Polar Bear Hunts

Hunting Polar Bear in Canada

The polar bear (Ursus maritimus) is native to the Arctic and surrounding areas. It is closely related to the brown bear, and the two species are capable of interbreeding. The polar bear is the largest species of bear, with males weighing between 660 and 1,760 pounds. Adult females tend to be much smaller. The polar bear is white- or yellowish-furred with black skin underneath and a heavy layer of fat. It is smaller than the brown bear, with a narrower skull, longer neck and lower shoulder hump. Its teeth are sharper and more adapted to eating meat. The paws are large and allow the bear to support itself on ice and paddle in the water.

In Canada, there are 13 different populations of polar bears, totaling approximately 15,000 animals. Their main prey is seals. They feed primarily on ringed seals, although bears will also eat bearded seals and occasionally walruses, beluga whales, and narwhals. In many areas of the Arctic, they are able to hunt on the ice year-round. Bears are forced ashore only in regions where the ice melts in the summer, like southwestern Hudson Bay, until the ice refreezes in the fall.

Hunting polar bears in the Arctic is a privilege that few will ever have the chance to experience. All of the guides and assistants are Inuit and are very experienced on the land. The Inuit are the only people in Canada who can legally harvest a polar bear based on cultural and subsistence purposes, and this is done through strictly enforced regulations and highly monitored tag allocations. A sustainable harvest quota system set by Canadian scientists and local Inuit Wildlife Management Boards are based on conservation principles and aboriginal subsistence hunting and are not market-driven. Measures are in place to allow a limited number of polar bear tags from the overall annual harvest quota to be allocated to non-Aboriginal hunters, thereby not affecting the management objectives and conservation of the species. All the meat derived from a sport-hunted polar bear goes directly to the Inuit guide and his family or the community food bank. Canada is a proven world leader in the management, research, monitoring, and conservation of polar bears. Since 1975, the polar bear population has increased in Canada. Polar bears are long-lived, wide-ranging carnivores.

In the far north there are two seasons: the "light" season from May to August, when the sun never sets, and the "dark" season from October to mid-February when the sun never rises. For ten months of the year, the sea is frozen; break-up usually isn't complete until mid-August. Until then the sea ice is used as a highway for travel by snowmobile or dog team. 

Polar bear hunting is done either in the spring or in the summer. One of the best places to hunt Canadian polar bears is Nunavut Territory, a massive, sparsely populated territory of northern Canada, forming most of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. Hunting in Nunavut can take place in some of the most remote and pristine areas in the world. The opportunity to experience the tranquility and solitude of these areas can be a powerful and transformative experience. Overall, the excitement of the hunting experience in Nunavut is driven by the adventure, wildlife, cultural heritage, and hunting techniques unique to this region. Canada’s management system is designed to respond to the full suite of threats to polar bears and their conservation, including climate change. A sustainable harvest is implemented through agreements and quotas involving local people, and governments have been in place in Canada since the 1970’s. Harvest quotas are based on the principles of conservation and aboriginal subsistence hunting and are not market-driven whatsoever. The actual harvest level of polar bears is often less than established quotas.

To hunt a polar bear, a non-indigenous hunter must buy a tag from one of the local communities and hire a local guide. The hunt is conducted using traditional methods, including the use of dog teams as a means of transportation. The meat from the bear is given back to the community. It is important to note that there is no separate quota for the guided hunting of polar bears; guided hunts do not increase the overall harvest.

Tags are allocated through a local hunters committee consisting of knowledgeable Inuit hunters. Each community then decides how they want to use the tags – they can be used for subsistence or guided hunting. Some communities do not permit any guided hunts. 

All polar bear hunts are usually ten days long on a one-on-one guide ratio (one guide and dog team for every hunter) or two and two guide ratios if you choose. The hunt ends when a polar bear is harvested, even if this happens in the first day or two. Canada’s Arctic is home to about 15,500 polar bears, two-thirds of the world's population. Canada is a proven world leader in the management, research, monitoring, and conservation of polar bears, and since 1975, the polar bear population has been increasing in Canada.

Planning the Polar Bear Hunt

Hunting in the Arctic without good preparation and high-quality cold-weather gear can kill you. Ensure every piece of your gear, from sleeping bag to gloves, is rated for extremely cold temperatures. Hunting isn’t fun when you're freezing or suffering from frostbite. Be aware of the laws associated with polar bear hunting. The U.S. government doesn’t allow hunters to import polar bears. If you have a home outside of the U.S. or any connections internationally (where polar bear imports are legal), store your trophy there until the law is overturned.

If you plan to hunt with a bow, bear in mind that a wounded polar bear will charge a bowhunter and will need to be finished off with a rifle by your guide. However, it is possible if you can shoot effectively at 50 yards or more. With a rifle, use enough gun caliber. Polar bears have thick fur, tough skin, heavy bones, and powerful muscles. Premium, controlled expansion bullets are the medicine of choice. The Nosler Partition bullet, for example, has been a favorite of experienced Alaskan hunters for decades. Recommended calibers include the standard length and long .300 Magnums with 180 to 220-grain bullets, 8mm Magnums with 200-grain to 220-grain bullets, .338 Magnums with 225-grain to 250-grain bullets, .35 caliber Magnums with 250-grain bullets, and .375 Magnums with 270 grain to 300-grain bullets. The personal recommendation of this author is that if you are going after something that looks at you as if you’re lunch, make sure the caliber of your rifle starts with a 4!