Thorunn Howatt
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Sep 02/02) - Sport hunting's popularity and the lucrative fees it commands from willing hunters make it an important part of both territories economies.

Last year, an estimated 1,300 hunters spent about $13 million in the Northwest Territories. Barren Land caribou is most sought after, followed by sheep from the Mackenzie Mountains.

According to a 2000 study, each caribou bagged by an outfitted customer brings $3,400 into the NWT economy. Outfitters and hunters paid about $962,000 in taxes. The average tip total to guides is $305 while $260 is spent on local transportation, 109 people are provided seasonal jobs.

The sport hunting caribou season is open from Aug. 15 to Oct. 31. Last year 1,656 caribou tags were available. Most of the hunters were American and were guided by one of 10 outfitting companies.

In the NWT last year, 1,477 non-resident hunters purchased licences -- up from the previous year's 932 licences. Of those, 1,203 hunters came from the United States, 245 from within Canada and 35 from overseas.

Nunavut sport hunting

Sport hunting has become a key industry in Nunavut with four species: caribou, muskox, polar bear and walrus.

During last year's 2000-2001 season, there were 53 sport hunts sold in Nunavut. At $30,000 Cdn each, the industry brings in more than $1.5 million.

Polar bear sport hunt tag amounts change each year, depending on the number of bears available. On top of the money paid out for the sport hunt, which includes a tag and guide, spinoffs for local economies include airfare, hotel room and board, as well as carvings and any other treasures bought during the trip.

Regional hunters and trappers organizations (HTO) receive a certain number of tags each year. They have the choice to keep the tags themselves or sell them to sport hunters. Often, a booking agent is used to make contact with sport hunters but regional HTOs are starting to organize

trips themselves.

Money earned from sport hunting is divided amongst the HTO hunters. Polar bears must be hunted by dog team so a split of the money goes to the team owner. Support snowmachines and guide helpers also receive a cut.

Some communities, Resolute Bay for instance, have between 16 to 20 sport hunts for polar bear. Others, like Cambridge Bay, have sport hunts for caribou and muskox.

The sport polar bear season starts Jan. 1 to May 31. Muskox season is Aug. 15 to April 15, although the time frame differs in some areas. Caribou season for sport hunters runs from Aug. 15 to Nov. 30. There is also an opportunity to hunt grizzly bear, but it is very uncommon.

There are 26 Nunavut communities , each with an HTO.