The winter harpoon is used for hunting seals at their winter breathing holes. Different than the harpoons used on kayaks, the winter harpoon has a pick on the butt end for breaking the ice that forms in the seal breathing hole.

The harpoon head is held by tension to the harpoon shaft and it releases from the shaft when a seal is hit. A skin line attached to the harpoon head is held by the hunter to prevent the seal from escaping. As the seal attempts to escape, the tension of the line toggles and anchors the harpoon head firmly in the seal’s body.