Erin Fletcher
Northern News Services

Inuvik (Apr 05/04) - Like every other aspect of the tourism industry, sport hunting is changing shape to adapt to a fickle consumer while continuing to serve as a livelihood for some Western Arctic residents.

Although polar bears are the biggest money maker, they aren't the only thing sport hunters are after any more. Caribou, muskox, wolf, fox and even the odd wolverine are attractive enough for American hunters keen on experiencing the Canadian North.

Last year 30 hunters came to the Western Arctic and they dropped thousands of dollars in their wake.

"(Sport hunting) generates huge revenues for the local hunters and trappers and the local guides," said Marty Verbonac, the vice-president for the Mackenzie Delta Hotel Group.

"For a lot of them, that's their only revenue for the year."

"It's very valuable because it provides income for people in the communities," agreed Judith Venaas, regional tourism officer with the GNWT Department of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development.

A 12-day polar bear hunt can cost a hunter about $20,000 American, said Verbonac. Caribou and muskox bring in about half that amount. And that's not including the airfare, accommodations while in the community, meals while in the community and dollars spent on souvenirs.

"They do drop a fair chuck of change in town as well," said Verbonac, who is usually the first person sports hunters coming to the Western Arctic meet.

Help for return trip

For the past seven years Verbonac has been picking hunters up at the airport, helping them get the appropriate hunting licences, picking them up after the hunt and sorting out the trophy paperwork for the return trip.

He said 99 per cent of the hunters are from the United States.

Sachs Harbour and Paulatuk are the top two communities hunters travel to for the hunt, with Holman coming in at a close third.

March is mainly for polar bear hunts while April is the season for caribou and muskox.

Paulatuk residents Jonah Nakimayak and Gary Reidford say the sport hunting market is a tough one.

They've co-owned Bekere Lake Lodge, located west of Paulatuk, for the past five years.

Complete package

Unlike other outfitters who usually operate out of their homes, the pair offers tourists a complete package.

The adventure starts when they land in Paulatuk and are either flown or loaded onto a snowmobile to make the trek into the lodge, located a few hours out of community. There they are housed, fed and entertained before and after the hunt.

But visitors aren't coming in hundreds.

"Last year was tough," said Reidford. "We had mad cows and mad caribou. Everyone was mad last year."

They had four hunters last year and only two booked for this year so far. Their top year saw 10 hunters.

Muskox and caribou are the most popular hunts. They don't do polar bears because they don't want the extra hassle of having a dog team, said Reidford.

Marketing is a big thing for them. They have a detailed Web site and spend a lot of time networking.

"We've just got to get people down there," said Reidford.

He said the location and cost of transportation to the lodge is the biggest barrier to getting people to the lodge.

Nakimayak has 30 years of guiding experience. Before he went into business with Reidford, he worked as a guide for other outfitters.

"I like to hunt and I like working with people," said Nakimayak, of why he continues to guide.

Although it is mandatory for sport hunters to take a guide in the NWT, they seem to enjoy it.

"A lot of hunters like to hunt with guides and it's something new for them."

He said caribou are the most popular for hunters because they migrate -- adding the thrill of a chase to the hunt.

Nakimayak even has a special perch where he takes his hunters to watch the herds pass.

It's hard to say what's in the future for sport hunting.

Every year the number of tags given out is dependent on the population size of each species, making for a variable product.

Sport hunting brings in two per cent of the total number of tourists to the NWT, but is the largest money maker, said Venaas.

"Globally, hunting and fishing 20 years ago was at the top of list (as a tourist attraction)," said Venaas.

"But I think now it's towards the bottom. People are now more into shooting animals with a camera and not a gun."

Nakimayak and Reidford are already bracing for the change. They see their lodge as more than a hunting or fishing destination.

It could also be a snowmobiling destination.

They're developing snowmobile tours between Inuvik and Paulatuk. They hope to take their first tourists over the trek in March 2005.