Caribou Facts
Alaska caribou hunting.
The Caribou is type of large deer that roams the arctic regions of all the northern continents - we are hunting the Western Arctic Herd, which is Barren Ground Caribou.
People confuse these animals as their counterpart, the reindeer. Although in Alaska, that name "Reindeer" is used for a more domesticated variety that is often herded by native peoples OR more popularly known as "Rudolf, Dancer, Prancer & Vixon"!
Caribou Size Facts
An adult male can weigh as much as 500 pounds and be over five foot tall at the shoulder - Keep in mind: Once you have them down and have dressed them, you should only be dealing with approximately 125 - 150 #'s of meat. They are also known for their unique antlers, which can grow 3-1/2 feet long and over 4 feet from left to right. They are second in size only to moose antlers. Unusual, but true: female caribou also have antlers, unlike most other deer.
Caribou Migration Facts
Because of their large size, it's a fact that caribou are fast, they can run up to 50 miles per hour. They often travel thousands of miles migrating across the tundra and have been known to go as far as 35 miles a day.
During the spring migration, herds of tens of thousands or more animals are not unknown. But, during the Alaska caribou hunting season, those huge herds will have split into much smaller numbers, typically a few dozen to a hundred or more depending on the time of year.
Alaska Caribou Hunting Facts
Alaska has 32 known herds of caribou totalling just under a million animals. Each year, hunters take approximately 22,000 caribou.
