Beluga Hunting
I've been beluga hunting many dozens of times.
The video above has similarities to my experinces.
I am from the Western Arctic (now I live in Alberta). We hunt where the Mackenzie River flows into the Arctic Ocean. So the water is not clear.
The end of June or first days in July is when we see the first whales.
There are clusters of camps consisting of famliy units dotting the coast and off shore islands. These spots were chosen because they offer some sort of look out and ideal hunting conditions.
We hunt in shallow water. The shallower the better. This way the whales are easier to folllow. Anything less then 10 feet is ideal.
One person is the captain of the camps. They are usually an elder or someone who has earned the respect of others. Although the rules are not set in stone, it is appreciated by others if the rules are followed. Such as hunting as a group and only going out when everyone agrees it is time. If on person goes out, the whales will be scared into deeper water and will ruin the hunt for everyone.
From the time the first boat goes out we only have a matter of minutes before the whales get to deeper water.
Everyone at the camps is on continious watch around the clock as the sun is high in the sky at all hours. When somone spots whales comming into the area we notify the other camps via trappers radios. When the time is right and the whales are in close all the boats leave at once, regardless of the time.
If a boat gets on the track of a pod of whales the hunt is on! The hunters try to seperate the pod and chase them into the shallows at the same time.
Because we can't see the whales, we go by the wakes of their flukes alone. Following them until they raise in the perfect spot so we can harpoon them.
Our harpoons are attached to orange ship floats (tradintionaly seal skins). Once a whale is harpooned we follow the float until the whale raises again, so we can shoot it. The rifle must be a 30-30 or bigger. .303 british is the most common round, with iron sights.
The whale is then towed to the camp where everyone, young and old helps pull the whale ashore. We then cut the muktuk (blubber) and the meat and hang it. We cook the muktuk by boiling it and the meat is dried.
The best after hunt meal is flipper and whale heart soup!! Its so rich and delicious! Makes me homesick!!
