The Yukon has an excellent and diverse game populations throughout the territory

Moose

Throughout most of the Territory, the moose-hunting season extends from August 1 to October 31. Properly licensed resident and non-resident hunters are permitted to take one bull moose per season. Non-residents are required to hunt with a licensed guide.

Woodland (Mountain) Caribou

There are 23 separate herds of Woodland or Mountain Caribou scattered throughout the Yukon with a total population estimated at about 30,000 animals. Barrenground Caribou

The Porcupine Caribou Herd is a migratory herd that is estimated at 129,000 animals and it is shared between the Yukon as well as Alaska and the Northwest Territories.

Mountain Sheep

The Yukon is home to as estimated 22,000 thinhorn sheep. Most (about 19,000) are pure white Dall sheep (Ovis dalli dalli). Approximately 3,000 Stone sheep (O. d. stonei) are found in the south-central regions of the territory; many of these dark sheep have the unique saddle-back colour phase and are referred to as Fannin sheep. While Fannin sheep are not recognized as a separate subspecies, they are nonetheless highly prized by hunters.

Sheep occur throughout the Yukon's many mountain ranges, extending north to the Arctic Ocean. Sheep are most common in the southwest part of the Yukon, in the rainshadow of the St. Elias and Coast mountain ranges. We believe that sheep populations are at or near their historic numbers. The number of lambs entering the population is the driving force in sheep populations, rather than the number of animals leaving the population through predation or hunting. Reproductive success varies widely from year to year. We have observed rates from 1.5 to 67 lambs per 100 nursery sheep (ewes, yearlings, and some 2-year-old rams). Successive years of good or bad lamb production will determine whether the population is increasing or decreasing, and will influence the number of full curl rams entering the huntable population 6 to 8 years later.

Each year licensed resident hunters take about 80 rams and non-resident hunters take 190 rams. During the 1990s the average age of the harvest was 9.0 years and the average horn length was 36.2 inches. Since 1980, the oldest sheep killed by a hunter was 17 years (1987), and the longest horn measured was 45.7 inches (1991).

Mountain Goat

Mountain goats (Oreamnos americanus) are relatively rare in the Yukon. They are at the northern extent of their distribution and are generally confined to the southern portion of the Coast Mountains, and the Cassiar, Logan, and Itsi mountain ranges. Scattered individual sitings are also reported. Goats are generally associated with very rugged areas which receive substantial preiciptation and are are often associated with active glaciers. The estimated total number of goats in the Yukon is 1700 animals; more than half of the goats are protected within Kluane National Park.

Goats are extremely difficult to count and their habits make them very vulnerable to overhunting. Harvest in the Yukon is closely regulated. Each year licensed resident hunters take about 4 goats and non-resident hunters take 5. Almost 90% of the harvest is billies.

Grizzly Bears

Grizzlies range throughout the Yukon and have an estimated population of 6000 to 7000 animals. Yukon wildlife managers have been working with the outfitters in order to ensure a selective harvest which is directed at older male grizzlies and protecting female grizzlies. In fact, under Yukon law, all females with cubs and all cubs are protected from hunting. A grizzly cub includes any grizzly bear that is less than three years old.

Black Bears

The Yukon Black Bear population is estimated at 10,000 animals. They range from the BC-Yukon border to the Yukon's northern tree line but are most numerous in the south and central portion of the Yukon. There are also a large percentage of "color phase" (brown) black bear in the Yukon.

Wolf

Yukon's wolf population is about 4500 animals and is stable, with wolf numbers changing mainly in response to changing prey numbers. Wolves are found over the entire Yukon but are more abundant where moose numbers are high. Wolves live in family groups, with occasional unrelated wolves joining in. Pack size varies from 2 to as many as 22 wolves. Larger groups can temporarily form in March, when the breeding season is at its height and nearby packs with related animals get together.

Wolves live in packs and defend home ranges over most of the Yukon,. The annual home range varies from 500 to 2500 square kilometers. Average home range size is about 1000 square kilometers per pack. Wolf density is usually expressed as the number of wolves per 1000 square kilometers. Most of the Yukon has densities ranging from 5 to 12 wolves per 1000, with the northern Yukon averaging about 3 wolves per 1000. Wolf populations over the entire Yukon are naturally regulated, meaning that human harvest pressure exerts little influence on wolf numbers.

Male wolves are heavier, longer, and larger than females. Adult males average 95 pounds and females average about 80 pounds.. Males weighing 145 pounds have been recorded, but such large males are not common.

Hunting season is August 1 to March 31, with a bag limit of 2 for non residents and 3 for residents. Because wolves occur at such low densities the chance of bagging even one wolf as incidental harvest while hunting other species is quite low, the hunter would have to make a concerted effort to hunt wolves to increase the odds of making contact.

Wood Bison

Between 1986 and 1992, 142 wood bison were released into the Aishihik area of the Yukon as part of the National Wood Bison Recovery Program. The herd grew by about 20% each year. By 1999 the herd was about 500 animals. The Yukon Bison Management Plan was implemented in 1998, setting out guidelines for monitoring bison numbers and setting harvest targets to keep the herd at about 450 animals at the end of each winter.

Since 1998, 81 bulls and 44 cows have been hunted from the herd, with plans for about 40 bulls and 40 cows in 2000-2001. The bison-hunting season is in winter months from December 1 to March 31. Hunting takes place mainly from snowmachines. Harvest is separated into permits for residents, non-residents guided by a licensed guide, and there is a quota for 2 First Nations whose land the bison lived on.

Other Yukon Big Game Species.