OUTFITTER:
Jerome and Halina Knapp

P.O. Box 340
Almonte, Ontario Canada
613-256-4057

ABOUT THIS HUNT:
Jerome and Helena Knapp hooked me up on this hunt. These folks are the masters of Arctic hunts. They took care of everthing from the plane tickets to the ground folks in Igloolick to the local wildlife officers. Everything went exceedingly smooth. Just goes to show good planning is always a good thing.

This hunt is a true adventure in every sense of the word! Some say the culture change can be quite an adjustment for those of us in the lower 48. I found that if you treat people with respect no matter where you live people will respond. I try to help out whenever I can and when your guide takes out a frozen fish, hacks off a piece and hands it to you to gnaw on I graciously take what I'm offered in the spirit in which it's offered.

The traditional ways in which a polar bear hunt takes place on dog sled. Some hunters object to this method but it's part of the heritage of the local people.

We spotted a bear laying down that had just killed a seal and glassed him from a distance of 300 yards away. He was starting to nap with a belly full of food. We began the stalk towards him on dog sled. We got within a hundred yards and the bear took note of us, got up and took off. He didn't run far, maybe 2-300 yards. When the bear finally stopped our sled was 12 yards from this animal. No zoom was required from our cameras. We were that close!

I placed the shot through the shoulder. He rolled over and got up to leave and crumpled up 50 yards away. No second shot was required. The meat from this animal was split up by the community of Igloolick who made it a point to contact me at my hotel to thank me for the donation. The pleasure was all mine!

For those of you that think that the Polar Bear is an endangered species you might be interested to know 450 permits were issued in 2004 which meant 8 million dollars into the community of Nunavut. The local wildlife officials are contemplating raising that quota in 2005 to 500 permits.

My Browing A -bolt 375 H&H rifle shooting a Winchester 270 grain "Fail Safe" bullet worked like a charm in extreme conditions. Two days after I arrived on April 12th a magnificent animal was added to the memory book.

This fantastic hunt with some amazing footage will be aired on Bass Pro's "Outdoor World" in 2005 so stay tuned.

In June of 2004 I'm heading back up to hunt Atlantic Walrus with Jerome and Helena! Can't wait!

ABOUT THIS ANIMAL:
Polar Bear
The wildlife officer pulled a tooth and took a tissue sample to estimate the age of this bear. We estimate the bear to be around 1000-1200 pounds. A full life size mount will eventually make it's way to the Harrisburg, PA Bass Pro store. From head to tail this animal measured approximately 10 1/2 feet.

EQUIPMENT USED:
Browing A -bolt 375 H&H rifle shooting a Winchester 270 grain "Fail Safe" bullet