N.W.T., Tlicho call for Bathurst caribou hunt curbs
Last Updated: Monday, November 9, 2009 | 7:11 PM CT
CBC News
Non-aboriginal hunters in the Northwest Territories may be barred from hunting from the Bathurst caribou herd for three years under proposed hunting restrictions.
In a joint proposal released Monday, the N.W.T. government and the Tlicho aboriginal government suggest a three-year hunting ban for non-aboriginal resident hunters, outfitters and commercial operators.
Both governments are also suggesting aboriginal hunters should have to report the number of caribou they harvest, while more enforcement officers patrol to check on hunters.
"We have enough information to tell us there's a serious problem," N.W.T. Environment Minister Michael Miltenberger told CBC News on Monday.
"We have enough information to tell us that if we don't do something, then all indications are ... as the numbers dwindle, we'll reach a point of no return and we won't have done our duty."
Sharp decline
The joint proposal comes less than two months after government surveys found a sharp decline in the number of caribou in the Bathurst herd, dropping from more than 100,000 animals to 32,000 over the past three years.
The two governments could not reach a consensus on how to limit the aboriginal subsistence caribou hunt, so the joint proposal includes separate proposals from the N.W.T. and Tlicho governments.
The report came as a blow to N.W.T. hunting outfitters like Barry Taylor, who said his business will suffer if he has to stop taking visiting sportsmen out for caribou hunts.
"We're devastated. The attitude that we can shut down and come back in three or four years — no, there won't be an industry there. It took us years to build that industry," Taylor said.
"I can't cover expenses on wolf or wolverine [hunting] and fishing."
Impact to be discussed
Taylor said outfitters are not being offered alternative hunting options such as moose or bison.
But Miltenberger said the impacts on sport hunters and outfitters, as well as possible solutions, still have yet to be discussed.
"Our first concern is to make sure that we work with the communities across the land to offset the requirements for subsistence hunting, which is the first priority," he said.
Taylor said non-aboriginal resident sport hunters harvested 50 caribou last season, while outfitters accounted for 223 caribou.
"I think that really stinks and it's a slap in the face to common sense," Taylor said.
The proposed hunting restrictions are being considered by the Wek'eezhìi Renewable Resources Board, a wildlife co-management authority that reviews all proposals on resource management in the Tlicho land-claim area.
The board will hold hearings on the issue in January.
