Another Greenland Bowhunting Adventure
Caribou
Just returned from a bowhunting trip with Lings Hunting Greenland (Karsten Lings). Beautiful country, wonderful people and lots of wild game resulted in an awesome adventure! Many thanks to Bowsiters that posted their hunts in Greenland and especially to those that assisted me on this particular hunt… Mark (Shug), Greg (sticksender), and Grant (Bou’bound).
Yes! Keep it coming, Paul!
Mode of travel up and down the river.
Mode of travel up and down the river.
First look at my bull. Didn't know it at the time, but cows and calves were already bedded in the peel.
First look at my bull. Didn't know it at the time, but cows and calves were already bedded in the peel.
Made my stalk down the greenery in the upper left of this photo. Shot the bull at the bottom of the valley. He didn't go far.
Made my stalk down the greenery in the upper left of this photo. Shot the bull at the bottom of the valley. He didn't go far.
Really old bull according to Karsten. Showed up while my bull was being caped and quartered. He was NOT happy!
Really old bull according to Karsten. Showed up while my bull was being caped and quartered. He was NOT happy!
I considered doing a total hunt recap, but honestly the hunt itself was pretty short. Karsten located a really nice bull shortly after leaving camp on opening morning and we waited for the herd to bed down in some waist high shrubs that Karsten referred to as “peel”. That made for a pretty easy stalk and I was eventually presented with a 19 yard broadside shot opportunity. The bull and his cows ran roughly 100 yards before he collapsed for good. Less than three hours into the hunt, my muskox tag was filled.
While my bull was being caped and quartered, another very nice bull strolled past me… well within bow range. He noticed something out of the ordinary and raked brush with his horns and vigorously pawed the ground in an attempt to move me out of his area. Karsten said that bull was older than mine but would not score as well…due to missing black tips on the horns…something that happens with age.
I was the only bowhunter in camp. The other two (Jason and Milo from Colorado) were rifle hunters and both filled their tags later the same day with Karsten’s son, Lukas, as their guide. Later in the week, I got to see all three skulls/horns sitting side by side…and was even more impressed with my bull.
My original hunt offer did not include caribou and Karsten warned me that the bigger bulls were likely still living on the ice cap due to all the mosquitos, gnats and flies in the green areas. We covered a lot of ground hoping to locate a shooter bull, but it never happened. Saw lots of caribou (and many more muskox)…but nothing even close to meeting my desire of filling another caribou tag. One of the rifle hunters, who paid for caribou up front through a booking agent, did manage to kill a decent caribou bull near the ice cap on the last morning of his hunt.
Congratulations, great muskox
Arctic Char
Arctic Char
Atlantic Cod
Atlantic Cod
One of several Inuit graves along the bay.
One of several Inuit graves along the bay.
The last day of my hunt, I decided to go fishing instead and had a great day on the water. Caught several Arctic Char from a point in the bay and then moved out to deeper water in the boat for Atlantic Cod. Unfortunately, I could not bring any of those fish home…so you guys headed to Greenland to hunt with Karsten in the next few weeks may well get to eat those fish!
Both ends of my trip involved overnight stays in Copenhagen, Denmark. I stayed at the Clarion Hotel, which is right across the street from Copenhagen International airport. There is a train station next to the hotel…so I was able to experience at least a portion of Copenhagen…with Denmark being the first and only European country where I’ve ever set foot. My muskox will be shipped to a taxidermist in Copenhagen before being shipped to the United States…so a Euro taxidermist will be doing my Euro mount muskox…that's a first...LOL!
Good for you Paul.
You are having a Great 2024 already---->
Congrats, Robb
Congrats Paul!! Hope to replicate your feat…and hoping the caribou are a little more cooperative in a month!!
Absolutely Jason! Once the weather cools off a bit, caribou hunting should be great! Best of luck to you!
To be clear, there were a few good caribou bulls roaming near the ice cap...but that's where the rifle guys were hunting. They paid for caribou up front through a booking agent. I booked directly with Karsten and was not offered caribou so early in the season for good reason.
Good to hear, Paul! We all booked ours as the combo hunt up front. I believe they’re bringing in some extra guides too for our group since we’ll all be bowhunting which is good. Either way, I know it’s gonna be an awesome adventure! One more question since it’s fresh…anything you wish you would’ve done differently regarding gear, clothes, etc?
Take a “trip of a lifetime” every year. Congrats…
Well done Thanks for sharing Great bull
Congrats. Looks like a cool adventure and great bull.
Great trip thanks for taking the time to post.
Dandy bull Paul! Congrats again.
"One more question since it’s fresh…anything you wish you would’ve done differently regarding gear, clothes, etc?"
Nothing really comes to mind Jason. This was a warm weather hunt, but I did bring some cold weather gear for the morning boat rides. Temps are likely going to be much cooler within a few weeks...so you will need colder weather gear for sure. I bought heavier shafts and inserts to meet the 525gr minimum limit for muskox...but the arrows were never weighed. Just didn't want to take that chance. Honestly, pretty comfortable with my packlist. I can send that to you if you want...just let me know.
Great bull and another great adventure. Congratulations once again buddy!
Nicely done pav. Short , sweet and successful. My best, Paul
Congrats on a great hunt and thanks for sharing Lewis
Congrats again, bud! More anxious for our trip now. Will call you soon to get the scoop
Congratulations Beautiful bull!!!
That’s a great job. It really is an adventure from the time you leave home until you get back with the travel and everything else. Special place special people special animals.
if I had Tibet, I would bet 75% of people who hunt muskox take their muskox on the first day regardless of outfitter
it just seems to go that way
the animals are always around. The size is generally pretty similar. It’s not like someone’s holding out for some real monster. They’re not that different animal animal anyway once you get into the older mature category.
They do a great job of making sure it’s an older bull Most of their bulls are at least 10 if not 12 to 13 years old. They just won’t let anyone take anything less than that.
They do a wonderful job with that camp on the river to think there’s even a flush toilet and actual beds and carpet in the tents is wild
You’d be amazed, how much that river dries up as the weather gets colder in the ice cap stops melting to feed it
Glad you had a great trip
Congratulations Paul!! Thanks for sharing.
Congrats again, Paul! Do any of your adventure hunts last more than a day?? ;-)
Awesome, Paul. Congratulations
Congrats- a great adventure to include a great trophy !!
Congratulations. What a trip!
Thanks for sharing your adventure! Enjoyed hearing about the both ends of the trip.
Great pics and hunt . Nice bonus fishing too .
Congrats. They are neat animals for sure!
That’s a great job. It really is an adventure from the time you leave home until you get back with the travel and everything else. Special place special people special animals.
if I had Tibet, I would bet 75% of people who hunt muskox take their muskox on the first day regardless of outfitter
it just seems to go that way
the animals are always around. The size is generally pretty similar. It’s not like someone’s holding out for some real monster. They’re not that different animal animal anyway once you get into the older mature category.
They do a great job of making sure it’s an older bull Most of their bulls are at least 10 if not 12 to 13 years old. They just won’t let anyone take anything less than that.
They do a wonderful job with that camp on the river to think there’s even a flush toilet and actual beds and carpet in the tents is wild
You’d be amazed, how much that river dries up as the weather gets colder in the ice cap stops melting to feed it
Glad you had a great trip. What are you going to do with the skull and Hide.
Congrats on the bull and a great adventure, Paul! Too bad that the caribou didn’t cooperate with you while you were there.
"Glad you had a great trip. What are you going to do with the skull and Hide."
Thanks Grant! I'm only doing a Euro mount ...same choice for elk, moose, caribou and bison. Just don't have room in the house to shoulder mount (or more) these large species. Donated the hide to Karsten...so it won't go to waste.
Great job and looks like we are in for a great time in a few weeks.
That is a very nice bull Pav.
Were you able to try some of the meat?
They will prepare meals with the meat while there.
"Were you able to try some of the meat?"
We had muskox burgers and fries one evening and those were great. The last evening, they did cook up some of my bull for dinner (not ground) and it was tasty...but not very tender. Still, glad I was able to at least eat some of the meat before leaving.
Thanks for the recap. This is on my list!! Best of luck the rest of your fall!! Hunt
Congratulations on a fantastic hunt!
Whale skin soup.
Whale skin soup.
We had several native meals while in camp. Caribou tenderloin one night. A fish stew another night, and whale skin soup another. Beluga, I believe it was. All were delicious. We didn’t have musk ox when I was there in camp. Karsten said that it’s not as good eating during the rut, but it’s very good the rest of the year. I had a couple of musk ox burgers at the Kangerlussuaq International Airport, and they were excellent.
Fantastic adventure from start to finish!
Well done
Karsten shared some of his own winter hunting stories...beluga whale, walrus, seal and polar bear. He mentioned how polar bear numbers in Greenland are on the rise...more than he's ever witnessed before. Not something the global warming antis would want to hear!
Sounds like a great adventure. Congratulation on the musk ox.
Congrats Paul, thought for sure I’d be getting an invite. ??
Congrats on your muskox. I am right now back in Copenhagen. And no- we didn't get to eat your fish. We caught our own on the 3rd day already. Lots of arctic char and cod on the same point you fished.
Congrats on your bull. Looks like you had great weather.
GREAT adventure! Thanks for sharing! That is one COOL looking truck Karsten has.............
