We got 3 decent boars near Silver City, NM. Moe's was the biggest, mine had the biggest teeth and Jorge shot an old, lone boar that was definitely on a downhill slide - it probably wouldn't have lasted another year or maybe even through this winter.
I have to say that it was not a very challenging hunt. The rancher pretty much knew where they were, within a mile or two, and we drove out at 8:30 AM. Javelina don't like the cold and will wait for the sun to come out before getting active. I saw them about a 1/4 mile away in the cholla cactus thicket, and pointed them out. We ended up driving ahead of them to get the wind right, and then got out and walked a whopping 1/2 mile to get ahead of the feeding pack of peccaries. We must have positioned ourselves properly because they walked right up to us. Since I had never shot one, I was given first right of refusal and promptly missed one, offhand at 75 yards since my knee would not cooperate with going to a kneeling or sitting position.... At that point, Isaid "Screw the knee" and dropped to a sitting postion and nailed the boar that looked like he had the biggest.....head. (What were you guys thinking?) The .243 80 gr Remington SP dropped it on the spot.
The rest of the herd took off, but one boar stopped after running about 100 yards at an angle to us. I don't think he was quite sure where the danger was. Moe, in his typical manner, missed the standing broadside shot at 100 yards. He had only found 10 rounds for his .240 Wthby, so that was all he had. He then proceeded to miss several more times at the running boar, hitting high. The lateral placement was right on, but he was shooting a couple inches high. He finally nailed it with a perfect shot on the thing as it was running flat out at top speed. Moe frequently seems to miss the easy, broadside standing shots but then nails the critter on the run. I think he had 3 bullets left out of his 10....
We took our two little piggies back to the skinning pole and cleaned them up. Then we had lunch and went out looking for Jorge's piggy. Once again, I spotted this lone boar eating some cactus. Jorge nailed it with a perfect shot with his .257 Wthby, and a 100 gr Triple Shock at a lasered 119 yards. He was trying not to hit bone, but the thing was a mess anyway when we skinned it out. His javelina was old, skinny and losing hair on his cheeks and chest. It had one broken fang/tusk/tooth/whatever you call them.
These are sure ugly little critters, and they do smell - although not as badly as I anticipated. The meat actually did not look or small badly at all. I will let you know how it tastes....
My computer is downloading the pictures from my camera, but is not letting me print, email or download them. I'll have to figure out what is up with that. I use a little Kodak digital camera and Kodak Easy Share software, which has been problem-free for several years...
It was fun to finally get out and shoot something, and hang out with the guys for a few days. Moe and I met John Wasson, Gila Monster on many forums, in Silver City for a few adult beverages. John has spent most of the last 3 years in Iraq as a civilian contractor driving trucks and serving as a Convoy Commander. He has some interesting stories to tell that he cannot post anything about, and a different perspective on the war there than a lot of people.
Anyway, it was fun, if not challenging.
Me and my piggy -
Jorge and his old boar -
Moe and his -
Close up of mine's teeth -
I have to say that it was not a very challenging hunt. The rancher pretty much knew where they were, within a mile or two, and we drove out at 8:30 AM. Javelina don't like the cold and will wait for the sun to come out before getting active. I saw them about a 1/4 mile away in the cholla cactus thicket, and pointed them out. We ended up driving ahead of them to get the wind right, and then got out and walked a whopping 1/2 mile to get ahead of the feeding pack of peccaries. We must have positioned ourselves properly because they walked right up to us. Since I had never shot one, I was given first right of refusal and promptly missed one, offhand at 75 yards since my knee would not cooperate with going to a kneeling or sitting position.... At that point, Isaid "Screw the knee" and dropped to a sitting postion and nailed the boar that looked like he had the biggest.....head. (What were you guys thinking?) The .243 80 gr Remington SP dropped it on the spot.
The rest of the herd took off, but one boar stopped after running about 100 yards at an angle to us. I don't think he was quite sure where the danger was. Moe, in his typical manner, missed the standing broadside shot at 100 yards. He had only found 10 rounds for his .240 Wthby, so that was all he had. He then proceeded to miss several more times at the running boar, hitting high. The lateral placement was right on, but he was shooting a couple inches high. He finally nailed it with a perfect shot on the thing as it was running flat out at top speed. Moe frequently seems to miss the easy, broadside standing shots but then nails the critter on the run. I think he had 3 bullets left out of his 10....
We took our two little piggies back to the skinning pole and cleaned them up. Then we had lunch and went out looking for Jorge's piggy. Once again, I spotted this lone boar eating some cactus. Jorge nailed it with a perfect shot with his .257 Wthby, and a 100 gr Triple Shock at a lasered 119 yards. He was trying not to hit bone, but the thing was a mess anyway when we skinned it out. His javelina was old, skinny and losing hair on his cheeks and chest. It had one broken fang/tusk/tooth/whatever you call them.
These are sure ugly little critters, and they do smell - although not as badly as I anticipated. The meat actually did not look or small badly at all. I will let you know how it tastes....
My computer is downloading the pictures from my camera, but is not letting me print, email or download them. I'll have to figure out what is up with that. I use a little Kodak digital camera and Kodak Easy Share software, which has been problem-free for several years...
It was fun to finally get out and shoot something, and hang out with the guys for a few days. Moe and I met John Wasson, Gila Monster on many forums, in Silver City for a few adult beverages. John has spent most of the last 3 years in Iraq as a civilian contractor driving trucks and serving as a Convoy Commander. He has some interesting stories to tell that he cannot post anything about, and a different perspective on the war there than a lot of people.
Anyway, it was fun, if not challenging.
Me and my piggy -
Jorge and his old boar -
Moe and his -
Close up of mine's teeth -
Without the breeze, though, it would have been tougher to get close, I admit.
