Caribou Population What's Going On ?

[Lastgun]

Caribou have been in the news lately and there have been a few posts on here about the caribou population being down and that it is cyclical in nature...Or is it just maybe over exploitation by man and wolf.

The other day I was taking a trip on google earth without leaving the farm and I stumbled onto some pretty definitive evidence of over exploitation...The images were from April of 2021 and are some of the very few of the area that were when things were snow and ice and would show such an occurrence.

I was looking pretty close at an area where back in the 80's I managed/guided a small fly-in fishing tent camp and this is what I saw...Pretty obvious by the snowmobile tracks what went on...I'd bet they found a good sized herd of pregnant cows and didn't quit till they either got low on gas and ammo or simple killed them all...ABSOLUTELY SAVAGE.

 

[450yukon]

One doesn’t have to go too far back as it happened in Mb in the last year.

 

[45ACPKING]

not sure if it is relevant to what is going on up there but here in BC certain immigrant cultures are actively seeking to purchase game meat.
So far this season at gas stations in pemberton BC, Cache Creek and even here in 100 mile , I have had indo canadians ask me if i will sell them game meat.... one even pushed the subject with me after i told him it was illegal to sell game meat. He said C'mon buddy..... everyone likes cash money. He wanted to give me 500 bucks cash for one of the deer in the back of my truck after seeing hooves sticking out from under the tarp.
I kinda felt like i should report it to the local CO but what good would that do in the end?
Wouldn't be surprised at all to find that these poachers are part of the illegal game meat trade in Canada.

 

[m1008]

Worked with a native kid from a fly in rez in northern Ontario told me a story of them shooing a whole herd of woodland caribou just because they wondered onto the rez lol
30ish animals

 

[SilentKnight]

I was up fishing in the Chilcotin's (BC) this summer and we heard from multiple locals about a FN band shooting dozens of caribou for target practice. Killed an entire herd and left the carcasses in the field to rot. This wasn't some old hunting fable twisted over time either, there was evidence left behind and many locals had direct contact with the incident. Many of the FN people don't respect or believe in Western "settler" ways of conservation and feel they are entitled to do it however they see fit, often with zero consequences and often against the law.

Here in BC, we also have lots of poaching by the Chinese for bear paws and gallbladders, in season and out of season. Some with licenses and some without. It's a big trade over there and can be very lucrative.

You absolutely should report people who conduct themselves this way and if you see them first hand, take photos and report to RAPP. They will eventually ruin hunting for all, if this type of careless behavior continues.

 

[scotteboy]

A couple FNs shot a deer in the provincial Park that my parents house is in. Wasn't more than 50m from the cabins too. The locals called the police but knew it would be a waste of time. Even if they were charged a judge would probably side with the poor fns.
They cut a couple quarters off of it and drove away. I know of other similar incidents from "the keepers of the land"
They would be the first I'd point a finger at.
They don't seem to gaf.