Hunt in Greenland.

Hunting area: South Greenland: Ivictut and Narsq

Game: Musk Ox – Reindeer

Gun: Sauer 202 TD, cal 300 Weatherby Mag.

Bullets: Nosler partition 180 gr.

Period: from July 30th to August 4th.

I’m just returned from a very interesting hunt in Greenland.
The hunt was booked trough Axel Oscarsson of http://www.lax-a.is/greenland.
And was not only a very interesting hunt but also a very interesting trip in a place unique in the world. In fact the landscapes and the environments are truly exceptional enough to justify a trip just to be able to admire.
Especially since in Greenland there are no roads and all transfers are done by boat. So you can browse for entire days among hundreds of icebergs from the most disparate shapes and along some of the largest glaciers on Earth.
http://i43.photobucket.com/alb...li/greenland/gr1.jpg
http://i43.photobucket.com/alb...li/greenland/gr3.jpg
http://i43.photobucket.com/alb...li/greenland/gr5.jpg


First day: in Reykjavik I met the agent and a 26 years old Italian-Brasilian guy, Fabrizio, that would have been my good companion for the hunt.

We then took the flight to Narsaq, where we met the local outfitter, Biarni Olesen. From Narsaq we left for a great trip by boat to the north west of almost six hours, trough fjords, glaciers, icebergs, to reach the ghost town of Ivictut where ther’is a cryolite’s mine abandoned not many years ago.
http://i43.photobucket.com/alb...li/greenland/gr6.jpg

http://i43.photobucket.com/alb...li/greenland/gr8.jpg

Ivictut is the Musk Ox hunting area and is beautiful place where we stayed in a very confortable Danish style house. Very interesting the cemetery with people buried over one hundred years ago .
http://i43.photobucket.com/alb...li/greenland/gr7.jpg

Second Day:
Early in the morning we started the hunt. The Musx Ox are abundant in this area and they stay along the beaches in for grazing or in the vicinity so they are easily spotted from the sea.
http://i43.photobucket.com/alb...i/greenland/gr10.jpg

Once seen a mature oxen, we are down to earth and we have approached it. Was about 150 meters from us.
http://i43.photobucket.com/alb...i/greenland/gr12.jpg

http://i43.photobucket.com/alb...i/greenland/gr13.jpg

http://i43.photobucket.com/alb...i/greenland/gr14.jpg

I could shoot from that point but the Inuit guides wanted to go near enough to frighten him and make it run. To avoid he exceeding the edge of a hill, shot him in the race, taking it a little back. Fortunately the power of the 300 Wheaterby was enough for stopped and gave me the time to shot again and finally kill him. What a beautiful animal!
http://i43.photobucket.com/alb...i/greenland/gr15.jpg

http://i43.photobucket.com/alb...i/greenland/gr16.jpg


Shortly after the guides have sighted another bull. It was the turn of Fabrizio. Was approached and shot at around seventy meters.

http://i43.photobucket.com/alb...i/greenland/gr18.jpg


http://i43.photobucket.com/alb...i/greenland/gr19.jpg

http://i43.photobucket.com/alb...i/greenland/gr20.jpg

Unfortunately the unexperienced guy was unable to control the recoil of the rifle and optic has broken his eyebrow, causing a wound for which, in the local inuit community small hospital, they had to give him four points. The baptism of the hunter ...

Then we left Ivictut for the reindeer hunting area near Narsaq.


Third Day.
We left Narsaq sailing to a beautiful mountainous island about 35 km long. I knew this was not the best period for reindeer hunting as ther’were too many mosquitoes and the animals were at the top of the mountains. In fact circumnavigating the island we saw only a few females and young.
In the afternoon we left the boat to climb the mountains.
http://i43.photobucket.com/alb...i/greenland/gr29.jpg

Here we sighted a discrete bull that has killed from Fabrizio. http://i43.photobucket.com/alb...i/greenland/gr30.jpg

(Fabrizio before the shot)
http://i43.photobucket.com/alb...i/greenland/gr31.jpg
http://i43.photobucket.com/alb...i/greenland/gr32.jpg

http://i43.photobucket.com/alb...greenland/gr33-1.jpg


In this period the bulls are still in velvet and the trophy is still growing. So the trophy quality is not the best.

Fourth day
We again circumnavigating the island without seeing any animals. Unfortunately in addition to mosquitoes, a billions, was too hot. All they are on top of the mountains.

http://i43.photobucket.com/alb...i/greenland/gr34.jpg

http://i43.photobucket.com/alb...i/greenland/gr35.jpg

Only in the late afternoon we finally spotted a bull.

http://i43.photobucket.com/alb...i/greenland/gr36.jpg

http://i43.photobucket.com/alb...i/greenland/gr37.jpg

http://i43.photobucket.com/alb...i/greenland/gr38.jpg

I shot him at a distance of about two hundred meters.



Again a mature bull with immature trophy in velvet.

http://i43.photobucket.com/alb...i/greenland/gr39.jpg

http://i43.photobucket.com/alb...i/greenland/gr40.jpg
But I knew that would happen. Reindeer hunting is better in September. Unfortunately at this time can not be combined with the musk ox, because the hunt for this animal closing the fifteenth of August. But was however a great hunt and a huge experience.

Mario,

Absolutely fascinating….. Looks like a fabulous trip thanks for sharing.

Weidmannsheil, Mario. Lovely pictures!

- mike

thanks guys. I've added more pictures so now the report is complete.

Thank you. That will be a trip for my soon to be done list.

Great report about an interesting part of the world. Thanks for posting and congratulations.

Quite an interesting hunt, thanks for sharing.
Rodney.

thanks guys.

well done Mario..thanks for the report and pictures.The musk ox is wonderfull

Fantastic, and congrats Mario! Thanks much for sharing.

Congratulation Mario, I enjoyed your report.

Regards
Aziz

Thank you Aziz.

I've been interested in a Greenland experience for some time........very few references ....thanks for sharing your great adventure. Jim

Jim, no problem if you need more infos

Wonderfull adventure ,congratulations my friend .Juan Pablo Pozzi

thank you very much Juan

thanks for a great story from an exotic place.

thanks

Congratulations on your hunt Mario. I noticed that you had a stopover in Iceland. Did you consider going there for reindeer ?

thanks. Yes maybe not next year but I think I will come to Iceland for another adventure.

Congratulations, Mario

Great report Mario

For your pictures on photobucket, you used the code for "Direct Link" in your post so they show up as links that you have to click on to view. If you use the the code for "IMG Code" it will show the pictures in the post.

Thank you.
Fjold, yes you have reason. Now I understood.

Great pics, the only one missing is the scope cut...lol