Caribou?

JustBen

JustBen

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I'm trying to convince the wife that we need to go on a caribou hunt. Probably looking at next fall. Only problem is they don't live down where we live, so we'll have to go north! Exciting!

I'm sure some people here have experience with this sort of thing. I'm curious about the price of such an adventure. Being from Sask, I'm assuming we'd pretty much have to go with a guided hunt. Where's the best place for caribou? I'm thinking that the yukon or NWT. Also, the wife would be happy with a big bull moose too.

I know its not going to be cheap, but its going to be a once in a lifetime thing.

Thanks!
 
"...thinking that the Yukon or NWT..." Or Northern Quebec. And no it won't be cheap.
"...have to go with a guided hunt..." Definitely for an out of Province hunt.
Pick where you want to go and do a 'net search.
"...big bull moose..." Cost less for the licence. $75 for a non-resident caribou licence in the Yukon.
 
I can't comment on the price, the last time I hunted caribou was 10+ years ago when I lived in NWT/Nunavut. The only region that I've hunted them is Baffin, and there was very little challenge associated with it. Caribou, especially barren land caribou, is the best eating meat out there, better than anything else going, so really, the price is a moot point.
 
Well you can scratch the NWT off your list. We are in the midst of a supposed decline and only aboriginals can hunt them at the moment.
 
If you want to hunt caribou, better plan to do it in the next couple of years or so. Numbers are declining rapidly right across Canada.
 
As Joe said, the NWT is getting lean for the hunter, but I'd suggest heading to the Mackenzie Mountains here for a good mountain caribou, .....might run a bit more than you allowed for, but they have some great bou, and they may be shut down by the natives in a couple of years, so go while you can.
I've been outfitting the barrenlands for 28 years and am now forced out of the game here, but would still suggest the mountains for anyone serious.

Good luck,

Arctic
 
If I was going to invest in an expensive guided hunt, I would choose a location that offered more hunting than just caribou. Once a herd is located, caribou hunting is more like shopping than it is like hunting. If possible hunt in the season when they do make a handsome trophy, but later on in the winter they turn a dirty white and aren't nearly as attractive. If you could combine your caribou hunt with grizzly, musk ox, moose, or sheep, that would be cool.

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I watched a thing on hunting mountain caribou in northern B.C recently. Seemed pretty interesting, more of a spot and stalk than just glassing herds of 1000's. Likely you would pay out the a$$ for that though..
 
The NWT has stopped all non-aboriginal hunting North of Yellowknife, primarily in the Tlicho region, but hunting in the mountains is still okay and that's why I suggested that area. It also hold wolf, wolverine, moose, goats and sheep.
 
Arctic said:
As Joe said, the NWT is getting lean for the hunter, but I'd suggest heading to the Mackenzie Mountains here for a good mountain caribou, .....might run a bit more than you allowed for, but they have some great bou, and they may be shut down by the natives in a couple of years, so go while you can.
I've been outfitting the barrenlands for 28 years and am now forced out of the game here, but would still suggest the mountains for anyone serious.

Good luck,

Arctic
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Are you hunting anywhere now Barry or just lurking around YK?

Nunavut, Québec or Labrador are your best (only?) bets for Barren Ground caribou these days. The Mackenzie Mountains would be a great hunt for Mountain Caribou and Dall sheep but the price will go up if you add curlies to the menu.
 
Northern Quebec on the last two weeks of Sept is the best time to bag a trophy.
10 grand is doable for two. Do your research now and contact as many outfitters as you can. Once you have decided, book right away. The available weeks get fill up fast bc of the situation in NWT.
We went the first week of Sept of this year. Did not see as many caribou as expected. We were told that was bc the weather was too warm. Spent two days of fish for lakers and brookies tthree days of flying to find the caribou. Not what we expected but we came home successful.
 
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G P said:
NL is an option.
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Barely. I was there last week, and the outfitter only had one Caribou tag this year and he used to get 15-20, and he said some outfitters are charging $10K for one hunter. He has no doubt that caribou hunting will end in NFLD in the next 2 years.
 
JustBen said:
I'm hoping to keep it around the 10K mark for the two of us. I'm just not sure if thats being reasonable.
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10 grand?? For that kind of dough I'll take you! You, your wife (and I) will spend a wonderful 4 day hunt in Northern Quebec hunting caribou and fishing for lakers. Act now and I'll cook AND do the dishes. :D

Seriously though, look up Mirage outfitters in northern Quebec. Start there and check the rest of the outfitters in the area. I think there are three or four of them within 20 miles on the same (only?) road.

Good luck
 
TakDriver said:
10 grand?? For that kind of dough I'll take you! You, your wife (and I) will spend a wonderful 4 day hunt in Northern Quebec hunting caribou and fishing for lakers. Act now and I'll cook AND do the dishes. :D

Seriously though, look up Mirage outfitters in northern Quebec. Start there and check the rest of the outfitters in the area. I think there are three or four of them within 20 miles on the same (only?) road.

Good luck
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I guess you don't care about hunting with ethical outfitters. Mirage outfitters=shooting fish in barel

Now if your idea of a good time is shooting animals from the float of the aircraft than have at her!f:P:
 
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