Looking for guidance - cold weather dogsled hunt - N. America

[Datchew]

Hi all,

I've always had this romantic notion of packing in via dogsled team and having a cold weather hunt.
Caribou, moose, elk, and similar would be of interest. I'm not overly interested in a bear hunt per se unless they were interested in eating me first.

I have decent experience in mountaineering (summited Mt. Hood on foot then splitboard down) and cold weather from my time in the pacific northwest.
I've lived out of a pack for up to 8 days at snow altitude on bow elk hunts and had plenty of snow and wet hunts in Maine.
I realize this isn't the same as traversing ice sheets or possible ice flows but I would lean on a guide without being a complete rookie.

Having a dogsled carry out the meat is much more attractive to me these days vs. hauling it on my back.

Does anyone have any recommendations on a 6-10 day hunt via dogsled with rifle or bow? Looking for fall or spring 2026.
I'm open to S. America as an option as well.
I did some searching but came up mostly with Greenland/Iceland and pack-ins via helicopter.
Located in San Antonio, Texas.

 

[wildwilderness]

The classic hunt for that is Polar bear!

The best contact for those hunts is Shane Black at Canada North outfitting. Very pricey but the real Arctic experience and hunts.- musk ox, caribou, grizz, etc

 

[Phil Giordano]

The classic hunt for that is Polar bear!

View attachment 612871View attachment 612872View attachment 612873

The best contact for those hunts is Shane Black at Canada North outfitting. Very pricey but the real Arctic experience and hunts.- musk ox, caribou, grizz, etc

Deepest congrats for this incredible achievement - to me, Polar Bear with bowhunting equipment, in the that environment, it's a pinnacle hunt.
May you post a couple more pics of the Bear and/or the hunt?

 

[Datchew]

That's a gorgeous polar bear. Thanks for sharing. I'll reach out to Shane for guidance as it looks like there are other animals he guides for.

I suspect timing is a factor against me as well. I.e., the season for hunting elk, caribou, moose and similar may not coincide with need for snow travel via sled and that's a key part of the experience i'm looking for.

I'm not opposed to hunting bears but typically go after things I can eat. Also, I'm pretty sure my wife would kill me in my sleep if I went elephant or polar bear hunting. To her this would be like killing a Labrador retriever puppy. LOL

 

[Sideshow]

The classic hunt for that is Polar bear!

View attachment 612871View attachment 612872View attachment 612873

The best contact for those hunts is Shane Black at Canada North outfitting. Very pricey but the real Arctic experience and hunts.- musk ox, caribou, grizz, etc

How an earth did you take that 1st picture? Was the bear charging you? Hats off taking it with a bow.

 

[wildwilderness]

How an earth did you take that 1st picture? Was the bear charging you? Hats off taking it with a bow

I’m on the dogsled! There was an assistant guide on a support sled that was able to take the pictures of the pursuit. Very lucky it worked out that way never know what a bear will do

 

[wildwilderness]

That's a gorgeous polar bear. Thanks for sharing. I'll reach out to Shane for guidance as it looks like there are other animals he guides for.

I suspect timing is a factor against me as well. I.e., the season for hunting elk, caribou, moose and similar may not coincide with need for snow travel via sled and that's a key part of the experience i'm looking for.

I'm not opposed to hunting bears but typically go after things I can eat. Also, I'm pretty sure my wife would kill me in my sleep if I went elephant or polar bear hunting. To her this would be like killing a Labrador retriever puppy. LOL

The other option may be to go to Greenland on a winter hunt for musk ox. The prices will be less than the Canada costs. I have hunted there with Karsten Lings. He used to run dogs but don’t think he still does…. It’s becoming a lost art of hunting. So not entirely sure if any current outfits regularly use dogs.

Would be worth talking to him though since he is an old timer living in Kangerlussuaq and knows all the history.

Canada/Nunavut does have the law requiring non native hunters to pursue Polar bears by dog sled, thus the availability.

I went on a Sept hunt, the winter hunts are less. Tons of musk ox there, I shot two and a caribou

 

[wildwilderness]

The best part of a dog sled team! The next generation

 

[medvedhunting]

thank you for the report and the really last adventure in our modern world.

 

[Datchew]

appreciate it. I'll reach out to them and start my research.

 

[freefall]

I always wanted to do a dog-sled caribou hunt off of the Haul Road, but never had the time, money and dog-team simultaneously.
I do still know a couple mushers, might could hook you up with somebody for that.

 

[Jerycmeach]

I have been doing extensive research into a polar bear hunt recently. I mean DEEP research! I have learned so much that I could write a book! Just like my recent hunts in Africa I find there are a lot of potential pitfalls one could fall into when deciding on ones polar bear hunt! I honestly believe there are MORE mistakes that could be made in arranging a polar bear hunt that in bonding an Africa safari! Just my opinion! Looking back I had so many misconceptions and that is surprising to me because hunting has been my passion and my profession my entire life! I just ask you to ask a lot of questions and make sure you get the experience you want! I don’t want to cast stones so let me just say it this way….. Think about hunts you know about in Africa such as lion, leopard, or elephant and how the hunt experience can be vastly different depending on who you go with; and how the hunt is conducted. Now think of the stories you have heard of how some of those Africa hunts were conducted and the distaste that you felt when you heard the stories. Just a word of caution. I myself am in the midst of trying to make the right choice.

 

[Sarg]

Can’t help on a US based hunt but just as Covid hit I did a Muskox hunt in Greenland & first day we had a Dogsled team but the outfitter couldn’t afford to keep him on as the other hunters that were booked had canceled, I hadn’t booked a special Sled hunt so I wasn’t worried but in hindsight it would of been even more adventurous !

Hunting in -38 to -53 Celsius is quite scary with a Snowmobile just a lot faster !

I have some photos somewhere of the dogs & sled but can’t find them now.

 

[freefall]

The good thing about a dog team is they WILL get back home. The bad thing is that if they get a chance they will go home without you.

 

[Datchew]

Can’t help on a US based hunt but just as Covid hit I did a Muskox hunt in Greenland & first day we had a Dogsled team but the outfitter couldn’t afford to keep him on as the other hunters that were booked had canceled, I hadn’t booked a special Sled hunt so I wasn’t worried but in hindsight it would of been even more adventurous !

Hunting in -38 to -53 Celsius is quite scary with a Snowmobile just a lot faster !

I have some photos somewhere of the dogs & sled but can’t find them now.

Would love to see more pics and hear more.

Trying to line this up 2026 or 2027