Porcupine caribou protected by hunting closure

Caribou hunters will have to steer clear of the Dempster Highway for the next week.

The annual hunting closure came into effect Thursday.

No hunting is allowed for 80 kilometers on either side of the highway stretching from the Peel River through to the Northwest Territories border.

The closure is intended to minimize the disturbance to the migrating Porcupine Caribou herd.

Over the past few day caribou have been observed crossing the highway at night.