Gr8 White Jr

Technology has come so far with archery equipment since the original law was made so I think this is a good change. A lot of youth hunters struggle to pull the 40 lb legal limit which in turn affects their accuracy. Taking a few pounds off to improve accuracy seems like a good trade and with todays bows there will still be enough energy to make a clean ethical kill. -Tracy

Congrats again buddy! Thanks for the play by play during your hunt. Felt like I was right there with you. Wish I could have been there to film it. Next time! Congrats again on a true accomplishment you should be very proud of! -Tracy

Awesome! Congrats to the hunter! I can't imagine the adrenaline rush that would be to sit out there in the dark predator calling. -Tracy

Anybody who knows me knows that I am a javelina nut. I absolutely LOVE hunting javelina specially with a bow. This year it was over way too fast. Opening morning found me at one of my most favorite places on the planet, the rock point where I love to glass from for javelina. Frank (Kaffer62), my traditional javelina hunting partner, couldn't make it out so I was hunting solo. I sat up on my point glassing until about 9:00 when I spotted several javelina feeding on a ridge side about ¾ of mile away. What a sweet sight, game on! I gathered my gear and was off for the long hike to get into position for a stalk. The terrain is very steep and there is quite some elevation change that had to be made to get to the herd of javelina so it took me a good hour and half to get down wind and underneath them. Once I was in position I started my stalk up the steep ridge toward where the javelina had been feeding. I took my time and made sure to be very quiet as I moved in closer. When I got to where I had last seen the javelina they were nowhere to be found. I kept sneaking forward glassing into the think junipers for any sign of the herd but their were no javelina to be found. I was confused and wondering where the herd slipped off to so I circled around and got on top of some cliffs just above where the herd had been feeding. I sat down and glassed below me trying to relocate the herd. After about 10 minutes without seeing anything I heard some brief crying from a piglet. The sound was right below me a couple hundred yards so I stayed put and stared into that direction until I caught movement. There was the herd right where I had just come from. When I passed them to get down wind and then started to make my way up to them, they had started to move down to the creek bottom to get a drink. We must have passed by within 75 yards of each other without knowing it. Hahaha! I'm surprised I didn't hear them as they moved down the canyon side, but the wind was blowing pretty hard and would have muffled any sound made. I watched the herd move up the opposite side of the canyon hoping they would find a place to bed down so I could plan a stalk. They never stopped. They slowly headed away from me stopping every so often to feed briefly before continuing on. I lost sight of them after about an hour as they moved into some thick junipers toward the top of the ridge. I figured they were going to top over into a big bowl on the other side of the ridge where I have seen them many times before so I circled around to get a better vantage point. An hour and a half later I was over looking the big bowl where I thought the herd would be but after glassing for quite some time it was getting late and I decided I better start heading out. I knew the herd would most likely be in the big bowl in the morning so I was confident that I could find them then. I headed out and got to my truck earlier than expected. There was still about an hour of light left so I decided I would hit a few spots on the way out and do some quick glassing. After glassing two locations on the way out there was only one more place I wanted to check before heading home. I parked the truck, got out and started glassing the opposite side of the canyon. As soon as I through my binos up I saw a javelina right in the middle of my field of view. There was a small group of four feeding in the open about a half mile away. My first thought was that I would never make it to them before it was dark. The sun had just set so I had maybe a half hour of shooting light left. I decided to go for it anyway. I took nothing but my bow and I literally sprinted along the canyon side toward the feeding javelina. Because of the wind I had to pass them and then approach them from the opposite side. After getting passed them I dropped down into the canyon and made my way up the opposite side. I moved very fast, staying on my tip toes and taking long strided steps, almost lunges up the hillside. I really was expecting them to hear me coming but I had no choice, there was no time to move in slowly being that I was racing the fast fading light. Once I was level with the small herd and perfectly down wind I started moving toward them. One of the javelina was much bigger than the other three so I kept my eye on him hoping that he would be the one to give me a shot. I closed the distance to 49 yards from the biggest in the group. He was broadside and in the open so I drew my bow back. When I got to full draw he moved behind a bush and started walking directly away from me. I let down my bow and I thought it was over being that I was down to the last 5 minutes of shooting light but I kept with it and moved in closer. One of the other javelina walked by the biggest of the group and there was a small “disagreement” between the two. The biggest pig growled and snapped at the other one chasing it for about 10 yards straight toward me. The chase ended but the pig being chased kept walking in my direction. I knew this was my opportunity so when the pig got to about 20 to 25 yards and turned broadside I drew my bow and settled my pins. He turned and looked right at me but it was too late. I followed through with my release and my arrow was on its way. WHACK!!! He let out a roar as the rage broad head zipped right through him. He ran about 10 yards and stopped. I knew it was over as he started to do the “wobble dance” but he was still on his feet so I sent another arrow through him. He ran forward again and into some bushes. I snuck over to where the first hit was and recovered my arrow and placed it back in my quiver. I moved quietly toward where I had last seen the pig go and there he was, still standing. Man these animals are tough! He was quartering away so I drew back and settled my 30 yard pin right at the last rib and released. My arrow hit its mark and zipped all the way through exiting in front of the opposite shoulder. He took tow lunges forward and did a cart wheel piling up between two bushes. He was down for good and thankfully because another minute or two later and it would have been too dark to shoot. As I walked up to my trophy, all I was thinking was “I can't believe its over already.” This is the same thought that goes through my head every year when I'm putting my tag on another javelina. I wait all year for that special time when I can pursue these amazing creatures with my favorite weapon in hand (bow and arrow) and as always it seems to come to an end way too fast leaving me wanting more. This javelina was an average size boar, probably 3 or 4 years old. I know you really cant tell in the field but I always hope to take a boar instead of a sow just for the reproduction aspect of it. I was aways from the truck and since I went light and left my pack behind I had no flash light. I grabbed my javelina and started my way out. When I got back to the truck I took a few pictures and headed home, thankful for another successful hunt but sad at the same time that it was all over. I usually take pictures through out my hunts but since I was hunting solo and was into action most of the day I didn't have time to take any other pictures but the one with my trophy. Thanks to those who took the time to read my story! I know to some its “just a javelina” but I like to share all my adventures regardless of what Im pursuing! This is my 9th javelina, 6th one with a bow but to me its just as special and just as exciting as the 1st javelina I ever put my tag on. I can never say it enough but a big thank you to Amanda for such an amazing site where we can share our passion and adventures with each other. -Tracy Sorry about the bloody pic. I usually try to clean things up for the pics but it was dark and I didn't realize how bad it looked until I got home and was uploading them to my computer.

Those are two absolute gorgeous bucks! Makes me want to go chase muleys so bad. Congrats to you guys on two awesome trophies! -Tracy

Great idea but I still have a deer tag to fill. I have a special little place I have been wanting to hunt and after filling my pig tag early I will finally have that opportunity. I might head down to the 36's in early February to do a little scouting. I can't wait to help out on women's hunt again! -Tracy

That was #34. I killed my first one in 1976 and missed a couple years. TJ Like I said, you are a pig killing machine! I only hope to have that many successful pig hunts under my belt some day. Hats off to you TJ! I hope Peg can put one on the ground next month. Congrats again buddy! -Tracy

That is just awesome! What a great first buck! Congrats and thanks for sharing your pics! Is there a story to go with it? Spot and stalk, how far was the shot, etc? -Tracy

I completely agree! Let me add that the torque issue was 100% me and had nothing to do with the bow. I am just used to shooting PSE and something about the balance of their bows and their grips is what my muscle memory was built on. I shoot bullet holes with every PSE I have ever owned only because my form was learned on their bows. Everybody will shoot every bow differently so make sure you really test them before you spend the money. I wish I would have spent a little more time shooting the Destroyer before I bought it. I lost my butt when I sold it. Sold it for over $500 less than I paid for it. -Tracy

Woohoo! Way to go TJ! You are a pig killing machine! What does that make, 33 or 34 pigs you have under your belt now? You and I share the same passion for hunting these neat little critters. Great write up! Congrats to you and your buddy! -Tracy

I had shot nothing but PSE since I started shooting archery 14 years ago. In 2010 when Bowtech came out with the Destroyer I shot it and had to have it. It was the most smooth drawing, smooth shooting bow I had ever shot. I ended up buying it only to find out that I had EXTREME torque issues with it and I was never able to overcome it. When I shot paper I had a 3 inch rip up and to the right no matter what I did. I had to move my rest over to where the tip of my arrow was pointed more than a half inch out of line just to shoot a perfect hole through the paper. I shot very well with this bow but the fact that I knew that my bow was tuned incorrectly just messed with my head. I tried EVERYTHING from new grips to no grips to different coaching and nothing worked. I spoke with many people who said that they have had the same problem when they went from one bow manufacturer to another. After battling with this issue for over a year I had to through in the towel and I sold the bow. I went back to what I know and bought a PSE Dream Season and my torque issues are no more. It was a feeling of defeat and I hated to get rid of a bow that was such a pleasure to shoot. Although my Dream Season isn't quite as smooth as the Destroyer, I shoot better with it than any other bow I have ever owned. If you are thinking about buying the Destroyer or any bow for that matter, I would strongly recommend shooting it A LOT and making absolute sure you don't have any issues before buying it. -Tracy

Hats off to you out pursuing coues with traditional archery equipment. Getting a shot is a success in itself. Congrats on sticking with it and harvesting a great coues buck! -Tracy

What a monster of a cat! Congrats to you and your dad on such a beast! -Tracy

Way to go Clay! Congrats to you and your dad! Memories of gold right there. -Tracy

Awesome! Great pics! Hunting javelina with a bow is about as fun as it gets. Congrats on getting it done! -Tracy

Awesome! Sounds like you had quite an eventful day. Way to stick with it and find that pig. Congrats! -Tracy

Woohoo! Congrats on a beautiful buck! Its going to be a LONG year for you now, but well worth it. Great write up! -Tracy

What an awesome buck! I love the character. Great write up, thanks for taking the time to share your hunt with us! Congrats! -Tracy

Count me in! Cant wait, last year was an absolute blast! -Tracy

aRT, I'm not one to get involved in these kind of topics but since you can't seem to let this one go I will give my two cents(even though it probably worth a lot less ). It is apparent that you have an agenda, just wondering if it consists of being confrontational. Dave (azhuntnut) took a legal lion by legal means of take. "Small female barely out of spots" or not, he needs no justification. Just because you wouldn't take a young lion or a female lion does not mean that other hunters shouldn't or need some kind of "justification" to do so. I know many guys who would never shoot a spike buck/bull, they would rather come home empty handed in hopes that those younger bucks/bulls will grow up to reach their prime maturity ages. These same guys however, would be very happy for another hunter who chooses to take a spike. I am happy for Dave and congratulate him on his first lion. Whether its a young female barely out of spots or a huge tom like the one recently posted, a trophy is in the eye of the beholder and if he chooses to do so Dave has every right to "boast" about HIS trophy. I think it is unfair of you to try to take away from his success just because YOU don't view his lion as a trophy. I don't think most people on this site would advocate the "total slaughter" of lions. Would they support keeping them in check? Absolutely! Just as all other predators do, lions have their place. I don't believe that lions are going to wipe out every deer on the planet but they sure can devastate the deer numbers in an area. I don't think deer or elk hold any higher value than a lion but on the same token the lion sure doesn't hold any higher value than the deer or elk. I don't want to see every lion slaughtered but at the same time I don't want to see deer numbers in areas take a hard hit because they are being "slaughtered" by lions. Try looking at it this way, you like to hunt lions and you are concerned for their numbers. As you stated you "would like to think that their will be a viable lion population for your kids and grandkids to enjoy." Well, a lot of guys like to hunt deer, elk and sheep and would like to think that there will be a viable population of those game animals for their kid and grand kids to enjoy. If lions weren't a problem then AZGFD wouldn't have just passed new laws to try to help keep their populations in check. There will be plenty of lions for your kids and grand kids to enjoy, I assure you that! Deer on the other hand, who knows? Anyway, don't take this lion stuff so seriously. Its going to work out, okay? -Tracy

What are you trying to say? :lol:

Creepy! I actually thought of a red hammer and said it out loud. Then I thought, "what are the odds that will be the answer?" Boy was I surprised! In all fairness, I do have a red handled hammer. -Tracy

Wow! What a gorgeous animal! A true stud for sure. Congrats to the hunter on a trophy of a life time! -Tracy

Awesome! Its been way too long since I've been out calling. Seeing your pics has really got me itching to get out. Coats look good on those Greys. Congrats! -Tracy

Yep! I've seen them. They were mingling with some caribou. -Tracy