In December 2015, the Tłı̨chǫ Government (TG) and ENR submitted the Joint Proposal on Caribou Management Actions for the Bathurst Herd: 2016-2019 to the Board, which proposed new restrictions on hunter harvest, predator management to reduce dìga (wolf) populations on the winter range of the Bathurst ɂekwǫ̀ herd and ongoing biological monitoring. The WRRB considered any specific restriction of harvest or component of harvest as the establishment of a total allowable harvest (TAH). After review and analysis of the proposal, the WRRB complied with Section 12.3.10 of the Tłı̨chǫ Agreement and held a public hearing in Yellowknife, NT on February 23-24, 2016.
The WRRB concluded, based on all available Aboriginal and scientific evidence, that a serious conservation concern exists for the Bathurst ɂekwǫ̀ herd and that additional management actions are vital for herd recovery. The WRRB determined that a total allowable harvest of zero shall be implemented for all users of the Bathurst ɂekwǫ̀ herd within Wek’èezhìı for the 2016/17, 2017/18, 2018/19 harvest seasons.