American Archer® co-host Joe Thomas was scheduled to travel to Greenland this year, but the trip fell victim to COVID-19. Since we won’t be able to share this year’s Greenland hunt with you on a future episode, Joe has a story about the first time he hunted there.
My Greenland Muskox Adventure
By Joe Thomas
“So where the heck exactly is Greenland?” That was the first words out of my mouth last March, after watching a show on Outdoor Channel about a group of hunters who had traveled to what is the world’s largest island situated far to the northeast of Canada, to take advantage of the recent legalization of archery hunting for Muskox and Caribou. I was so intrigued, that paused the DVR to make sure I took note of the Outfitter, Frank Feldmann and his Bowhunting Greenland web site. Thirty minutes later I was browsing the web site and emailing questions to Frank.
Now, I’ve always wanted to hunt Muskox with my bow, and it is one of the animals needed to complete my North American 29. Even though I am getting very close to that goal, the thought of hunting them in temperatures as low as minus 50 degrees did not thrill me at all, which is why I had always kept it on the back burner. Until now that is. From the video I watched, to the photos on his web site, it looked like a true adventure. The deal closer was when Frank said we can hunt them in the Summer when average daytime temps in Southern Greenland average nearly 60 degrees. I was in!
Fast forward to the first week in August and I’m stepping off a plane in Narsarsuak Greenland where Frank loaded me and the rest of the hunters and all our gear into his custom 26 foot inflatable boat with an enclosed cab and 300hp diesel engine, for the 4 hour ride to base camp. The scenery was absolutely spectacular! From its crystal blue ocean covered in giant icebergs, to the lush green mountain slopes, this place was breathtaking. Even better, the Muskox were everywhere!
Each hunting day, Frank, his native guide Knut and our hunting party worked as a team to spot the Muskox from the boat, judge the size, strategize the stalks and pack the giant animals off the slopes once they were down. It was teamwork at its best.
After getting to watch two great stalks in which giant Muskox hit the ground, the morning of day three, I was at bat. It was around 10 AM and we had looked over several very respectable bulls, when I spotted one high above the fjord, feeding in the shadow of a large cliff. Even at the distance of nearly half a mile, Frank judged him to be a definite shooter. Even better, he was in a perfect position to stalk in for a bow shot. Frank, Knut and I made a wide sweeping stalk to make sure the wind would be in our favor and used a large ravine to remain hidden while we gained the elevation necessary to get above him for the shot. If it worked out, it was gonna be a close shot. Most likely it would be inside 20 yards.
The stalk took over an hour but everything went according to plan. When I finally peeked over the cliff, there he was, standing broadside and relaxed. The rangefinder said 15 yards! I have to admit that being that close such an amazing animal took me off my game for a minute. I was just kinda frozen there, taking it all in, when Frank whispered to make sure to stay back off the shoulder with my shot. His advice quickly snapped me back to reality and I knew it was time to do what I had traveled so far for. I drew and anchored the Mathews Creed, settled the pin, and planted the arrow right where it needed to be. A full pass through!
Upon impact the big bull ran about 20 yards and stopped. I waited for him to buckle, but he showed no sign of falling. He then simply turned and trotted across the valley and climbed to a flat bench, where he stood motionless looking like nothing ever happened. At this point I’m thinking, “No way this is happening…” I had center punched him and he took it like the Terminator! Finally, through my binos I could start to see some significant blood beginning to appear on his white front legs, at which point he bedded down.
We watched the old bull lay nearly motionless for about 45 minutes before deciding to slip in to make a finishing shot if necessary. As we approached from below him he was completely obscured by the lip of the bench he was bedded on. Frank and I knew it was going to be scary close before we would actually be able to see him. Once we knew we were within 30 yards, Frank dropped two 12-gauge slugs into his double barrel and gently closed the action. It was starting to get very real to me at this point. All wounded animals can be dangerous and something as large as a Muskox could definitely do serious damage with those sharp horn tips, so my I had total respect for the situation we were in. Just then, as we began to crest the ridge the bull jumped from his bed and charged to within 10 yards, snorting, shaking his horns and pawing the ground. In that same instant, I heard the safety click on the double gun, and could see the barrel tip off to my left in my peripheral vision. We held our ground!
Now, I have taken dangerous game from the ground with my bow at close range before, including a Cape Buffalo, but I had never had an animal get the drop on me. This one had! As a hunter, you always wonder how you will handle something like this, and a lot of thoughts were definitely running through my mind. The thought that spoke loudest to me, was “CALM” remain calm, and that’s exactly what I did! Since he was face on with his head low I had no shot. So we waited. It seemed like forever as we watched him continue his display his dominance. Finally, without warning he turned and made a break for it. At that same moment, I drew my bow and followed him. He was fully broadside at 30 yards when he paused to navigate a large boulder and I hit the trigger on the release. The arrow flew like it had eyes and it planted to the fletch perfectly behind the shoulder. The old warrior continued on for about 60 yards before tipping over in a patch of thick green brush.
We had done it! Frank and I were both shaking as we exchanged hugs and sat down to reflect on what had just happened and the amazing animal we had just taken in such a pristine place.
In skinning the Muskox we found that the first shot, taken at that downward angle had glanced off his massive ribcage and slid around the body cavity without ever entering it. The thick hair had given the appearance of a mortal shot, when in fact it was really only a flesh wound. We were very, very fortunate to stalk in and get that anchoring shot without having to use the gun, or even worse him getting us.
Of the four hunters in our group, all killed Muskox that far exceeded the minimum for Pope & Young and most likely all will make the B&C record book as well!
Many thanks to Frank Feldmann, Knut and everyone at Bowhunting Greenland for making this adventure possible and to God for giving me the physical ability and resources to chase my hunting dreams!
Joe Thomas with his musk ox in Greenland