Jess McDiarmid
Northern News Services
Published Wednesday, October 31, 2007

YELLOWKNIFE - A man from Dettah shot what may be the first white-tailed deer to have been killed near Yellowknife, Oct. 18.

James Sangris saw the doe standing in the open while hunting for moose with a friend at Wool Bay, about 15-kilometres southeast of the city on Great Slave Lake.

Dettah hunter James Sangris shot a white-tailed deer Oct. 18 near Wool Bay. - photo courtesy of Dean Cluff, Environment and Natural Resources

"I was surprised," said Sangris, 50, who's been hunting most his life.

Neither he nor elders he talked to afterwards had ever heard of deer in the region before, he said.

After he shot the animal, he and his friend went to Dettah and called Environment and Natural Resources.

A biologist went to Wool Bay to take samples and tests of the animal.

Sangris kept the hide and the meat, a novelty he's sharing with elders and friends who have never had a chance to try it before.

"The meat's pretty good," he said.

Biologist Dean Cluff was not available to comment before deadline.

Gary Steele of Wolverine Guns and Tackle said it was the first time he had heard of a white-tailed deer being killed near Yellowknife.

"For the last six or seven years, I've heard rumours about white-tails being spotted," said Steele. "This is the first one actually taken."

Steele said it could be a fluke but deer, particularly does, don't tend to wander very far.

"It's one of those questions that leaves you thinking ... is it a good thing white-tails are here?" said Steele.

University of Alberta biological sciences professor Stan Boutin said researchers have heard of deer observations in the area.

"Now people being able to actually shoot them suggests that numbers are getting reasonably high," he said.

He said deer populations have begun to rise in eastern Canada and the expansion has been working its way north and west for the past 20 to 25 years.

The reasons for the northward migration aren't entirely clear but climate change and human expansion are a contributing factor, said Boutin.

Abundant deer populations draw predators, which could spell trouble for Woodland caribou that typically live in areas with few predators, said Boutin.

"When you increase any alternate prey, if there's more deer by the looks of it, that really upsets the apple cart and the caribou take it on the chin," he said.

Deer also carry parasites that can devastate moose, though Boutin said the parasites don't seem to be able to survive in the North's colder climate.

Numerous species not usually found around Yellowknife have been cropping up in the past few years.

Two grizzlies have been shot within city limits and more bears, as well as cougars, have been sighted.

There have also been increases reported in species such as coyotes, magpies and seagulls.

Boutin said once deer populations get high, it's hard to keep them under control.

"We're in a real mess in Alberta with our caribou," said Boutin. "One has got to be very aggressive in trying to prevent the further expansion of species or you'll face the problems we're facing in the South."

This story was originally scheduled to appear in Monday's News/North, but was withheld for a breaking news story. Yellowknifer apologizes for any confusion.