| Yukon Data
There have been guided trips recorded for non-resident hunters in the Yukon since 1912. The early years of the industry produced some famous and successful guides and outfitters, including Johnny Johns, Eugene and Louis Jacquot, Thomas Dickson, Buck Dickson, Andy Smith, Tom Connally, Bella Desrosiers, Alex Van Bibber, Curley Desrosiers, and Louis Brown. All lived in the Yukon and made a significant contribution to the social fabric and economy of the Territory. In 1958 the present system of outfitting concession areas was established. Johnny Johns helped draw up the concession boundaries with other outfitters of that time.
There are twenty outfitting concessions in the Yukon and each has a geographic description, which forms the area that the outfitter may guide clients. These are exclusive areas and no other outfitter may operate in the same area.
In general, outfitting is a stable, long term, family oriented type of business. Many outfitters have been involved with the industry for many years before becoming an outfitter and started as horse wranglers or guides and working their way up to owning an outfitting concession. Outfitters are involved with the industry because of the way of life and because of their love for the outdoors. Once in the industry the outfitters tend to stay involved. One of member of the Yukon Outfitters Association has been in business for over 35 years and another outfitting business has now been passed down to a third generation.
Mountain Sheep
The Yukon is home to as estimated 22,000 thinhorn sheep. Most (about 19,000) are pure white Dall sheep (Ovis dalli dalli). Approximately 3,000 Stone sheep (O. d. stonei) are found in the south-central regions of the territory; many of these dark sheep have the unique saddle-back colour phase and are referred to as Fannin sheep. While Fannin sheep are not recognized as a separate subspecies, they are nonetheless highly prized by hunters.
Sheep occur throughout the Yukon's many mountain ranges, extending north to the Arctic Ocean. Sheep are most common in the southwest part of the Yukon, in the rainshadow of the St. Elias and Coast mountain ranges. Sheep populations are at or near their historic numbers. The number of lambs entering the population is the driving force in sheep populations, rather than the number of animals leaving the population through predation or hunting. Reproductive success varies widely from year to year, observed rates from 1.5 to 67 lambs per 100 nursery sheep (ewes, yearlings, and some 2-year-old rams). Successive years of good or bad lamb production will determine whether the population is increasing or decreasing, and will influence the number of full curl rams entering the huntable population 6 to 8 years later.
Each year licensed resident hunters take about 80 rams and non-resident hunters take 190 rams. During the 1990s the average age of the harvest was 9.0 years and the average horn length was 36.2 inches. Since 1980, the oldest sheep killed by a hunter was 17 years (1987), and the longest horn measured was 45.7 inches (1991).
Moose
There are an estimated 65,000 to 70,000 moose in the Yukon. That is about two moose for every person in the territory. They occur throughout the Yukon in areas of suitable habitat from the British Columbia border to the Beaufort Sea. They are generally more abundant in the south than in the north but this varies greatly depending of habitat quality, predator numbers and a variety of other factors. Overall moose numbers in the Yukon are thought to be stable or increasing slowly.
Woodland (Mountain) Caribou
There are 23 separate herds of Woodland or Mountain Caribou scattered throughout the Yukon with a total population estimated at about 30,000 animals.
Barrenground Caribou
The Porcupine Caribou Herd is a migratory herd that is estimated at 129,000 animals and it is shared between the Yukon as well as Alaska and the Northwest Territories.
Mountain Goat
Mountain goats (Oreamnos americanus) are relatively rare in the Yukon. They are at the northern extent of their distribution and are generally confined to the southern portion of the Coast Mountains, and the Cassiar, Logan, and Itsi mountain ranges. Scattered individual sightings are also reported. Goats are generally associated with very rugged areas which receive substantial precipitation and are often associated with active glaciers. The estimated total number of goats in the Yukon is 1700 animals; more than half of the goats are protected within Kluane National Park.
Goats are extremely difficult to count and their habits make them very vulnerable to overhunting. Harvest in the Yukon is closely regulated. Each year licensed resident hunters take about 4 goats and non-resident hunters take 5. Almost 90% of the harvest is billies.
Grizzly Bear
Grizzlies range throughout the Yukon and have an estimated population of 6000 to 7000 animals. Yukon wildlife managers have been working with the outfitters in order to ensure a selective harvest which is directed at older male grizzlies and protecting female grizzlies. In fact, under Yukon law, all females with cubs and all cubs are protected from hunting. A grizzly cub includes any grizzly bear that is less than three years old.
Black Bear
The Yukon Black Bear population is estimated at 10,000 animals. They range from the BC-Yukon border to the Yukon's northern tree line but are most numerous in the south and central portion of the Yukon. There are also a large percentage of "color phase" (brown) black bear in the Yukon. |
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