SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (ENR) plans to raise the price tag of hunting licences and some outfitters say it's just another nail in the coffin for their floundering industry.

"The GNWT has pretty much successfully run us out of the outfitting business, so I don't think there's going to be many caribou hunters," said outfitter Boyd Warner. "Maybe that's why they have to increase licences fees, because there not getting hundreds of non-residents."

Two weeks after outfitters received a letter from the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment informing them they could no longer book caribou hunting trips for next year, Warner said ENR's decision to raise hunting licence fees reflected a bias toward charging non-aboriginal hunters. He said he thought the number of resident hunters was so small, any money generated from the fee changes would be "pathetically small."

Judy McLinton, spokeswoman for the department, confirmed the price was increasing, but could not give any specifics on which licences would be affected and how much the increase would be.

Licences are issued for a year-long term, running from July 1 to June 30. Fees will not change until June 30. Currently resident hunters pay $10. Non-residents - Canadians who haven't lived in the territory for more than two years - pay $20, and "alien non-residents," hunters who don't reside in the NWT or Canada, pay $50.

For some animals, there are additional trophy fees and heightened fees for a second tag per season.

Warner, who owns Bathurst Inlet Lodge, said even though the timing irked him, hunters in the NWT still pay "ridiculously low" fees compared to other jurisdictions in Canada, and added that he can understand the changes.

"As long as it goes up reasonably, I guess I would have no issue with it if we're just coming in line with other provinces," said Warner.