USA: Arctic Caribou Hunt In 22 Below Zero Fahrenheit Temps

huntinlabs

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Well this weekend me and a buddy went out to brave the freezing temperatures to try to get a caribou in the 4 day winter hunt. After about 40 miles on a snow machine and half. Mile through waste deep snow we found ourselves surrounded by about 5 thousand caribou. When we had around 400 or 500 within 300 yards we decided to take the 2 that were closes which was a nice bull who already lost his horns and a great eating cow. The temp was 22 below zero and that was the fastest gut job I have ever done. Once that was done and stopped trying to dry our hands and thaw them put to prevent frost bite we realized the work really just started as now we had to stay 2 caribou back 600 yards through snow that would go from hard pack and only 6 inches deep to a sudden drop off that was waste deep. The bull weighed 376 pounds and the cow was 173. I am turning the bull into a rug as the winter coat is the best time to do it even though the hair is hollow. The measurements are when I cut just below the head 6ft 3 from neck until tail and 4ft wide. Even though there is no big horns so some wouldn't consider them a trophy just the hunt was a trophy to both of us plus 200 pounds of meat is great too.

We also may have saved 2 guys log s we were coming out after dark 2 guys came running out of an old gold mining cabin asking for a ride back to their truck as their snow machine broke down. I couldn't imagine spending the nig by out there in those temps only to walk 15 miles back the next day.

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Great hunt, I love it. Thanks for sharing.
It is all about the hunt. Would have loved to see so many caribou together!
 
Great hunt, I love it. Thanks for sharing.
It is all about the hunt. Would have loved to see so many caribou together!

I wish I would have brought my camera with me but with the temps it was only what was needed. All I can say is thank God to snow machines getting hot so we could melt snow to drink!
 
-22F equals to -30C if my calculations are right..... I can't even start thinking how cold that must be!
What caliber rifle did you use?
I would believe to see a herd 5000+ Caribou walking all around you must be one heck of an experience, it is hard to think that such big herds still exist today.
Congratulation on your successful hunt, and potentially saving two lives! I am sure that favor will be returned one day, let us just pray it is not from a life threatening situation.
 
-22F equals to -30C if my calculations are right..... I can't even start thinking how cold that must be!
What caliber rifle did you use?
I would believe to see a herd 5000+ Caribou walking all around you must be one heck of an experience, it is hard to think that such big herds still exist today.
Congratulation on your successful hunt, and potentially saving two lives! I am sure that favor will be returned one day, let us just pray it is not from a life threatening situation.

Fish and game estimate this one herd at 71400 and I used my wife's 308. Up here everyone helps put due to the extreme climate. I hope I am never in the situation for it to be repayed.
 
Congrats! Caribou are very good eating!
 
Amazing! I live in Colorado and have seen -20 several times...BRUTAL! Even dumb enough to be out skiing! Much wiser now that I’m in my twilight years:whistle:. Yeah...right!
I’ve seen herds of 2-300 elk and antelope, but I just can’t imagine thousands in a herd!
Thanks for sharing your experience and congratulations on some fine meat!
 
dam that is some cold weather to deal with. You have one full freeze now with the moose you took earlier to. great job will be warmer in Africa my friend
 
Amazing! I live in Colorado and have seen -20 several times...BRUTAL! Even dumb enough to be out skiing! Much wiser now that I’m in my twilight years:whistle:. Yeah...right!
I’ve seen herds of 2-300 elk and antelope, but I just can’t imagine thousands in a herd!
Thanks for sharing your experience and congratulations on some fine meat!

Thank you. I didn't do the hunt last year because it was mid 40 below to 50 below. I was hearing of people rifles cracking on the first shot. And it was something to be surrounded by so many animals that once they called down it was like they knew we killed our one a piece so they weren't in trouble anymore and just started being normal caribou again.
 
Love the photo with the kids in the garage, watching and learning.
 
Looks like a lot of good eating. I used to hunt in that kind of weather. Bit older now and I look for warmer temps. Thanks for sharing.
 
Thank you. im not sure why it says Canada though the hunt took place in Alaska lol

Someone "assisting" who lives in Namibia assumed that Canada is the only place someone is stupid enough to hunt at those temperatures and may not know that Alaska has a few Caribou and gets cold once in a while.
Your hunt has now been attributed to the proper country. :ROFLMAO:
 
Someone "assisting" who lives in Namibia assumed that Canada is the only place someone is stupid enough to hunt at those temperatures and may not know that Alaska has a few Caribou and gets cold once in a while.
Your hunt has now been attributed to the proper country. :ROFLMAO:
Hahaha you are correct about being stupid enough to hunt in those temps!
 
congratulations on a good effort and fine results. It's enthusiasm, not stupidity! After -25 or so you need to be extra enthusiastic.
 
congratulations on a good effort and fine results. It's enthusiasm, not stupidity! After -25 or so you need to be extra enthusiastic.


Hahaha very true. Enough enthusiasm for 2 guys goes a long way for sure.
 
I dunno. The older I get the less "enthusiastic" I get for hunting in that weather!
 
Man that's a cold hunt. Congrats!
 

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