Which two coureurs des bois were noted for exploring the Hudson Bay region in search of furs?

• A. La Salle + Joliet
• B. Cartier + Champlain
• C. Hudson + Cabot
• D. Radisson + Des Groseillers

Answer: (C)

Coureurs des bois were French-Canadian fur traders who ventured into the wilderness to trade directly with Indigenous peoples, expanding the fur trade beyond settled colonies. For the Hudson Bay region, the two most famous explorers linked to finding and expanding furs there are Pierre-Esprit Radisson and Médard des Groseilliers. They pushed into Hudson Bay in the 1660s and 1670s, gathering stories of abundant furs and routes inland, and their reports helped spark official support for even more exploration and trade, eventually contributing to the creation of the Hudson’s Bay Company. Other pairs listed correspond to different regions or purposes: La Salle and Joliet explored the Mississippi and Great Lakes; Cartier and Champlain worked along the St. Lawrence and eastern Canada; Hudson and Cabot are associated with earlier voyages to other coasts and rivers. The Hudson Bay fur-trade connection centers on Radisson and Des Groseilliers.