Caribou Forever

The Government of the Northwest Territories introduced big-game hunting to encourage tourism and create business opportunities and jobs for local residents. Hunting was first permitted in 1982, and by 1984 Boone and Crocket Club had recognized the central Canadian barren-ground caribou as a species, which helped the outfitters promote their businesses.

Today, barren-ground hunting outfitters contribute almost a million dollars in wages each year to the NWT economy. In 2005, the outfitters provided 313 seasonal jobs for Northwest Territories residents. The outfitters contributed in excess of $750,000 to the federal and territorial governments in taxes and other revenues.

More than three quarters the costs of a caribou hunt go to pay for local goods and services – creating employment for guides and staff as well as local airlines. All the camps are off the road system, and air travel is a major component of the cost of a hunt. In 2005, outfitters spent almost $2 million on supplies and transportation alone. In addition, visiting hunters contribute to the revenues of regional airlines and hotels, in what is otherwise an off-season for tourism.

In 2005, visiting hunters spent an additional $1.4 million on services in northern communities, including Yellowknife – buying meals, accommodation, taxidermy and gifts.

Whatever meat is not consumed at the camp or sent home with a hunter is shipped to the communities, at the expense of the outfitters, to be distributed to the elders and those who cannot hunt for themselves. A rough estimate places this quantity at about 10,000 kilos in 2009.