Hunts in Nunavut
Hunt with our Friends - Hunts in Nunavut
Are you looking for species not available with our BC guided hunts? Hunt with our friends in Nunavut.
Hunts in Nunavut, Canada’s largest and northernmost territory, offer a unique and challenging experience for both residents and visitors. The vast Arctic landscape of Nunavut provides opportunities to pursue a diverse range of wildlife species in their natural habitats.
Nunavut’s hunting regulations are designed to ensure sustainable harvesting practices while respecting the rights of Indigenous peoples. The territory recognizes three classes of hunters: Nunavut residents, non-residents, and non-resident foreigners. Each class has specific requirements and restrictions for obtaining hunting licenses and tags.
Some of the most sought-after big game species in Nunavut include caribou and muskox. The barren-ground caribou is particularly significant, with several herds totaling over 750,000 animals ranging across the territory. Caribou hunting in Nunavut is with local guides who possess intimate knowledge of the land and animal behaviour.
Other popular game animals in Nunavut include arctic wolves, arctic foxes, and seals. The territory also offers opportunities for hunting smaller game like arctic hare.
Nunavut’s hunting seasons vary by species and region, with many hunts taking place during the brief Arctic summer and fall. Hunters must be prepared for extreme weather conditions and challenging terrain.
Conservation is a key aspect of hunting in Nunavut. The territory employs a co-management approach, involving local Hunting and Trapping Organizations (HTOs) in decision-making processes. This ensures that traditional Inuit knowledge is incorporated into wildlife management strategies.
For many Nunavummiut, hunting is not just a recreational activity but a vital part of their culture and subsistence lifestyle. Visitors interested in hunting in Nunavut should respect local customs and traditions while enjoying the unique opportunities this vast Arctic territory has to offer.
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Muskox Hunt
Muskox hunts in Nunavut, Canada provide a unique opportunity to pursue one of the Arctic’s most distinctive and ancient-looking species.
Specs: Muskox have barrel-shaped bodies with short legs, covered in a long, shaggy coat of guard hairs and qiviut. Both sexes have cream-coloured horns with black tips that curve downward and then upward.
Size: Male muskox weigh 600-900 lbs and stand 5 ft tall at the shoulder; females weigh 400-500 lbs and stand 4 ft tall.
Season: The hunting season for muskox in Nunavut typically runs from August to October, with a spring season also available.
Locations: Muskox are commonly found in the Kivalliq and Kitikmeot regions of Nunavut, including river valleys and tundra areas.
About the hunt: Muskox hunting methods include spot-and-stalk and using snow machines to cover ground. Traditional Inuit knowledge often guides the hunts.
Behaviours: Muskox live in herds, exhibit defensive circle formations against predators, and have seasonal activity patterns influenced by light and temperature.
Diet & Seasonal Range: Muskoxen are herbivores, feeding on grasses, sedges, and willows. They migrate seasonally to areas with less snow for easier foraging.
Management: Conservation efforts in Nunavut include regulated hunting quotas and management zones to ensure sustainable muskox populations.
Barren-Ground Cariboo Hunt
Barren-Ground Caribou hunts in Nunavut, Canada offer hunters the chance to pursue one of the Arctic’s most iconic and important species.
Specs: Barren-ground caribou have a coat that changes seasonally, from light beige in winter to chocolate brown in summer. They have a white belly, white mane, and white socks above their hooves. Both males and females grow antlers.
Size: Male caribou weigh around 330 lbs and females around 200 lbs. Shoulder height can reach up to 47 inches.
Season: The hunting season typically occurs in late summer and early fall, coinciding with the caribou’s migration and rutting periods.
Locations: Barren-ground caribou are found throughout the mainland in the Kivalliq and Kitikmeot regions of Nunavut, as well as on the tundra and near calving grounds.
About the hunt: Caribou hunting methods include spot-and-stalk, ambush hunting, and using boats to follow migration routes. Challenges include the remote and harsh tundra environment.
Behaviours: Barren-ground caribou are highly migratory, forming large herds and traveling up to 800 miles annually. They are gregarious and exhibit seasonal behaviors such as calving in groups.
Diet & Seasonal Range: Their diet includes lichens, shrubs, grasses, and mushrooms. They migrate seasonally from wintering grounds in the boreal forest to calving grounds on the tundra.
Management: Conservation efforts in Nunavut include habitat protection, monitoring populations, and managing hunting practices. Collaborative management plans involve Indigenous and governmental organizations.
Walrus Hunt
Walrus hunts in Nunavut, Canada present a unique opportunity to pursue one of the Arctic’s largest marine mammals in its natural habitat.
Specs: Walruses are large pinnipeds with thick, wrinkled skin ranging from light grey to yellowish-brown. They have long tusks, which are elongated canine teeth, and a moustache-like array of whiskers.
Size: Male walruses average 10-12 ft in length and weigh 1,800-3,700 lbs; females are smaller, averaging 7 1/2 – 10 ft and 900-2,700 lbs.
Season: Walrus hunting in Nunavut occurs year-round, with peak activity from July to October.
Locations: Walruses are commonly found near communities such as Arviat, Coral Harbour, Hall Beach, Igloolik, Kugaaruk, Grise Fiord, Pond Inlet, Naujaat, Kimmirut, and Sanikiluaq.
About the hunt: Walrus hunting in Nunavut involves using boats to approach animals on ice floes or in open water. Hunters often use rifles and harpoons, aiming for close-range shots.
Behaviours: Walruses are highly social animals, forming groups of hundreds to thousands. They exhibit dominance hierarchies based on tusk size and body mass.
Diet & Seasonal Range: Walruses primarily feed on benthic invertebrates like clams and other molluscs. Their migratory range includes shallow Arctic waters, with seasonal movements influenced by sea ice availability.
Management: Walrus hunting in Nunavut is co-managed by the Nunavut Wildlife Management Board and the Department of Fisheries and Oceans. Conservation efforts include sustainable harvest levels and habitat protection.
Arctic Wolf Hunt
Arctic wolf hunts in Nunavut, Canada offer a challenging pursuit of one of the North’s most elusive predators.
Specs: Arctic wolves have a thick white coat for insulation and camouflage in snowy environments. They have smaller ears and shorter muzzles to retain body heat.
Size: Arctic wolves weigh 70-155 lbs, stand 25-31 inches tall at the shoulder, and measure 3-6 feet in length.
Season: The hunting season for Arctic wolves in Nunavut typically runs from late February to May.
Locations: Arctic wolves are found in the High Arctic tundra of Nunavut, including the Queen Elizabeth Islands, Ellesmere Island, and other northern regions.
About the hunt: Arctic wolf hunting requires stamina and patience. Techniques include tracking by snowmobile and sled, and using observation points to locate packs.
Behaviours: Arctic wolves are social animals living in packs of 6-10. They communicate through howls and body language, and follow a strict hierarchy led by an alpha pair.
Diet & Seasonal Range: Arctic wolves primarily feed on muskox, Arctic hares, and caribou. Their diet adapts seasonally based on prey availability.
Management: Conservation efforts in Nunavut include protected areas and community-based wildlife management programs, integrating Inuit knowledge and scientific research for Arctic wolf conservation.
Arctic Fox Hunt
Arctic fox hunts in Nunavut, Canada provide an opportunity to pursue one of the North’s most adaptable and resilient small game species.
Specs: The Arctic fox has a compact body with small, rounded ears, a small black nose, short stubby legs, and a long bushy tail. Its fur changes colour seasonally: dark grey to bluish brown in summer and white or creamy white in winter.
Size: Arctic foxes measure 18-27 inches in body length, 9-12 inches in height, and weigh 6 1/2 – 21 pounds.
Season: Arctic foxes can be hunted year-round in Nunavut, as they are classified as furbearers.
Locations: Arctic foxes are found throughout Nunavut, primarily in arctic and alpine tundra, coastal areas, and some forested regions in the southern part of their range.
About the hunt: Hunting Arctic foxes requires patience and strategic positioning. Their acute hearing helps them locate prey under the snow, making stealth crucial for hunters.
Behaviours: Arctic foxes exhibit nomadic and communal behaviours, forming small groups to locate food. They build complex dens with tunnels and entrances, and cache surplus food for winter.
Diet & Seasonal Range: Arctic foxes are omnivores, feeding on lemmings, voles, seabirds, fish, and berries. They adapt their diet seasonally and migrate long distances, often using sea ice as a foraging platform.
Management: Conservation in Nunavut involves co-management by the Nunavut Wildlife Management Board and local organizations, integrating Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit and scientific knowledge to ensure sustainable harvesting and habitat protection of Arctic foxes.
Arctic Hare Hunt
Arctic hare hunts in Nunavut, Canada provide a unique small game experience in the harsh yet beautiful Arctic environment.
Specs: The Arctic hare has a thick, white winter coat for camouflage and warmth, which changes to a grey-brown coat in summer. It has short ears, large hind feet with fur for insulation, and long claws for digging in snow.
Size: Arctic hares weigh 6–15 lbs and measure 19–28 inches in length.
Season: Arctic hare hunting is generally allowed year-round in Nunavut, but specific regulations may apply based on local guidelines.
Locations: Arctic hares are found throughout Nunavut, primarily in tundra regions beyond the tree line. They inhabit northern slopes of hills in winter where wind exposure keeps the ground more accessible.
About the hunt: Hunting Arctic hares involves tracking their movements in snow-covered tundra. Techniques include still hunting and drive hunting, focusing on signs like tracks and vegetation disturbances.
Behaviours: Arctic hares are social in winter, forming groups for warmth and predator evasion. They are active year-round, primarily nocturnal, and exhibit behaviours like ‘boxing’ during social interactions.
Diet & Seasonal Range: Arctic hares are herbivores, feeding on woody plants, mosses, lichens, and berries. Their diet adapts seasonally, with winter diets relying on digging through snow for vegetation.
Management: Conservation of Arctic hares in Nunavut involves co-management practices integrating Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit and scientific research. Wildlife management includes habitat monitoring and sustainable hunting regulations.
Ringed Seal Hunt
Ringed Seal hunts in Nunavut, Canada are an important traditional activity and offers hunters a chance to experience Inuit hunting practices.
Specs: Ringed seals have a dark coat with silver rings on their back and sides, and a silver belly. They are small seals with small heads, short snouts, and small front flippers with strong claws.
Size: Ringed seals average 5 feet in length and weigh between 110 to 200 pounds.
Season: The hunting season for ringed seals in Nunavut typically occurs from April to June.
Locations: Ringed seals are found in ice-covered waters throughout Nunavut, including land-fast ice and fjords.
About the hunt: Inuit hunters use traditional methods such as probing snowdrifts with harpoons to locate subnivean structures. Hunting often involves breaking through the roof of snow lairs.
Behaviours: Ringed seals are solitary animals, coming together only for breeding and molting. They exhibit strong territorial instincts and are well-adapted to ice environments.
Diet & Seasonal Range: Ringed seals feed on small fish like Arctic cod, herring, and crustaceans. Their diet varies seasonally, with increased feeding during open-water seasons to build blubber reserves.
Management: Conservation efforts in Nunavut include monitoring population trends and addressing climate change impacts. Ringed seals are considered a species of special concern under Canada’s Species at Risk Act.
Bearded Seal Hunt
Bearded Seal hunts in Nunavut, Canada offer hunters the opportunity to pursue one of the Arctic’s largest seal species.
Specs: Bearded seals have a small head in proportion to their body, long whiskers, and square-shaped foreflippers. Their coat ranges from light grey to dark brown, with darker backs and lighter faces.
Size: Bearded seals measure 7 to 9 feet in length and weigh between 450 to 1,000 pounds.
Season: Bearded seals are hunted during the winter and spring in Nunavut, often near breathing holes in the ice or while basking on ice floes.
Locations: Bearded seals are found throughout the Arctic, including shallow coastal waters and areas with sea ice in Nunavut.
About the hunt: Bearded seal hunting in Nunavut uses traditional methods such as harpoons and nets near breathing holes in the ice during winter, and rifles while seals bask on ice floes in spring.
Behaviours: Bearded seals are generally solitary, except during the breeding season. They are known for their distinctive vocalizations, especially during mating periods. These seals are well-adapted to ice environments and can maintain breathing holes in thick ice using their strong claws.
Diet & Seasonal Range: Bearded seals primarily feed on benthic organisms such as clams, squid, and fish found on or near the ocean bottom. Their diet varies seasonally based on ice conditions and prey availability. They typically remain in areas with moving pack ice throughout the year, following the ice edge as it advances and retreats.
Management: In Nunavut, bearded seal hunting is managed through a co-management system involving Inuit organizations and government agencies. Conservation efforts focus on maintaining sustainable harvest levels, protecting important habitats, and monitoring the impacts of climate change on seal populations.
Arctic Islands Caribou Hunt
Arctic Islands Caribou hunts in Nunavut, Canada offer a unique challenge in the harsh Arctic environment.
Specs: Arctic Islands Caribou are a subspecies of caribou adapted to the extreme Arctic conditions. They have a compact body for heat conservation and broad, concave hooves for traversing snow and ice.
Size: Adult males weigh 330-440 lbs, while females weigh 200-265 lbs. They stand about 3ft 4 in – 4 ft at the shoulder.
Season: Hunting seasons vary by region and population status in Nunavut, with some areas closed due to conservation concerns.
Locations: Found on Arctic islands in Nunavut, including Banks Island, Victoria Island, and the Queen Elizabeth Islands.
About the hunt: Hunting Arctic Islands Caribou is challenging due to remote locations and harsh Arctic conditions. Hunters must be prepared for extreme weather and difficult terrain.
Behaviours: These caribou are less migratory than mainland populations, often moving vertically rather than horizontally. They live in small groups and maintain a wide dispersion across the landscape.
Diet & Seasonal Range: They have a varied diet, feeding on lichens, sedges, and Arctic plants. Their range includes both coastal areas and inland tundra, with seasonal movements based on food availability.
Management: Carefully managed due to conservation concerns, with some populations subject to hunting restrictions to support recovery efforts.
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5% of every hunt goes towards
conservation initiatives in the Chilcotin Ark
