Greenland caribou hunting brings together rugged coastal terrain, towering icebergs, and the challenge of stalking impressive bulls across open hillsides. For outdoor writer Brad Fenson, a late-August trip with Lax-á Fishing Club delivered all that and more. Guided by a local hunter, Fenson searched remote islands for a standout bull before trading his rifle for a fishing rod to pursue Arctic char and Atlantic cod. From close encounters with caribou to boat rides through iceberg-filled fjords, this week-long adventure reveals the hunting, fishing, and breathtaking scenery of South Greenland.
The airplane ride from Iceland to Greenland was more like a tour, with stretches of clear blue North Atlantic Ocean and the incredible ice cap covering most of Greenland. The immense ice can be over a mile deep, and the icebergs that break from the edges flow on gentle currents down stretches and fjords along the shoreline. The landscape was rugged, and as we taxied in, the colorful buildings caught my eye, foreshadowing the bright, smiling people I was about to meet. I purchased the trip at the Northern Alberta Chapter of the Safari Club International dinner with Lax-á Fishing Club, which offers reindeer (caribou), muskox, and eider hunts in Greenland. In South Greenland, the main trophy, along with muskox, is wild reindeer (Rangifer tarandus tarandus). This species is one of two reindeer/caribou species in Greenland. We landed in Narsarsuaq, Greenland, in late August, and loaded our gear onto a water taxi for the trip up the coast to camp. Direct flights from North America to Iceland made the journey quick and painless for the start of a Greenland caribou hunting adventure.
Reindeer, pronounced tuttu in Greenlandic, are of great importance to the Inuit as a source of meat, but also play a role in their history, culture, and traditions. They can vary considerably in size, with females weighing up to 90 kg (198 lb) and male bulls weighing 150 kg (331 lb).
The water taxi sped away from the pier, and we traveled through the protected inlets, winding up the coast. Icebergs created an obstacle course that the captain navigated confidently and with experience. At times, we careened between bergs with the tinkle of small ice pieces dancing down the hull of the boat. The ride to camp was an adventure, and no matter which direction you looked, there was a postcard view.
Camp was located at the end of a long, protected inlet. A total of 12 sleeping cabins with twin beds were constructed around a dining lodge, providing ample space for larger groups. The 12 cabins are tucked onto the only flat patch of ground visible. With the tide out, climbing the steep dock ramp was an interesting challenge. It didn’t take long to settle in and explore our base. Hot showers and a dining hall filled with artifacts were impressive, considering our remote location. The smell of fresh baking and dinner wafted invitingly through the evening breeze.
I was hunting with Dana White from Fatal Impact Television, with his cameraman, John Webber. I had hunted with the boys before and knew we were in for a fun adventure with plenty of enthusiasm. We met our guide, Otto, from a local village, and although he didn’t speak English, we somehow communicated about arrangements for the next morning. We sighted rifles, and with two shots overlapping at 100 yards, I knew I was ready. After two days of travel from Canada to Iceland, then to Greenland, and our final leg to camp, there was little doubt I’d sleep great.
Greenland Caribou Hunting – Day 1
We set out from camp after a wonderful breakfast and a hot cup of coffee. We had lunches packed to stay out all day, and we hadn’t traveled far from camp up the ocean inlet before spotting our first caribou. The green hills stretching up from the ocean’s edge are ideal habitats for these northern deer. Large arctic hares stood out amongst the lichen-covered rocks, and black foxes in summer fur yipped from high on the ridges, protesting our presence.
On the first day, a gentleman from Italy joined us, and on our second stalk, he saw a bull that caught his interest. We stalked the ridges and, together, moved through large rocks, getting a close view of the whole experience. Some bulls were in velvet, while others had hard antlers. A bull with gray velvet antlers soon fell victim to the Italian rifle.
Some of the hunters at camp were hunting muskox, and some were pursuing both species, like the gentleman who was with us the first day. We met Scott and Jean, who were hoping to complete Scott’s North American Super Slam, the premier hunting achievement that requires the harvest of 29 specific, recognized big game species native to North America, including a muskox.
I had one caribou tag, and Dana had opted for two. We knew there was plenty of time, and with an outstanding forecast, we wanted to hunt hard to find big bulls with outstanding antlers. Otto guided our boat in and out of the coastal inlets, and we glassed the hills and distant valleys for tuttu. The animals knew the routine and were often running before we could size them up. We tried a few stalks but didn’t find a bull big enough to meet our goals.
Greenland Caribou Hunting – Day 2
The hunting trip is one week, Tuesday to Tuesday; that is, 7 nights in Camp and 6 full hunting days. I think Otto was used to hunters finding a bull within a day or two, which reduced his guiding services as gears shifted to fishing. We were the exception and stuck with our plan to find out what the myriad of islands were hiding.
Exploring was exciting. The ground was often covered with ripe moss berries, which were perfect for relieving dryness or thirst from hiking. Everything is basically at sea level, meaning there was plenty of oxygen to run up the hills and recover quickly. We looked at hundreds of caribou and saw a few interesting ones. However, when we tried to stalk, the wind swirled, sending the caribou running across distant hills. We ended the day spotting a couple of large bulls we didn’t get to see up close, and we knew it would be a target area the next morning.
Greenland Caribou Hunting – Day 3
We boated to the far side of the island, where we saw the big bulls the evening before. We climbed to the first ridge top to glass and didn’t see much at first. However, the land is beyond undulating, with large troughs etched through the rocks and green runways that could feed and hide animals. Otto decided to head to an adjacent ridge to glass while we continued to watch the expanse, which ran close to a mile across.
All were glassing, and caribou were popping up at high points, only to disappear within seconds. I spotted some bulls on the farthest ridge across the island, and when Dana zoomed in with the scope, we knew where we were headed.
Anxious to get going, we tried to signal Otto, then waited a short while before describing and showing him where we were headed. We set off side-hilling and dropping into shallow valleys. The terrain was unique and interesting. Along the way, we ran into several groups of caribou we hadn’t seen. One very good bull had Otto excited, and he motioned for us to shoot it. His face showed the frustration of us shaking our heads and pointing farther across the island. As if pouring salt in a wound, we ran into an even bigger bull, and this time, Otto was trying to get the rifle off my shoulder to shoot. Again, we tried to explain that there was a really big one ahead.
We continued our stalk across the island, loving the close encounters and incredible scenery. When we were two ridges away from where we had seen the bull, we got a quick glimpse of three bulls working across to a wetland. It helped us decide where to head, keeping the wind in our favor and the terrain for hiding.
Things developed quickly when we topped out on a ridge and inched forward to investigate the valley. To our surprise, the bull we were after was within bow range directly below us. I had to back up, get my pack off, and get the rifle ready. Dana and John were busy with cameras, and I inched back up. Otto’s eyes were as big as saucers, and all he could say was “big”.
I turned the power of the scope down, but the bull still filled the field of view. I’ve never lingered long on the trigger, and when the cross hair settled on the vitals, I eased into the trigger. At the report of the rifle, the bull collapsed in his tracks, with his two buddies looking over their shoulders to figure out what happened. One of the other bulls was spectacular, and I encouraged Dana to consider it, but with over three days left, he was anxious to see what else might turn up.
Otto caped and halved the caribou quickly and efficiently. He headed back towards the far shore to retrieve the boat and bring it around the island to shorten the retrieval. We soaked up the moment and looked across the ocean bay to the towering icebergs in the distance. I had to pinch myself to ensure it wasn’t a dream.
Greenland Caribou Hunting – Day 4
Dana and John headed out early in pursuit of caribou, while I teamed up with Bjorn, one of the exceptional fishing guides in camp from Sweden. Fishing for arctic char was on my list of adventures for the trip, and we headed to a distant inlet up the coast to explore a freshwater stream, with several small lakes and pools where the char were moving into spawn.
We watched schools of char move through the shallows and disappear into the inky dark, deep pools. I fished with some hardware and landed a few nice fish on spinners before switching over to a fly rod. Bloodworm patterns seemed to work well, and we spent the day exploring the shoreline and strips of flowing water, catching fish as we explored.
Dana was able to take a great caribou with his rifle and had switched to his bow to try to harvest a second. There was no shortage of excitement or things to do. Our Greenland adventure was a continual series of spectacular experiences. Dana made a spectacular shot with his bow and watched the big bull run a short distance before collapsing. I was looking forward to sharing more fishing adventures with Dana and John before the week was over.
Greenland Caribou Hunting – Day 5
I headed out with Bjorn and some other guests to another char stream farther up the coast. Our boat careened over the salty North Atlantic waters, weaving in and out of islands and inlets. Our guides were extremely safety-conscious, and we all wore insulated floater suits when in the boat. The ocean’s surface was cold, making the air crisp and refreshing. Jasper, one of our guides, had set a net for Atlantic salmon, and we stopped to check it, finding two bright silver fish that would later make a unique Greenland fish soup.
We eventually drifted up on shore after an hour of cruising the scenic coastline. We were fishing within minutes, and the char were plentiful. After fishing for several hours, I walked farther upstream, fishing some pools and current edges, finding fish along the way. The big, deep pool closer to the ocean was the obvious spot to target char, and after a nice lunch, I tied on a small nymph and started to place it close to the schools of char circulating through the pool.
The biggest fish Bjorn had seen all season appeared on the deep edge of our shoreline and held in place by itself. Several of us tried to entice it to bite, but it never moved. I was hoping the nymph would be the magic to get the big male to strike. I carefully laid my fly line on the water and watched the nymph slowly drift down and towards the fish. It settled into a slow drift directly in front and above the fish. A roar erupted on the bank as the fish darted forward, inhaling the fly. I pulled the line tight and let my rod act as a shock absorber for the tremendous bursts of speed and changes in direction of the char. Bjorn tried to yell instructions, but I fought the fish on my terms, and after an exhilarating battle, the fish slipped into Bjorn’s landing net. Our entire crew gathered to see the fish and marvel at its color and long jaw. A couple of quick pictures, and the fish was returned to its icy home to continue along the spawning route. We did keep several silver fish for dinner back at camp, as they are the best on the table compared to the ones that had already changed color.
Greenland Caribou Hunting – Day 6
Otto was ready after breakfast to take us to his favorite Atlantic cod spot. We used short, stout rods with four to six cod jigs with brightly colored rubber tubing to attract fish. We jigged in 30 feet of water and often caught multiple fish on the same line. We drifted slowly, and we giggled and worked the rods with the hard-pulling cod. I managed to land one over 20 pounds, which was the highlight of my saltwater angling. Dana and John made up for lost time and fought fish as we watched caribou come and go over the coastal ridges along the shore.
We spent the afternoon fishing a char stream, where Dana and John soaked up the sun and worked their fly lines. We all caught fish, but I left the main pool for the boys to enjoy, and I explored some of the shore and rocky hills. It was a great way to end our trip.
That night, we enjoyed a meal of fresh cod before gathering around a fire made of wood shipped in from Denmark. The stars were out bright, and we slept well, knowing that in the morning our water taxi would return to start our journey home.
Photo Gallery – Greenland Caribou Hunt
Greenland did not disappoint, and the staff at Lax-á were outstanding. The owner, Arni Balderson, came to camp while we were there, and we had the chance to fish with him and ask questions about the hunting and fishing he manages around the world. There were several hunters in camp who pursued muskox during the week, which was an enticement for planning the next or return trip.
An absolute highlight to the adventure was a boat trip for everyone in camp to the foot of the immense glacier edge that covers most of Greenland. The sights were spectacular, and the sounds of icebergs calving off the big ice sent shivers down your spine. The locals fish the icy waters for halibut in about 400 feet of water. We nudged our watercraft through the labyrinth of icebergs in every shape and size, from frosty white to emerald blue. We spent a good hour soaking in the experience before heading to a local village to do a little shopping and exploring.
Rifle Performance – Fierce CT Rage
The Fierce CT Rage in 7mm PRC is built for hunters who want a lightweight rifle without giving up performance. With its 20-inch barrel and carbon fiber construction, the rifle carries easily and balances naturally in the hands. It is the kind of setup that feels right, whether you are shooting off sticks, prone, or from an improvised field rest.
Recoil is well managed, especially for a cartridge with this level of performance. The design and weight distribution help take the edge off, allowing you to stay on target and watch your shot. That matters when the moment comes together, and you need to make it count.
The rifle also stands out in appearance. The carbon finish, paired with clean lines, gives it a sharp, modern look without being overdone. It is a rifle that looks as good as it performs.
Accuracy matched everything else. Shooting Remington Premier Long Range ammunition with the 175-grain Speer Impact bullet, this rifle consistently produced groups with bullet holes touching at 100 yards. That level of precision builds confidence, and confidence is everything when you are hunting. Picking the right rifle is a key to success.
Gear for Greenland Caribou Hunting
SKRE Clothing
Late August in Greenland is anything but predictable. One minute you’re glassing under calm skies, the next you’re bundling up for a long boat ride on a frigid ocean. Conditions shift fast, and gear needs to keep pace without weighing you down.
For this hunt, the system centered around SKRE’s Hardscrabble lineup, including the Hardscrabble Jacket, Pants, and Hardscrabble Gaiter Pro. Designed for early- to mid-season use, this setup excels in environments where layering is critical.
The Hardscrabble series strikes a balance between durability and breathability, making it ideal for hunts where moisture, wind, and temperature swings are constant factors. Worn over insulating layers when needed—or pared down during movement—it adapts easily to changing conditions without sacrificing comfort or mobility.
King’s Camo XKG
Greenland doesn’t give second chances when it comes to gear and a second full set of clothing was more than a backup. Designed with best-in-class fabrics and advanced five-layer technology, it delivers uncompromising performance for hunters who demand durability, mobility, and weather protection in one complete system.
For this hunt, the setup started with lightweight XKG base pieces, including a shirt and pant combination that handled long hikes and active glassing sessions without overheating. A hoodie added versatile insulation, bridging the gap between movement and downtime.
When conditions cooled, the XKG Transition Down Jacket proved invaluable. Lightweight, packable, and warm, it was the go-to layer when the temperature dropped.
Rounding out the system, the Stormtrek Rain Jacket and Pants were packed and ready. Though not needed on this trip, in a place like Greenland, having dependable waterproof protection isn’t optional; it’s essential.
