Have any of you here on AR done a hunt for one of these beasts?? I'm toying the idea of booking a hunt for one here in the near future.. If you've done this hunt, let me know what I'm in for.. ie. cost of the trip in total, what to expect, how the hunt went, who you went with, etc..

I was really close to booking a PAC ele hunt in Zim for next yr., but I think I've swayed my mind into doing either the muskox hunt or a Rocky Mtn. goat in BC for next year's hunt.

Thanks guys and hope to hear from some of you that have done this hunt!

Nobody?? Guess I'll post this in the US forum as well and see if I can get some info..

I have looked into them extensivly. You have three choices, and some options.

1. Alaska, provided you can draw a tag. This will be in Western Alaska or on one of the islands in Western Alaska. Guides are available, as well as some registered packers. Price will be $3500 to 6500 including tags, airfare, and packers/guides. Most do it yourself of the three.

2. Norhwest Territorys and Nunavut. With an outfitter in BC who will probably end up being native Eskimo. Can do it March (winter) or July (summer from a boat). Price will be $6500-10000, depending if you want a second bull and who you go with.

3. Greenland. There are two or three Danish (or other Scandanavian) guides doing hunts there. Summer is in a boat, winter is on a dog sled. Price is $7500 to 10,000, depending on when and who you do it with. The biggest problem with Greenland is getting there, you usually have to fly through Denmark to do it.

D99,

I'm not familiar with what a "registered packer" is. Can you explain?

Can a non-resident apply - cost?

Is a guide required?

Thanks

Non res can apply in Alaska, no guide requirement, and the tag is 500 for Resident, 1100 for Non-Res, and 1500 for Non Res Aliens.

Packer is a guy that can take you hunting, but he can't spot game for you, or tell you what is legal.

I hunted one; before beginning a Polar Bear hunt in the NWT. Spring hunts will be in March/April and temps can get down to -40. Hunts are conducted using snow mobiles with you riding in a sled towed behind. You drive around until you find a herd, cruise up to them and they form a ring. You them try to find a good one and once located shoot it. Fall hunts are conducted differently and I can't comment on them. The arctic experience is more rewarding than the hunt. I used Adventure Northwest.

Josh

A BC RM Goat hunt is, IMHO, among the finest and most truely "sporting" hunts available and a good billy, taken on a solo backpack hunt is a trophy to be very proud of. Obviously, a non-res. cannot do this, but, there are many good outfitters here offering Goats and a Moose-Goat combo hunt can be found for about the cost of a NWT Muskox hunt.

I just find the whole concept of snowmobiles and such devices used to herd some animal into a bunch for the purpose of selecting and shooting a "trophy" to be slightly nauseating. I realize that few non.-res. hunters can cope with Arctic conditions and the Inuit do benefit from the $$$$$ spent by such hunters, but, I gotta agree with the previous poster.

I have not been to the NWT in over 40 years, worked there as a lad in the mid-'60s, but, it is really worth the experience of seeing the last great wilderness left on Earth, outside the Antarctic.

For BC Goats, go to www.goabc.org and check out the various Guide-Outfitters listed. The biggest Goats tend to be on the northern coast, but, that is TOUGH country, take this into consideration.

Thanks guys... If I decide to go ahead and do the Muskox, I'll be doing the Nunavut hunt.

Its hard to find good info on these hunts..Its seems that there is a HUGE variance in the pricing for some reason.. And that makes me neverous. One site says 4500 then I'll check another and they'll be 7000!! Why would there be such a huge difference in pricing for the exact same hunt? Makes no sense.

I'm planning on going to the DSC show and bookig there after I meet a few outfits and get to make a choice.. Still might lean towards the goat hunt. I have always wanted to do a coastal late season goat hunt in BC off a boat. Maybe throw in a day of sea duck hunting or fishing after the goat is down.

You should realize that the weather on the northern BC Coast in the late season CAN BE and OFTEN IS very nasty. I live in Vancouver and right now it is 45*F and driving rain; it is mild compared to up north and you may want to adjust your time span for a Goat hunt due to this as you live where it is hot and dry.

I would suggest Sept. as being the nicest month to hunt BC, most bugs are gone and it is usually fairly warm and dry. But, we had severe snow on opening night, the 10th, in 2005 and again last year; this was in the East Kootenays and the Chilcotin.

I prefer late Sept. in northern BC, because most leaves have fallen and while Elk are still rutting, the Moose are starting and thus less wary. But, it can be well below freezing and crossing those rivers at 07:00 on a hayburner AIN'T real fun!

There IS a highly thought of mid-coast outfit that hunts from good size boats, maybe PM Canuck as I cannot remember their name. Also, you could take a HUGE Black Bear on such as hunt and quite possibly a Wolf.

Dewey,
thanks for the info.. The weather doesnt scare me at all. I just moved back from a yr in northern MT. It was -40 at times during last winter with a howling wind outside.. Spent plent of days last Dec in 0 degree weather chasing phez roosters.
Also climbed Mt. Rainier in WA last June. Got hit with a sudden storm and it was -30 up top in total whiteout blizzard conditions. Been in well below neg weather on top of Mt. Orizaba in Mexico at 18,400ft. as well!!

I can handle the weather no problem. Hell, I already own all the rope, harnesses and crampons should the weather get REALLY bad!!

The reason I want to do a late season is because of the hair. I dont want a short haired goat at all. I'd rather risk the weather.

I'm leaning more towards an Aug or Sept hunt for the muskox should I go on that hunt. I could combine it with a day or 2 of fishing and maybe ptarmigan hunting..

Thanks for the info guys!

I went on a muskox hunt 3 years ago, out of Coppermine(Kugluktuk), in the last week of March. Had a great time and it was a true adventure. At that time, we had to stalk the last mile by foot once we spotted the muskox, as per Nunavut regulations, though I believe they've changed that now. I think you can drive right up to them.

I would suggest paying the extra to go with a reputable arctic outfitter. Fred Webb has an excellent track record as does Canada North, not sure if the latter is still around. There are also some on Victoria island, which has the most muskox.There are many horror stories of hunters stranded at the airport or in a hotel due to miscommunication between outfitter and Inuit.

Hotels run about $200/night up there. Find out exactly how the hunt is to progress. With most hunts, once you get your muskox, you're in the hotel until your departure flight, hotel bill not included. Flights into the arctic are also pricey.

If you go with an open mind and know ahead of time how the hunt will be run, you'll have a great time. Remember that the Inuit don't operate on "standard time" and don't like to be rushed. On the other hand, you can sleep in on these hunts. They usually want to see how the weather will be in the mid-morning before heading out into a potential storm.

Most I've talked to said August & September is too early for a good hair coat. If you can brave the cold, I'd suggest the spring hunt.
One thing is that there is an ever-present wind up there. Coupled with cold temps, it's nasty.

Those who've sat in a deer blind in northern Saskatchewan during the last week of rifle without a heater would hack it.

If you have back problems, bring lots of pills! The sled ride is rough. Most have a plywood box on the sled for a windchill guard, but you can't see much then. Kind of like riding in a coffin. I wore every piece of clothing I brought, and sat on an open sleigh, and it was OK(bearable anyway!).I brought ski-goggles and balaclava, which turned out to be badly needed.

Victoria Island has the Greenland muskox and on the mainland it's the Barren-Ground muskox. I was amazed at the amount of game up in that desolate place. Arctic hares, Arctic fox, wolverine, wolves, ptarmigan,etc.

Shooting them is rather anti-climactic, getting to them is another story. Kind of like a cougar hunt, I guess.An experience of a lifetime!

Spray and Pray,
thanks for the helpful info provided. One question, is there a ptarmigan season up there during the spring season?? I'd love to have a chance at a covey or 2 of them while they are snow white. That was the only reason I've been more inclined to hunt the fall season.. I'd much rather get the full blown Arctic expierence for sure!

I did it in the spring and prefer that. For me it was more about the experience rather than the hunt, especially if you'll be using a rifle. They may run but they really can't get away. At some point they are just going to stand and let you shoot them.

I watched a longbow hunter probably throw somewhere in the neighborhood of 20 arrows before he hit one from about 25-30 yards. Watched one of his handmade wood shafts shatter as it hit the boss. I was thinking to myself "OH! just use the gun already" I know I wouldn't have taken that many arrows with me. I couldn't believe he still had any left. His shot was a bad shot in the kidney area, but the bull dropped faster than the other 2 taken with rifles. He "completely" severed the main artery (a full inch in diameter) running along the backbone. It walked about 15 yards and dropped dead.

I believe the guy was probably an excellent shot but at -35 and I would guess a 60mph wind, it was tough!!! You couldn't stand without being blown out of your steps.

Three of us found a bachelor group of 4 large bulls and took 3 of them over a period of 3 huntable days. Just went out each day and found the remaining ones. Some days in between were spent in the tent due to whiteouts. The account above was the final one taken and it was about 1000 yards from the tents. They never left the area and that one final bull (also B&C quality) was there the day we left.



It ain't cheap, a lot of extras because of the travel. All kinds of extra baggage charges on each leg, overnight stays, a real lot to have the trophy shipped back. They have you pretty good. If you want to ship it back green they charge a lot and it has to be cleared on entry... or ... you can have it mounted there and shipped without clearances. Not sure which is cheaper. I had mine mounted in Yellowknife, the other hunters had theirs shipped green.

In 05 my hunt cost 5250, airfare was free for me to Edmonton, 1050 airfare from there, 500 in overnights, 3500 for a shipped pedestal mount, all inclusive said and done was 11277. I keep close records of all my hunts. Add to this a Northern Outfitter suit for about 1000, sold mine on ebay to recover back about 600.

quote:

Originally posted by Scottyboy:
Spray and Pray,
thanks for the helpful info provided. One question, is there a ptarmigan season up there during the spring season?? I'd love to have a chance at a covey or 2 of them while they are snow white. That was the only reason I've been more inclined to hunt the fall season.. I'd much rather get the full blown Arctic expierence for sure!

If you want them for mounting, I'm sure the Inuit guide could get you a couple(or let you shoot a couple). I don't believe the season was open, probably only in the fall.
Getting export permits is easy, they just fill them out at the DNR, no cost.