Iqaluit (Jan 30/06) - Five communities hope hunters will come spend money on walrus this year. Walrus sport hunts have been approved in Hall Beach, Iglulik, Qikiqtarjuaq, Kimmirut and Cape Dorset.

Part-time hunter Judah Sarpinak of Iglulik with an American hunter in July 2004. Walrus sport hunting has been approved in five Nunavut communities. - photo courtesy of Joe Tigullaraq 2006 approved hunts: Cape Dorset - 2 Iglulik - 25 Hall Beach - 15 Kimmirut - 2 Qikiqtarjuaq - 5 2005 approved hunts: Cape Dorset - 2 hunts but none conducted Iglulik - 15 hunts and 12 conducted successfully Hall Beach - 15 hunts and 3 conducted successfully Qikiqtarjuaq - 5 hunts and none conducted Coral Harbour - 2 hunts and 2 conducted, not known if successful - Quota information courtesy of the Nunavut Wildlife Management Board

Although this hunting type dates back to 1995 in Iglulik and Hall Beach, Cape Dorset and Qikiqtarjuaq are "fairly new to the hunt" and Kimmirut is "trying it out for the first time this year," says Nunavut Wildlife Board chair Joe Tigullaraq.

Tourists - usually from the United States - pay big bucks to hunt walrus.

"A store clerk that came from the south would probably not find it worthwhile," said Tigullaraq. "It's usually financially well- off people looking for adventure and to take home a trophy."

The board approved 49 permits for this year, with 25 going to Iglulik.

Each hunter pays about $6,000 a hunt. They usually find out about the hunt and organize their trip through a professional booker often located in the south, said Tigullaraq.

"It's usually easier for professional bookers to do the booking because it's too expensive for the hunters and trappers organizations (HTOs) to do advertising and all that," said Tigullaraq.

Judah Sarpinak is a part-time hunter and has helped his father Joanasie Sarpinak take people walrus hunting in Iglulik.

"It brings money into the territory," says Judah Sarpinak. "Not a whole lot, but it helps."

He says the experience is unique, and draws people looking for adventure.

"They find it different, exciting and a good adventure. It's so open and away from the city."

The two people Sarpinak took out last year were both experienced sport hunters, but had never tried hunting walrus before.

Martha Gibbons has been Hall Beach's economic development officer for the last eight years.

She's noticed the walrus sports hunt gain popularity over the last two years, but not enough to make a big difference to the community of 700 people.

"It's been approved, but sports hunters never really came in," she said. "There used to be more polar bear hunts instead, and then this local outfitter who did polar bear hunts stopped business two years ago and those hunts went down and walrus hunts went up."

She says walrus sports hunting has fair economic potential, if it is treated right.

"It probably would if there was more advertising and more attention was given to sports hunters" said Gibbons. She said the Hall Beach Hunters and Trappers Organization did a little advertising last year in the south.

Mining activity starting this year and the ongoing DEW line cleanup will provide the bulk of employment in the community for the year, said Gibbons.

The HTO in Qikiqtarjuaq had five hunts approved last year, but none were conducted. They are trying to get the hunt off the ground, but need some help from a consultant who hasn't been able to make it to the community yet. They are hoping the consultant will come in the next month or two.

"This will definitely benefit not only the hunters but the HTO and the community themselves," said Qikiqtarjuaq HTO manager Harry Alookie. "Hopefully we can get this started and use this year as a pilot project."

Alookie has no figures of how much money the hunt would bring to individual hunters or the community.

"We need to work that all out on the advice of a consultant."

The wildlife board has no problem approving the hunt because of the decrease in domestic hunting since the 1960s, says Tigullaraq.

"Sport hunting does not put walrus at risk. Sport hunting brings money to Nunavut communities where unemployment rates are high. Approved hunts hardly make a dent in walrus populations in Nunavut. "

All communities that applied for the hunt this year were approved. Each have a different number of walrus they are allowed to harvest through sport hunting.