Barren Ground Musk ox – Northwest Territories
The Inuit call the musk ox umingmak which roughly translates to mean ” skin like a beard “, and it’s a perfect description. The shaggy beast has been referred to as a throwback to the ice age, but it can also be perceived as the perfect arctic adaptation.
Saucer – sized hooves transport the musk ox over spongy muskeg in the summer, and in winter, serve as a digging tool to expose the lichens and sedges covered by winter snow on the frozen tundra.
The musk ox is actually one of the great successes of modern wildlife management. From a position which bordered on near extinction at the turn of the century, herds have increased so dramatically that on some islands, biologists are now concerned that over – browsing may be occurring on some of their range.
Where trophies are concerned, it is interesting to note that there are two classification for musk ox. While the Boone and Crockett Club lumps all muskoxen into the same category, Safari Club International recognizes the genetic differences do occur. In the S.C.I. record book system, all musk ox taken on the Arctic Island are classified as ” Greenland Musk ox ” while those from the mainland are strictly ” barren- ground musk ox “
The musk ox is truly an unique opportunity for the hunter. It offers a taste of an arctic winter when hunted in late fall or late winter, an exotic trophy, and some of the best gourmet eating that could ever be served up to a friend.
World record musk ox await you in North America’s last frontier, “The Arctic!” Year after year, 100% success is anticipated! This is a tough hunt and geared for the more adventurous hunter. Transportation during this hunt is usually by snow machines.