For the sportsman who craves travel, adventure, and a creature that abounds with character, the Musk Ox if for you. You’ll hunt in Alaska’s far north under conditions that may challenge your very survival, searching for an animal that has battled nature and survived for thousands of years. The cold conditions will not only chill you to the bone, but can make kindling of your stick and string. Sample a musk ox hunt with Paul Atkins in this post from Grand View Outdoors.

These musk ox at the Alaska Conservation Reserve are considered more dangerous to humans than brown bears.
These musk ox at the Alaska Conservation Reserve are considered more dangerous to humans than brown bears.

In northwest Alaska, where I hunt, we have some magical country – mountain ranges to the north with deep valleys and creek drainages lined with spruce trees, alders and willows. Wildlife is abundant in the fall, but without a careful eye it cannot be seen due to the camouflage created by the dense foliage. The winter, however, is a bit different. The landscape is frosted white and animals stand out. It’s quite a sight to see these ancient beasts with shaggy coats plowing through the deep snow.

Over the years I’ve taken several musk oxen in this terrain, and each hunt has been a unique experience lined with a number of difficulties. Whether it was climbing rocks or simply braving the wind and cold to get into position for the shot, hunting musk ox in this extreme terrain offers bowhunters the ultimate challenge. You will most definitely have the snow and ice to deal with, and the prospect of getting close can be quite dangerous, especially if the bull doesn’t like the fit of your snow pants… [continued]

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