Paulatuk (Feb 10/03) - The sport hunting season is starting up in Paulatuk, but extremely mild weather conditions are causing some concern.

One American tourist has already headed out to Cape Parry with a local guide, hoping to shoot a polar bear. But residents are reporting open water 30 to 50 kilometres from shore.

"It didn't really freeze that much this year. There is some very thin ice," said Peter Green of the Paulatuk Community Corporation, noting the temperature was extremely high at -11 C last Tuesday.

"It affects the hunts when there is a lot of open water. You're limited for access."

About six sport hunters are expected to arrive in the community over the next few weeks, the first group arriving on Tuesday.

Nine polar bear, two grizzly and 44 muskox tags have been allotted for sport hunting this season. Grizzly hunts will begin in April.

Green hasn't seen the open water with his own eyes, but said other residents have. He relies on the colour of the sky, which appears a darker blue over open water.

"We know when it's open out here, east of us as well as north of us," he said.

Bill Steven Ruben of the Paulatuk Hunters and Trappers Committee said he also has knowledge of open water in the area.

"We're hearing from people going out to Cape Parry and Pearce Point. They say there is a lot out there," he said.

But, Ruben said, "It's not really going to affect the hunts" because the open areas are only present about 50 kilometres from the hamlet. One local resident took down a polar bear the first weekend of February, he said, but that was for sustenance rather than sport.

"It doesn't really affect the hunt, as long as the water is not too close."

"But people are a bit more cautious. Once you get out onto the thin ice you can tell it's young ice. Young ice is sort of dark," he said.

Those hunters who cannot judge ice thickness will be accompanied by guides, said Ruben. And he assures there are plenty of polar bears around the Pearce Point and Cape Parry areas right now.