Spring Barren Ground Muskox

Imagine yourself standing amidst the vast, untouched wilderness of the Arctic, the crisp air carrying the faint sound of crunching snow as a herd of muskox grazes nearby. These majestic creatures, standing 4-5 feet tall at the shoulder and weighing up to 800 pounds, are living relics of the Ice Age.

Their long, shaggy coats ripple in the frigid breeze, perfectly adapted to withstand the brutal -100°F wind chills. With sharp, powerful horns capable of breaking through thick ice, muskoxen are not only symbols of survival but also incredible trophies for any dedicated hunter.

Spring Muskox Hunts with Adventure Northwest

Hunting muskox in an arctic winter environment is an adventure that every serious outdoorsman needs to experience at least once in their life. You can talk to any experienced worldwide hunter and ask them what hunts stand out in their memory; I will guarantee that a cold weather muskox hunt will be named in the top five, and nearly everyone would jump at the chance to do it again. Cold weather hunting is something that cannot be described until it is experienced for yourself.

Yet when a person can dress properly and be comfortable in the elements, the arctic life can be thoroughly enjoyed. It is amazing to watch the abundance of life, not just surviving, but thriving in one of the harshest ecosystems in the world. Muskox are blessed with the warmest (and softest) natural fibre on earth, wool sought after by locals and high end clothing designers alike. They do not feel the cold and are perfectly suited for life on the tundra. The arctic wolf, built to travel extreme distances, lean body and large feet that float on top of the windswept snow. The wolverine, gleaning off wolf kills and gut piles, eating whatever it can find but never seems to be lacking.

Then there are the people, the Kitikmoet Inuit are some of the hardiest and most resourceful people on the planet. People that, like the muskox, thrive in the cold weather climate. Adventure Northwest guides are top notch mechanics, seasoned hunters, and have a built in GPS system that is hardly rivalled by modern technology. You will build a friendship that will last a lifetime.

The Hunt Area – Kiillinnguyaq (Kent Peninsula)

The area we are hunting is known as Kiillinnguyaq, the Kent Peninsula in English, is a large peninsula, almost totally surrounded by water, in Nunavut's northern Canadian Arctic mainland. Were it not for a 5 mi (8.0 km) isthmus at the southeast corner it would be a long island parallel to the coast. From the isthmus it extends 105 mi (169 km) westward into the Coronation Gulf.

Historically, the Umingmuktogmiut subgroup of the Copper Inuit had a permanent community at Umingmuktog on the peninsula's western coast. In 1821, famous arctic explorer John Franklin reached the point from the west, at the most northerly point of the disastrous Coppermine expedition and then turned back. In 1838, Thomas Simpson nearly reached the same point, but was blocked by ice and had to walk 100 mi (160 km) east. In 1839, the coast was clear of ice and Simpson followed the entire coast eastward.

Our camp sits on the south west end of the peninsula, just over a hundred miles from Cambridge Bay. On average, the trip from Cambridge Bay to camp takes about seven hours with snowmobiles.

Hunt Details & Success Rates

While the hunt is listed as six days, actual hunting time may be less, due to poor weather and visibility. After your muskox has been killed, you can relax around camp, or hunt wolves and wolverines for the rest of the week. These hunts have been nearly 100% successful in the past with archery equipment, rifle or muzzleloader, as well as an ok success rate on wolves, wolverines and arctic fox.

The camp consists of two insulated cabins, both heated by oil stoves. There is a fairly large cabin where the hunters stay in and there are only 2-3 hunters in the camp at a time. Beds and foam mattresses are provided but do bring a sleeping bag. Food is prepared hot and fresh each day by your guide, perfect after a long day of hunting.

You will be transported on a sled, pulled by a snowmobile. This provides superb mobility and allows you to look over many muskox. If you would rather pilot your own snowmobile there is the option of renting your own snowmobile as well. (If you are financially able, I highly recommend renting a snowmobile for the duration of your hunt. You will be warmer and enjoy a MUCH smoother ride then being pulled around the tundra in the sled box.

Hunts are available from early March through mid April. The days are long and temperatures semi cold with the spring sun already providing a bit of warming rays.

Schedule

The morning after you land in Cambridge Bay, you will pack your bags onto the guides sleds and hop in for the day long ride to our camp at Parry Bay. If you are renting your own snowmobile to ride (highly recommended), then you will be given it at this time. Dress warm as we will be outside all day. Adventure Northwest has an interactive gear list that links to each product that we use on a daily basis on these hunts. It’s expensive gear, but very worth it. Once at the camp, you will be shown you’re sleeping quarters, paired with a guide and explained the week’s events. If you have any dietary needs or allergies, please be sure to mention them.

The following days will be spent hunting from and around the cabins at our camp. The muskox you will be hunting are considered the barren ground muskox, or mainland muskox. The bigger of the two muskox subspecies. This is an area of the mainland that is known for big bulls. Many Boone and Crockett muskox have been taken on the Kent Peninsula and many more will be taken. 2016 was the first time that Adventure Northwest had been licensed to hunt this area of the mainland and we knocked it out of the park. Nine out of nine hunters killed muskox and nearly all of them made B&C record books. We also harvested wolf and wolverine. 2017-current were very similar years success wise, and we killed a couple more muskox in the top 70 all-time B&C.

In all likelihood, you will tag out in the first three days, weather pending. On the day before your flight is scheduled to depart Cambridge Bay, you will have a good breakfast, pack up your gear, and snowmobile the 100 miles back to town. You’ll head for home the following day after receiving your export permits for your trophies.

SPRING Barren Ground Muskox Hunts – Pricing

5 day Muskox Hunt

1 Muskox: $12,500 USD
Wolf: $1500 (if taken)
Wolverine: $500 (if taken)
Arctic Fox: included

What’s Included

Accommodation/meals while in camp
One guide for every two hunters
Field prep of your trophy and hides
5 full hunting days

Not Included

Government export fees (currently free)
5% goods and service tax
Meat processing
Canadian firearms import fee (if applicable)
Your travel to Cambridge Bay and all costs associated with that
Optional snowmobile rental (we charge $450/day while the going rental rate in Nunavut and the Northwest Territories is $500 - $550/day)
$550 muskox tag
$170 wolf tag (optional)
$170 wolverine tag (optional)
$60 hunting license
$70 fox hunting license (optional)

Important Notes

Travel to and from Cambridge Bay, Nunavut Territory is the hunter’s responsibility
Any accommodations in the community of Yellowknife and Cambridge Bay before or after the hunt are not included in the hunt. This includes days lost to bad weather where commercial aircraft (or charter aircraft) is unable to fly.
Weather is the biggest and most challenging factor that can impede your hunt. Be prepared that you may lose a day or two to bad weather, unforeseen equipment breakdowns or both.
Having some Canadian currency is encouraged. (you will need Canadian cash to pay for your licenses and tags.)
Currently tag fees for Muskoxen are $550.00 per animal.
Meat may be taken home; this is the hunter’s responsibility and he/she will have to bring a leak proof container/bag to transport the meat home

John Doe

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