JES Adventures
AH elite
- Joined
- Mar 7, 2015
- Messages
- 1,622
- Reaction score
- 7,712
- Location
- Texas
- Website
- ranchinvestments.com
- Deals & offers
- 1
- Media
- 332
- Articles
- 2
- Member of
- Life Member of SCI, DSC, GSCO, HSC, NRA and FNAWS
- Hunted
- Botswana, Cameroon, CAR, Chad, Ethiopia, Mozambique, Namibia, RSA, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe. US, Canada, Arctic, Mexico, Argentina, Austria, France, Spain, Portugal, U.K., Romania, Tadjikistan, Turkey, Nepal, China, Australia and New Zealand
Day 5
Our last day, David said we will go far North, about 5 hours drive to the area he wants to hunt.
We left the house a bit before 7 and had our minds set to hunt hard and as long as it takes.
The weather was great, blue sky and wind less than 10 mph. We stopped about 3 hours into the trip to glass from a high point but no luck. On we went further into the area and the habitat steadily improved. Lots of rocky ridges and good grassland with countless lakes.
Just before 11 We motored to a high point and started to glass. Less than 5 minutes and I spotted a lone Musk Ox bull walking about a mile and a half out.
David confirmed and we took off in that direction. It didn’t take long to get across the valley and we stalked up the hill. The bull was no where to be found. We continued moving on and about a half hour later located the bull grazing in a small cut in the rocks from about 500 yards.
The terrain was perfect for the stalk and we had the wind in our face so made short time getting into position.
Paul put down his pack then settled in for the shot. I ranged him at 149 and we waited for the bull to turn. A few moments later he turned and looked our direction. Paul squeezed off and the report of the 300 RUM confirmed hit. The bull remained on his feet so David said hit him again. The bull went down on his brisket but was trying to get back up, pulling himself by his front feet.
One final shot and the bull rolled over dead. We made our way down to this amazing prehistoric animal and enjoyed the moment.
David and his son in-law Johnny set the bull up for photos then started to skin the trophy. It’s about noon now so once we are done here, we will go back to high ground and start glassing for another bull. We have 8 hours of daylight left so I remain optimistic.
David and Johnny wrapped up the skinning and had some lunch then we were back on the trail about 1:30.
We drove, stopped and glassed more times than I can remember. The day is growing on and I feel my chance for success slipping away.
We stopped on a high point and all of us started glassing in every direction. David said, “theres the Musk Ox”! He pointed to a ridge line about 3-4 miles away. He pointed out the direction and sure enough, a half a dozen black spots grazing on the horizon.
David hopped on the ATV and said “let’s go shoot one”!
We headed that way and it took us quite a while to get there. Once we were on top and spotted the Musk Ox, we made our way towards them and stopped at about 400 yards to glass them. A herd of cows with one big herd bull. We started to make our approach and when we were about 200 yards out the cows got nervous. Just before they ran a satellite bull appeared to our right. When the cows ran the herd bull trotted slowly behind until the satellite bull came toward them. The rut is in full swing so the two bulls started to butt heads. David said “let’s go” and we went straight toward them. Since they were focused on battle, we walked to about a hundred yards from them. I dropped the bipod and got into a prone position and watched them through the scope.
When the big bull backed up after butting heads with the other bull he stood still, raised his head in a posturing position. I squeezed the trigger and the report from the 300 RUM confirmed a solid hit. He staggered a bit but still on his feet so I hit him again on the shoulder and down he went.
The satellite bull ran up and started goring him while he was down. He flipped the dead bull over and was pounding him. David ran back and got the ATV and drove up to the downed bull and the other bull ran off.
Congratulations and handshakes went around for the successful hunt. We got to work on preparing the Musk Ox as it’s getting late. Now close to 6PM. David said we have a 5 hour ride back to the house.
Exhausted but elated I said my prayers of thanksgiving for a safe and successful hunt. This was my third time to the Arctic and I must say I prefer the Fall hunt over the Winter hunt. The ride is a bit smoother on the snow but the weather much more enjoyable in the Fall.
We got back to the house about 10:30, the end of a nearly 16 hour day. The ride was rough and the last 2 hours in the dark but the trail was well marked. A celebratory whiskey to cap off the hunt, a quick meal and we went to bed.
With this hunt I have now taken all sub-species of Caribou and both sub-species of Musk Ox.
Our last day, David said we will go far North, about 5 hours drive to the area he wants to hunt.
We left the house a bit before 7 and had our minds set to hunt hard and as long as it takes.
The weather was great, blue sky and wind less than 10 mph. We stopped about 3 hours into the trip to glass from a high point but no luck. On we went further into the area and the habitat steadily improved. Lots of rocky ridges and good grassland with countless lakes.
Just before 11 We motored to a high point and started to glass. Less than 5 minutes and I spotted a lone Musk Ox bull walking about a mile and a half out.
David confirmed and we took off in that direction. It didn’t take long to get across the valley and we stalked up the hill. The bull was no where to be found. We continued moving on and about a half hour later located the bull grazing in a small cut in the rocks from about 500 yards.
The terrain was perfect for the stalk and we had the wind in our face so made short time getting into position.
Paul put down his pack then settled in for the shot. I ranged him at 149 and we waited for the bull to turn. A few moments later he turned and looked our direction. Paul squeezed off and the report of the 300 RUM confirmed hit. The bull remained on his feet so David said hit him again. The bull went down on his brisket but was trying to get back up, pulling himself by his front feet.
One final shot and the bull rolled over dead. We made our way down to this amazing prehistoric animal and enjoyed the moment.
David and his son in-law Johnny set the bull up for photos then started to skin the trophy. It’s about noon now so once we are done here, we will go back to high ground and start glassing for another bull. We have 8 hours of daylight left so I remain optimistic.
David and Johnny wrapped up the skinning and had some lunch then we were back on the trail about 1:30.
We drove, stopped and glassed more times than I can remember. The day is growing on and I feel my chance for success slipping away.
We stopped on a high point and all of us started glassing in every direction. David said, “theres the Musk Ox”! He pointed to a ridge line about 3-4 miles away. He pointed out the direction and sure enough, a half a dozen black spots grazing on the horizon.
David hopped on the ATV and said “let’s go shoot one”!
We headed that way and it took us quite a while to get there. Once we were on top and spotted the Musk Ox, we made our way towards them and stopped at about 400 yards to glass them. A herd of cows with one big herd bull. We started to make our approach and when we were about 200 yards out the cows got nervous. Just before they ran a satellite bull appeared to our right. When the cows ran the herd bull trotted slowly behind until the satellite bull came toward them. The rut is in full swing so the two bulls started to butt heads. David said “let’s go” and we went straight toward them. Since they were focused on battle, we walked to about a hundred yards from them. I dropped the bipod and got into a prone position and watched them through the scope.
When the big bull backed up after butting heads with the other bull he stood still, raised his head in a posturing position. I squeezed the trigger and the report from the 300 RUM confirmed a solid hit. He staggered a bit but still on his feet so I hit him again on the shoulder and down he went.
The satellite bull ran up and started goring him while he was down. He flipped the dead bull over and was pounding him. David ran back and got the ATV and drove up to the downed bull and the other bull ran off.
Congratulations and handshakes went around for the successful hunt. We got to work on preparing the Musk Ox as it’s getting late. Now close to 6PM. David said we have a 5 hour ride back to the house.
Exhausted but elated I said my prayers of thanksgiving for a safe and successful hunt. This was my third time to the Arctic and I must say I prefer the Fall hunt over the Winter hunt. The ride is a bit smoother on the snow but the weather much more enjoyable in the Fall.
We got back to the house about 10:30, the end of a nearly 16 hour day. The ride was rough and the last 2 hours in the dark but the trail was well marked. A celebratory whiskey to cap off the hunt, a quick meal and we went to bed.
With this hunt I have now taken all sub-species of Caribou and both sub-species of Musk Ox.
Last edited:
