I'm Interested in a Seal Hunt

Boomer said:
I've seen old films of you guys in Nfld going out on ice that was lifting in 10' swells, thats not for me, but it sure looks cool. I've seen polar bears go out on ice like that in the fall, but I wasn't tempted to follow, not even a little. I went out for a couple of hours yesterday, but didn't see anything, but its early yet.
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Sadly, the danger of it is lost on many now adays... so few are actually at it...

Every year or two you hear of kids or tourists drowning or similar, from playing on the ice or ice pans or on snowmobiles on the harbours...or simply not respecting the sea and paying for it...

I know of guys who were out sealing from shore when a storm moved in.
Their boat started to ice up and they couldn't find land and it was rough waters...the boat iced so bad whe sank almost to the gunwhals and they would be chopping the ice off with an axe.

They drifted 55 km's up the coast.

There were about 20 boats at that day and it was a big thing. In on shore it was figures it was going to be another major tragedy.... but hours later, when the storm stopped,.. here there andeverywhere up down the coast, boats were coming ashore with shaken men, some crying some laughing...

Some hypothermia, but no one was lost. This was in the late 90's..not that long ago

Saty Safe!

Godd luck!
 
Pathfinder said:
You learn something everyday.....Correct me if Im wrong...It would probably a hell of a boat ride from Moosonee before you would see a Seal.:eek:
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I've never been to James Bay, but I don't see why the seals that we have here wouldn't be in the south basin as well, sea water is sea water. I would think you would also see them in the tidal portions of the rivers near there like the Moose River or the Harricana which flows into Hannah Bay east of Moosonee/Moose Factory.
 
sealhunter said:
Sadly, the danger of it is lost on many now adays... so few are actually at it...

Every year or two you hear of kids or tourists drowning or similar, from playing on the ice or ice pans or on snowmobiles on the harbours...or simply not respecting the sea and paying for it...

I know of guys who were out sealing from shore when a storm moved in.
Their boat started to ice up and they couldn't find land and it was rough waters...the boat iced so bad whe sank almost to the gunwhals and they would be chopping the ice off with an axe.

They drifted 55 km's up the coast.

There were about 20 boats at that day and it was a big thing. In on shore it was figures it was going to be another major tragedy.... but hours later, when the storm stopped,.. here there andeverywhere up down the coast, boats were coming ashore with shaken men, some crying some laughing...

Some hypothermia, but no one was lost. This was in the late 90's..not that long ago

Saty Safe!

Godd luck!
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I remember seeing that on the news, if I'm thinking of the same incident. Dozens of boats were caught in the ice and IIRC, one boat was lost and the crew had to be rescued, although I don't recall if they were picked up by another boat or by helicopter. Doesn't seem that long ago, how time flies!
 
Boomer said:
I remember seeing that on the news, if I'm thinking of the same incident. Dozens of boats were caught in the ice and IIRC, one boat was lost and the crew had to be rescued, although I don't recall if they were picked up by another boat or by helicopter. Doesn't seem that long ago, how time flies!
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One guy, I believe Danny Doyle, but I'm not sure.. managed to navigate back to within a hundred yards of the launchway... not too bad..the launchway is in fron of my house back home, and several more and other wharfs are spread up and down the shore..

If you float of down by Baie de Verde, about 20 minutes from my house, you are floating of the tip of the country... next stop... England..

When you're out in 14 fter to 21fter open boats with a 20 hp or 40 hp, and then a storm sets in, and then the day comes and goes and it is now night, and no one has come ashore, things get real gloomy real fast...

There are many stories each year of fellas out sealing in open boats who never return. and usually becasue of the family dynamic back home, you'll often hear of fathers are sons and uncles and nephews all lost in the one tragedy..

but hey, it ain't all doom and gloom!!!!:D

I love out on the ice with the 10 gauge shooting at Hounds and Turrs...!!
 
Boomer said:
I've never been to James Bay, but I don't see why the seals that we have here wouldn't be in the south basin as well, sea water is sea water. I would think you would also see them in the tidal portions of the rivers near there like the Moose River or the Harricana which flows into Hannah Bay east of Moosonee/Moose Factory.
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I havent been there in about 14 years and ive not known any of the locals to hunt them but now that its come up Im kind of curious so Ill try to find out. (ive never bothered asking them)

edit:

Interesting document: pubs.aina.ucalgary.ca/arctic/Arctic28-3-170.pdf

On page 7 table 3 You will see Trade records (ringed Seal) of Hudson an James bay from 1941-72
 
It's a 5 dollar hunting permit for residents in Nunavut. Costs me 5 dollars for up to 5 caribou tags as well.

There is a misunderstanding about Inuit compared to other aboriginal groups in Canada. Inuit have no treaties per say, so technically, there are no "status" Indians (or equivalent) up here. As such, there are also no actual laws on the books allowing any difference for any resident in any of the hunting groups. White, Inuit, Chinese whatever. Anyone could hunt anything they wanted up here.

The only "snag" if you want to call it a snag, is the local Hunters and Trappers Committee sets who gets to hunt the more "prestigious" species. Bear and the whales, in most cases. It's just a sad fact that if you aren't Inuit, these groups aren't going to give you a tag. It's how it is.

I know a few families of non-Inuit descent here who net seals for feeding their dog teams. It's perfectly legal. I go out on the water about 500 yards from town and wait at blow holes. It's fairly easy if you are patient. It's nothing really special, and if you have the money to fly here for a seal hunt, you are best off spending the money on musk-ox or caribou. If you are set on it, I prefer it boiled. Not raw. Though raw is how everyone else here likes it... so I'll leave that to you. :)
 
But where there is ice there a lots of seals.

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It's a 5 dollar hunting permit for residents in Nunavut. Costs me 5 dollars for up to 5 caribou tags as well.

There is a misunderstanding about Inuit compared to other aboriginal groups in Canada. Inuit have no treaties per say, so technically, there are no "status" Indians (or equivalent) up here. As such, there are also no actual laws on the books allowing any difference for any resident in any of the hunting groups. White, Inuit, Chinese whatever. Anyone could hunt anything they wanted up here.

The only "snag" if you want to call it a snag, is the local Hunters and Trappers Committee sets who gets to hunt the more "prestigious" species. Bear and the whales, in most cases. It's just a sad fact that if you aren't Inuit, these groups aren't going to give you a tag. It's how it is.

I know a few families of non-Inuit descent here who net seals for feeding their dog teams. It's perfectly legal. I go out on the water about 500 yards from town and wait at blow holes. It's fairly easy if you are patient. It's nothing really special, and if you have the money to fly here for a seal hunt, you are best off spending the money on musk-ox or caribou. If you are set on it, I prefer it boiled. Not raw. Though raw is how everyone else here likes it... so I'll leave that to you.
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Interesting, where are you in Nunavut? I know that if you don't get tags for hunting any wildlife on the nuna(land) and you are not a resident inuk that you will be charged if caught by Renewable Resources ... and if caught catching animals in the water such as seals, whales, etc without tags that oceans and fisheries will charge you ... at least I know that's how it works in my community. Depending on the type of wildlife you wish to hunt in my community and region, you will require tags and permission from either RResources, OceansFIsheries and/or local HTO(huntersTrappersOrg). There are laws and regulations, I'll find them for you and post. Non Inuit husbands or wives can be assigned hunting rights by their inuit spouse. As for seal hunting ... I've shot lots from my boat, on the seaice ... but really want to catch one with my new unaaq(harpoon) I got for Valentines from my gal-friend. ;) Soon to be heading out on the Hudson's Bay seaice, stand over a hole and wait patiently to do just that ... harpoon a seal traditionally. Cheers,

Otokiak
Rankin Inlet, NU
CANADA

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First, very nice harpoon. Lucky guy. What's the handle made of? Is it wood or something else?

Don't take anything wrong man, I was typing ina hurry, I'll clarify my points.

First, I never said without a tag. Everything is taken with tags. When I said anyone could hunt, with the proper license that's true.

When I said there were no laws on the books I should have said treaties on the books. There is in the Wildlife Act omissions for Inuk hunters, such that they can hunt without license any animal that is not being managed and requiring tags (like bear). However, those aren't treaty rights, they are omissions to the law in the Wildlife Act. Maybe there is another act I'm not aware of? But technically, being an Act, it can be repealed. Am I missing something?.

By saying you could hunt anything you wanted, that's still with proper licenses and tags. I reread it and you were right to question, as I wasn't clear.

And maybe you can clarify, because I haven't been able to find/or really pursued very diligently, an answer. Can a resident non-Inuit be given a tag by the hunters and trappers for polar bear? Is there something somewhere that says it can't be done? Or is it that it is just not done?

Back to the Harpoon though, as that's something I liken to using bow's in the traditional sense.... What were they made of before? Some kind of bone? It's a very specialized manner of hunting now, and I'm waiting for a chance to watch someone do it and catch one. Currently it's just cut off .303's that I normally see being used.

Anyway, you better go thank the girl some more. If she gets you toys like that, better keep her happy! :D
 
Arctic Blaser said:
. . . Back to the Harpoon though, as that's something I liken to using bow's in the traditional sense.... What were they made of before? Some kind of bone? . . . D
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I used to have a small model of a harpoon, and in the old days Inuit kids where instructed on how to make various tools by building models. Typically, the shaft would be made from a length of driftwood. This must vary from place to place though as driftwood is not universally available throughout Nunavut. Anyway, a driftwood shaft would be attached to a length of caribou antler by means of rawhide strips on one end, and mine had a piece of ivory on the other. There were holes drilled though the shaft and the antler and the rawhide must have been soaked then allowed to dry as these strips were very tight. The narrow end of the antler would be forward and the harpoon head would be fitted to press on the end of it. The harpoon head is actually an assembly of a body, a cutting edge, and a retrieval rope. The harpoon head body would typically be ivory, perhaps from a walrus or narwhale. The ivory would have a cutting edge made of chert or flint pinned in place, although this changed to various types of metal, when those became available to the Inuit. This harpoon head assembly would be attached to a rawhide rope so that the animal harpooned could be held and retrieved. The shape of the harpoon head is genius, in that the head penetrates into the animal, then turns sideways when pulled on so it can't pull out.
 
Otokiak, I hate to hijack, what's the tip of a harpoon called? (in inuktituit(sp?))


I think Polar Bears may have a specail place for hunters....I've heard of Americans being able to(having to) purchase a tag for Polar Bear but, also having to pay for guide and, not to mention not too cheap travel to get it. Several thousand dollars. I've not heard of tourist whalers though...

Please, correct me if I'm wrong. I know that this started over getting seals...
 
camster, sakku is the name of the tip of the harpoon ... usually made of brass(today) and ingeniuis that it will turn sideways as a anchor when tried to be pulled out.

Smokepole, nice sakku's ... ;)

boomer, you got'er right partner in your post. :D

Arctic Blaser, where are you living in Nunavut? I did some research and some of your points are correct ... actually almost all of them. Speaking with local Renewable Resource Officers they claim the GOV'T of NU has left decisions on availability up to the local HTO(Hunters/TrappersOrg) so depending on which community you are visiting and non resident inuit you may or may not be allowed to get tags for seals, caribou, etc. Larger animals such as polar bear and muskox tags may be allowed to be sold to inuit outfitters at which time they can use for southern sport hunters. Spoke with Oceans and Fisheries also and it's the same boat ... I'm seriously surprised! In Rankin Inlet you would have a very hard time convincing the local HTO to sell you a seal or caribou tag ... even though they're cheap cost and an abundance of the animals ... :( ... funny how the local HTO has control, yet RResources along with Oceans/Fisheries would hand out the charges if caught ... as they work for the gov't ... :?

Otokiak
Rankin Inlet, NU
CANADA
 
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