This year I was able to do my first out of state hunt. My brother had moved to Tuscon area a few years ago and has been bugging me to come visit him and do some hunting. It was nice to go to a area I have never been and hunt a animal I have never hunted let alone ever seen. I like to be out of my element sometimes. We did a lot of hiking and glassing in some pretty cool country. For me I really like new country because of all the new plant life and animal life I get to see. It's like being a little kid again and everything seems new. I live in a desert "high desert" but I was taken off guard on how lush the habitat was. Everything had a thorn and would leave my hands ripped up everyday. Here is a few pictures of the country.
(http://i580.photobucket.com/albums/ss248/barebow13/DSC_0421.jpg) (http://s580.photobucket.com/user/barebow13/media/DSC_0421.jpg.html)
(http://i580.photobucket.com/albums/ss248/barebow13/DSC_0424.jpg) (http://s580.photobucket.com/user/barebow13/media/DSC_0424.jpg.html)
(http://i580.photobucket.com/albums/ss248/barebow13/DSC_0416.jpg) (http://s580.photobucket.com/user/barebow13/media/DSC_0416.jpg.html)
(http://i580.photobucket.com/albums/ss248/barebow13/DSC_0391.jpg) (http://s580.photobucket.com/user/barebow13/media/DSC_0391.jpg.html)
(http://i580.photobucket.com/albums/ss248/barebow13/DSC_0402.jpg) (http://s580.photobucket.com/user/barebow13/media/DSC_0402.jpg.html)
We covered a lot of ground on foot and with our eyes and to be honest worked hard for very little sign. Got rained out one morning. Coyotes messed us up another morning taking a young one right out of the group we were trying to get on. I almost got the coyote as it ran by with the javelina in its mouth! :banghead:
We did get on them finally get our chance. We were glassing up and down a wash area. When I peaked over a cliff on the edge of the wash I could seen four or five javelinas milling below. I picked out one and let the arrow fly finding it's mark and it when down in few yards. When they all scattered I then realized that there was a lot more in the bunch. The one I picked wasn't as big as some of the other ones but it wasn't the smallest ether. I never did take a hero pick so sorry about that. My hunting partners shot wasn't as good as mine so it turned into a all day tracking event. I just got it skinned and hung cooling in the shade of a cliff. With the task at hand I had it skinned before the though crossed my mind. The experience will always be etched in my mind and I've never been a good hero.
thanks for sharing, one of my must do's
Sounds like great fun. Was this in Texas?
Javelina are God's gift to a stalking bowhunter. It's a shame they don't taste any better because they sure are fun to hunt!
Congrats!
Bisch
Saltwater it was in Arizona south of Tucson. Bisch you just never had me processes one and cooking it for you. Everyone has raved about the taste but food is what I do.
I must agree. It's all in how its handled. 2 knives, 2 gloves, keep it clean.
MAP
Thanks for the beautiful pictures.
QuoteOriginally posted by twitchstick:
Bisch you just never had me processes one and cooking it for you. Everyone has raved about the taste but food is what I do.
I ain't no slouch when it comes to cooking either. I have tried several different ways to cook javi, and the only way that was remotely any good was any recipe that had enough stuff in it to cover up the javi taste!
I won't even shoot them any more unless I have someone lined up to take the meat.
Bisch
Well done, Congratulations sir.
Twitchstick,
How about a thread on how you cooked'em?
Thanks for sharing the pics and story. I would love to hunt javelina one day, but I'm not as good with the cooking.
My wife and I can make a mean stew out of venison, but deer, I'm sure, are infinitely easier to make taste great.
Tamales are about the only thing I enjoyed that had javalina meat. Great pictures. I've hiked in and around those mountains for 30+ years. And yes everything in that area will poke, cut, or bite you :)
Thanks
I hunted javelina's one time years ago, it sure was a fun trip. Reading stories like this make me want to head south for a bit again.
-Jay
I think you just kill bigger ones than me Bisch. I'm sure my small 25 lb'er easier to deal with than a big old bore. I must omit that not all animals are created equal when It comes to table fair. Some sure take a lot more care than others. Last night my wife said it was the best game animal she had ever eaten! That surprised me.
Salt, pepper, light chopped garlic, EVOO cooked over mesquite coals. Nothing fancy.
Sounds like a great way to spend a couple days. I sure would love to hunt them one day.
I love to hunt them on their tuff. Looking for a place to go next January.
Any suggestions?
Congrats on a successful hunt... I sure miss hunting in Javelina country. I always got excited shooting them, they rank right there with coyotes and big bucks for me. :archer:
I have had the chance on a few occasions, back now years ago, to join friends living in Yuma and to come out from back east to join and hunt javelina. It is a wonderfully fun and unpressured experience and the pictures just about brought tears to my eyes as they brought back memories.
Thanks Steve