Seal hunt, how to?


Really sad stories. Worst is that it wasn't a single accident but a long serie of deadly events where the traders greed refused to listen to fishermen wisdom.

Must have been among the first debates about work safety. When an "accident" meant to be stranded on ice, sailling a rotten boat or explosive blowing on-board.
May those brave fishermen rest in peace.
 
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Really sad stories. Worst is that it wasn't a single accident but a long serie of deadly events where the traders greed refused to listen to brave fishermen wisdom. Must have been among the first debates about work safety. When an "accident" meant to be stranded on ice, sailling a rotten boat or explosive blowing on-board.

My great grandfather was lost at the seal hunt. (Not in these better known events, but in a smaller party of three ... all lost.)
 
Do it the way the pros do lay down on the ice and wait.
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The way its done around here is to drive out on the sea ice in the spring, prior to molting, spot the seal and shoot it in the head before it gets into the hole. Hunting along the flow edge is more difficult, and is best done from a boat. Hunting along the shore, at least around here would be unproductive, although you might catch one sunning on a rock, but if he gets into the water at the shot, your chances of retrieving him aren't good. The best technique during the ice free months is to hunt from a boat, spot the seal, shoot it with a shotgun, then get a harpoon in it before it sinks.
 
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You need to be inching forward slowly, though. Otherwise your waiting will be a cold and hungry exercise in futility.

Actually our ability to kill from a distance negates that to a certain extent, although stalking seals on the ice can be a lot of fun.

Paul, cool photo, where abouts were you? Between your place and the airport?
 
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I like seal hunting with my kids a lot, that is by canoe during summer and fall. It is my way of life, harpoon and buoy is always handy. I like my 22, shotguns can’t shoot far. I like my seal skin mittens, I never get cold hands in the winter. One thing is for sure, if I’m cooking seal meat I’m gonna have ketchup. That’s just me Inuk who hunt to survive.
 
I like seal hunting with my kids a lot, that is by canoe during summer and fall.

Interesting, thanks for sharing. Do you have much ice in your summer and fall?
Because my season is late fall, no ice for me.
Do you bait them?
Or mostly spot and stalk?
Pictures are welcome.
 
Move when their head is down , stay still when their head is up. Put a white sheet on a frame and hold it in front of you,when close enough shoot or if you are a bear make a mad dash and grab it by the head ( bears don't use a sheet though)
 
Move when their head is down , stay still when their head is up. Put a white sheet on a frame and hold it in front of you,when close enough shoot or if you are a bear make a mad dash and grab it by the head ( bears don't use a sheet though)

That would be a fun challenge with a hakapik.
 
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