Muskox
Economics
In order to calculate
an economic value of the subsistence harvest of muskox, the replacement
value for purchasing beef instead can be used. In 1994, the residents of
Sachs Harbour harvested 222 muskox for subsistence use. At an average
yield of approximately 90 kg of meat/muskox and a beef replacement cost of
$14.00/kg (the average cost of beef in small communities), the economic
value of the subsistence muskox harvest in 1994 was about $279 000 (222 x
90 x 14.00).
In
2002-2003, 93 guided sport hunts were conducted for muskoxen in the
Northwest Territories.
Of these, 44 were on Banks Island, 7 on northwest Victoria Island,
and 42 on the mainland (Inuvik and Sahtu regions).
Guided muskox hunt cost approximately $3000 US.
Thus 93 guided sport hunts generate approximately $279,000 US
($372,000 CDN) in outfitting fees in the NWT in 2002-2003.
This value excludes dollars spent on airline tickets, hotel
accommodations, meals, and local purchases of arts and crafts.
|
Year
|
Quota
|
Commercial
Harvesta
|
Sport Hunts
|
Subsistence
Harvest
|
|
1970
|
Protected
|
|
|
|
|
1971-
1977
|
7
|
|
|
unknown
|
|
1978-1980
|
150
|
|
|
unknown
|
|
1981-1982
|
2000
|
260
|
|
unknown
|
|
1982-1983
|
2000
|
96
|
|
unknown
|
|
1983-1984
|
2000
|
83
|
|
unknown
|
|
1984-1985
|
2000
|
50
|
|
unknown
|
|
1985-1986
|
2000
|
323
|
|
unknown
|
|
1986-1987
|
2000
|
177
|
|
unknown
|
|
1987-1988
|
2000
|
98
|
|
unknown
|
|
1988-1989
|
2000
|
31
|
|
unknown
|
|
1989-1990b
|
2000
|
87
|
|
317
|
|
1990-1991b
|
2000
|
556
|
|
101
|
|
1991-1992b
|
5000
|
2031
|
|
102
|
|
1992-1993b
|
5000
|
1798
|
17
|
132
|
|
1993-1994b
|
5000
|
738
|
36
|
222
|
|
1994-1995b
|
10000
|
|
64
|
240
|
|
1995-1996b
|
10000
|
|
37
|
232
|
|
1996-1997b
|
10000
|
|
70
|
238
|
|
1997-1998
|
10000
|
1250
|
36
|
unknown
|
|
1998-1999
|
10000
|
|
33
|
91c
|
|
1999-2000
|
10000
|
1450
|
10
|
38c
|
|
2000-2001
|
10000
|
|
39
|
192c
|
|
2001-2002
|
10000
|
532
|
48
|
355c
|
|
2002-2003
|
10000
|
101
|
44
|
127c
|
a
Commercial harvest documented by RWED.
Muskox harvested for export.
b
Subsistence harvest data from Inuvialuit Harvest Study (2003).
c
Subsistence harvest estimated by RWED.
Some
communities in the Western and Central Arctic allow part of their quota to be
used by sport hunters. For several thousand dollars, a southern hunter can
purchase a package hunt complete with guides. Snowmachines may be used to within
3.25 km of the muskoxen. The animals are then stalked on foot.
The economic potential of the muskox's inner wool or "qiviut" is
slowly being explored in the Northwest Territories. This wool is of exceptional
quality, having the weight and warmth of cashmere. In Alaska, a muskox
domestication project has been established for the purpose of developing a
cottage industry that specializes in woven or knitted articles. |
