Officials in Nunavik are still dealing with the aftermath of a controversial beluga hunt near Quaqtaq, Quebec.

Seven hunters from three different Nunavik communities were questioned by federal fisheries officers when it was discovered they were hunting out of season.

The hunting season for beluga usually closes on November 30 but the men were apprehended and questioned on November 7.

Officials with the department of Fisheries and Oceans say days earlier, Nunavik had reached its quota of 315 beluga whales.

Jusipi Kiliutaq from Kangirsuk, Quebec was one of the seven hunters. He said he felt like a criminal, but he was just trying to catch food for people in his community.

“When the officers asked why we had caught the beluga, I told them the hunting season is not over (until) November 30. And that's why we hunted, it's been like that in the past,” he said.

Kiliutaq said he believed his community still had four whales left in their quota.

He said five guns were confiscated by the Kativik Regional Police but were later returned.

Kiliutaq returned home without any beluga muktuk on November 8.

Other hunters in the group were from Aupaluk and Tasiujaq, Quebec.

It's not uncommon in Nunavik for hunters to travel outside of their home community to hunt beluga.

Officials with the local hunters and trappers organization in Quaqtaq, Quebec said they were told the hunting season was over on November 3.

But Robbie Tukalak, the interim Chair of the Nunavik Marine Region Wildlife Board in Umiujaq, Quebec, said the whole incident seems backward.

“We feel for the hunters, and looking at how we can resolve this. But, certainly we will have to deal with these issues. The aftermath of the incident will be a learning experience for hunters,” he said.

The Department of Fisheries and Oceans is still investigating.