Three friends and I decided to leave wintery Idaho behind and head for Arizona to chase javelina with our bows last week. The first day of driving got us to Henderson, NV where we crashed at a buddies house and drank his good alcohol. Day 2 took us to our hunt area where an AZ friend showed us around a little and we got camp set up.
The third day was the opening of the season. We were up early hiking and glassing the hills. Each day would pretty much mirror the first, lots of time behind the glass hoping to spot javelina before making a stalk. The first three days of hunting brought a total of two javelina seen and bad wind on each stalk.
On day 4 I managed to glass a group in the head of a canyon about 2 miles off. My friend Rob and I made our way towards them and after 3 hours managed to relocate them just as they were bedding down around 11:30. We slipped in to 20-30 yards from what we thought were 5 bedded pigs. After a half hour a couple finally stood and I took a shot on the first one that gave me a clear view. At the shot javelina were taking off all around us, probably around 15 or so total in the group. I was able to watch mine go down within about 30 yards, despite the shot being farther back than I wanted.
Another member of the group was able to fill his tag a couple hours later probably on one from the group mine came out of.
Overall the hunt was much tougher than I expected; especially mentally. I think a lot of it had to do with the time we spent behind glass. Everyone had shot attempts and we really should have went 4 for 4. Running around the desert in temps approaching 80 while home was getting hit with big winter storms made it that much sweeter. My only worry is heading down in the winter could become a yearly event.
The third day was the opening of the season. We were up early hiking and glassing the hills. Each day would pretty much mirror the first, lots of time behind the glass hoping to spot javelina before making a stalk. The first three days of hunting brought a total of two javelina seen and bad wind on each stalk.
On day 4 I managed to glass a group in the head of a canyon about 2 miles off. My friend Rob and I made our way towards them and after 3 hours managed to relocate them just as they were bedding down around 11:30. We slipped in to 20-30 yards from what we thought were 5 bedded pigs. After a half hour a couple finally stood and I took a shot on the first one that gave me a clear view. At the shot javelina were taking off all around us, probably around 15 or so total in the group. I was able to watch mine go down within about 30 yards, despite the shot being farther back than I wanted.
Another member of the group was able to fill his tag a couple hours later probably on one from the group mine came out of.
Overall the hunt was much tougher than I expected; especially mentally. I think a lot of it had to do with the time we spent behind glass. Everyone had shot attempts and we really should have went 4 for 4. Running around the desert in temps approaching 80 while home was getting hit with big winter storms made it that much sweeter. My only worry is heading down in the winter could become a yearly event.
