Caribou

Caribou Hunting

Caribou hunting with a bow
Bow hunting is growing increasingly popular in North America as more and more people realize how fascinating this ancient form of Caribou hunting is. Caribou hunting is especially popular among novice bow hunters, since the success rate for Caribou hunting with a bow is considerably higher than the success rate for bow hunting any other big game species. It should however be noted that experienced and highly skilled bow hunters still find Caribou hunting thrilling, even when they have learn how to successfully hunt other big game species with a bow.

The Caribou is ideal for bow hunting, since it is still not easily frightened by humans. Labrador and Newfoundland are considered on of the best places in the world for traditional Caribou hunting with a bow.

The caribous found here are very curious creatures, and as long as they do not pick up your scent they are rarely startled by your presence. When a bow hunter utilizes human scent elimination products, he or she can often get as close as 30-40 yards (27-37 meters) from the animals during a Caribou hunting excursion.

You can find two subspecies of Caribou in the Newfoundland and Labrador province of Canada, both suitable for Caribou hunting with a bow. If you prefer Caribou hunting focused on the Forest/Woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus) you should ideally book a trip to Newfoundland, while those interested in Caribou hunting focusing on Barren-ground caribou (Rangifer tarandus groenlandicus) should head for the Quebec-Labrador region. The Quebec-Labrador region is actually home to the biggest Caribou herd in the world (this huge herd is not restricted to the Quebec-Labrador region; it migrates into several other regions as well). Newfoundland can boast another Caribou record – this region is home to the southernmost herd of Forest/Woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus) in the world.

Bow hunters who visit Newfoundland for Caribou hunting can often come across several other interesting species as well. Forest/Woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus) has always been the main attraction for bow hunters in this region, but Newfoundland is also where you will find really large Black bears and the highest density of Canada moose in the world. Many bow hunters wish to hunt all these three species during their hunting trip – and in Newfoundland many bow hunters are successful in their pursuit.

In Canada, you can find camps focused on bow hunting only. These camps are usually a good choice, especially if you can find one where the guides are bow hunters themselves and understand the special features of bow hunting. Canadian bow-hunting only camps will often be located in a terrain that is highly suited for bow hunting.

There exist several types of hunting licenses for Caribou hunting in Canada, including the Caribou (Newfoundland) license, the Caribou General Licence (Labrador) and the Caribou, Black Bear & Small Game Special Licence (Labrador). As of 2006, the price for a Caribou (Newfoundland) license is $ 450.00 + HST for non-residents. The Caribou General Licence (Labrador) costs $ 120.00 + HST for non-residents. The Caribou, Black Bear & Small Game Special Licence (Labrador) is only available if you are a resident of of Torngat Mountains Electorial District. The Caribou hunting trip organizers will usually arrange suitable licenses for you. Note that licenses sold through Government Service Centers or vendor outlets come with an extra $ 3.00 fee.

adult caribou
Picture by wikipedia user Chris73

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Caribou hunting