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INUVIK - Big game hunts and trophy bucks are a common sight at the Mad Trapper these days.

Last month the bar installed two arcade games.

Along with a table version of Ms. Pacman there is a more popular Big Buck Safari game.

Aaron Giesbrecht is a fan of the new arcade game at the Mad Trapper bar. The hunting game was installed last month and has been a popular addition to the downtown watering hole. - Dez Loreen/NNSL photo

"It's fun and easy to grasp the concept of the game," said Buck-hunt Safari enthusiast Aaron Giesbrecht.

He explained the game is played through 'hunts' which are five-round sessions where you point the gun-shaped controller at the screen and attempt to kill animals as they pass by.

As in real hunting, the key is to shoot the animal in their kill point, to ensure a quick death.

Aside from the bucks that frequent the hunting zones, are critters that can be shot for extra points.

The most popular type of play for the competitive players at the bar is the three-round hunt.

"We play three rounds of hunting. Whoever has the most bucks at the end wins," he said.

Even though the arcade machine keeps a record of biggest scores, Giesbrecht said the players keep their own tally of the hunt.

"We keep track of who had the most bucks and that's how we decide who wins," he said.

If you wish to keep your score for bragging rights, there is an option to enter three initials and be immortalized on the scoreboards for all to see.

The only problem with keeping the scores on the arcade machine is they are erased if the machine is unplugged.

"It happened to me once," recalls Giesbrecht.

"The owner had to unplug it once and it wiped all my scores off."

The initials GEZ can be seen in various places on the high-score chart.

The game has reached such a height of popularity in the bar a few tournaments have been played in its month of service.

"Whenever we have a tournament we make our own brackets and keep our own scores," he said.

To add to the realism of the hunting experience, the controller has a reload function like a real shotgun.

"You pump it to reload the ammo," said Giesbrecht.

"It adds to the challenge."

Giesbrecht has a theory about the game's appeal to bar patrons.

"Just being able to stand in the bar with a beer in your hand and be shooting animals I'd say," he said with a laugh.

He said the regular players of the game have been reaching out to others who are in the bar to give it a try as well.

"I think people don't know how to play it, which is why they stay away," he said.

"We're always trying to bring new people in and give it a shot."

Bar owner Rick Adams said the arcade games have been a popular decision.

"I'd say it's pretty popular," said Adams.

"It's all about the buck hunter."