Study Area
The study area lies in the northern Richardson Mountains
(67º 30' - 68º 30' N, 135º 30' - 137º W), at the northwest
corner of the Gwich’in Settlement Area, close to the Yukon
border. This mountainous region is characterized by 1,250 m
peaks and plateaus interspersed with 300 m valleys. Large
mammals in the study area include Dall's sheep, Porcupine
caribou, moose, muskoxen, grizzly bears, wolves, lynx
(Lynx
canadensis), red
fox (Vulpes
vulpes), and
wolverines (Gulo
gulo).
Subsistence harvest of Dall’s sheep and wolves occurs on
both sides of the border (Northwest and Yukon Territories),
and two resident sheep tags are distributed annually by the
Yukon government since 2004. An interjurisdictional
management plan for the sheep population is currently being
drafted. Traditionally, Gwich’in people would not hunt
bears, except in rare occasions (Bullock 1987). In the last
few years, however, there has been an increasing interest
to do so, and grizzly bear harvest in the Richardson
Mountains is now restricted to a triennial quota of 12
bears in the Gwich’in Settlement Area (divided between
southern and northern regions; Grizzly Bear Management
Agreement in the Gwich’in Settlement Area 2000) and 12
bears in the Inuvialuit Settlement Region (Inuvialuit Game
Council, Hunters and Trappers Committee, personal comm..).
The Richardson Mountains are recognized for their rich
biodiversity, conservation and cultural significance
(Gwich’in Land Use Planning Board 2003).
