Where Can You Still Hunt Caribou in North America? A 2026 Status Guide

Key Takeaways

• Northern Manitoba is one of the few places a non-resident can still book a barren-ground caribou hunt. Quebec, Nunavik, the Northwest Territories, and western Nunavut have all closed their non-resident caribou seasons.

• Quebec's sport hunt ended in 2018 — the George River herd closed in 2013, and the Leaf River herd followed after the 2017–18 season. Neither is expected to reopen soon.

• Manitoba's hunt is built on the Qamanirjuaq herd, estimated at about 253,000 animals in the 2022 survey. The herd has declined over three decades, but that decline has slowed, and it remains one of the largest barren-ground herds in North America.

• Manitoba doesn't run a public caribou draw for non-residents. Tags go to a small number of licensed outfitters, and non-residents are required by law to hunt with one.

• A 6-day guided caribou hunt at Munroe Lake Lodge is $13,995 USD for 2027 and $14,995 USD for 2028.

If you're trying to figure out where you can still hunt caribou in North America, the honest answer is: far fewer places than a decade ago, and northern Manitoba is now one of the best of the remaining options. Quebec, Nunavik, the Northwest Territories, and western Nunavut have all closed their doors to non-resident caribou hunters. Manitoba, central Nunavut, Alaska, and Newfoundland have not.

There's a lot of stale information circulating on this. Outfitter pages still quote herd numbers from 2017, and hunters regularly call us assuming a hunt is available somewhere it hasn't been for years. Here's the current picture, herd by herd, along with what a Manitoba hunt actually involves.

Which Caribou Hunts Have Closed — And Why

Migratory tundra caribou herds across the Arctic peaked in the mid-1980s and 1990s and have declined over the last thirty to forty years. Wildlife managers responded by closing sport and outfitted harvest first, since subsistence harvest by northern communities takes priority.

Jurisdiction / herd	Status for non-residents	Notes
Quebec — George River	Closed since 2013	Population fell from a recorded high near 800,000 to roughly 8,600.
Quebec / Nunavik — Leaf River	Closed after the 2017–18 season	Herd dropped from ~430,000 in 2011 to 136,000 by 2025.
Northwest Territories — Beverly, Qamanirjuaq, Ahiak	Outfitted and commercial harvest suspended since 2010	A limited resident-only, bull-only tag reopened in 2014.
NWT — Bathurst, Bluenose herds	Closed to non-residents	Bathurst herd counted 3,609 in 2025, down from 6,851 in 2022.
Western Nunavut	Closed	Hunting continues in the more remote central region.
Manitoba — Qamanirjuaq	Open, outfitter-allocated	Guided hunt required for non-residents.
Newfoundland — woodland caribou	Open, limited	A different subspecies and a very different hunt.
Alaska	Open, varies by unit	Herd-specific regulations change year to year.

If a website is still advertising a Quebec-Labrador caribou hunt, it is out of date. Those hunts are not coming back in the near term.

Why Manitoba's Season Is Still Open

The Qamanirjuaq herd calves near Qamanirjuaq Lake in Nunavut's Kivalliq Region and migrates south across the Manitoba border each fall. Its range crosses Nunavut, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and the southeast Northwest Territories, and it's co-managed jointly by those governments alongside the Nunavut Wildlife Management Board and the Beverly and Qamanirjuaq Caribou Management Board.

We'd rather give you real numbers than marketing ones. The most recent survey, flown in June 2022, put the herd at roughly 253,000 animals — down from about 288,000 in 2017, 344,000 in 2008, and 496,000 in 1994. That's a genuine long-term decline, and we're not going to pretend otherwise.

What's changed recently is the trend line. The rate of decline has slowed to about two percent a year, down from five percent, and calf ratios point the same direction. The neighbouring Beverly herd — managed under the same plan — climbed from roughly 103,000 in 2018 to 152,000 in 2023. A further vulnerability assessment of the Qamanirjuaq herd is scheduled for 2026.

That's the basis on which Manitoba's season stays open while others closed: a herd large enough and stable enough to support a tightly capped harvest, under active co-management. Hunting here is a privilege that depends on those numbers holding, which is why the tag allocation is small.

How Manitoba Caribou Tags Work for Non-Residents

This is where Manitoba differs from most big-game hunts on the continent, and it's the part hunters most often get wrong.

There is no draw. You don't enter a lottery and wait years for a tag. The province issues a limited number of non-resident caribou tags annually and allocates them to a small group of licensed outfitters. Availability comes down to how many spots your outfitter holds.

A guided hunt is mandatory. Under Manitoba regulations, non-resident and foreign caribou hunters must book through a licensed Manitoba outfitter and hunt with a licensed guide, with no more than three hunters per guide. A DIY non-resident caribou hunt isn't legal here. At our camp we run one guide for every two hunters.

Licensing is handled for you. When you book with us, we process the paperwork directly — there's no separate application for you to chase. Your Manitoba fishing licence and bird licence are included with the hunt, along with wolf and ptarmigan hunting.

What the Hunt Itself Looks Like

Our caribou camp sits on Farnie Lake, about 8 km south of the Manitoba/Nunavut border, directly on the herd's migration route. Guides work shorelines, islands, and high points by boat and on foot, glassing open country for bulls moving south. The season runs from the last week of August into early October, which overlaps the rut — when bulls carry their heaviest antlers.

We've covered the week in detail elsewhere: for the full picture of camp life, gear, physical demands, and what a typical day involves, read What to Expect on Your First Manitoba Caribou Hunt. This guide is about whether the hunt exists at all — that one is about what it feels like.

What a Manitoba Caribou Hunt Costs

Rates are per hunter in USD, from Thompson, Manitoba.

Hunt	Length	2027	2028
Caribou	6 days / 6 nights	$13,995	$14,995
Moose	9 days / 9 nights	Sold out	$19,999
Caribou & moose combo	9 days / 9 nights	Sold out	$28,999

Trophy fees are $1,000 per successful animal harvested. Hunts include return flights from Thompson, accommodations, meals, guiding at one guide per two hunters, boat and motor, wolf and ptarmigan hunting, and your Manitoba fishing and bird licences. Taxes and gratuities are extra. Full details are on our hunting rates page and our caribou hunt page.

Note the sold-out lines. That isn't a sales tactic — it's what a capped tag allocation looks like in practice.

Caribou Hunting Status FAQ

Can you still hunt caribou in North America?

Yes, but in far fewer places than a decade ago. Non-resident caribou hunting has closed in Quebec, Nunavik, the Northwest Territories, and western Nunavut. It remains open in northern Manitoba on the Qamanirjuaq herd, in central Nunavut, in Alaska, and in Newfoundland for woodland caribou.

Is caribou hunting banned in Quebec?

Yes. Sport hunting of the George River herd has been banned since 2013, and Quebec closed the Leaf River sport hunt after the 2017–18 season. Both herds declined sharply, and neither is expected to reopen to sport hunting in the near future.

Where can you hunt barren-ground caribou in Canada?

Northern Manitoba and central Nunavut are the primary remaining options for non-residents. Manitoba's hunt targets the Qamanirjuaq herd, which migrates from its calving grounds in Nunavut south across the Manitoba border each fall. The Northwest Territories suspended outfitted and commercial barren-ground harvest in 2010.

How big is the Qamanirjuaq caribou herd?

The most recent survey, conducted in June 2022, estimated the herd at about 253,000 animals, down from roughly 288,000 in 2017. It remains one of the largest barren-ground herds in North America. The long-term decline has slowed to about two percent a year, and another vulnerability assessment is scheduled for 2026.

Do I need a guide to hunt caribou in Manitoba?

Yes. Manitoba law requires non-resident and foreign caribou hunters to book through a licensed Manitoba outfitter and hunt with a licensed guide, with a maximum of three hunters per guide. There is no legal DIY option for non-residents.

Is there a caribou draw in Manitoba?

No. Manitoba does not run a public caribou draw for non-residents. The province allocates a limited number of tags to licensed outfitters, so availability depends on how many spots a given outfitter holds rather than on a lottery.

How much does a caribou hunt cost in Canada?

Guided barren-ground caribou hunts generally run from about $13,000 to over $20,000 USD depending on outfitter, location, and length. At Munroe Lake Lodge, a 6-day guided caribou hunt is $13,995 USD for 2027 and $14,995 USD for 2028, plus a $1,000 trophy fee per animal harvested.

When is caribou season in Manitoba?

The barren-ground caribou season runs from the last week of August into early October, overlapping the rut when bulls carry their heaviest antlers.

Planning a Caribou Hunt While the Season Is Open

Caribou hunting has narrowed considerably, and the hunters who get out here are the ones who stopped researching and picked a date. If a barren-ground bull is on your list, get in touch and we'll tell you honestly what's available and what isn't. Our Manitoba hunting guide covers regulations, and our gear list covers what to pack for the tundra.