Caribou

The caribou (Rangifer) is another species of big game that has migrated northward to escape contact with man. Before the turn of the century, virtually all the caribou had been exterminated or had left the northern tier of states within Continental United States. The herds are still retreating northward into the more desolate reaches of the Arctic.

As examples of this slow mass-migration, the great herds no longer are seen migrating to winter feed-grounds as far southward as they used to, but stay with the summer ranges and the game refuges provided for them. Many such sanctuaries are provided now for them in Alaska, and in this new state the caribou is still the most numerous big-game animal. As late as February, 1959, this author saw caribou as far northward as Cape Lisbourne, Alaska, while hunting polar bears. The caribou there were no farther than five miles inland, and were living among the high wind-swept bluffs on the sparse arctic birch and a type of tough grass found on the skimpy soil.

DESCRIPTION AND HABITS

There are three general classifications of caribou, the segregation being made according to type of habitat: the Barren Ground caribou Rangifer arcticus arcticus); the Woodland caribou (Rangifer caribou caribou); and the Mountain caribou (Rangifer montanus).

The Barren Ground species generally is considered the smallest, and the Mountain caribou the largest. There are, however, at least a dozen sub­species, and the ranges of the species overlap. There is still diversity of opinion as to which general species some of the subspecies belong. Because of such confusion, size cannot be an accurate criterion of species. For In

Present in both sexes, the antlers of the caribou have one or two palmated tines branching off each main beam. The brow tine, usually present on only one beam, is called a "shovel." Double shovels, as shown here, are a rare and prized feature of any caribou  head. Scoring data is on  page 445.

stance, the Barren Ground caribou found in the Arctic in the Point Hope area are small. A bull with 30-inch antlers is considered large. As against this, the Osborn caribou, a subspecies of the same Barren Ground caribou, is one of the largest caribou; and bulls will weigh up to 600 pounds or more with antlers approximating twice that length. Again, in the Slana River country of southeastern Alaska, this author has killed Barren Ground caribou with antlers in the 54-inch class, and whose weights were esti­mated at 600 pounds and over.

The caribou's migratory habits and nomadic nature add to the overlapping of ranges and species. Coloration is one means of classification: in general, the farther north the animal goes, the lighter its color; the species with the most southern habitat is darkest.

There is even some confusion here, since the bulls change color with the season. In early fall, the bulls are generally mouse-colored. With the com­ing of winter, the bulls' manes turn whiter, adding greatly to the desirability of the trophy.

The overall distribution of the three species covers practically all of Alaska; eighty per cent of Canada (the biggest exceptions being the south­ern parts of Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba), most all the major islands off Canada in the Arctic Ocean, and the southern coastal areas of Greenland. At present, only the states of Idaho, Montana, and Minnesota have any caribou, with the total population there being around fifty head.

In appearance the caribou is a striking animal. Both sexes are antlered. The size of the bull's antlers in proportion to its body is greater than any other deer. In general, the antlers of the bulls sweep back, then for­ward in a graceful curve, and are generally palmated in the region of the points.

The bull's antlers are not usually identical. Rather, the left brow point will leave the main antler beam, turn inward, then point straight forward over and parallel to the animal's nose. The opposing brow point is usually no more than a spike, pointing generally in the same direction.

Occasionally a bull will have two similar brow points, complete with palmation at their ends, and multiple points. These are known as "double shovels" and, as mentioned before, add greatly to the desirability of the trophy.

The principle food of the caribou is lichens. This "caribou moss" which the species prizes so highly is not a lush or abundant food, but grows sparsely, short, and right on the boggy ground. To find it and similar food in sufficient abundance requires constant traveling over great areas of range. The caribou's nomadic nature is one of the most pronounced of its characteristics.

The caribou is well equipped for both traveling and changes of tem­perature. Its hoofs, proportionately larger than those of any other antlered game, are roundish and like pairs of cushions. These support the animal in boggy and snowy regions. Its hair is hollow, providing good insulation
against extremes of temperature and giving it exceptional buoyancy in the water.

The caribou's long-striding walk, swinging trot, and awkward gallop cover a lot of ground. The trot is begun with a short upward spring. The impres­sion one gets is that such an upward jump is necessary to get the animal in motion. When trotting, the animal holds its head high and level and its small, whitish tail erect.

The worst enemy of the caribou is the wolf, and this predator is a big factor in the movement of the herds. Caribou will leave a valley when wolves move in or are on the increase, and will settle down in areas of fewer wolves.

The caribou likes the high rolling plateaus above timberline in mountain country, partly for the food found in this semibarren country, and partly for protection against enemies. The caribou has short ears and its sense of hearing is not comparable to its sense of sight. In the generally lower bush-and-spruce country of Canada and Alaska, as the drainages dip towards the Arctic, caribou will still be found in the autumn hunting seasons well up on the bare rolling plateaus above the "bush." Their range at this season overlaps that of the grizzly, moose, and even sheep and goats. Unlike elk, caribou are not timber-loving animals.

The rut begins in most regions in early fall. Bulls are polygamous and will gather harems of a dozen or so cows. And during the rut, the antics of bull caribou become so inexplicable they border on the insane. A bull standing near its harem of cows may, for no understandable reason, swap ends like a tomcat hit in the ribs with a rock, and run a few rods in an opposite direction. After a few bounds it may stop, as if equipped with power-brakes, and graze on a few bites of grass. Or it may spring high into the air, wheel, and trot off, grabbing a bite of moss as it goes. Then it may stop, all movement frozen, and apparently go to sleep for a few seconds. Then it may take off again on another crazy dash.

HUNTING THE CARIBOU

Distance is the biggest problem in caribou hunting. The hunter must travel into remote caribou ranges; he must often move great distances once he's there to locate the moving game; and finally, after he has killed his caribou, he must carry out his trophy and meat.

Modern airplane travel has helped to simplify this. Hunters are often flown to bush landing strips where they meet their outfitter. Often, for the more rugged hunter, light planes will take him into good caribou country, land on small lakes, and even supply a light spike-camp from the air. Afterwards the trophy and meat are carried out to the lake landing field on packboards, with guides doing most of the lugging. This is practiced considerably in such areas as the Cassiars in British Columbia.

Recently, more and more of the big northern outfitters have begun to use horses, and this, of course, is the ideal way. Horses are trailed in to remote camps in game country ahead. Hunters are flown to the nearest lake big enough for landing, and the guides meet them there and take them to camp.

There is no better way of hunting caribou than on horseback. Good mountain-broke horses can make up to twenty miles a day, in reasonable footing. They not only cover the ground necessary to finding caribou, but are equally useful in bringing out trophies and meat. Usually, in average caribou country, the muskeg, bog, and moss on which the hunter on foot must travel will kill off an average desk-man in a few miles. Good horses, experienced in northern terrain, can take it.

The use of a bush tractor and trailer for hunting caribou is gaining rapidly in popularity. This outfit consists of a small caterpillar type of tractor with tread removed and wider tracks installed. This spreads the weight so the machine won't sink in too greatly. The exhaust is pointed high and the engine is sealed, making it possible for the machine to ford creeks and even sink in halfway up to the driver without foundering. A 6-foot bulldozer blade is attached to the tractor's front end.

Incidentally, the boggy areas in much of the Alaska caribou country are caused by a combination of perma-frost and humid weather. Frost stays the year around at a depth of 2 to 4 feet. The heavy rains have no place to sink, and bog, water, and muskeg are the result.

To this "cat" tractor is hitched a heavy trailer, capable of hauling up to a ton of gear or people. Occasionally, the single wheels of the trailer are replaced by dual wheels which help spread the weight.

With such an outfit, the driver strikes off into the bush. All foliage such as arctic birch, alders, willows, and spruce trees up to 4 inches or so in diameter are simply run over. When a larger tree blocks the way, the blade is lowered and the tree pushed out by the roots. Upon coming to one of the numerous glacial creeks, a ramp is bulldozed down to the water, the creek is forded, and a similar ramp graded off the opposing bank.

With such a bush tractor, used in conjunction with horses, remote country which would be inaccessible by any other means can be reached. It is common procedure for the outfitter and his help to "bust" such a course into game country during the summer months preceding the fall hunts. The hunters follow later, either on saddle horses or on the strange vehicle itself.

SPOTTING THE QUARRY

Hunting caribou begins with locating the animals. This entails reaching the high plateaus and rolling, open areas above timberline, either on horse­back or on foot. Once there, the entire area is glassed from ridge tops, high knolls, and low mountain passes. The best instrument is a light spotting scope, fitted with a small tripod which will fold to scope length for carrying. Often, in the absence of such a tripod, the guide will place the objective end of a high-powered scope over a packboard and steady the ocular end from a sitting position with elbows on knees.

In average caribou country, vision is often unlimited, and the hunter can see for miles in every direction. A spotting scope will pick up animals beyond the range of binoculars and often serves to appraise trophies.

Caribou are not hard to spot. In natural habitat, they stand high above foliage. They travel along high, ridge-crest trails and promontory points, often etching themselves against the sky. During late fall, the white manes of the bulls stand out clearly, like distant white dots.

Once spotted, caribou must be approached within rifle range. Before beginning any type of stalk, however, the general course, or probable route of the animals, should be determined. This is difficult due to the animal's innate erratic nature. Often a band will graze, move about, and head in a general direction. But after a few minutes, it will abruptly shift directions and head off at another angle. This trait is aggravated during the rut.

Often by watching for a half hour, the general direction in which the herd is apt to move may be ascertained. If it is late in the morning by the time any animals are located, or by the time a game area is reached, a good technique is to wait until the animals bed down for the day. Once bedded down, they are apt to remain there for an hour or so before moving on again. Favorite areas for bedding down are high slopes and just under elevated knolls where they can see most of the country below them.

STALKING

If a band is located on the move and their probable intent determined, then it is best to arrange the stalk so as to intercept where they are apt to be, rather than attempt to follow. On the move, a caribou band moves relatively fast—faster than the average hunter can follow and remain concealed. If the beasts are bedded down, then it is best to try to reach them before they get up to feed again.

In any approach, the basic technique is to so utilize the terrain that a concealed approach may be made. Often this requires circling a mile or more around some obstructing point, knoll, or gully bottom, to get a few hundred yards closer. This is ultimately profitable, and the guide's skill in maneuvering the country's elevation differences to the hunter's advantage is often amazing.

In horseback hunting of caribou, the nags should only be ridden to the last place of definite concealment. Often in typical caribou country the foliage is nothing higher than scrub willows, arctic birch, and similar vegeta­tion. If hobbles aren't brought along for the horses, a good way of tying the animals is to grasp two handfuls of the tops of a birch or willow; squeeze them into tight bundles; tie their tops together as low upon their stems as possible in the first half of a square knot; then tie the steed's halter rope around this knot with three half hitches and a final slip knot.

This type of vegetation, known as "shin-tangle," is springy and tough. A half-dozen strands will usually anchor a horse, and together with dropped reins will save a long walk back to camp. Some such form of anchoring saddle horses is necessary when hunters leave them for long periods of time.

Once on foot, the basic procedures of stalking are followed. The hunter tries to move into, not with, the wind. He uses the unevenness of the terrain to assist his approach. He keeps low, moves slowly, and doesn't talk.

Since caribou country is often open country, such a general technique often won't suffice to bring the hunter entirely within range, and special tricks must be employed.

Two techniques will often work with caribou. One is to watch the animals from prone and concealment until they all start to feed, or have their heads pointed in an opposing direction—then move fast for a few seconds until they raise their heads. Usually this moving must be on hands and knees, and over broken, boggy ground. The uneven, alternating clumps of solid, rooty ground, mixed with the lower, more boggy intervals between, and the occasional clump of birch or willow, make such an approach possible. This writer and his guide once utilized the trick to get within 325 yards of seven head of Alaska caribou, after literally going on all fours for a quarter mile. The big, well-palmated, 53-inch bull was worth the effort.

Several days later the guide disclosed another productive way of getting closer to a band 400 yards away, and which would see us the second we left the open gully bottom where we had anchored the horses.

"There's no way of getting any closer without being seen," he concluded. "Now I'll duck down, crouched, and head out slow right towards them. You come right behind, crouched as low as you can and right on my heels. If we go slow enough, they might think we're a pair of wolves. Caribou are curious cusses and might not run until they're sure."

It worked. As we we left cover, the beasts wheeled around to stare at us. The big, white-maned herd bull jumped, then trotted off sidewise. He stood and gaped, ready to bolt. Then he wheeled and trotted back to the others, who were engaged in similar antics. At one point, the entire band broke into a trot and it appeared certain they were leaving the area. But after a 50-yard run, they wheeled again, stopped, and gaped at us.

We didn't break stride, raise our heads, or appear interested at all. At 196 paces, as stepped off afterward, the guide shot the big bull, standing nearly broadside, from a quickly assumed prone position. I already had my own bull, but he wanted one for his own collection.

SELECTING A TROPHY

Most sportsmen shoot caribou for the trophy, which is magnificent in appearance. Natives of the Far North usually kill caribou for the meat.

Some nonresident hunters want to save the meat as well, and this brings up a special problem.

Caribou beef is excellent meat, even from the big bulls if not taken during the heat of the rut. Caribou meat ages faster than most wild game, and the steaks of an animal may be eaten within three days of the time it was killed and cooled out. For this additional reason, hunters usually want some of the trophy's steaks for camp use at least.

Most seasons on caribou, however, are set coincident with the mating season. During the crest of the rutting season, the bulls become thin and worn down due to excessive sexual activity. Moreover, during this season they eat little if anything and drink the urine of the cows, as well as wallowing in their own.

This combination makes them smell and taints the meat. A thin, "running" bull smells just like some decayed mouse nest, and the odor coming from one's steaks, should an attempt be made to fry them, is overpowering.

The hunter can often pick his bull with some view toward avoiding this. A plump bull is apt to be free of the taint of the rut. Oppositely, a gaunt bull is very apt to be a stinker. If it is possible to arrange one's hunt for caribou at the earliest part of the fall season, the chances are far better that as yet the desirable bulls haven't begun to "run" too badly.

RIFLES AND CARTRIDGES

The purpose for which one hunts caribou often dictates the power of the rifle and cartridge he selects. So does the sex of the animal. Females and small bulls and yearlings don't require as much power to kill as do the aged, tough bulls reaching 600 pounds or more in weight. Neither do migrating caribou shot at close range.

Many Eskimos shoot caribou with such cartridges as the .243 Winchester, with excellent results. This does not make such a cartridge adequate as a caribou cartridge for the average hunter. Eskimos are excellent rifle shots as a result of daily shooting hair seals. The caribou in the Arctic are small for their species and are often stalked to close range in snow. The Eskimo must use the same cartridge he uses for most of his hunting and which may be reloaded cheaply. All of his hunting is for meat. It is a different problem for the sportsman hunting the biggest male animals at long ranges.

This bull caribou with a handsome set of double shovels was killed by the author in Alaska.

Another consideration is the fact that most caribou country is also fine grizzly habitat. The silvertip is at the same open, high, plateau regions just under the snow line, digging out whistling marmots for his final fat­tening before hibernation.

In both Canada and Alaska, grizzly and caribou are taken in identical areas. Numerous grizzlies have been killed at the offal remaining from caribou kills. For this reason alone, the ideal caribou rifle should be entirely adequate for grizzly bear.
For hunting caribou only, the following are fine cartridges:
.264 Winchester Magnum, with 140-grain bullets
.270 Winchester, with 130-grain bullets
.280 Remington, with 150-grain bullets
7 mm Mauser with 130- or 139-grain bullets (handloads)
7x61 Sharpe & Hart, with 160-grain bullets
.300 Savage, with 150-grain bullets
.308 Winchester, with 150-grain bullets
.30/06, with 150-grain bullets

For hunting only exceptional trophy bulls, and where the cartridge will have to double on grizzly, then the .300 H&H Magnum, the .30 Short Magnum, the .300 Weatherby, and the .338 Winchester Magnum are better choices. In these, 180- and 200-grain bullets are ideal.

Any rifle for caribou should be scope-sighted with a glass of around 4-power. It should be accurate and sighted perfectly for a minimum range of 200 yards. A good sling is a necessity.

SHOT PLACEMENT

The heart-lungs area is the best target on caribou. Gut shots should be religiously avoided. Caribou have one peculiar trait which causes many an inexperienced rifleman to miss his shot. As mentioned before, at the start of its trot or gallop, a caribou makes a high bound. This is deceptive. It is best to wait before shooting until after this first lengthy jump and the animal settles down to its steady gait. Otherwise, a gut shot or a miss behind the animal is apt to result.

Wounded caribou do not present the same problems of trailing as do wooded-country game. They are usually downed in the open areas where both the gaudy coloration and the bull's large antlers will show its where­abouts clearly, if the hunter will watch closely, and come up as hurriedly as possible for a finishing shot. As with any antlered game, wounded caribou should be approached from above.

BOW AND HANDGUN

Because of its relatively large numbers, the caribou might be thought to be fair game for the bow hunter. Because of the considerable distances at which caribou are normally shot, and beyond which they cannot usually be stalked, the archer is up against a great handicap. Here, as with elk and moose, the challenge is great, and only the experienced archer, with plenty of time to get conditions just right, should attempt it. The same applies to caribou hunting with the handgun.

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