Caribou aren't my cup o' tea, but I've been out to the SW Bush more times than I really wanted to, and I noticed a few interesting things.
The hunters who down the most game, including TONS of caribou, are the same hunters who've always taken the most game--the Yupik and Athabascan natives. I don't know much about the inland groups, but the Yupik in the Y-K delta seem to hunt with whatever's cheap and available. .223 is a favorite, believe it or not, even though there are plenty of really mean and human-familiar griz in the area. Only the gussics bring big magnum rifles. If you want to look like a local, bring some old POS .30/30 or an old mini-14.
The hunters who down the most game, including TONS of caribou, are the same hunters who've always taken the most game--the Yupik and Athabascan natives. I don't know much about the inland groups, but the Yupik in the Y-K delta seem to hunt with whatever's cheap and available. .223 is a favorite, believe it or not, even though there are plenty of really mean and human-familiar griz in the area. Only the gussics bring big magnum rifles. If you want to look like a local, bring some old POS .30/30 or an old mini-14.