Philippe Morin
Northern News Services
Monday, July 2, 2007

SACHS HARBOUR - When most kids trade high-scores, they're talking about video games.

But John Douglas Keogak Jr. and Charlie Haogak Jr. talk about goose kills.

"I got 49, and Charlie for 78," said Keogak, after returning from a three-week hunting trip near Sachs Harbour. While Keogak and Haogak study at Inuvik's Samuel Hearne high school, their families live on Banks Island.

Every year, the youth return for a three-week camping trip and the community's freezers are crammed to capacity with goose meat.

"I have been going all my life," said Keogak, who is 17.

He added he's also pretty good with a 12-guage shotgun, though Haogak is much better at goose calling.

"I bring him along, he's my caller," he said with a laugh.

Keogak said he returned on June 4, after spending three weeks in a tent with family members near Middle Lake.

He recalled being surprised at finding geese with ankle bracelets, which had the phone number of American scientists.

The group was doing a study on goose migration, and asked hunters to call and report information about where and when the geese were killed.

Now back in Inuvik, Keogak said he's looking forward to next year.

And while camping is pretty low-tech, there are some modern conveniences.

"I brought my camcorder, it's also a photo camera and an MP3 player," he added.