Jack and I flew from Little Rock, to Denver, to Edmonton, to Yellowknife, to Kugluktuk, to Cambridge Bay on Victoria Island, Nunavut, Canada, 2 days travel and several hundred miles north of the Arctic Circle. This hunt/adventure has been in the plans since 1985 when a fellow taxidermist friend went up and got himself a Musk ox. I was so fascinated by his stories about his hunt and this prehistoric creature that I wanted one too. So here it is 2011 and after about a year of working out the details our time had come.
Here is Cambridge Bay just under the wing of the plane, the darker areas are the buildings in town.


As soon as we landed we headed to the local restaurant to meet up with our Eskimo guides.


On our first day of hunting we headed out across the tundra on 4 wheelers. We were supposed to be hunting on snowmobiles but there wasn’t enough snow. We found caribou about 50 miles out from camp. Jack made a great 312 yd shot. These are Arctic Island Caribou and if you are after the grand slam for caribou this species will have to be on your list. They are smaller and much whiter that the more common caribou, very beautiful animals. I am only hunting musk ox but Jack was really wanting to get one of these guys and he got a beaut! It will score very high in the record book.



The next 2 days we spend in the camp house due to high winds and ground blizzard. Wasn’t much to do during this time so I took a few pics from inside. The camp house was a fishing cabin the Eskimos used in the summer time when they were fishing. It was right on the Arctic Ocean where they net many many arctic char and dry the meat on racks in the summer time.




Here are the 4 wheelers thru the cabin window


On the first day we had spotted a herd of musk ox maybe 2 miles from where Jack got his caribou but it was too late in the evening to pursue them so after 2 days of blizzard the weather cleared but was bitter cold (-25). We rode the 50 miles (took 5 hours) and the musk ox had moved maybe 500 yds from where they were 3 days prior. My bud and his guide came at the herd from the right, me and my guide came at them from the left. They were next to a long lake and did not want to get out on the ice so they decided to stand their ground (my lucky day!!). I had given my guide instructions on how to use my laser ranger finder so he would follow behind me and give me yardages. He also brought a gun for back up. I asked him not to bring it but he insisted, I told him he better not shoot my bull unless I was actually gored!!! I wanted my bull with a bow! We got to 72 yds. fairly quickly, was slow going from then on, we got to 45 yds the bull stepped out from the group of 9 cows and some yearling calves to protect them, he was out from the group maybe 5 or 6 yds but would not give me a shot . He lowered his nose to the ground and started swaying his head back and forth. They had told me before that that was a sign he was about to charge. I slowly stepped to 35 yds his head was going back and forth faster and faster, he was obviously perturbed and I could see the whites of his eyes now and the steam from his breath. It seem forever but he finally turned broadside and I release my arrow. Center punched him. He started walking then and went maybe 75 yds and laid down. His cows surrounded him for protection. The guides started waving their arms and howling like wolves, the cows reluctantly left. We walked up to about 20 yds, he never even tried to stand up, I put an arrow in his big neck, he took his last breath about 90 secs later. I am elated and one happy dude!!!



Here’s a pic a few minutes later!! The Eskimos started laughing so hard they both had tears freezing on their cheeks!!! They took many pics with their own cameras and later showed them to everyone. It was about -20 when the pic was taken and they got so much fun from later showing the pics I was glad I made a fool of myself. We had lots of laughs. And no, liquor was not involved!




By the time we got back to camp we had to thaw out the head so we could skin it. Here it is in front of the stove.


The Distant Early Warning (DEW) Line began on 15 February 1954 when President Eisenhower signed the bill approving the construction. It was designed and built during the "Cold War" as the primary line of air defense warning of "Over the Pole" invasion of the North American Continent.


On the beach in Cambridge Bay


Out on the frozen tundra during a smoke break. All the Eskimos smoke like fiens.


Arctic Ocean in the background.


Couldn’t resist getting this shot, I asked their permission and they were proud to pose for me.


Having fun with some hunters from another camp.


Loading up to head home.


Wonderful wonderful adventure!! Would go again tomorrow. The village had killed 9 whales this past summer so I asked if we could eat some and we had it for breakfast one morning. Funny how after one bite I was completely full! We ate musk ox for several meals. Highest temp was -6 lowest was -25. Had 30-50 mph winds at times, I have no idea what the wind chill would have been. Green scored my bull and he will easily make Pope & Young and will maybe make Boone & Crockett.
-20 when we left Cambridge bay and was 65 when I landed in Little Rock, 85 degree difference!! Of course my luggage ended up lost in Chicago and after 2 days of airports coming home I had to wait at LR airport 4 ½ hours till they flew my stuff in!!!!! GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!!!!!!!

This hunt was booked thru CROSSHAIR CONSULTING with Wade Derby handling all the details. Very very satisfied. Wade and his people took care of everything including flights, hotels, hunt. etc. He even got us 2 free days of hunting after a 2 day blizzard had us sitting in shelters for the duration. No extra charge for changing our return flights either (still don't know how that happened). This was a grand adventure I will always remember.

Great hunt in an interesting place! I've only passed through C.B., but it does seem like the end of the world. What time of year were you there?

Congrats,
Dean

Great hunt and it seems like you had a great time. Great photos.

Jim

Great trip, thanks for sharing the photos and story!

Orvar

Tony, it was a great trip and I'm glad we could put it together. See you and Jack in camp again someday soon! All the Best, Wade

Nice Musk Ox!

Lifesize mount?

Very cool hunt..Congrats on a very cool trophy and unique hunting experience.

Wade tried to get me to make this hunt with you guys (and I would have!!) but I just had too much time and $$ already invested into the British Columbia and Kyrgyzstan hunts. It looks like I missed out on a cool hunt. I'll make it sooner than later!

Congrats again! Looks like Wade put together another great hunt.

quote:

Originally posted by maki:
What time of year were you there?

Congrats,
Dean

We were there this past October.