Darrell Greer
Northern News Services

Chesterfield Inlet (Sept 03/01) - Big game could mean big bucks for Kivalliq communities.

Chesterfield resident Johnny Issaluk was one of four participants to pass a Level 2 Big Game Guide Training Course this past month, and says guiding could provide an economic option for the region.

The course was delivered by well-known guide Wes Werbowy and funded through Kivalliq Partners in Development.

Werbowy has taught a number of big game guiding courses across Kivalliq.

Issaluk says hunting always held a high level of excitement for him -- always a case of maybe you caught something, maybe you didn't.

"The bow has provided new challenges to me as a hunter," says Issaluk. "And, the course has helped me understand there is more to caribou than fat and racks."

The Chester guides were quick to realize before they could professionally guide paying hunters from the South, they would have to become familiar with totally different hunting concepts.

They spent seven days of the month-long course on the land conducting a simulated guided hunt, stalking caribou with primitive weapons and learning to judge trophy antler size.

Course participant Roy Kriterdluk says Werbowy not only taught him new things about hunting, he taught him a career.

"Everything was so exciting that a month seemed to be only a week," says Kriterdluk.

"The days went by too fast during the course."

Werbowy says the course is tough, with half of the Chester participants (Issaluk, Kriterdluk, James Mullins and Emile Poiron) making it through.

A strong emphasis is placed on real-world professionalism and dedication.

During the hunt segment of the course, participants walk about 13 to 16 kilometres a day observing caribou and other wildlife.

"The graduates all agreed that big game guiding was a combination of fun, hard work and good exercise," says Werbowy.

"What better way to prepare for the future?"