Tuktoyaktuk (Feb 27/06) - Aboriginal hunter Peter Panaktolok says more than half the families in Tuktoyaktuk depend on caribou meat.

Perry Robert and Nicole Lawson harvest a caribou during a youth hunt near Rock River. The GNWT recently set caribou quotas for non-aboriginal resident hunters and is looking into limiting aboriginal hunters as well. - Photo courtesy of Liz Wright POPULATION NUMBERS Porcupine 178,000 (1989) 123,000 (2001) Cape Bathurst 17,500 (1992) 2,400 (2005) Bluenose West 98,900 (1987) 20,800 (2005) Bluenose East 104,000 (2000) 66,600 (2005) Bathurst 472,000 (1986) 186,000 (2003) Ahiak estimated 200,000 (1996) no recent survey Beverly 286,000 (1994) no recent survey

"My family eats about three caribou a month, but we have to make soup for it to last," Panaktolok said.

The GNWT recently announced it will soon reduce quotas for non-aboriginal caribou hunters, but there have also been discussions about targeting aboriginal hunters as well.

Environment Minister Michael Miltenberger told the legislative assembly last week that dwindling numbers have forced the restrictions. The government plans to invest more than $4.6 million over five years on its caribou management plan.

Wildlife officials and management boards are creating short-term and long-term strategies to protect caribou populations.

Earlier this week, quotas for non-aboriginal resident hunters were dropped from five tags to two per year, and only males can be hunted.

Aboriginal hunters in some regions who have no quotas may also be affected. Wildlife management boards are recommending reduced harvests for Cape Bathurst and Bluenose West herds further north near Tuktoyaktuk, which have seen a drastic drop in herd size, according to a survey completed last year.

Big game outfitters who cater to clients from across the globe will soon be issued 132 tags instead of 190, which they're allowed today.

But many hunters in Tuktoyaktuk feel there shouldn't be any sport hunting at all and quotas only hurt aboriginals who hunt for food.

"Sport hunting should be off entirely," Raddi said.

"Quotas should only be for non-aboriginal hunters. It will only hurt us."

Panaktolok hopes the GNWT only reduces aboriginal quotas during certain times in the year.

"They should have a quota after December until the middle of August sometime," Panaktolok said. "To hunt caribou in the summer, you must travel quite a ways to find them."

He also suggests the quotas for aboriginal hunters be short-term.

"It should apply to aboriginal hunters for one year," Panaktolok said.

Gary Raddi, another Tuktoyaktuk hunter, says quotas for aboriginals will really hurt the community, but he admits caribou populations are getting smaller and harder to find.

"Nowadays the caribou have really changed their patterns," Raddi said.

"We have to travel longer, whereas before we could get them close to town."

Raddi says at one time, caribou could be found just 30 miles from town. Now hunters must spend several days looking for caribou herds.

"Now we're spending more on gas and most times we have to go camping and that means more shells and food," Raddi said.

Panaktalok says a hunter will spend up to $300 a day just going back and forth from camp into town.

Both hunters agree that store-bought meat is too expensive for most families in Tuktoyaktuk.

"A store-bought eight ounce steak will cost $17 in Tuktoyaktuk," Panaktolok said.