Here is a 42 minute video from the NWT Premier (Governor) and chief medical officer from June 12:
If the link does not work google "June 12 update on Covid -19, NWT premier" and it should come up. So far they are not allowing "tourists" in with the phase II re-opening, which is how sport hunting is classified as far as I know. I can't even get in to the NWT as a Canadian to go hunting this fall, as of now with phase II in effect. Hopefully by Sept things are different and my outfitter operates....otherwise it will be 2021 for my caribou hunt.
My understanding is this year is a no go. Most outfitters will bump everyone back a year. Some can up their numbers a bit, but cannot cram two years of hunters into 2021.
It will be interesting to see how this goes. Will everyone get bumped back a year or will the outfitters move 2020 hunters to 2022 and keep 2021 hunters in place. I'm still waiting to hear from my outfitter and it's getting a bit frustrating of not hearing a general plan as I can't believe any outfitter thinks their July or August hunts will start as planed. So why not inform your clients what you are thinking so we can make alternatives for the fall?
Certainly unfortunate for all of us. Like so many have already stated, I’d be calling, emailing, texting, etc and following up as much as possible to ensure my outfitter is in constant communication regarding next steps. Most should already have a contingent plan in place due to all of this.
Gana River cancelled 2020 horseback hunts since there is no guarantee of a season and it is a pretty large under taking to get the horses in there. They are still holding out hope for August back pack hunters but are still uncertain. Harold has been pretty proactive in contacting the government and participating in Zoom meetings but seems to have gotten nowhere hence the cancellations. FYI - they are moving 2020 hunts to 2021 and 2021 hunts to 2022.
I was hunting in the next unit a few years ago, Harolds wranglers we’re taking the string out for the year, they stopped by for quick visit and some coffee. If I remember right it’s a several week ordeal getting the string back in there? lots of hard work and those guys are tough.
You can't blame the guides fellas. They are the same shitty information we all have. Our teachers don't even know if they will be teaching in September. You think the politicians are in a hurry to let hunting guides know what they need to know? Of course not. The guides are just hoping they open the border. No one thought back in March we would be talking about closed borders in September. I think any smart guide is just gonna bump everyone a year. I am a Canadian but all my buddies coming along with me are Americans. And our guide has already said he would just shit his whole schedule one year. So everyone scheduled in 21 would go to 22 etc. Those guys would have no loss as flights can't even be booked yet for 21 fall. So there is little interruption for them other than waiting another year. And as hunters they should understand the guys who are supposed to go this year already booked of vacation time, bought flights etc.
Not every outfitter is shifting a year back. Mine wants to move it to 2022 and that doesn’t seem right to me. I may end up losing my airfare because Canadian North is only offering a voucher for a year from what their web site says. If that’s the case I’ll have to see what the outfitter can do to help out as I don’t want to throw out $800 bucks. He can move a 2021 hunter back who hasn’t purchased any tickets yet.