Musk ox

Scientific name: Ovibos moschatus

How weight is recorded: Carcass weight

Field notes

Appearance

Musk oxen are stocky, heavily built bovids with a long, dark brown coat that hangs nearly to the ground, and a distinctive pale saddle patch on the back. Males are noticeably larger and heavier than females, with prominent, downward-curving horns that meet at the midline; females have shorter, thinner horns.

Size and weight

Males weigh 300–410 kg and measure 200–250 cm in body length; females weigh 200–260 kg and measure 180–210 cm.

Habitat

Musk oxen inhabit arctic tundra, subarctic grasslands, and rocky uplands with sparse vegetation. They prefer open terrain with sedges, grasses, and low shrubs, typically at elevations from sea level to 1,500 m.

Distribution

Musk oxen are found in the high Arctic of North America (Canadian Arctic Archipelago, Greenland, Alaska) and Siberia. They occupy the most northerly tundra zones where other large herbivores cannot survive.

Diet

Musk oxen graze on grasses, sedges, forbs, and dwarf willows; in winter they switch to lichen, moss, and dried vegetation scraped from frozen ground.

Behaviour

Musk oxen are primarily diurnal grazers, moving across open tundra in small herds of 5–40 animals. When threatened, they form a defensive circle or line with horns facing outward—a critical behavior to recognize in the field.

Hunting tips

Look for well-worn trails, fresh pellet droppings in clusters, and shallow rutting beds in sandy areas. Approach from downwind across open terrain, using any low ridge or outcrop for cover; musk oxen have excellent smell but moderate eyesight. Stalk slowly to within 100–200 m, and be prepared for the herd's defensive posture—approach from behind or the side to avoid triggering a circle formation.

Carcass weight

This species is logged by carcass weight — the animal weighed dressed, the way hunting teams normally report it.

Where it is hunted

Listed as huntable in 2 countries in Huntify.

Names in other languages

These field notes are general species knowledge, not legal advice. Always check the current seasons, quotas and firearm rules where you hunt.