34A AZ Javelina

[SDhunter2]

I'm thinking of using my 44 mag pistol with 7.5 inch barrel with a scope for these critters. Might be to strong of a gun . Ruin to much meat. What do you think??
Found some nice entry points into the area. Javelina do hang out near town and usually in the washes. The area had plenty of rain and should be nice and green for a strong food supply. Anyone have any luck in this unit.

 

[rhaney]

I just hunted this unit for coues deer, saw a ton of javelina, almost every day a different herd.

 

[rhaney]

I think hunting with a 44 mag would be a kick, I shot 1 a few years back with 50 caliber muzzleloader, hit direct in chest from side, didnt ruin any meat.

 

[scr83jp]

When hunting Pecari look around for cacti they like Prickly Pear cactus. Don't get down in a narrow arroyo if you can smell the woofers as they'll charge and rip your legs up with their razor sharp tusks as they pass.I was on a pecari hunt with neighbors when I was a student at the Univ of AZ but noone saw anything so when I heard some of the guys approaching up the drainage from my vantage point on a hill above them I started woofing like a javelina and that sparked their interests but I finally told them it was me imitating them,they weren't too happy but I had some fun on a boring hunt.

 

[rhaney]

Hey got your email, we were on the south end of santa rita's, off of gardner canyon road. A lot of the country down there is very hard to hunt javelina because of the scrub oak but there are some areas which are good for glassing.

 

[HOGHUNTER714]

Oh the 44 Mag is a blast to use on hogs. I have never shot a javelina with one only cali hogs, but it sure does a number...Keep us posted.

 

[arizona hunter]

I've been hunting 34 A every year since 1989, it is a great unit. If you can smell them they were in your area that day. Many people think Javelina mostly eat prickly pear, but it is only one of the food sources. Mostly they dig for "tubers", wild onions etc. When you find diggings that lok fresh then the animals are most likely still in the area. And if you are on the HAM hunt, you will be the first into the unit, as the "general" hunt is the following week, so any fresh diggins means get ready!

Bring good, real good binoculars. After you have glassed extensivley perhaps at least an hour only then consider hoofing it to another hill-and glass again. This way you will make the most of your hiking and not hike more than you need to.

If you do not find any diggins and javelina beds (if fresh they will stink-like musk), then hunt a bit further out from your camp.

Your .44 is more than enough gun-use a bullet that does NOT expand very much. This way you'll damage less meat. Perhaps one of the hard cast bullets made for big game designed to penetrate deeply.

I use a 30.06 and use Barnes XLC bullets. They a a super penetrator on deer/elk/bear and on a 40-50 lb. Javalina these stout bullets just zip through with minimal meat damage.

Have fun!!! and be safe.

BOOTS: wear all leather as they will protect your feet in case you kick into a small prickly pear or cholla cactus-I speak from experience.

 

[SDhunter2]

We found some entry points east of Tumacacori and Amado. Josephine
Canyon area and south. Not to do any cyber scouting. Can you recommend any areas.
We will be scouting in Late January. Also east of Sahuarita- .
Thanks