Fort Simpson (Oct 06/06) - You might have noticed a few people missing in the communities around the Deh Cho region as hunters and their families seek moose during the fall hunt.

Some hunters believe the moose rut, or mating time, has come late to this region, but others aren't so sure.

Allen Farcy holds a moose skull from the two-year-old bull moose he shot just outside of Fort Providence Sept. 26. Hunters said they are having a good year for moose so far. - Jessica Gray/NNSL photo

One thing that is clear: most who have gone out on the land have been successful in their hunts.

Liidlii Kue/Fort Simpson

Hunter and elder Jonas Antoine shot a three-year-old bull moose at the end of September about 200 kilometre out of town at Willow River.

"People are saying the rut's come late. It seems like no one was getting a lot of moose," he said.

"Now you see moose tracks and lots of people are out," said Antoine.

The best time to hunt moose generally begins mid-September and ends in October.

Antoine's nephew, Douglas Norwegian, has also found success hunting and plans to go back out soon.

"I learned from the best," said Norwegian, nudging his uncle Jonas.

Tthenaago/Nahanni Butte

Though some in the community have put off the hunt for work, Chief Eric Betsaka said some hunters are having just as much luck as last year.

"Last year there was a lot of success," said Betsaka, describing the many moose the community feasted on.

He said those who have been working on a road project will most likely be out in bush camps this week.

Deh Gah Got'ie Koe/Fort Providence

Darren Campbell, the resource management officer in Fort Providence, said some people have come by his office talking about fewer moose, but said it's too early to tell how the season will go.

"Last year was a real good year for moose. I wouldn't panic about it now," he said.

Campbell said it's common to see a decrease in moose after a good hunting season the year before.

Acho Dene Koe/Fort Liard

Marlene Timbre, who works at the band office, said her parents Helena and Ernest Timbre are doing well with this year's hunt.

"They shot a pretty big bull," she said.

Timbre said her parents have a cabin outside of town where they took the grandchildren out to learn about the land and hunting.

Tthek'ehdeli/Jean Marie River

In Jean Marie River, there hasn't been much luck, but community members are out in force, said Chief Stan Sanguez.

"There are a lot of people on the river," he said.

He said the community brought in between 12 and 15 moose last year, an animal that can be anywhere from 1,200 to 2,000 pounds.

Jennifer Kraus, a receptionist at the band office, said, "I haven't heard of anyone shooting moose although I've seen moose," said Kraus laughing.

Pehdzeh Ki/Wrigley

Tannis Cli, band office manager in Wrigley, said her husband Morris Moses and friends have already shot four moose this year.

"The band has provided gas for people who want to go out on their own," said Cli last week.

Sambaa K'e/Trout Lake

Maureen Deneron from Trout Lake said her relatives have shot one moose so far and others in the community have called the season a good one.

"A couple people shot a few moose. They go to the lakes to water," she said.

Moose are prized for the large amount of meat and tender organs.

The meat is often shared with family, friends, and whole communities.

Nic Larter, the Deh Cho regional biologist, said he's looking for hunters to bring in moose samples for testing. The moose will go through an elemental analysis to see what kind of contaminants are found in a wide range of moose from the region.

"The program has been extended so that we can continue to collect samples through this year's fall hunt," said Larter.

Each band office has been given sampling kits hunters can pick up or they are available at the Environment and Natural Resources office in Fort Simpson.

Larter's office is asking hunters to being in samples of moose feces to check for diseases or parasites and its diet; an entire kidney and its fat, aiding in the analysis of elements in its system; an ankle or long bone including bone marrow, used to assess the moose's condition; front teeth, to age the animal; a two-inch chunk of liver, again used to assess element levels; and finally a two-inch chunk of muscle, also used to analyze amount and number of elements in its system.

The study is a part of an Environment Canada initiative.

Larter said he has received around 40 samples already and has sent some to Environment Canada labs, but is looking for more moose from the region to better represent the Deh Cho as a whole.

Hunters have until Nov. 1 to drop off samples.

Larter recommends the samples stay cool or be frozen so they stay in good condition.