Responsible hunting helps protect the herd
March 2006
The Porcupine Caribou Management Board (PCMB) recently received an inquiry about the herd's decline in population and why should hunting go on as it is when the herd is declining.
This was a good question, and in case others might have been wondering the same thing, that question is the subject for this column.
We have written much about the herd's calving grounds in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge over the past year because people have wanted to know those details. This is a critical habitat for the herd, but many other factors affect its survival.
Even though the calving grounds have not been leased for oil development yet, the trend of the herd's population has shown a decline.
In 1971, the herd's population was estimated to be around 101,000 caribou. By 1989, that number had grown to 178,000. Since that time, the herd has declined steadily. The last census was in 2001, and there were 123,000.
Hopefully a census can be done this summer. In the meantime, last fall the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service issued a report that unofficially estimated the herd's population to be between 110,000 to 115,000.
Although scientists recognize a 40-year population cycle for caribou, other factors indicate that we should be concerned about the population trend of this herd.
With this background, let's return to the question of why should harvesting continue while the herd has been declining.
First, aboriginal harvesting rights of the herd are protected in the First Nations' final agreements, and those hunting rights can only be restricted in cases where it is necessary for reasons of conservation or public safety.
The Board must also recognize that non-aboriginal hunters have a right to share in the harvest, but the rights of First Nation citizens who have traditionally used the herd clearly have priority. These harvesting rights must be meaningfully honoured, not just given perfunctory acknowledgement.
The Board does note that each time a caribou is harvested there is one less caribou to create generations of offspring to help the herd recover its population.
While the Board isn't satisfied that hunting is the primary cause of the herd's decline, it does note that harvesting might thus impact the speed of the herd's recovery.
Nonetheless, at this stage, the Board has not found it necessary to curtail hunting beyond existing measures such as the limit for resident licensed hunters of two caribou.
However, the Board is concerned enough about the impact of hunting that they have committed a great deal of resources to minimize the impact of harvesting on the herd's decline and/or maximize its ability to recover.
To that end, the PCMB is working on a detailed harvest management strategy in partnership with all stakeholders, including the First Nations and Inuvialuit in the Yukon and Northwest Territories portions of the range of the herd and the federal and territorial governments.
With this strategy, all the stakeholders will come together and try to find ways to agree on conservation measures. It is anticipated to take about three years to develop this strategy.
One difficult task for the stakeholders is to come to an agreement identifying at exactly what thresholds quotas might be activated.
For example, if the population drops to X number of caribou, harvesting of cow caribou might be restricted. If the population continues to drop to Y number of caribou, then harvest quotas might be activated. These are just examples to illustrate the concept. There are many other harvest management mechanisms that are being explored, as well.
The Board and all its partners will weigh the options to determine what is most effective and least intrusive. Harvest quotas and other restrictions will only be used as a last resort.
At this time, the Board is looking at voluntary education campaigns. The Board has been developing a comprehensive education plan to be delivered on its own or to supplement existing programs delivered by other groups. The idea here is to encourage best practices in hunting so that the negative impacts of hunting are minimized.
One effort the Board has undertaken for several years is a shooting workshop each fall along the Dempster Highway for hunters on their way to the caribou. The program is delivered with the cooperation and assistance of Government of Yukon staff.
The PCMB is encouraging hunters to use the right rifles for the job, to shoot caribou in a manner most likely to kill, and to avoid spooking the caribou and causing them to flee. Hunters are encouraged to sight-in their rifles and take some practice shots.
Each year, many caribou that are injured by hunters run away only to die days later. If hunters successfully kill and retrieve all the caribou they shoot, then they shoot fewer caribou.
To date, our hunter education efforts have been well received by the public.
The Board encourages sparing the cow caribou so they can be left to reproduce.
Hunters are requested to avoid shooting mature bulls during the rut in late October – most hunters find the meat distasteful at that time. Instead, hunters can hunt earlier in the season or select immature bulls whose meat won't be tainted.
The Board encourages responsible use of snowmachines and acknowledges there are many circumstances in which snowmachine use is most practical.
Where it's sensible, the Board encourages hunters to park their machines, kill the caribou, and then use the machines to retrieve the caribou.
When snow machines are used responsibly, they are a valuable tool. The Board acknowledges concerns about effects on the tundra vegetation; however, snow machines provide an excellent opportunity for hunters to disperse their hunting activity in winter.
It is therefore important to try to achieve a balance that allows hunters to get some distance from the highway but minimizes potential negative effects on the habitat. Again, the Board is intending to address this in its educational program.
In addition, when snowmachines are used improperly, they can cause the caribou to flee.
The more often caribou are disturbed, the faster and farther they run away. This makes the animals more difficult to hunt. Running releases lactic acid into the muscle tissue, and thus the meat from animals that have recently fled can be less tasty. Fleeing can also cause the animals to burn too many calories and thus be less likely to survive the winter.
Hunters are encouraged to be sure they are able to retrieve the animals they shoot. This means doing things such as taking a look at how much daylight remains before killing an animal. Hunters should ensure there is time to get to the animal, field dress it and bring it back to their camp.
The PCMB is indeed quite concerned about the declining population of the herd, but it is not aiming to stop or even reduce hunting for now.
Instead, if everyone hunts better, maybe no one will have to hunt less.
Again, the harvest management plan will be developed in conjunction with all user groups so hunters will have a meaningful opportunity for input to how harvest is managed into the future.
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