Javalena hunt and 1st kill
Hogs
Contributors to this thread:
I haven't done a thread on bow site for quite some time. I apologize as bowsite is my favorite site!! but I took a little break from posting online.
I figured this would be cool to share. Recently got back from Arizona where we hunted Javalena. I took Ruger on his 1st archery hunt. I have helped him on quite a few rifle hunts for elk and deer and antelope as he has been old enough to hunt, but this was his 1st with the bow in hand. We went down with a good friend Craig who has hunted down there before. We camped out under the stars. Cooked on open fires and got poked by every kind of thorn!! It was a fun trip and real fun to see Ruger on his 1st archery hunt. I always enjoy taking kids hunting. I find it more rewarding than hunting myself.
Below is photos from the hunt. More of a picture essay than me telling the story in writing as lame as that might be
We went with a good buddy who has hunted the area before.
Ruger with his javalena. If there was a record book...I would think this one would be a "Booner". Haha
Glassing. They can be tough to locate. But once located they are generally pretty easy to kill in it opinion
Camp. Night shot under a full moon
Gold tip pierce arrow hits hard. 4 AAE pro max vanes
Gold tip pierce arrow hits hard. 4 AAE pro max vanes
Goldtip Pierce shaft. Love this arrow. Steered by 4 AAE pro max vanes
My little guy. He was broadside and right when I released. He happened to turn back to run. He caught a Goldtip Pierce to the forehead! Literally pierced his skull! Ouch
I believe adventures like this... bowhunting and sleeping in the dirt are important for kids of today. I think more kids need this in their life and less video games.
Craig cooking in a Dutch oven
Craig cooking in a Dutch oven
Craig cooking on a Dutch oven on hot coals
Very cool. Is AZ a fairly easy place to find some good Javi hunting?
Elk burgers
Elk burgers
Elk burgers and jalapeƱos
kifaru tipi
kifaru tipi
The kifaru tipi was out shelter of choice. Very versatile
Too cool Justin! Ruger..... a family resemblance?
Looks like a frontal on that one lil piggy... =D
Looks like great fun, gotta do that someday. Able to get out after those lil string jumpin' deer this year?
Great thread and hunt Justin!!!
Way to get the youngin involved in a great outdoor adventure....nice leadership!!!
Mark
Those seem like extra big javalinas!
Congrats!!! >>>>----->
Ruger is da man! Congrats!
Congrats on the Jav's. Did you chase any Coues? Maybe Lou should've hunted with you so he doesn't get into trouble. :)
Looks like a great camp/ hunt...Nice jav's....Whey to go young man...!
Very nice for both of you. Congrats on a fine hunt. Did you have to draw the tags.?
my best, Paul
Great thread and looks like lots of fun ! I'm simpatico on the head shot, they ( and their cousins, feral hogs ) seem like they are never still for very long. No telling where your arrow is going to hit, especially if you're any distance !
Disclaimer: I know javelina are not classified as swine, but if it quacks like a duck.............
Yea it was fun! Always fun when kids are involved!
Yea you have to draw the tags to hunt javalena
In my opinion javalena are a very under rated animal! I've heard lots of people call them rats or varmits etc. but they are a very interesting critter. And actually not a pig, or wild boar!
I've heard people say they meat is horrible. I have found that to be un true as well. Every javalena I have killed we have eaten and it tastes good. I think people associate the smell of javalena with that meaning the meat must taste bad. I have found people in regards to javalena similar with say pronghorn. I personally love pronghorn meat but I meet a lot of people that say the meat is horrible.
Interesting hunting down in Arizona! Find things i normally don't see in colorado
Strong work Justin!! Congrats to Ruger on his first of many !!
That is awesome! Keep them coming!
Great thread, Justin. Top notch photos as always too. Well done!
Awesome picture story! Congrats to all and especially the first timer.
Camping, outdoor cooking, glassing and stalking. A genuine hunting adventure.
Great pics and story as well. Congrats to all involved!
StickFlicker's Link
"If there was a record book...I would think this one would be a "Booner". "
Oh, but there is a record book! There are two, as a matter of fact. Arizona has both a bowhunting record book (Bowhunting in Arizona) and an "all weapons" record book (Arizona Wildlife Trophies), both of which keep records for all of Arizona's big game species, including Javelina. The state record in both books is a bow-killed boar that scored 15 4/16 (length+width of skull, excluding teeth). I'll include a link to the bowhunting record book's website. If anyone is interested in entering an Arizona bow-killed animal, all the instructions are on the website. Any P&Y or B&C Measurer can score it for you in your home state, just make sure that they know that (unlike a bear or lion) the teeth are not included in the length measurement.
Great photo story... congrats to all... Ed F
Congrats!! I want to do a hunt like this. Did you use cots in the teepee? I've heard that it's tough to police many areas well enough to avoid needles and thorns playing havoc with a Thermarest and if you use foam as a base underneath, you can bring embedded needles and thorns home to poke holes in other pads.
*Edited to fix the odd autocorrect crap
Stickflicker- thanks for the info! Had no clue there was a record book!
Orionsbrother- no we don't use cots. Sleep on the ground. Put a piece of tyvek down and sleep on the tyvek. Used big big Agnes pads with no issue
Awesome Justin! That young man has one hell of a mentor. Way to go, looks like a great time.
Thanks. Glad to hear. I don't own any cots. And I agree with Nick, great Dad trip. He'll remember that forever.
Good for you! Quite the experience for you both!
Ramcats?
No sorry Elkman, we didn't take any video
Great thread. Glad you came back to post it, as I've always enjoyed reading about your hunts.
Congrats to you guys, it looks like you had a great hunt!
Great story. Congrats on the pigs. Love this stuff. Seeing kids not on video games makes my day. I have 7 hunters of my own Keep up the good work.
I love your photo selection.
Great hunt with awesome pics!
Great story and an outstanding adventure, Justin! Thanks for taking the time to share it with us!
The javis I spotted on my hunt sure would have been fun to stalk but I was too sick to go after them. :(
Maybe next year.
Anyone hunt the area around Prescott for Javalina?