Caribou hunting

From Alaska Outdoors Wiki

Contents 1 Introduction to Alaska Caribou Hunting 2 Caribou Distribution in Alaska 3 Hunting Methods 4 Meat Care 5 Hunting Tips 6 Resources 7 Important note

Introduction to Alaska Caribou Hunting

Caribou are the second most popular game animal for hunting in Alaska. They are usually found in the open tundra and mountainous regions of Alaska. Their sometimes great numbers can make for an impressive and memorable spectacle for watching hunters. Both bulls and cows carry antlers. The largest bulls drop their antlers starting in October. Pregnant cows carry their smaller antlers until they give birth in May.

Caribou Distribution in Alaska

Caribou are found in Scandinavia, Russia, Canada and Alaska. "In Europe, caribou are called reindeer, but in Alaska and Canada only the domestic forms are called reindeer. All caribou and reindeer throughout the world are considered to be the same species, but there are 7 subspecies: barrenground (Rangifer tarandus granti), Svalbard (R.t platyrhynchus), European (R.t. tarandus), Finnish forest reindeer (R.t. fennicus), Greenland (R.t. groenlandicus), woodland (R.t. caribou) and Peary (R.t. pearyi). Alaska has only the barren-ground subspecies, but in Canada the barren-ground, woodland, and Peary subspecies are found." (Reference: Alaska Wildlife Notebook Series: Caribou)

Alaska caribou are distributed statewide except the southeast "panhandle", Prince William Sound, and the Aleutians. There are caribou on Adak Island, where a population was transplanted to provide meat for US Navy personnel stationed there in the second half of the 20th century.

Hunting Methods

There are a number of caribou hunting strategies useful in Alaska.

• Float Hunting
• Road Hunting
• Spot and Stalk
• Fly in

Meat Care

Meat care is generally the same as for other Alaska big game. Caribou are smaller and, for the hunter, more portable than moose, but good meat care is still essential. Many hunters will not take October caribou for meat as the taste is negatively impacted by the rut.

Hunting Tips

Some useful threads from the Alaska hunting forum:

• Bow hunting caribou
• Kotzebue caribou hunt story, tips, information, photos
• Adak Caribou
• Adak!

Resources

• ADFG Wildlife Notebook Series: Caribou
• Hunt Alaska Now- Self-guiding for Moose & Caribou
• On Caribou Hunting
• Moose and Caribou Recipes

Important note

This review of moose hunting does not necessarily contain complete or correct Alaska caribou hunting regulations and laws. Hunters must carefully review the Alaska hunting regulations before hunting. The regulations are widely available in Alaska and can also be obtained via the Internet.