I have a Javelina hunt in South Texas planned for this coming Jan 2011.I have most everything I need gear wise already and was just wondering if you guys thought I would be better off using a normal cutting size 2 blade say 1 1/4th or a big cut 1.5" wide 2 blade head out of my 50lb@27" longbow? I was leaning towards the bigger 1.5" to give more blood for easier tracking in the sandy dirt but that depends on just how tough these javelina are to shoot through. Thanks for any feedback!
We have been hunting and shooting them for about 8-10 years now and we use what we have left for big game season. I always use a 2 blade Zwikee or Eclipse. Plan on using something you can resharpen in the evenings. If you are like us, we get a lot of shots, and do a lot of sharpening at night. Take lots of arrows! The rocks can be hard on them.
Doesn't have to be any special BH just keep it sharp and shoot for the shoulder. The kill area is forward of most animals. The arrow will pentrate the shoulder easy if sharp.
We are going again in Dec.
Good luck and ALWAYS stay down wind. They can smell you a 1/4 mile away if your upwind.
I'm hardly an expert, but the 2 javelina I shot hardly slowed the arrow down. Zinged right through them. I was shooting 54#, wood arrows, and Magnus 2 blades.
I have shot a few and I use the big Magnus I. Javelina aren't very big (50# avrage) so penetration isn't an issue, but they don't leave a good blood trail, especially in the sandy dry country. You want to aim straight up from the front leg about 4". Very small kill zone.
Like was said above, I use the same set up for Javelina as I do for Elk or Deer. Make a good shot and keep them sharp and you wont have a problem. The five I have killed have run anywhere from 20 to 50 yards before going down. Good luck and have fun, they are a blast with sticka nd string
I have shot two, using bows in the low 40s and STOS 2 blade head. Easy pass thru on both.
Shot a few and seen several that have been shot. Like dnovo said, right above the front leg and a small kill zone. 2, 3 or 4 blade should be OK as all of my shots were very close.
Jerry
Thanks for all the info I already have over a dozen of the Big Zephyr Sasquatch 2 blades which I get razor sharp very easy.I will just throw some of them at those javelina they should leave a nice blood trail.
I've shot some.....I go straight for the shoulder. I would use the biggest broadhead you have. Get it sharp. It is some thick brush in south Texas, the more blood and quicker you can get'em down...the better. They can run just 50 yards in that nasty brush, and you may never find them...it's that thick. ..and if you do, it may take an hour and a half just to get 50 yards to them.
Have fun! Javalina are made for bowhunters!
Mike
I would go with the 1.5" head. I have shot lots of javis and they are not all that hard to get through. They are not all that big. A 40# field dressed javi is a BIG one. The wider BH's always seem to leave a better blood trail.
Bisch
The two I shot with Zwicky Eskimos didn't go far at all, maybe 20yd. The sandy soil quickly absorbed the blood and was tough to follow.
Cody,
The Sasquatch's will do a number on them Jav's. Besides, the way you shoot, you could take em out with bottle caps! Wishing you fun & success on your hunt!
Steel: What's been said is all good information, big and sharp is always good. One thing nobody mentioned is do not bring your really expensive arrows, you will loose several. If you have never been to South Texas hunting your in for a treat, but the brush can be so thick there is no way you will ever go through it. Bring Snake Boots, the knee high ones mostly for the cactus, which is everywhere, but they come in handy for the Buzz Tails also. Bring a pair of leather gloves for picking your way through the brush, a pair of tweezers for picking out cactus thorns, which you WILL get and some type of antiseptic for scratches. Been there many times over the years, always a treat to go back, Jav's are great fun, enjoy. R.W.
aim just behind the white collar on them,
How does a fella find a good javalina hunt?
QuoteOriginally posted by R. W. Mackey:
Steel: What's been said is all good information, big and sharp is always good. One thing nobody mentioned is do not bring your really expensive arrows, you will loose several. If you have never been to South Texas hunting your in for a treat, but the brush can be so thick there is no way you will ever go through it. Bring Snake Boots, the knee high ones mostly for the cactus, which is everywhere, but they come in handy for the Buzz Tails also. Bring a pair of leather gloves for picking your way through the brush, a pair of tweezers for picking out cactus thorns, which you WILL get and some type of antiseptic for scratches. Been there many times over the years, always a treat to go back, Jav's are great fun, enjoy. R.W.
Very accurate info.
Mike
Bring some sun screen, duc tape, will work on cactus thorns also
A big javelina isn't that big nor hard to kill. Any sharp BH should work fine in the kill zone. These things stink a bunch. Just letting you know.
Javelinas are the bowhunter's best friend!! jajaja there are plenty, not as hard to hunt but not an easy hunt either, they come in bunches, a lot of times they give you a second chance when you miss the first shot and they even have white colored hair near the kill zone so you can aim better! :archer:
As mentioned above a good pair of leather gloves can come in handy in some of that country. Another good idea is a pair of kneepads if you have to crawl through the brush. I have been in areas where crawling was the only way to get thru.
If in an area where they have a lot of fleas some sevin dust like you use on rose bushes will make the fleas ababndon a jave on a short time. Believe me you don't want to carry one loaded with fleas.
R.W. hit the nail on the head. I keep a whole set of gear just for the Jave. It gets worked over. Going to try the Woodsman BH this year though. Regardless of BH they will run (unless head shot)then decide if you want to crawl into that thicket tunnel.