Javelina hunt coming up

[arizona hunter]

Well I must be getting excited about up the upcoming javelina hunt-and it doesn't begin until next Friday Feb 6. Last night I even went out and bought all the groceries I'll need for myself and a buddy (he doesn't bring any food, but does pay for what he eats + gas). Naturally I froze most of it.

I must be excited even though I have hunted them every year since 1989...I'm even looking at the "10 day" forecast; looks to be hot with temps in the low 80's, but that's better than rain!

Darn, I sure must get excited about hunting and camping in general: I'm even planning on what type of pizza we are going to eat on the drive to our unit. Pizza is a tradition we started about 15 years ago-and it's still yummy today. Oh, and my wifes chocolate chip/Score candy bar cookies.

Been hunting the same unit since 1989, about 50% of the time I get one-with a rifle, but this year two of us are using hand guns and one guy a muzzle loader. Never got one with a handgun even though I've tried twice before with one and some javelina I've killed at less than 30 yds-Lord willing this will be the year.

 

[THE ROMAN ARCHER]

good luck Arizona Hunter, bowhunting Javi's is one of my dream hunts someday. did you check out Muliesforever post on his Javi hunt in A.Z. about 3 weeks ago, he had a successful hunt........tra

P.S. I love pizza too!

 

[rwlittle]

aznunter,

Sounds like a fun time!! I am jealous as all get out

Are those things edible?

 

[rwlittle]

ooops sorry, mispelling.

meant to type.. azhunter

on a side note.. my wife packs me up some good luck cookies too (pumpkin chocolate chip), TRA you had some of those on that hunt we did at Chopper's waaay back when.

 

[arizona hunter]

Rwlittle,

I have found that some of my hunting friends don't even hunt these things because "they taste bad". To that I say "you don't know how to cook it"!!! And they are missing out on a great time to be out hunting.

The crock pot is the key. I put a 1/4 of animal in it and fill the crock with water and let it cook on high for about 6 hours. By this time the meat can be shredded by hand--and dump out all the water. Now add green chili sauce, brown sugar, BBQ sauce, onion, garlic cook for another hour and you have a dish that everyone will eat as long as they don't know it's javelina.

Sometimes instead of shredding the meat I'll grind it into burger and use the same recipe or even make burgers from it.

 

[One Track]

Sounds like you are excited. They are very fun to hunt. Overall, it's been a tough year for the javelina. Congrats to you for taking the handgun. Sure will make for a more exciting hunt. I turn my javelina into chorizo. Yummy stuff! Have a great time.

 

[rwlittle]

Take tonz of photos and let us know how it went.

 

[bpnclark]

Good luck

 

[REM3006]

Hello Azhunter,
Our hunt date for Javylna is Feb.20-26. Our unit# is 36B. Never hunt in AZ before. Do you have any input on this area ?

 

[Valley Hunter]

Good Luck and post up when u get back!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Huntr Pat]

I just got of the phone with Breck and I do apologize for not making it. I didnt keep Up with this. But I'll be just getting back from hawaii on the 20th. I hope you guys have safe and fun hunt.

 

[AZ Jim]

Good luck !

Let us know how it goes !!

AZ Jim

 

[Glass eye]

Rem3006
Don't worry, I got one tied-up for you.ig-laughing:

 

[arizona hunter]

Well, the hunt is over...nothing. I did have an exciting stock on a lone male. Most of the time the wind was in my face but ever so often it would swirl and it was on the back of my neck. The Javelina stopped to stare in my direction a couple times and once held the stare for what seemed like 10 minutes then went back to foraging. I closed to within about 50 yards and had my mono pod stick ready, had the Redhawk 45 Colt out of the holster, but he stayed behind some Ocatillos..then finally turned the wrong direction and headed into the thick n nasty stuff and down the ravine.

If this had been a rifle hunt (or had my friends muzzlloader) I'd have shot him at about 100 yds. standing broadside.

 

[One Track]

No doubt. You could have killed a 100 yds. But, it would have been a lot more fun and rewarding to kill a javy at close range. It was a tough year for javelina. Big die off. Hopefully, they will be back in a few years.

 

[arizona hunter]

Rem3006,
I hunted deer there about 15 years ago, so I know next to nothing. If it was me though I'd try to stay toward the northern part of the unit near Amado. BTW, Amado has a large and excellent steak house called the Cow Palace.

My main reason for staying north is that there are a lot of "illegals" around Pena Blanca lake, Arivaca and environs to the south---a whole lot. Heck I even saw 6 of them and phoned it into the Border Patrol, gave them the GPS coordinates.

Look for digging. These critters are always rooting around. If it looks recent they are likely nearby. If it looks old hike another 1/2 mile, have a seat for an hour or two and glass. Several times I've been glassing areas and see nothing-then one stands up in the grass where I've been glassing for 30 minutes.

Let us know how you do. Hopefully you'll fill the tag, and then cook it in the crock pot.... BTW watch out for that scent gland on their back, leave it alone. When you skin the animal the gland comes off with the hide. You probably know all this, but figured it doesn't hurt to mention it.