Any Javelina stories?

[nomad56]

Got to thinking about you lucky guys today and just wondered how it went, or is still going.
Talked to a guy, in our night league, who hunts every year on the San Carlos Indian Reservation. He said a lot of the Doug Walker gang hunts on the SC. No problem with trying to get a tag on the reservation.
I'll keep checking...............

 

[bighorn67]

We hunted hard for 3 days. I came up on a group of javelina and spooked them trying to get close enough for a shot. I was initially within about 70 yards on very gravelly terrain. My approach was too crunchy. Those were the only javelina I saw. I did see a nice muley buck, but didn't have my deer tag yet. It was a great hunt with a lot of game in the area. Coues did a great job scouting the area. Everywhere he said we would see game, we saw it.

Dave

 

[Buck-eye]

That is good to know Dave. We are heading to where Coues set us up. Hopefully we will see them just as you did.

 

[Orso]

Below is a post I wrote for the JHO AZ Javelina/Deer hunt in the JHO Events forum. The pictures are on page 7 and 8 of that thread.

The story as I remember it...

I had a great time these last couple of days. I saw some deer, no bucks though, and I got on to some Javelina. The second morning out at about 10am I was glassing from a ridge down across a wide dry river bed. About 400 to 500 yards wide. I saw a black spot on the other side of the river bed and when I got my binocs over to the area, the black spot was gone. It only took me a few seconds to locate the small herd of about 5 or 6 Javelina. I worked my way down a steep loose-rock-ridge and started my stalk. Keeping my eye on my wind indicators on both ends of my bow (50lb. recurve) I was able to get within 20 to 25 paces of these Javs. As I waited for the Javelina I was closet to - to move in to a clearing another Jav caught my movement and started a stare down. After a minute or so he decided I wasn't of any concern and continued to feed. I was standing in a funny position and after several minutes I had to adjust my stance as the day pack I was wearing was making my back uncomfortable in the hunched-over position I was in. I moved and 4 or 5 Javs saw the movement and scurried up the hill, but still stayed close. I thought I had lost them for good so I decided to try the Javelina call I had just purchased and had only blown on once the day before. I started the squealing and to my amazement the original Jav I wanted to shoot was still very close but just behind some bushes. And my poor attempt at the Jav call didn't scare him away. Actually, I could hear him snort and I felt he was contemplating on what to do. As I wailed on the call I would take a few steps closer. I did this a few times and got to about 20 paces (again) from this Javelina. Now I could see him but couldn't shoot because he was behind the bush. I stopped calling and waited to see what he was going to do. Shortly there after he started to move forward and it was appearant he was going to move in to the open. Just as his head got in to the clearing I drew back on this little fella. OOOPPPS big mistake!! I should have waited to draw back until he was completely in the opening because he saw my movement and stopped with just his head sticking out. So here I am at full draw with my 50lb recurve and I can't move... I held the draw for what seemed like 3-4 minutes (mind you when I practice, that arrow is let loose in just a couple of seconds). I am certain I held the draw for over a minute but I don't think it was over two minutes though. My arm started shaking, my palm was getting sweaty and I was waiting for this darn pig to come out. He finally does a 180deg turn and has his head behind the bush and from the neck back is NOW completely in the open. I let loose the arrow and....MISS!! I had lost my concentration and I am sure I didn't pick a spot. The darn thing ran off. I didn't feel they had gone too far and thought it better to not press them at that time. I figured I would come back later and try again versus pushing my luck and continuing to hit them right then. Well, when I got back there that afternoon they were nowhere to be found. My opportunity had been there and I didn't connect. However, what an awesome experience!! I located them, stalked them and worked them in to a distance that I should have connected. I got what I paid for and then some. More lessons learned due to this experience.

 

[bighorn67]

Here are some pics from last weeks Jav trip. This one is sign of Javs feeding on prickly pear.

 

[bighorn67]

A Desert Tortoise

 

[prohunter]

I had a great time as well. I did not have a pig tag, but did see 4 hogs cross the road in front of me about 20 yards. I did miss a small muley buck & blow a stalk on a med. size buck.

 

[techman]

Spent 8 dyas down below Tuscon. I saw 1 group of 6 Javis at about 200 yrds. and leaving. That was it

. I would not have found them except that Boyd jumped them out for us. I blew 2 stalks on small forkies during the 8 days. Where I used to see 20-30 deer aday I was only seeing 6-12 deer??
Still had a great trip and I am already looking forward to next year.

 

[nomad56]

The stories are great. Anyone who hasn't tried these little desert rats with a bow and arrow is missing out on a great hunt. The fees are reasonable, the weather is fairly easy on the hunter and you can hunt them all day.
The pictures are always an added attraction to these posts. Thanks.