Opportunity for Caribou...

Ray Hammond · February 03, 2012, 06:12:00 AM

Definitely take fishing gear

Your caribou hunt might just end up being a really expensive laker or grayling or brookie fishing trip if the bou aren't where u are and a shore lunch of fresh caught brook trout can uplift anyone's spirits if a bou can't be found!

Be ready for warm as well as cold weather and make sure to get up in the middle of the night to see the Northern Lights- well worth the price of admission!

Rick Richard · February 03, 2012, 06:26:00 AM

I have never been, but one day will go since it is one of the items in my bucket list. So until then let us who dream live it through your adventure...tell the story and share the pictures.

Jake Diebolt · February 03, 2012, 08:01:00 AM

A rain-suit is on my wishlist. I currently don't have a good one.

Bjorn: Wherever did you get that stereotypical view of canadian dialects, eh? *slurps high-quality Canadian beer* ;)Now if you'll excuse me, I have to go pick up my toque from the dry cleaner, eh.

Seriously, though,I'll definitely bring a camera - my Dad got some awesome pictures last time he was there.

joe ashton · February 03, 2012, 10:54:00 AM

You are going to have a ball. 'Bous are a hoot. You gear is fine.

Ken Taylor · February 03, 2012, 12:26:00 PM

Jake,

I have only recently taken a break from working at caribou camps after about twenty years and I live only a few hours from where you will be leaving your vehicle. You will be driving right by the access road to our community. We live near their winter range.

I think that your Uncles and/or Dad possibly hunted with me when they went up there. John Diebolt left me a telephone message recently but I was in the bush. I tried getting back to him without success.

1) What date will you be hunting up there?

2) What # camp are you booked to hunt?

3) What year, what camp, and what guide/manager did your Dad hunt with?

Caribou can still be a great hunt but the herd is in a down cycle these days. All that may mean to hunters however is to book during historical peak times and in an area that is near the most recent seasonal migration routes. Caribou hunting is still always somewhat of a gamble. My first experiences with caribou go back to the early seventies.

When I worked for Cargair, supervising up to 12 hunters a week, it was probably the best hunt for the money.

I didn't send you a private message because I think that this info might help others.

acolobowhunter · February 03, 2012, 01:53:00 PM

Good luck. Good advice about the rain gear. I hunted the mountain caribou in BC and got a real nice one. We hunted off of horses for 10 days. You can cover some country with horses. Would hate to think what it would have been like with out horses. On foot, you just can't cover much country in a day. We saw LOTS of caribou and could be a little choosie about animals. The mountain caribou does not migrate, so it was like hunting elk here in Colo. I used the 2 bld Zwikee Eskimo for caribou and moose and worked good.

Jake Diebolt · February 03, 2012, 03:04:00 PM

Ken:

I don't have much info about this yet. I was only able to talk briefly with John - all I got was "have you talked to your dad about caribou yet? It's a go!". I haven't talked with my dad yet as he was working in the states last week. I have to say that until I can confirm with him I'm not 100% sure - if he's not in a position to go, neither am I.

My dad (Pat) hunted 2009, I believe. I think my uncles went also in 2006(?). I don't know off the top of my head what camp number my dad was at. He's a redhead - and both my uncles (Ron and John) are 6'6". So as a group they may have stuck out a bit!

Ken Taylor · February 03, 2012, 09:55:00 PM

Sorry! Having trouble with the pictures.
Let me try again.
I resized them all to 640 max but they seem big to me.
I tried shrinking them again.
Here goes.

Something is wrong at Photobucket. I give up.

Jake, just a few caribou pictures.

Jake Diebolt · February 03, 2012, 11:05:00 PM

What were you trying to post, Ken?

SS Snuffer · February 03, 2012, 11:22:00 PM

A hunt with your Dad? You will never forget it and nor will your Dad! Relax and have fun and make some memorys!

Bill Carlsen · February 04, 2012, 09:36:00 AM

Be sure to practice at longer distances....40 yards shots may be your only option but I have been on hunts where shots have been as close as 5 yards. Fishing gear, rain gear and black fly repellent are essential. The kill area on a caribou is the same as on a deer...just a bit bigger target. Learn to shoot in the wind, as well.

Jake Diebolt · February 04, 2012, 11:03:00 AM

The area where I practice is a plateua on top of a bluff, so I'm used to shooting in wind. I intend to practice longer shots, but honestly I doubt I'll be confident at 40 yards in 6 months. 20 yards is my max right now anyway. We'll see how it goes.

Ken Taylor · February 04, 2012, 12:04:00 PM

I'm going to try to get some pictures on here again... at the correct size. Strange because I never had a problem before.

Here goes: nope, same as yesterday! Sorry.

Jake Diebolt · February 04, 2012, 02:43:00 PM

That's alright Ken, thanks for trying.

jonsimoneau · February 04, 2012, 05:02:00 PM

I've gone, and I love it. I would go every year if I could. The way things have been going with the caribou herds as of recent, and with the constant opening and closing of seasons, I would not put it off if you have the opportunity. They closed the season in Labrador last year, and I have not heard if it will be open again anytime soon.

Anyway, as far as the quarry goes, caribou are exceptionally beautiful in real life, where they live naturaly. Their beauty is almost unsurpassed in my opinion. However, as beautiful as they are...they are not whitetails. They are fairly easy to stalk. Easier than wild hogs in my opinion. The biggest thing as was mentioned before is that they rarely stop moving, and they move much faster than what they appear. You have to try to get in front of them...WAY in front of them, as you will not catch up to them. Even on tundra, there are terrian features that will dictate movement to some extent. Look ahead of where they are going and try to find something that may funnel them to bow range.
As far as shooting them goes, caribou are not very tough in my opinion. Try to shoot them just like you would a whitetail. But it seems like if you hit them between the front legs and the back legs they go down. Im jeleous!

Jake Diebolt · February 05, 2012, 08:43:00 PM

Well, I just talked to my dad. It's official! We're going either September 23 or 25, as near as he can remember. Me, one of my uncles, my dad and a friend of ours up here on Manitoulin. Two blackpowders, one rifle and a recurve

... Beware, quebec caribou! And in honour of La Belle Provence: "Se mefier, Caribou!"

David Yukon · February 05, 2012, 08:56:00 PM

Good for you!

katman · February 06, 2012, 07:52:00 AM

Wish you good luck on the adventure, remember to take lots of pics and tell us all the story. Enjoy the time afield with your relatives.