Hunting Where the Northern Lights Are to the South, A True Arctic Adventure

Peggy Barnett Lee entered the Women Go Hunting Awards Challenge with a polar bear she hunted in Nunavut, Canada this past April. She reports traveling so far north of the Arctic Circle that the Northern Lights were only visible when looking to the south!

Peggy hunted with Inuit guides using a traditional sled pulled by a team of 12 dogs, and a skidoo that pulled a spike camp cabin on sleds. She writes, “We rode across the frozen sea looking for possible seal kills by bears. We saw a mother polar bear with two cubs and a juvenile male that stood up to get a better look at us. He sniffed the air, trying to figure out what the heck we were from 800 yards away! Eventually, he lost interest in us and trotted away.

“I rode mostly in the sled cabin, which was a ‘comfortable’ 30 degrees Fahrenheit. When riding on the dog sled, I had to make sure 100% of my skin was covered to avoid instant frostbite. My goggles froze on the inside due to the warmth of my face, and I couldn’t see much when that happened.

“We stopped one night at the base of an iceberg where there was obvious seal activity and polar bear tracks. The seals had made a little pond in the middle of the ice, so they could pop out for a while to rest and breath. That’s where the bears would hunt the seals. Polar bears are very patient and will wait a long time for a seal to emerge.

“My guides, David and Clyde, climbed the iceberg and glassed all around but did not see any bears in the vicinity. We decided to call it a night, got the dogs situated, and we settled into our sled cabin. We were just about to start dinner when the dogs started barking. That meant there was a polar bear. David quickly put on his jacket and boots and went outside where he verified it was indeed a polar bear heading for the sled dogs.

“We jumped into our arctic clothing as quickly as possible and grabbed the rifle. David let one of the dogs loose to engage the bear while I set up and got the vision of field in the scope. It was hard to do under pressure and because the borrowed rifle was actually too big for me. The bear was running all over after the dog, which stayed out of its reach and kept it busy. Finally, calm came over me. I saw the bear in my scope. He stopped and quartered slightly. I squeezed the trigger. Bam! I fell back on my butt! The huge scope had hit me right in the forehead. But my aim was true, and the bear had fallen dead with one shot.

“The boar was almost nine feet. Since the United States will not allow the importation of a polar bear, I gave the whole thing to the Inuit community. They eat polar bears and can legally sell the hide to certain markets. Fortunately, the Canadian taxidermist my outfitter recommended has perfected an imitation polar bear hide, making it possible for me to have a full-size replica mounted.

“This hunt was an incredible experience that exceeded my expectations. I highly recommend this adventure to anyone who wants to experience hunting with the Inuit, using the ‘old ways’ to travel across the frozen sea.”