Just got back from my first Javelina hunt.  Long story short...It was a blast!!  

It was also a tough hunt as the weather was sooooo cold.  11 degrees on Friday morning and didn't get above 35 all day.  Saw one Javelina that afternoon but lost him on the hillside.  They blend in with the surrounding terrain really well.  Spent about an hour glassing and never could find him again.  We saw more deer than anything else.  Even saw a Bald Eagle!!  Overall still a good day.  Saturday dawned in the low 20's and warmed up into the high 50's.  My buddy saw a lone Javelina across a gully and we stopped the Jeep and got out and glassed him up.  We made a plan and began the stalk...we had the wind in our faces, a good stiff breeze, and moved in.  I went high and my buddy went low.  We crept up slowly and I got busted at about 30 yards.        It was AWESOME!!  I took a broadside shot and missed high, probably shot through the hair as he was brissled up. Then there was one running in front of us and my buddy said take him so I swung on him and let fly...THWACK!! It wasn't the best hit as it was a bit far back but it was a good hit.  After the excitment calmed down a bit we started looking for a blood trail.  We couldn't find a drop.  We knew he went into the gully so we guessed and eventually I found a couple of drops.  It was a very sparse blood trail, about a drop or two every ten or so yards.  We lost the trail and decided to get out of the gully and head down farther so if we work our way back up to the last blood spot and maybe catch him bedded down.  That worked and I bumped him and he hid behind a tree.  I got down and got into position and had about a basketball sized opening and a 5 to 10 yard shot.  I let fly and THWACK!!  Got him good and he came right at me!!  Veered off at the last second and ran by.  I called out to my buddy "he's comming your way" and he piled up about ten yards behind me.    


My Javelina is on the left.

I would HIGHLY recommend a Javelina hunt to any Trad Ganger's out there.  I can't wait untill next year to do it again!!

Location: San Carlos Apache Reservation, Arizona
Bow: Blacktail Elite VL T/D 62" 60# @ 28"
Arrow: Carbon Express Hertiage 350 with a Nanook 2 Blade Single Bevel Broadhead (290 gr) for a total arrow weight of around 690 grains.

-Mack

Awesome.  Thanks for sharing.  Tried it once in the early 90s.  Would love to do it again.  AZ in Jan is the best.

What are the arrangements on the reservation?

Dan in KS

Looks like you had a good time. Thank you for sharing.

Butch L

GOOD PICS, THEY ARE ALOT OF FUN TO HUNT, THANKS FOR SHARING!!!!

Congrats on a great and successful hunt. The last time I hunted them was 2000, have to go again.

Sounds like an exciting time!
Good result they sound fun critters to chase  

I did my javi hunt in south Texas, and you are right, it is a blast.
Congratulations on some nice Javi's.

Way to go sir! Way to stick with it!      

Congratulations Mack. You are right they are a ton of fun to hunt and some fine table fair as well.


Earl

Congrats, sounds like a great hunt. Bet they are a lot of fun to go after. Small and speedy targets.  
Don

Sure sounds exciting.

man that sounds like a blast!!  that has always been something i want to do and every time i head a story about javelina it sounds ever better.  congrats!!!

Great report and a nice photo. I like bowhunting for javelina better than I do for deer. It's the only animal I can stalk.

Awesome  

Thanks everybody!!  

Dan in KS:  The Reservation is easy to hunt, meaning you buy your Tag, Use permit, and Habitat stamp and you're good to go.  We stayed at the Apache Gold Casino, but I belive you can camp anywhere on the Reservation with the Use permit.  It's a huge Reservation and we hardly saw anyone while out hunting, so you don't have to worry about it being crowded.

-Mack

Very nice many congrats.

Congrats! Sounds like an exciting hunt

Glad you had a ball!

Sweet.