which means we may be allowed to hunt in 2013. 

The barren-ground caribou are not in danger of disappearing.  It is likely they number in the hundreds of thousands today in the Northwest Territories

At Peterson’s Point Lake Lodge we have not seen any indication of a decrease in the numbers of caribou migrating through our area.  We are in a unique location where two of the herds appear to join for a period of time. In 2009 all of our hunters were successful in harvesting caribou, of which three of them were selected to be presented at the Pope and Young Annual Awards Banquet. The physical condition of the caribou has been good,  they had a good proportion of fat and had healthy coats, and the antler growth was exceptional. We had thought that the large numbers of cows and calves that were seen would indicate that herd composition and numbers were stable, in fact growing.

As you may know, we have been offering high quality hunts for over twenty-five years.  We are a contributing member of the NWT community and have a deep interest in sustaining the caribou populations for generations.  In 2007 we accepted a significant tag reduction to assist with the health of the Bathurst Herd.  We have contributed to the monitoring of herds and worked with biologists.  Our philosophy is geared to responsibly hunting and offering an entire experience in a unique part of the world. All caribou meat and organs not taken by guests are donated to the lodge, some of which are distributed to residents and community service organizations.  I believe all of you know that this situation did not arise as a result of the outfitting industry as the amount of caribou that the outfitters harvest is very limited in numbers, The outfitters take a very limited number of caribou compared to the numbers being harvested by other groups, less than .02%

The Tlicho elders, Caribou Migration and the State of Their Habitat, 200, noted that caribou distribution changed several times over a period of 70 years.  Minor alterations, in the caribou range appear to occur every three to five years, followed by a relatively sudden and major change in their distribution, which then stabilizes for a decade or more.  Caribou do what they have always done, migrate.

If you would like to be notified when the hunting ban is lifted, please email us and we will keep you up to date. Please check back to our website as we will be updating it when there are changes.

 

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