Javelina: What's to know?

[Devil Diver Down]

I drew an archery tag for an area I often see pigs when quail hunting but I only hunted them once (28+ years ago) and the only thing I know about finding them is that I need to spend hours glassing. Any ideas where I might find some solid info on javelina?

 

[BuzzH]

I dont know a lot about them... but we've always had good luck glassing areas with lots of prickly pears,followed by areas with mesquite. I also usually try to glass the south slopes early in the morning, the sunlight makes them A LOT easier to see. All you really have to worry about while stalking them is to keep the wind in your favor, and try not to make too much noise. Their eyesight is horrible, so thats not a concern if you move slow.

I've heard that predator calls can work to call them...but I've never tried it.

I read a book some years ago about javelina written by a biologist who studied/hunted them. Good book, but I can remember the name of it. Apparently javelina were not historically found in Arizona.

 

[Basser]

What to know about stink pigs:
1. They stink
2. If they're in a group and feeding, keep the wind in your favor and you should probably be able to get close enough to kick em
3. They stink
4. You'll glass over the same area a couple times before you spot em, but once you find one the rest will start popping up all around the hillside.
5. They stink
6. If you bust them up you can call them back in with a J-14 or even just a regular varmint call. Sometimes they come running back in and the rest of the time they run even faster the other way.
7. They stink.
8. They're a lot of fun to hunt but the fun ends real quick after you kill it.
9. They stink
10. It's a great time of the year to be out in the desert.

 

[Basser]

On a serious note, best way I've found to scout for them is to walk washes until you find an area that has a lot of pig tracks. Once you do try to find a high spot near by and start glassing from there. The herd usually stays within a one or two square mile range so you should be able to glass them up if you know the general area they like to stay. Sometime if you're real quiet and there's no wind you can actually hear them before you see them since they are cranky little bastages with each other. They were also made to hunt with a bow.

 

[Devil Diver Down]

8. They're a lot of fun to hunt but the fun ends real quick after you kill it.

Pardon my ignorance, but does the fun end because they stink? A buddy of mine says they taste foul, but the few times I've had the meat I thought it was great. I hear they are a biotch to skin.

Thanks for the input guys. I'm itching to send an arrow at something besides foam and paper and I'm currently missing the archery deer hunt, sick as a dog in bed.

 

[BuzzH]

I dont think they're hard to skin at all, just do it right away.

They arent the best eating critter though not horrible.

They are custom made for bowhunting, Basser is right.

 

[easeup]

javi

What to know about stink pigs:
1. They stink
2. If they're in a group and feeding, keep the wind in your favor and you should probably be able to get close enough to kick em
3. They stink
4. You'll glass over the same area a couple times before you spot em, but once you find one the rest will start popping up all around the hillside.
5. They stink
6. If you bust them up you can call them back in with a J-14 or even just a regular varmint call. Sometimes they come running back in and the rest of the time they run even faster the other way.
7. They stink.
8. They're a lot of fun to hunt but the fun ends real quick after you kill it.
9. They stink
10. It's a great time of the year to be out in the desert.

they got fleas too

 

[easeup]

and I forgot to mention....they can't see. if the wind is right, you can walk right up to them

 

[Basser]

I've seen a handful of experienced hunters dry heave while skinning them

They're not tough to skin but you need to be careful with the musk gland on the top of their backside, don't allow for that or the oil to get on the meat. If you look along their spine about 6 inches to a foot above hind end you will see a nipple looking projection that is the gland. There are some people who put the meat in the crockpot with green chile and swear that it's just like pulled pork. Personally, I can't get past the smell and have mine made into sausage. Anything will taste great with enough pork fat and seasoning.

Here is a good reference that you should look at: http://www.javelinahunter.com/

Get yourself one of those calls or another varmint type call before you go. It's a blast to get them all puffed up and running at you

 

[danr55]

Javelina have a scent gland in the middle of thier back. DON"T TOUCH IT FOR ANYTHING! Once you get that mess on your hands or knife, the meat will be useless. THEY STINK! You'll see them nuzzling each other nose to butt. They are rubbing the scent from that gland on themselves so they recognize every member of their herd. They have terrible eyesight, but great noses. If you shoot one, start skinning from the belly and cut the hide away toward the back on both sides. That will help you not get the scent on anything. If you can avoid the scent contamination, the meat isn't bad.

 

[480 stu-ffer]

D D D ... Have you potted one yet ...

 

[MTGunner]

Javelina = skunk with bad breath...

What Basser said, "they stink". I have shot a few and took the skulls to do european mounts. Stand up wind after ya' shoot 'em. BTW, not a pig. Much closer to the rodent family. Have a good hunt. MTG

 

[schmalts]

they taste like crap.... they stink, they are made for bow or handgun hunting. Great critter for kids to hunt as well. Hard to find but once found pretty easy to get close to. if they get spooked and scatter imitate the grunt they make and they will sometimes charge right back towards you. It is fun to watch them, there is something amusing about those little critters.

 

[Devil Diver Down]

D D D ... Have you potted one yet ...

Not yet. Got out Thursday for the first time and found a ton of fresh sign but no animals. Some kind gentleman decided to hike back in near where I was and shoot boxes of ammo from a high-powered rifle all afternoon. Must have shot 200+ rounds. Nice echoes.

I was going to go yesterday but the Quad factor rises about 10x on Fridays. The weekends in my GMU (22) are useless. Doesn't seem to matter how far back you go. Figured I'd be better served by getting work done the next few days so I can free myself up for Wednesday-Friday.

Would like to put the hurt on a javelina and/or a buck. Don't know if there's still rutting activity.

 

[Devil Diver Down]

Here is a good reference that you should look at: http://www.javelinahunter.com/

Get yourself one of those calls or another varmint type call before you go. It's a blast to get them all puffed up and running at you

That's a good site. I got a call and practiced with it. The booklet suggests not using it unless you locate a herd and they scatter or you can't get to them, so I haven't had occasion to use it in the field yet.