Anyone here ever freelanced a Quebec Caribou hunt?

[TheCoachZed]

I won't have the money to afford this any time soon - new baby arrived this month.

But, I have heard of guys doing this on a freelance basis - just go to the zone where the caribou are projected to be traveling (apparently announced on the radio?), buy their tags, shoot a caribou, go home. I remember plenty of emphasis on being prepared for winter weather, have a good 4x4, etc etc.

Anyone ever done the out-of-province self-guided thing there?

My dream caribou hunt is probably woodland caribou in NFLD or maybe the Labrador herd, but I can see QC being more likely.

 

[medvedqc]

even the residents need a guide or the service of an outfittter.

you need to be drawn for the winter ones too ... no more the paradise it was when can get 8 caribous a year ...

the quebec herds are going less and less animal not the place i will try on my own and i guided there for top notch operators.

 

[bellero]

Hunting is becoming more and more a sport for the rich folks. I regret not to have hunted Caribou when I was young and a tag could be bought over the counter. Now you need to drop several thousands for a caribou hunt.

 

[G P]

There won't be a Labrador caribou hunt for non aboriginals for a long time.

 

[looch]

even the residents need a guide or the service of an outfittter.

I can't find anything in the regs that says a resident must use an outfitter in zone 23 west. Although you'd be mad to do it up there.

My dad used to back in the 80's: drive to Sept-Iles; take the iron ore train to Schefferville; pick a lake, hire a plane, and fly in. They used to make camp from spruce and tarps. They packed-in a Zodiac. Only comms was a Spilsbury radio telephone.

 

[medvedqc]

that is here or in French whatever you prefer ... James Bay agreement is something you need to read as resident for your future ...

mffp.gouv.qc.ca/english/publications/online/wildlife/hunting-regulations/special-rules/territories.asp#nord

The Nord-du-Québec region

Hunters in Areas 17, 22, 23 and 24 must comply with the Act respecting hunting and fishing rights in the James Bay and New Québec territories. The territories are subdivided into three categories. To hunt on Category I and Category II lands, you must obtain, in addition to the requisite hunting licence, an authorization from the Cree, Inuit or Naskapi authorities concerned.

In these areas, only hunting with firearms and bows is permitted. Crossbow hunting and hunting using a bird of prey are, therefore, prohibited.

Caribou hunting occurs in Area 22 A, Area 22 B and the western part of Area 23. In Area 22 B and the western part of Area 23, caribou hunters must use the services of an outfitter. This procedure also applies to the residents of Schefferville. In Area 22 A, caribou hunting is reserved for Québec residents selected by random draw.

 

[looch]

Well, they certainly buried that rule.

Like was said, though, I believe the herd is heading for a crash.

 

[Metman2]

One of my hunting buddies won the 22A draw for QC resident several years ago (~1998) and had a successful hunt without an outfitter. So in theory it's possible. However, the draw is a true lottery. Over the years I've ever placed (they send you your draw results) between 5000 and 10000. It pays to have a good network of potential hunting partners: you get two tags if you're successful, and the winner can then invite another hunter to hunt with the second tag. So if you know someone who is familiar and/or experienced with the area, you can invite them to go with you and it is mutually advantageous. But first you have to win the draw!

There's no advantage to having applied for many years, as your placement isn't weighted by the number of previous unsuccessful applications, unlike some other draws (the old Alberta elk draw?). My chances of actually going on a hunt would probably be better if I saved up my beans to pay for an outfitter, although by the time I can afford that, either the caribou herd will be closed to hunting, or I'll be so old that I'd probably want to go somewhere warmer like S Africa or Namibia, and actually those places wouldn't be that much more expensive anyway!!