Caribou Hunting

For many centuries, Caribou hunting has been a major means of subsistence for a number of native tribes in Siberia, Scandinavia, and North America. These animals were an important source of meat, grease, hides, sinews, and antlers for the Inuit people, Kalaallit, and many Native American peoples. Up to nowadays, they play an important economic role for the Nenets, Saami, Evenks, Yukaghirs, Khants, Chukchi, and Koryaks.

There are many methods of Caribou hunting invented throughout the history. These strong and agile animals were stalked with a bow and arrows, caught in deadfalls, driven into fences, speared during crossing a river from a canoe and kayak. There are many tribes that don’t hunt the Caribou, but herd it. Caribou domestication started in the Bronze Age, but up to nowadays, these animals are not fully domesticated. Though herders use them for meat, milk, hides, and as a means of transportation, Caribou preserve their life cycle; they roam freely and migrate in search for food. Herders have to migrate together with their Caribou and protect them from wolves and poachers. It’s still impossible to breed these animals in captivity.

Today, the Caribou is hunted by some native peoples from the arctic and subarctic regions. Traditional methods of hunting are abandoned for the rifle in most areas, but for some peoples, ancient methods of Caribou hunting are preserved as a tradition. For Europeans and Americans, Caribou hunting is a popular sport in many parts of their range. These animals are hunted mostly for their large antlers and meat that is very tasty and nutritional.

The world population of the Caribou is out of danger. Special adaptations to the harsh climate and scarce food and lack of natural predators make it necessary to control the number of Caribou to prevent overgrazing. Overpopulation of the Caribou will lead to destruction of lichen and mass death of these animals from starvation in winter. It takes about a hundred years for the lichen to grow after a Caribou herd has grazed in the area. Controlled Caribou hunting during the hunting season maintains a healthy population of the species.