RANKIN INLET - Rankin Inlet has been chosen for this summer's bowhead whale hunt and Paul Kanayok will be captaining, according to HTO manager Norman Ford.

Ford said the Kivalliq Wildlife Board made the decision in May. It is the first time Rankin Inlet has hosted a hunt, according to NTI's acting director of wildlife Bert Dean. The hunt will take place between Rankin Inlet and Wager Bay.

"They've selected two or three possible sights or locations where they could land and process the animal," Dean said. "A lot of it will depend on weather, ice conditions and where the animals are."

Ford said between 12 and 16 hunters from Rankin Inlet will participate.

Rankin's hunt is just one of three this year. Each region in Nunavut will be hosting a hunt this summer, Ford said.

"The Nunavut Wildlife Management Board has given the OK to get three so Kitikmeot Kivalliq and Qikiqtani are getting one each," he said.

Exact dates for the hunt have yet to be determined. Ford said each community in the Kivalliq region will receive maktaaq from the hunt, but there will be more distributed this year because of the increase in the bowhead quota.

"It's a bit more than when it was only one whale for the whole of Nunavut," he said.

Dean said Rankin is currently working on the hunt plan, but hunters are very excited.

"They've been meeting with elders. The hunt crews have been meeting and talking about different locations and working on the plan," he said. "It's good. There's a lot of interest and excitement among the hunters."