Reaching our muskox and caribou hunt in Greenland took three flights and a boat ride. Along the way, James and Jordan kept a running list of everything they wondered about or had to figure out, and added to it whenever someone asked them a question. Here is that list.
1. Build in Buffer Days
We flew from O'Hare to Newark, Newark to Nuuk, then Nuuk to Sisimiut, and took a boat to the hunting area. Nuuk has a new airport that opened in 2024 and now serves as the hub. No roads connect the towns, so you fly between them.
Flights do not run every day, which left us extra days at each stop. Weather causes frequent cancellations and delays. On the way in, we circled for almost two hours in a bad wind, and other hunters in our camp had flights canceled. Plan buffer days and stay flexible.
2. Expect a Slow Arrival
Nuuk seemed to be going through growing pains as the new hub. Customs did not have much staff, so getting through took a while. English worked fine, but not everyone speaks it. Most people speak Greenlandic first, so we used a translation app for signs and menus.
3. Money and Restaurants
The currency is the Danish krone. It was about six and a half kroner to the dollar while we were there. At restaurants we usually paid at the counter instead of at the table. We tried to tip, but tipping did not seem common.
The restaurant food was excellent, and Nuuk had plenty of good options. We ate muskox and caribou in restaurants, and whale and walrus in camp. We never got to try seal. Groceries cost more than at home, and there is not much fast food. The meat market in town is worth a visit for cuts you will not see at home, like whale fins and chunks of seal.
4. Get Stove Fuel From the Hotel Bins
We wondered where to find canned stove fuel. Hikers pass through on the Arctic Circle Trail, and hotels keep buckets where people leave extra fuel at the end of a trip. James recommends checking those first.
5. Lodging, Wires, and Cell Service
We booked small houses with our own kitchens for about 200 dollars a night. James also had to send money by international wire, so prepare for that. James used a weekly international plan through Verizon and had service in town. There was no service out of town, but the outfitter had Starlink, so camp had occasional signal.
6. Bring Stabilized Binoculars
Most of this hunt meant glassing the fjord sides from a boat. James brought 12-power stabilized binoculars, and the outfitters liked them. He also brought a spotter and found he did not need it.
7. Plan for Air Greenland Baggage Rules
James flew with his own rifle without trouble. Air Greenland required the bolt in a separate box and the ammo packed separately. If he had not brought it for this project, he says he would likely have used the camp's rifles, which were all suppressed.
The bigger surprise was baggage. Air Greenland counts total checked weight, about 44 pounds in economy, and you get one carry-on of about eight kilograms. James had to check extra bags. One trick: a camera hung around your neck does not count against carry-on space.
8. Know What You Can Bring Home
Around town, people sell handmade goods made from seal, whale, caribou, and muskox. As James points out, under the Marine Mammal Protection Act you cannot bring seal, whale, or walrus items into the U.S. He bought his wife a hat made from muskox wool instead. Jordan strapped a caribou antler he found to a checked bag.
James's muskox and caribou trophies went to a taxidermist in Denmark, the cheapest route he found. Even so, taxidermy was the most expensive part of the hunt.
9. Why the Houses Are Colored
James learned that early Scandinavian settlers shipped prefab house kits over in the 1700s. There were no street names or house numbers, so houses were color coded: red for churches and schools, yellow for hospitals and health.
FAQ
How much checked baggage does Air Greenland allow?
James says Air Greenland counts total checked weight, about 44 pounds in economy, with one carry-on of about eight kilograms.
Can you bring seal or whale products into the U.S.?
Not under the Marine Mammal Protection Act, James explains, which bars seal, whale, and walrus items from coming into the U.S.
What currency does Greenland use?
The Danish krone. It ran about six and a half kroner to the dollar during our trip.
Watch or Listen
- Watch the travel tips episode on YouTube
- Listen on Apple Podcasts
- Listen on Spotify
- Watch Land of Plenty, our Greenland film
For more hunts and travel breakdowns, subscribe to The Fair Chase on YouTube.