Texas javelina in January!

VictoryHunter · November 15, 2013, 08:58:00 AM

I am going to Texas in January to hunt javelina with Kent Ostrem of Mahaska bows. Anybody been anybody goin? This will be my first time hunting out of Tennessee and my first time hunting javies. What advice or tips for a first time javelina hunter?

Alexander Traditional · November 15, 2013, 09:16:00 AM

Never hunted them,but see a lot of them when I got to work down toward Eagle Pass. Where are you going to be hunting? Good luck,hope you get something.

VictoryHunter · November 15, 2013, 09:27:00 AM

I am going to be hunting near Sierra Blanca far west Texas on the border. Thanks Alexander!

centaur · November 15, 2013, 09:59:00 AM

Hunted around Ft. Stockton a few years ago; javies are made for trad bowhunting, you are going to have a great time. I would like to hunt that area around Sierra Blanca sometime myself.

Ric O'Shay · November 15, 2013, 10:12:00 AM

Not too many things in the woods that are friendly. Most things scratch, stick, poke, scrape and bite. Even though you are going in January, be careful of Ol' Joe Noshoulders. He and his buddies are still around.

Otherwise, you'll have a good time!

November 15, 2013, 10:45:00 AM

Javies are God's gift to a stalking bowhunter. If you are in an area where thare are good numbers, you will have a blast!

Bisch

LB_hntr · November 15, 2013, 10:48:00 AM

never hunted them where you are going to. but have hunted them a few times closer to el paso.
Javies are a great hunt. In the terrain we were in and spot and stalk hunting using binos to locate and shoe leather to intercept i recommend comfortable shoes or boots with good abrasion resistance (all desert rock where i was).
Also the temp changes were huge. mornings were 30 degrees and by afternoon it was 70 degrees so bring the right clothing. make sure to bring some windproof clothing if you are hunting desert country. if you dont have wind proof stuff a light weight rain parka under your other layer helps. sometimes the winds can be brutal where i was at.
GOOD BINOCULARS are essential if you are glassing for them. those little buggers pop up out of places that a field mouse could not hide in.
Take your time and wait for good close shots. most often they will let you get in on them if you play your cards right.
you will need a backpack and make sure you have lots of water with you as well as a few energy bars etc.
Carry an extra bow string in your pack. if you are in rocky desert hills you can very easiy cut your string if oyu slip so have an extra in your pack.
a gps is a great tool if you have to grid search for any downed animals.
those foam knee pads that you get from your hardware store come in real handy in rocky terrain when you are making your final apporaches.
Have lots of fun and take lots of pictures!

VictoryHunter · November 15, 2013, 10:50:00 AM

Joe noshoulders

Yes I will definitely keep an eye out for him. Although if there are a good number of javies in the area then there should be too many snakes. I'm really excited about this hunt!

stevem · November 15, 2013, 05:06:00 PM

First, Javelina do not like cold weather as they don't have fur. They seem to find a cave or such at night in the winter, then at first light (when the sun hits the hills) they come out on the east or south side of hills or mountains and feed in the sun until mid-morning. They don't move much. I recommend you find a good glassing area and be there at sun rise. If they are a long ways away, go after them, as they probably won't be going anywhere. I have taken several after blowing a shot- they will scatter like quail. Sit tight, and most likely one or more will come drifting back in a few minutes to try to find the main group. I have not seen snakes in January (Arizona or NM)and would not expect you to find them then. As mentioned above, they don't see well and if you keep the wind right you should be able to stalk in close.

Bowmag · November 15, 2013, 05:17:00 PM

The love corn. And can find it in a hurry after you put it out.
I learned many years ago not to look too far if you are in the brush. Look down. You can walk into a herd of them and not even know it. If their hair stands up it will mess with your aiming. They look about 3 feet tall when they do that and it will make you shoot really high. At least it does me. Lots of fun to hunt. Have a good time.

Jason Kendall · November 15, 2013, 06:01:00 PM

I hunted them south of Ft Stockton many years ago, they are a blast to hunt. Find some anatomy pictures so you know where to shoot them and have fun. We also spread corn around and had the best luck with it. Dang, now I want to go back again!

joe ashton · November 15, 2013, 06:03:00 PM

I hunted with Kent a couple of years ago and although I did not shoot one I had a good time. The country is nothing like I've hunted before.
You will have fun.

ShadeMt · November 15, 2013, 08:25:00 PM

I have hunted them once and with that one experience I would say they are the perfect animal for stickbow hunting. When they are traveling in a sounder it seemed like one was always looking while the others are scurrying around eating. When you get in bow range their eyesight is better than you read about. Absolute blast to hunt. Enjoy.

VictoryHunter · November 15, 2013, 09:00:00 PM

Great stuff! Thanks for the info guys, this all very helpful.

I am meeting up with two fellow tradgangers as well who have both hunted with Kent before so that should be a blast.

Wudstix · November 15, 2013, 09:12:00 PM

Shoot them of the stripe.

Red Beastmaster · November 15, 2013, 10:12:00 PM

They are quick, darting, little buggers that don't stand still very long. Take the shot quickly when it's there.

They will smell you from a long ways off but if you are still they don't seem to notice at bow range. Getting a shot is not all that hard once you close the distance. As mentioned before, they will regroup quickly if scattered.

They put off a skunky smell, especially when PO'ed. They will pop their teeth when agitated too. Kinda makes you wonder who is hunting who.

I hunted them in Texas and had a blast! The two I shot went down quickly with shoulder hits and Zwickey broadheads. All the javelina shot on our hunt did not go far after the hit.

You will have a lot of fun. Good luck.

VictoryHunter · November 16, 2013, 12:35:00 AM

Thanks red!

Cy14561 · November 16, 2013, 02:12:00 AM

Sounds like fun I have them on my lease here in Texas and have shot a few they are a blast to hunt, you can leave your binocs at home and just follow the smell, a pack of javalinas has a smell you won't soon forget!

VictoryHunter · November 16, 2013, 09:04:00 AM

VictoryHunter · November 16, 2013, 01:22:00 PM

ttt