Got caribou on your big game bowhunting bucket list? For many bowhunters, a caribou hunt is nothing more than a dream. However, if you’re looking to turn that dream into a reality, keep reading.
Bowhunting caribou is a unique adventure that will take you darn near the top of the world, given how far north caribou live.
Except for woodland caribou in Newfoundland, count on chasing caribou by spot and stalk in open country. You’ll still spot and stalk woodland caribou in Newfoundland, but there you can expect to have more trees for cover.
Caribou are migratory herd animals. This means that if you see one caribou, there are usually others around, and they tend to be moving almost constantly.
For camouflage, choose gear that’s patterned for open country. You want lots of light patches in your camo pattern, as opposed to darker prints. The goal is to break up your silhouette in the open, rather than trying to blend into dense cover.
Making Your Move on a Caribou
The first step in stalking caribou, of course, is finding them. For the most part, you’ll scour the countryside on foot and/or via boat, horseback or ATV. In a few places, like Alaska’s Dalton Highway, you can look for caribou from a road.
Once you spot a bull worth chasing, then the real sneaking begins. Before you take off running after a caribou, you’ll need to chart a course. If you’re lucky enough to find a caribou that’s holding tight in one place, picking a route is a bit easier. Often times, however, the caribou is on the move, and you’ve got to identify an intercept point.
In either case, you’ll need to factor in the wind and the terrain. Like all prey animals, caribou rely on their noses to identify danger, so keeping the wind in your face is mandatory. Then, find a path to the intercept point that offers cover.Â
In many instances, that cover is simply ideal topography where the land dips to allow you to move out of the caribou’s line of sight. In some cases, you might have vegetation to help conceal your stalk.
Getting within 200 yards of a caribou is pretty easy, regardless of where you’re hunting. Closing the distance to bow range – 50-70 yards – is where sneaking skills are required.Â
Crawling and crouch-walking are typical caribou-stalking tactics. Do whatever it takes to get to your comfortable shooting distance.
When you’re in this final stalking phase, you need to keep your head on a swivel for other caribou. As mentioned, the caribou is a herd animal, which means you’ll rarely be pursing a solitary animal. More caribou stalks get busted by caribou you’re not after than by actually spooking your target animal.
Making the Shot on Caribou
When it comes time to take the shot, pay attention to the wind. On the open ground where caribou live, stiff winds are nearly constant. It’s rare to have a windless day in caribou country. And if you do, the gnats and mosquitoes will attack in full force if the temperature is above 40 degrees or so.
So adjust your shot expectations accordingly based on wind. You can be a rock solid archer at 80 yards when the air is calm. But can you make that shot with a 30 mph cross wind? In those conditions, maybe you need to get closer.
One thing is for sure, you’d better be ready to shoot from your butt or while kneeling if you have to crawl into bow range. Stand-up shots are offered, but usually when you’ve got trees, rocks or a nice hill to block your approach all the way into bow range.Â
The odds of you being able to stand up to shoot after belly crawling to 50 yards from a caribou are slim. Be sure you’ve practiced shooting from the ground before your hunt.
Cut Them Off at a Crossing
Besides spot-and-stalk hunting, another productive tactic for caribou hunting in an area where large herds are migrating is to sit at a preferred water crossing.Â
Caribou tend to follow one another during the fall migrations, and so if you can identify a place where many caribou are crossing a river or lake, you’d do well to find a hiding place near the spot where they get out of the water. Just sit, and wait to see if a good bull shows up.
If your target caribou does get spooked before you can get off a shot, relax. Spooked caribou tend not to run too far – or at least, not out of sight. They can run a mile and you might have eyes on them the whole way.Â
The point is, if you’ve got your heart set on one caribou and you spook it, you can often watch it until it calms down again, and then set another stalk in motion. That’s one of the benefits of the open tundra where they live.
Bowhunting caribou on the open tundra can be a frustrating, humbling experience. But complete a successful stalk in this vast wilderness, and you’ll appreciate it all the more.
Want to read more on caribou hunting in North America? Check out this Caribou Article.Â
