With spring harvest underway, many hunters are feeling the pinch of high fuel prices.

For those who rely on hunting for their livelihood, the high fuel costs are more than just an annoyance.

Inuvialuit hunter Scott Kasook said the high cost of gas was severely limiting his range this spring. As a consequence, he wasnSA国际影视传媒檛 having a very successful spring hunt.

SA国际影视传媒淔eels like ISA国际影视传媒檓 on a deadline for how much gas I can get to do what I love to do,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淓verything has increased SA国际影视传媒� all but the wages we make.

SA国际影视传媒淚t sure limits how far I can go and how long it takes to find what you want to harvest. A lot of times come home empty handed because I canSA国际影视传媒檛 go as far or long as it takes to find what ISA国际影视传媒檓 looking for.SA国际影视传媒�

KasookSA国际影视传媒檚 not alone. He noted many hunters were having to rethink how the harvest will fit into their lives this year.

Expenses are high enough, Kasook said he was considering skipping muskrat hunting this year, noting not just fuel costs but also ammunition, oil and food effectively made it not cost-effective. Kasook said if the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation wasnSA国际影视传媒檛 helping bankroll the industry with Harvester Assistance programs, he would not be able to afford to hunt at all.

Consequentially, hunters wanting to pass on their traditions were getting fewer opportunities to do so. Kasook said he was teaching his kids the lifestyle but was concerned it was still fading away

SA国际影视传媒淚t feels like my livelihood and instinct to harvest is cut in half,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淚t ainSA国际影视传媒檛 what it used to be. Growing up we used to pack up and go for weeks. Now we canSA国际影视传媒檛.

SA国际影视传媒淏ills and cost of everything limits our means to go. I think thatSA国际影视传媒檚 a big factor in our way of life as harvesters who want to keep the tradition strong.SA国际影视传媒�

Another problem Kasook noted is desperate hunters can sometimes be less conscious of their prey.

For example, with caribou the protocol is to only take bulls, since hunting cows and calves could endanger future population numbers.

SA国际影视传媒淭hese things have impacted how people hunt,SA国际影视传媒� said Kasook. SA国际影视传媒�(Some are) no longer looking to harvest just bulls but shooting anything they see because it costs so much to go out and hunt respectfully.SA国际影视传媒�

Hunting isnSA国际影视传媒檛 just a livelihood for Kasook, itSA国际影视传媒檚 also vital to good mental health for himself and many others.

But he is concerned about others who, unable to get out on the land and hunt, may turn to alcohol or worse to fill the void.

SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 like my piece of mind, my place to go and recharge,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淏ut I canSA国际影视传媒檛 just go when I need to and for some they look else where for that get away and some turn to substance abuse.

SA国际影视传媒淎nd thatSA国际影视传媒檚 hard on me.SA国际影视传媒�