Javelina Advice

[skipnoid]

I'll be in San Antonio end of October. I'll have a couple of days to hunt. My buddy and I are bowhunters from New England. TX whitetail would be great but it looks real expensive from what I've picked up on the web.

We're looking to have a couple of affordable fun days of hunting. Someone suggested Javelina hunting. I'd welcome any and all suggestions how to best spend our time. Also, what's Javelina taste like? I shot a Russian Boar last year ... how's it compare?

Look forward to reading your opinions!

Skipnoid

 

[Chapped Lips]

Hey Skipnoid, check out this website:
http://www.texasbowhunter.com/~discussion/...scus/discus.cgi
It has alot of Texas bowhunting ranches and the rating of hunters who hunted them. The rates vary from just a basic hog hunt of $75 per day to deer and hog hunt $150 per day.
Javalina I only tasted once and it tasted a little like chicken and pork. I'm going to Texas also in October to the Truelove Ranch (http://www.bowhuntingtexas.cc/) for a Deer, Hog, Turkey, Spike, Doe hunt. good Luck

 

[hclaus]

another place to find info on javelinas is http://www.javelinahunter.com/

It is chock full of info on the Javalina.

Thanks,
Hunter Claus
:wavin-yellow:

 

[Beerdonga]

Hey Skipnoid,

I think if you are looking for something affordable your on the right track.  Ive hunted a lot of javelina and hogs in Texas, I think hogs are a lot more fun to hunt, and they taste better.  Ive made sausage out of javelina before and it was good, but it didnt compare to the meat off a prime 80 to 100 pound hog. They also dont get very big, usualy around 30 to 50 pounds.  The javelina have pretty poor senses.  They cant see that good, so its pretty easy to stalk up on them.  If the prices were similar I would definately recomend hunting hogs with a bow over javelinas

 

[skipnoid]

Thanks for the advice so far guys.

Beerdonga (or anyone else), Are the hogs down there feral hogs or wild boar. What I mean is, I arrowed a wild boar (Russian) at a pay-to-hunt place in VT last year. Mean SOB's. The pig was 180 dressed. I ate it all, but it wasn't exactly filet mignon ... nor did it tast anything like pork. I guess that's why I'm assuming the Jav's are better tasting, but it suddently occured to me that these are probably different animals entirely.

Thanks,

Skipnoid

 

[skipnoid]

Chapped Lips,

When I first started researching for this TX trip, I found the Truelove Ranch on the web. Have you been there before and/or did someone recommend it to you? the Bugscuffle ranch also got high marks from one guy who emailed me and had hunted both. Basically his message was recommending both the Truelove and the Bugscuffle.

Skipnoid

 

[windwalker]

I just had Javelina for dinner.  Public lands from Arizona w/ my recurve at 15 yards.  They are mostly vegatarian so they are
kind of bland and also have very little fat.  I spiced him up w/ a dry rub and home made BBQ sauce.  I bascially treat it
like pork.  It taste pretty good then

Good luck.

 

[Beerdonga]

Hey Skipnoid,

All of the Hogs that I have shot are a mix.  I dont think you are gonna find a true Russian Boar in south Texas, unless it is shipped in.  A bunch of the hogs that I have shot look(but dont act) pretty close to a domestic hog even.  Ive shot a couple in the 3 and 4 hundred pound range, but if you want one for good meat try to stay around 100 pounds,  you cant beat it.  Look at my pics from homebrew trail camera t see what they look like.            
                        http://community.webshots.com/album/35453252ASbuNG

 

[Chapped Lips]

Skipnoid, I have never been to the Truelove Ranch, but like yourself have gotten info that it's a pretty good place, there was only one negative comment that I heard of and he was hunting in the rain.  I'll just have to find out for myself. After I go to Texas I'll go straight over to Utah for some mule deer hunting on public land. There is another website that has alot of info:
http://www.texasboars.com/index.html
Good Luck

 

[skipnoid]

Chapped,

I had a long conversation with the guy that runs Truelove - JJ Reynolds ... Great guy.

I'd read lots of positives on rate the leases as you suggested. After talking to him I'd definately hunt there. My problem now is timing. My buddy and I will, be in TX during the one week closed period! (week of 10/28).

I also found the email I got form the guy who recommented both Trulove and Bugscuffle, and it's the webmaster (or whatever you call it) for the texasbowhunter.com site.

Thanks for the info and good luck.

 

[skipnoid]

Beerdonga,

Great Pics !! (I looked at all of them)

Nice job on the camera as well. I just built two of them myself. That's how I even got onto this forum in the first place. My buddy emailed me the link thinking I might want to try building one (so I built two). I'll be parking them in the woods this weekend. They tested great around home out to 60 feet. If I get half that distance in the woods I'll be psyched.

FYI, When I go to TX, I'll be bow hunting. Have you hunted the hogs during the day or at night?  Bow or gun?

The guy I spoke with who runs the Truelove Ranch says the hog hunting is at night using flashlights mounted to your bow (with a blue light for some reason). I'd prefer stalking during the day, but maybe that's just not the way you hunt 'em down there. You seem to have some experience, so any info will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Skipnoid

 

[Beerdonga]

Hey Skipnoid,

When I hunt hogs at night and not with dogs, I use a rifle and a red light ( a red cover over my spotlight).  Trying to stalk them at night with a bow sounds pretty difficult and I have never done that.  I have bow hunted them at night from a tree stand over a feeder though and that worked well.  Hogs move a lot more at night, (as hot as it gets in Texas during the summer). Thats probably why that guide told you youl hunt them at night.  If you want me to be more specific or if you have any more questions feel free to ask.

 

[hclaus]

Mr. Reynolds at the Trulove ranch will do you right i believe.

I went night hunting the other night for the first time.

my best suggestion would be to practice using your bow at night all you can.

try to find out the exact rig you will be using for a light and practice using it.

things look different at night, and distances are difficult to judge (for me at least).

thanks,
Hunter Claus