There were several reasons to re-establish the musk ox herds in Alaska. Biologists believed animals from Nunivak Island could be used to provide a nucleus herd from which musk ox could re-establish populations throughout their historic range in Alaska. The first modern hunting season was in 1975. Today the Nunivak herd numbers around 600 animals, down from a high of around 700 animals in 1968. The Alaska Department of Fish and Game issued 35 bull and 40 cow tags for these spring hunts.
Hunts are important.
There are no natural predators here. After a hearty breakfast we headed out across the island to locate my musk ox. The weather was great, and the temperature was at a crisp 10 below zero, with a light wind. The sun came up in brilliant blue sky. After riding for three hours I saw my first herd of musk ox, a group of 7 bulls up on one of the many extinct volcanoes on the island.