Who has done spot and stalk javelina?

Etter · October 30, 2014, 10:47:00 PM

I'm meeting two other trad bow guys in SE Arizona in January to do a DIY public land javi hunt. Does anybody have any advice on their habits in the big desert country or how to hunt them. I figured to be on a high spot at daybreak and glass and glass until a stalking opportunity was presented.

Thanks for any advice. We will be SE of Tuscon.

Roadkill · October 30, 2014, 11:17:00 PM

Used to go evry January. Most fun you can have with your pants on! They are perfect bow quarry. We did exactly what you anticipate. They blend in so very well, glass carefully. They are rumored to be of poor eyesight, but do not rely on that, as movement is recognized. The terrain makes for some great stalking, but gravel is crunchy. The cold morning may find them feeding on the sunny slopes. Test the wind to smell their skunKy odor when alarmed. Mind your camp as I have heard illegals ransack them on occasion. Cannot express enough how well they blend in with the salt and pepper hair, they may just suddenly appear in a cacti patch where you thought there was nothing you will never forget the tooth popping after you hear it. Good luck and color me jealous!

don kauss · October 30, 2014, 11:39:00 PM

glassing from high is best...they walk the draws quite a bit, and are hard to spot effectively; patience is a virtue...best to look for fresh sign---prickly pear & agave plants chewed/dug up, & of course scat & tracks...that's where to glass...once found, wind is most important to consider...carry a varmint call, and if the stalk is blown for some reason, wail on call as dramatic as possible...they may come to the "rescue" of one of their own...has worked for me a few times...I have hunted SE of Tucson before...PM me if you have any specific questions...
Good Luck

October 31, 2014, 08:49:00 AM

Javelina are God's gift to a stalking bowhunter!!!!! It is a real shame they do not taste any better than they do.

Once you find them, keep the wind right, and have a blast! They do not seem to mind movement very much until you get close, like within 75yds, so you can move pretty aggressivly on them until you get close. Watch them closely, If they spot you, they usually throw their head up and just stare your direction for a while. If they get really nervous, you will see the hair standing up on the top of their back. Then, when they convince themselves that it must have been nothing, they put their head back down to eat or root or whatever they were doing before.

Bisch

dino · October 31, 2014, 09:18:00 PM

Wind, wind wind! Can't see worth a darn but can smell ya a mile off. They are a pile of fun. Kill zone is tight tight to the shoulder. Dino

dhermon85 · October 31, 2014, 11:42:00 PM

I've gone twice and missed...twice! Lots of fun to hunt. On one hunt we knew they were in the area(fresh scat) but couldn't seem to locate them. Blew a cottontail in distress call and they came running fast. I think they have a Javalina call which sounds similiar. Just another option. Have fun

pdk25 · October 31, 2014, 11:51:00 PM

Have only shot a couple, and agree with the guys above, but I wouldn't shoot up the leg like a hog. Not hardly any room for error. I would shoot them more like a deer.

http://www.coueswhitetail.com/forums/uploads/monthly_01_2013/post-2355-0-77427100-1358567738.jpg

November 01, 2014, 12:40:00 AM

I have found the best time to use a call is if you bust a group up, either shooting one or just busting them. Especially, if they go in different directions when you bust them. You start blowing on that call after busting them, and when it works, they will come running at you from every direction. It is a pure hoot!!!!!

Bisch

Scott Barr · November 01, 2014, 12:14:00 PM

Can't over emphasize how well they blend with the terrain. Like ghosts. If you see one, keep looking. Eventually many more show up. Varmint call only works when within about 75 yards. When they run away, blow some more. You can often get multiple shots off as they come running back. Crazy adrenalin rushing fun. Glassing from the top of hill is a good method. So is stalking when u find fresh tracks. Their range is typically small. Within couple of miles for each group. But stalk real SLOW. Observe and glass often. Otherwise they will see you long before you see them. They do not have much hair and follow the sun. Either look for them sun bathing to get warm (aka south-facing slope) or in the shade when days r warm. One of my favorite prey each year.

Shaun · November 01, 2014, 11:17:00 PM

When you think you know where all of the members of the group are... think again. Its always the lone straggler that busts you and the group vanishes. Wait after you hit one just like deer. Let them stop and lay down. If you push a wounded one you will likely never find it. Javies are one of the best bow game, Good Hunting!

stevem · November 02, 2014, 01:27:00 PM

They don't take to cold weather very well. At first sun light be up high so you can glass east or south hillsides. As soon as the sun hits the hills they will come out from wherever they spent the night to warm up. Move fast on them for a shot. If you bust them, sit tight. When they scatter one or more usually go the "wrong" way, and a few minutes later will come by where they were last with the group looking for the herd. In my experience they don't like to be far from heavy cover.

centaur · November 02, 2014, 02:34:00 PM

I have never hunted them in Arizona, but I have stalked them a lot. They are really fun to stalk, and you can get danger close. As mentioned, you can smell them from afar if the wind is right; very skunky kind of smell.

Typical javie country..

They use caves a lot. This one stunk strongly of javelina.

don kauss · November 02, 2014, 03:53:00 PM

They taste good, as long as you take care of the meat (as with any game)...I hear people talk about them not tasting good, and I have yet to have any gamey taste out of six different ones...but then again I also hear people say that they don't like venison; I have them try ours, and the usual reply is "THAT'S venison??? It tastes nothing like the venison I had before."

November 02, 2014, 05:40:00 PM

To each his own on the taste! I take very good care of animals after I shoot them. I have tried several different times to eat javi, and the only way it was any good to me, was if you covered it up with enough stuff that you could not taste the Javi anymore.

I don't shoot them anymore unless I have someone willing to take the meat.

Bisch

elkken · November 03, 2014, 12:26:00 PM

QuoteOriginally posted by Bisch:
I have found the best time to use a call is if you bust a group up, either shooting one or just busting them. Especially, if they go in different directions when you bust them. You start blowing on that call after busting them, and when it works, they will come running at you from every direction. It is a pure hoot!!!!!

Bisch

X2 ... they will come running at you, gets pretty exciting