EnriqueAZ

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Hey Gang,

Nice to chat with all of you again. Yesterday I went out on a Javelina HAM hunt in unit 32 in Arizona with some old clients of mine, and it reminded me of all the good time the good Lord has given me this season. After thinking of this, I thought I would share a couple of the hunts with you.

On the Archery Javelina hunt, Gary Christoffersen, owner of Day one Camouflage came out and hunted with me. We hunted in units 33/37B. We hunted for 3 days, seeing Javelina everyday, and actually shooting one the first day, only to be dissapointed by a mistake, that lead us to not find the Javelina. I accidentally bumped it, and it ran off never to be seen again. On the 2nd day we seen some, but never got a shot. On the 3rd day, he took his first Javelina. he shot it at 28 yards, and this time I played it safe and gave it plenty of time to die. He was using those steel force broad heads, they work pretty darn good. I must say that 33/37B is one of the best archery hunts out there. We saw around 60 Javelina in 2 1/2 days of hunting.

This hunt I was on yesterday, brought the memories back when I HAM hunted for these little critters as a young kid. I hunted with a old client of mine and his son. His some is only 12 or 13 years old. We were hunting unit 32 this time. We had a blast, I hunted with them a day and a half. On the first day, we seen only 4 pigs, never getting a shot. On the 1/2 day I hunted with them, we seen 12 more, and they lit up the canyon with their 357 and their 223 handgun. It was great. The only bad thing, was they never hit a single pig. The son shot 12 times, and the dad 4 times. I know the dad can shoot, he's killed 3 Javelina with me with 4 shots, but I guess everyone has a bad day. In saying this, even though they did not kill one, seeing the smile on the sons face, made the hunt one of the best. The son had never shot at one before, and he was really excited. He said he can't wait till next year. When I seen the son shoot, it reminded me of myself trying to shoot those things with my 357 when I was his age, and I felt like a kid again.

I can't wait till the next hunts, I hope they are as successful as the last two. And Guys if reading this teaches anyone something, take a child Hunting or even fishing. Once you see their little faces all lit up from the fun they have on a hunt or a fishing trip, you'll surely do it again. And to those who are out there still hunting and the ones who are getting ready to go, Good Luck.

Enrique
 

Speckmisser

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Sounds like a blast, Enrique.

I've put the HAM hunt on my list of "to-do" hunts, and hope to check that one off the list within the next couple of years... as long as prices don't go too high.
 

MNHNTR

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Just got back from our ham hunt in 33 happy valley. Saw one herd of pigs, started a stalk, got within 150 yds, a jet flys over and the pigs are gone!!! Saw lots of Coues (about 5-10 per day) and one herd of 10 mule deer. Found some nice skulls and 1 coues shed antler. Nice area except for some idiots who showed up late fri and stayed up late until about 0300 hr. Paybacks A "B" haha.... anyways I then drove north to 18B to meet a friend in the burro creek area. Nice area..didnt see any deer or pigs. ANyway, any time in the outdoors is a great time. Ps my dad, myself and little bro all caught some type of flu bug. Pop wa sickest of all, had to drive from tucson to scottsdale to drop him off at middle bros house to rest/recover, then took little bro to phx airport then to wikeup....whew...drove back yesterday after picking pop up. Anyways we re thinking of doing a hunt on san carlos res... an thoughts on that ? Thanks.....


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DAWG

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The HAM is sure a fun hunt. Nice weather, low stress, just a fun hunt. I took a nice boar in unit 22 Saturday with my muzzleloader. I think most of the guys use handguns. My buddy missed a couple, but it was a blast. February is a nice time, not too much else is open, and it kind of eases the withdrawl of the big game season.
 

EnriqueAZ

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Hey Guys,

Thanks for posting, I am glad the ones that got out had fun. Sorry for the ones that did and got sick.

DAWG, congrats on your kill. What was left of the boar after that ML got ahold of it? A couple of years ago, my clients killed a couple with blackpowder. the clients and me were happy, the Taxidermist on the other hand, had some sewing(sp) to do, probably not to happy. That 50 cal ML left a hole the size of my fist in one, and a hole two fists in the other. What was yours like?

MNHNTR, Sorry to hear you guys got sick. It is a pain hunting while you are sick. I did that this week on the rifle hunt. Still had a good hunt, but its extra work when you are sick. Maybe you can nail one next time. About San Carlos, If I was you I would do one of a couple things. First I would add up what a trip to San Carlos would cost. This includes tags, licenses, food, Gas, and anything else you could think of and get a total. Then I would see what it costed you to do this Arizona hunt, same expenses, and add it up. If it is cheaper for you to hunt public land then San Carlos, maybe you can find a unit that has good access and hunting in it, so you don't spend a lot of money you don't need to. I can tell you what units are good, and some good locations to start at if that would help. Another thing you could do, if I may add, is book a group hunt with me. By doing this, you could save on a couple of things. Renting a car or wearing on yours, food cost, gas cost, and the chance of you eating a tag and not killing a hog would be less likely if you could shoot. Let the guide beat up his vehicle and do his homework instead of you beating yours, and hunting blind. Plus let him cook for you and do all the hard boring stuff while you relax and enjoy a vacation. Always remember it is always cheaper if you book in groups than if you book solo. That was just a couple of things you could do. San Carlos is good, but it can be a lot trickier than people think. If I can help, don't be affraid to ask.

Speckmisser it is not to expensive to do a hunt. If you and a few buddy's do a hunt together, epenses go down and each of you save by splitting expenses amongst yourselves. Javelina tags are not that much. $58 I think. the only thing pricy is the license, $113.50 I think, and airfare which runs around $150 to $230 roundtrip. Once you guys split food, gas, and car expenses, you are looking at a Javelina hunt for around probably $600 each person. Gosh I do hunts for close to that. But to do a do-it-yourself hunt, that is probably what you would spend if you and a few buddies did it together.

1SoCalHunter, Thanks for the congrats, and yes it was a blast, I always have fun when I am out hunting or guiding. If you let hunting become work, or a competition, then its no fun, but if you are out there to have fun and hunt hard, then it is one of the funnest things you'll ever do.

Enrique
 

DAWG

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Enrique,
I was suprised, hit him in the upper rib cage just behind the shoulder. a 50 caliber entrance, and no exit. I would it would shoot through, but it did drop him about as fast as I have ever seen a lung shot animal drop. Right in his tracks. And yes, the hunt is cheap. I buy the license for the big game drawing anyway, and the tag is $69. I spent about $70 on gas, and about $50 on food that I would have ate anyway. Camping is free, so the grand total was less than $200 for me. I met my buddy there, so he was in to it for about the same. Well worth it. The worst part is sitting in the car for 7 hours each way.
 

azbiggame

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Just returned from a "Successfull" Gen. Havelina hunt in Unit 18B in Az.though the H.A.M. is always the 1st. choice for tags ended up with 2nd. choice this Season.

The Weather was GREAT for the opener and the next 3 days.We took our Havelina by 8:30 a.m. on Fri. 4 more Havelina were taken in our camp by the close of the 1st. day and 2 more on the next 2 days.

Always a GOOD hunt for those with "Cabin Fever" at this time of year
 

EnriqueAZ

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azbiggame,

Congrats on your hunt, that was a good job on all your part. Killing them quick is sometimes pretty nice, then you can kick back for the remainder of the time. I hope you had a great time down here in AZ.
Congrats again.

Enrique
 

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