Caribou Hunting Preparation and Tips:
The excitement and planning that go into a great hunt are a
lot of fun. The planning process builds anticipation, but
don't let all that excitement derail you from taking care of the
details of putting together a great Caribou Hunting Trip!
- Get Fit for Caribou Hunting! The tundra
terrain is challenging and you may have to hike long
stretches in weather that is very different from home.
Daily walking on an incline should help get you in peak
condition. Carry your gear and wear the hunting boots
you plan to take on the hunting trip so your feet will be in
shape, too. In addition to walking and hiking,
strength training for your upper body is important.
Add push-ups, pull-ups, sit-ups and any other 'ups' you can
think of after your hiking. The added benefit of being
in great shape for your caribou hunt is avoiding injury
during the hunt.
- Get Caribou Hunting Gear: Most any pro
Caribou hunting guide will have a detailed list of
recommended items you will need for a successful Caribou
hunt. Your hunting outfitter has taken into
consideration exactly what you should need and has also
pared down to be practical, keeping in mind the weight
limitations of the flight. Get quality hunting
clothing, keeping in mind the camouflage to match the
environment of the area you will be hunting.
Comfortable boots are critical, as well as quality socks.
Layering is important to keep you warm and dry. Make
sure your weapon of choice (and your skill with that weapon)
is in peak condition. Practice for much longer shots
than you would for a whitetail deer hunt. Your hunting
guide should have a designated area to get your archery
equipment ready for the hunt and a place to site in your
rifle. Another crucial devise is a quality set of
binoculars, and a good digital camera for landscape pictures
and trophy shots. Pack using compact, rugged,
waterproof duffel bags.
- Plan to Do Some Fishing: Caribou are always
moving. If they are out of range on any day of your
hunt, you may be in a position to enjoy some exciting
fishing. If you find that big trophy Caribou early, it
is a great way to enjoy the rest of the trip.
- Communication with Your Pro Caribou Hunting Guide is
Key: Make sure you have a full understanding of
what services will be provided during your hunt.
Accommodations, meals, guide services, non-hunting
recreation, alcohol policies, local customs (don't want to
offend your guide). A guide will generally answer any
question, but may not think to tell you everything before
hand. And tell your guide what you are looking for in
your hunt. Are you going Caribou Hunting for a big
trophy or are you looking for meat? Find out how you
need to plan to get your trophy home. If you are
hunting Caribou in velvet, find out (from your local
taxidermist) what precautions are needed to protect the
racks.
- Remember to Tip: It is customary to tip
your hunting guide, especially if you have a great time and
a successful hunt.
To wrap it up, make sure you are in peak physical condition
and have a clear understanding of what you need to bring and
what to expect from your guide. You are sure to enjoy the
Caribou Hunt of a lifetime if you follow these helpful planning
tips.
 Caribou
Range
Barren Ground Caribou
(Rangifer tarandus)
Physical Description
Brown hair covers the main body of the caribou in the summer with
the eye ring, rump patch, underside of the tail, and inside of the
ears, feet, nose, and areas of the flanks being white. In the
winter the coat turns grayish to almost white in color and gets
thicker and longer than the summer coat. Both sexes grow antlers
standing as high as three feet or more. Fawns are brown and
unspotted. Mature caribou stand approximately four feet tall at
the shoulder. Caribou average eight feet in length.
Average Caribou Weight Range
Mature caribou range in weight from 130 to over 350 pounds.
Caribou Reproduction
Breeding runs from early to mid-October. Cows don’t breed until at
least 2.5 years of age. Calves are usually born mid-May to early
June. Once breeding is complete, the gestation period lasts
225-235 days. Like most of the deer species, the males (bulls)
will spar with each other. There are differing opinions as to why
these fights occur: some believe that the males fight for a harem
of females, and others believe that the males fight for space and
accept the females that are in their space. During these fights
the bulls will charge each other with their heads cocked downward.
They will run into each other horns first, rear up, and on their
hind legs and paw at each other with the front hooves. Injuries
during this time are rare; however, the bulls will occasionally
get their horns locked up, which can result in death for both
animals.
Caribou use vocalizations occasionally such as a grunting roar
during rut, an alarmed snort when spooked and a bawl.
In the spring the females will migrate towards areas known as
calving grounds to give birth in safety. According to studies the
number of predators on the calving grounds is less than the
caribou encounter in the winter range. Instincts to reach these
areas are so strong with the caribou that they are able to travel
through adverse conditions like deep snow and rivers filled with
icebergs. The young are born shortly after the females arrive. The
calving grounds are full of new plant growth high in nutrition for
both the mother (milk production) and the calf.
Caribou Food Usage/Selection
Caribou are herbivores and prefer mature or old growth coniferous
forests associated with bogs, lakes and rivers. Major food source
for the caribou are ground and tree lichens, grasses, sedges,
green leaves of deciduous shrubs, and mushrooms. When the snow
becomes too crusted to dig through, they will turn to eating
shrubs, grasses, willows, and arboreal lichens.
Caribou Range
Alaska, Canada, Scandinavia and Russia are home to the largest
herds of caribou.
In Canada the caribou are found in northern and northwestern
Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, Northwest Territories, Yukon
Territory, Baffin Islands, Southampton Islands, Queen Elizabeth
Islands and Newfoundland.
Caribou Habitat
Depending on the herd species, caribou range from the Atlantic to
the Pacific and from Greenland south through northern Canada.
Common Hunting Methods
Caribou may be taken by rifle, shotgun, black powder or bow and
arrow. Most caribou are hunted on foot while waiting for the
animal to pass by. Some of the best hunting takes place during the
migration periods. Hunters hide along migration routes and wait
for an opportunity to harvest a chosen animal.
Caribou Hunting Challenges/Values
Patience is the biggest challenge that will face hunters of any
experience level. To hunt caribou in either Alaska or Canada, you
are required by local hunting regulations to employ the services
of a guide or an outfitter. In addition to the tasty meat, the
caribou’s hide can be used for clothing and many hunters display
their mounted heads or antlers.
Interesting Info about Caribou
Both sexes grow antlers standing as high as three feet or more.
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