After years of dreaming and countless conversations, my friend Juan and I finally embarked on our first international hunting adventure—a journey I hope will be the first of many. It was a trip I had been eagerly anticipating, and after some convincing, Juan agreed to join me. I was thrilled and hoped this experience would be as rewarding for him as I imagined.
We found ourselves in the rugged wilderness of Norway, greeted by an unwelcoming dawn. The sky was thick with clouds, fog draped the landscape, and a steady drizzle began to fall. These three elements—clouds, fog, and rain—would accompany us throughout the day, sometimes helping and at other times hindering our pursuit.
Our plan was straightforward: reach a high vantage point from where we could scan the vast terrain searching for caribou herds. However, as the morning wore on, the weather refused to cooperate. The fog and clouds made it nearly impossible to see anything, let alone spot a herd. With nothing else to do, we retreated to a nearby shelter, where we could rest and eat, hoping the weather would eventually clear.
And then, just as we began to lose hope, the sky briefly broke open, revealing a distant herd of 400-600 caribou. Among them, we could spot several adults, their white manes standing out against the gray landscape. Wasting no time, Juan and the rest of our group set off in pursuit, determined to claim our prize.
The caribou continued to graze as they moved, forcing us to cover several kilometers in pursuit. But Juan’s persistence paid off when he finally made a precise shot, bringing down a magnificent Norwegian caribou—a trophy that, I hope, will soon find its place of honor in his well-earned and cherished hunting room.
However, our adventure wasn’t over yet. As we began our return, a dense fog descended, causing us to lose our way. Fortunately, Juan’s wife, who had stayed behind at the shelter, was able to guide us back using WhatsApp’s real-time location feature. The relief of finding our way back was palpable, and we celebrated briefly upon reuniting with her and another hunter who had waited for us, as night was quickly approaching.
Despite the harsh conditions, the exhaustion, and the challenges we faced, this caribou hunt in Norway was unforgettable. The difficulties only made the experience more rewarding, and I’m confident that Juan enjoyed this hunt more than most. Congratulations, my friend—here’s to many more adventures to come.
