New Alaska oil leases being offered

AP (via Yahoo) ^ | 8/16/2006 | H. JOSEF HEBERT

[thackney]

I don't know the difference.

[redhead]

"Is there a physical difference between woodland & arctic caribou?"

My dad used to have a book on Alaskan wildlife, and it depicted two kinds of caribou: Barren Ground, which had rather small antlers; and Woodland, which had the majestic racks that are seen in the Alaska-tour folders. I don't know if this distinction still holds, or if they are just two "phases" of the same species.

[thackney]

it depicted two kinds of caribou: Barren Ground, which had rather small antlers; and Woodland, which had the majestic racks

I appreciate the info. That said, and re-stating I don't know the difference, the caribou I saw yesterday on the North Slope looked like it had a rack as big as those in Southcentral Alaska.

Perhaps RightWhale knows.

[thackney]

Alaska has only the barren-ground subspecies

Caribou
http://www.adfg.state.ak.us/pubs/notebook/biggame/caribou.php
Alaska Department of Fish and Game

Caribou (Rangifer tarandus) live in the arctic tundra, mountain tundra, and northern forests of North America, Russia, and Scandinavia. The world population is about 5 million. Caribou in Alaska are distributed in 32 herds (or populations). A herd uses a calving area that is separate from the calving areas of other herds, but different herds may mix together on winter ranges.

In Europe, caribou are called reindeer, but in Alaska and Canada only the domestic forms are called reindeer. All caribou and reindeer throughout the world are considered to be the same species, but there are 7 subspecies: barrenground (Rangifer tarandus granti), Svalbard (R.t platyrhynchus), European (R.t. tarandus), Finnish forest reindeer (R.t. fennicus), Greenland (R.t. groenlandicus), woodland (R.t. caribou) and Peary (R.t. pearyi). Alaska has only the barren-ground subspecies, but in Canada the barren-ground, woodland, and Peary subspecies are found.

[Chena]

Environmentalist do not want us to drill on the coastal plain of ANWR because it was reserved for Wildlife. Lake Teshekpuk is in the NPRA, an area set aside for OIL production.

bttt

[Chena]

Caribou is deeeeelicioussssss. My husband and sons prefer moose, but in spite of them saying that, they never seemed to notice whether I had made "boo stew" or "moo stew". And never noticed the difference between boo burritos or moo burritos either. LOL

[RightWhale]

All caribou look the same to me. Identical. If somebody has them in a corral they are reindeer; if they are running wild through your yard they are caribou.

[proud_yank]

Thanks for the info & link. In Canada, I've heard people call them arctic and/or woodland.

Weights of adult bulls average 350-400 pounds (159-182 kg). However, weights of 700 pounds (318 kg) have been recorded. Mature females average 175-225 pounds (80-120 kg). Caribou in northern and southwestern Alaska are generally smaller than caribou in the Interior and in southern parts of the state.

Thats pretty interesting, I always thought they were larger than that.

[proud_yank]

I've never tried caribou, but people have told me they really liked it. They usually say its a 'toss up' between caribou or moose regarding which is better.

'Boo stew' sounds pretty good. I always like doing making venison & goose stew in the crockpot. I'm starting to get hungry!

[Chena]

Most folks I know prefer moose to caribou. If someone were to offer me a quarter, and I had a choice, I'd take the moose. I've never had goose stew, but I'm sure it's deeelicious. I usually make dumplings to go in my stews, but sometimes I put in homemade egg noodles. yummmmm Now I'm hungry for it too!

Moose hunting season is upon us and I'm praying we'll have fresh meat soon!

[thackney]

I always thought they were larger than that.

When you get up here, I'll take you to the reindeer farm in Palmer. You can feed them out of your hands.

[1rudeboy]

Public/Private partnership! Run for the hills!

[proud_yank]

I usually do goose legs & thighs in the crockpot with french-onion soup, carrots, & red peppers and let it cook all day. Thicken it, and serve it over mashed potatoes. Its easy & good!

Breasts I usually cut into steaks, wrap in bacon, & grill. I really like goose, even more than duck.

Grouse in the crockpot, with mushroom soup is good too!

I can't wait to go moose hunting sometime, caribou too. I suppose with moose the real fun starts after you take one. Can't imagine packing one out.

[proud_yank]

When you get up here, I'll take you to the reindeer farm in Palmer. You can feed them out of your hands.

Wow! I look forward to it. I'm thinking about heading up in a few weeks.

[thackney]

I'm thinking about heading up in a few weeks.

Interviewing?

[Toddsterpatriot]

Notify Corsi, immediately!

[Chena]

Your recipes sound heavenly! I probably shouldn't hijack this thread with my best smothered moose recipe, so I'll e-mail that to you. You could use it for venison, or even beef. It's deeeeeeeeeelicious.

You're sure right about baggin' a moose. The first time I was actually involved in the gutting, skinning and quartering of one, I remarked that I had never seen a gut pile the size of a Volkswagen! LOL! It was all I could do to just hold the leg back while my hubby worked. Lordy, they're huge! But to get that delicious meat, it's worth every ache 'n pain.