A late cancellation allowed me go on my hunt a year earlier than I had arranged, and after getting some tips from other hunters on necessary gear and likely conditions in late October, I set off from home in Montana to Edmonton, Alberta to catch a flight to Yellowknife and on to Cambridge Bay. There were eight other hunters on the plane, including a few bowhunters. Since the caribou don`t stick around long after the big bay freezes over but continue on south for the winter, the timing of this combination hunt was critical, and quite weather-dependent. The outfitter, Canada North Outfitting, offered five four-day hunts in October and early November, and I was on the second of these. Hunters are guided one-on-one in pairs for safety in the event of mechanical problems with the chosen transport or other complications...it soon became evident what a wise policy this was in a harsh environment.
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