Freezers are full after a record year for bison hunting in Yukon

Yukon hunters have taken a record number of woodland bison this season.

201 bison were harvested — 105 bulls, 96 cows — between September and the end of March. Last year, 179 bison were hunted in Yukon.

A total of 1,630 bison permits were issued this year, compared to 1,465 last year.

Environment Yukon officials are happy with the number of cows taken, saying it helps reduce the herd numbers. 

Bison hunting in Yukon is encouraged and promoted, because the Aishihik herd is larger than officials would like. The bison were re-introduced to Yukon, mostly from Alberta, in the early 1980s as part of a plan to safeguard the survival of wood bison in Canada. The original herd was 140 animals.

Tom Jung, senior wildlife biologist with Environment Yukon says officials did a preliminary count of the Aishihik herd last July and those numbers should be released later this summer.

"The management plan that we have in the Yukon for this herd is to maintain the population at around 1,000 animals, after the harvest," Jung said.

"So by having a high harvest, in the range of 200 animals, it helps us maintain the population and not allow the population to grow any further."

Before 2009, hunters had to enter a draw for bison permits. 

That was changed to ease restrictions on the hunt. The only requirement now for hunters is a Yukon hunting licence, and a $10 bison permit. Officials recommend hunters take a voluntary bison hunting workshop.

Jung has studied the Aishihik herd for well over a decade.

"[The] Yukon government and its partners in bison management — First Nations and renewable resource councils — have been getting the message out to Yukoners they would like to increase the number of bison harvested.

"And we made efforts to make it easier for hunters to obtain access to the bison, in terms of getting a permit," he said.

Environment Yukon does aerial surveys to see where the bison are and to help point hunters in the right direction.