Sporting travel to Greenland has been on the rise for the past several years and our WTA staff is always on the lookout for the latest cutting-edge hunting and fishing trips to offer to our customers. The first step when taking on a new destination is to get boots on the ground for an onsite inspection. Accurately representing an outfitter and painting the best picture possible for our valued customers is vitally important for our business. To do that, we need to experience it for ourselves.
Fortunately, we always have a few adventurous clients willing to tag along on these exploratory expeditions. After all, the unknown is part of the adventure. And, the WTA Hosted Trips program is a great way for us to get to know our valued customers even better. Plus, if you’ve ever been hesitant to travel to a foreign country but have always wanted to, a group trip is the way to go. On these trips, a WTA staffer goes along to make sure everything goes as smoothly as possible. We’ll dot the I’s and cross the T’s so you can relax and enjoy. There’s no better way to get to know someone than to spend a week together in the outdoors, pursuing common passions of hunting and fishing, and in so doing building memories that last a lifetime.
That’s how we ended up in Greenland. Like a lot of international destinations, Greenland had been shut down since COVID, with zero hunting pressure during the past two years. Restrictions were finally lifted this past June. There are no requirements for vaccines or testing. Just have your passport ready and let’s go.
Southern Greenland is accessed through Iceland via IcelandAir. It’s easier to get to than you’d think, with numerous direct flights to Reykjavik from all over the U.S. Mine was a smooth 7-hour flight from Denver, a red-eye where I landed in Iceland the following morning and met my two clients, Matt and Kemal. We spent the day taking in the sights and sounds of Reykjavik and overnighted there. This is a great trip for couples and families, hunters and non-hunters alike. I’d recommend extending your stay in Iceland or other parts of Europe and doing additional touring after the hunt.
The next day we had a two-hour flight from Reykjavik to Greenland followed by a three-hour boat ride to our camp. The weather was beautiful that day, which made the boat ride all the more enjoyable. This was hands-down the most comfortable caribou (called reindeer in Europe) camp I’ve ever seen. No tents here! Modern guest cabins with electric heat, comfortable beds, and bedding all provided. All the comforts, including wash rooms with hot water, sinks, flush toilets. Even a sauna! There’s a nice main lodge where delicious meals were prepared and served. The camp chef was amazing, preparing dinners of reindeer backstraps, as well as freshly caught cod and arctic char. Delicious. Our days would start with freshly brewed coffee and a hearty breakfast. A selection of breads and meats were set out so hunters could pack their own lunches for the day’s hunt.
For traveling convenience, we took one rifle to share. After checking the zero on the Gunwerks 6.5 PRC, we were off for our first hunting day. Matt, Kemal and I decided to hunt together, with four tags between the three of us. Each morning after breakfast, hunters and their local guides take off by boat, slowly cruising the inside protected waterways, glassing the surrounding islands and hillsides for reindeer. There is no shortage of animals here. In fact, you have the option to have two tags in your pocket, which I highly recommend. Otherwise your hunt can be over rather quickly!
This is a hunt anyone can do. Reindeer are usually spotted from the boat, then a careful stalk is planned. We saw reindeer in pairs and groups as large as 30–40 animals. After looking over several bulls that morning, Matt found one to his liking among a group of five bulls bedded on a bluff above the water. The largest bull had really nice tops and long main beams. We had to approach from the neighboring island, getting the wind right and being careful not to spook them. Our guide’s plan worked perfectly and we were able to set up just across the bay from the bulls. We had to wait them out for nearly an hour before they stood up. Matt‘s perfectly-placed shot with the Gunwerks rifle anchored the big bull and our first reindeer of the trip was down.
Stay tuned for Episode 2, when Kemal and Travis fill their tags.
To learn more about this hunt and other hunting and fishing trips, contact the staff at Worldwide Trophy Adventures at 800-346-8747.
