Knifeboy

Looks like I will be going Elk hunting. I got a hit this morning.

Honestly, it’s probably my favorite hunt every year. I'm referring to archery Javelina hunting in January. I have come to the conclusion that it is my favorite due to the fact that I can hunt Javelina, Deer, and Lion all at the same time; and there is a really good chance of getting a shot at a pig every year. As a matter of fact I have shot Javelina seven years in a row in unit 33. However, they are so nasty I decided not to put in this year (so I thought). My friend from Wisconsin called me up the first week of January and told me to go buy a leftover tag for unit 34A because he was flying out to meet up with me and my brother-in-law to spend a weekend chasing Deer and Javelina. I felt like if he was willing to fly out from Wisconsin the least I could do was meet up with him and make some more memories. Well it turns out that I am really glad I went hunting with them. The first day of the hunt we all went out and found pigs right away. I decided to sit and glass to watch my friend (Sean) and my Brother-in-law (Cameron) make a stock, I was going to assist from the radio as best I could. Well it turns out that as soon as my friends took off after the pigs, the pigs decided to leave as well. I watched the pigs go up and over a ridge, and I tried to walk my friends in on where I thought the pigs went to no avail. So after a while I went around that ridge to the next ridge over and started glassing and right away found the pigs again. I call my buddies on the radio and told them we needed to regroup and make a new plan of attack. After a few minutes of discussion we all decided that Sean would stay back and watch as Cameron and I gave the pigs a try. Cameron and I got into the pigs right away and made a great stock on them, however, Cameron forgot to compensate for a very steep downward angling shot and put his arrow over the back of a pig which spooked the whole heard away. After that we spend the rest of the day chasing rutting deer with no success. The second day started off much the same as the first; we found pigs at first light. The biggest difference in the two days is that this heard of pigs was right of the side of the road. I told Cameron to drop my off and keep driving so the pigs would spook off. This proved very effective, as the pigs didn’t seem to care that the truck stopped only momentarily and they just drove off. At this point I was already off the road and heading up the hill to get in front of the pigs who were total unsuspecting of me. I got up the ridge a ways and stopped into a decent shooting lane where the pigs were heading. I waited for several of the pigs to clear the crossing, and as luck would have it two pigs stopped right in my shooting lane. I drew back and let one fly. I hit the pig hard and she took off in a blaze of glory. I was in the middle of some very thick Cholla, and it was a little difficult to see where my pig went. I caught a glimpse of her running downhill where she crossed the road. I was totally pumped up and knew that I had just killed a great Javelina. I called Cameron on the phone and told him what happened, and asked him to come over and help me track my pig. Cameron arrived shortly, and like the blood hound he is was on the trail before I could tell him where to go. We followed the blood trail for a few minutes, and my eye caught movement up and to my right. When I looked I saw my pig moving very slowly toward the road. I called out to Cameron and when he looked up to see my pig we both knew what was about to happen. My pig decided to crawl into a culvert for safety. Unfortunately my Javelina went 40 feet into the culvert before she expired. Well I was pretty excited that I had killed my pig, however, I was devastated that I was going to have to crawl into a culvert to pull it out. As it turns out, I am a little too fat to fit into this particular culvert, so I decided to call Sean who was hunting another area, and ask him for a favor (there is a whole different story from several years ago that ended with Sean crawling into a Javelina den to pull his pig out). When I got Sean on the phone I asked him if he wanted to crawl into another cave after a stink pig (I was laughing as I did this, however, Sean did not find it as comical as I did). A little while later Sean showed up to assess the situation and decided he could in fact fit in the culvert; however, he was not very excited to be crawling into the culvert filled with Cholla, pig poop, and what he thought might still be a live Javelina. You can watch the video as well as see the photos to see how funny this whole thing was in person. As I was cleaning out my Javelina Cameron noticed a bobcat was watching me, and was waiting for us to leave so it could have an easy meal. Cameron was able to range the Bobcat up and shoot it with his bow! Sweet! Way to go Cameron! Too make a long story shorter, Cameron and Sean both ended up getting their pigs at the same time later that afternoon check out the photos below). All in the entire hunt was a blast and I am really glad I went; however, I still gag and question what I am doing every time I shoot a Javelina. Here is the Culvert Sean had to crawl into. Here goes Sean. Sean is the man! Here I am with the biggest pig any of us have ever taken. Cameron's son trying not to throw up as he gets a whiff of the Javelina. Cameron and his Bobcat taken with a bow! Left to right Cameron and Sean get a double out of the same herd. Here is my racoon. My first by the way.

I would guess him at about 85. Shoot him and then we can really find out.

What a great read, and fantastic photos to boot. Tell Jaycie congratulations on a monster first buck. Its amazing how calm the youth seem to be when they are shooting big game; and how anxious adults get. I have been told that youth (especialy girls) are much better shots than adults when put in a situation where they have to make a shot on a great animal. I was glad to hear Chef got to make it out with you, I have been on several hunting trips with him, and its always very entertaining having him along.

Classic. Thanks for sharing.

Happy birthday (September birthdays rock, they kick of some good hunting seasons!) Have a blast tonight.

Bill, The road to Diamond Rock is still closed, I went down there Saturday the 3rd. I have seen the sheep there several times over the last few years, it will be good to see them there again.

I heard them in there while chasing Mulies with my bow (weekend before last). I am headed out tomorrow morning to the same area. I will let you know if they have picked it up any.

And a bat flying through the photo! A buck with no testicals usually due to a tangle with a barb wire fence that because he no longer has a normal testosterone cycle doesn't shed his antlers or rub his velvet off. Their antlers usually become pretty non-typical as you can see with this deer. I am not sure if they are called cactus bucks because their antlers look like cactus or because they may have lost their jewels on a cactus. Cactus bucks are pretty rare. I always understood it to be called a cactus buck because of the way the rack looks. But since you brought it up that would really bite to lose your boys to a feindish cactus. I have accidentally sat on a few while hunting, luckily they never turned me into a cactus man! LOL By the way I absolutely love the cactus buck pictured. Please post more.

Congratulations! That’s fantastic shot placement for a 50 yarder. Shooting a deer with your bow spot and stalk style is really really frustrating and unbelievably rewarding at the same time. Way to get it done.

Your Gemsbuck is absolutely amazing. Congratulations on a phenomenal trip! I still remember reading your story about Alaska. It was kind of an inspiration for me to go. I hope someday to go and shoot a Gemsbuck in Africa. Thanks for the posts, they made me feel like I was there.

Vortex (only recently though). Before that I used 20X60 Pentax, I have seen a lot of critters with them Pentax, in all honesty it was kinda hard giving them up.

The high fives,hand shakes,and blood pressure were through the roof. Thats a hilarious line! We all know the feeling, and I felt it as I read the post. Great Post! And that is an absolutely beautiful bear! Big congratualtions to you.

Way to go! That is some serious dedication. I am really glad it finally paid off for you. Beautiful bear, looks like she has some nice color down her legs and sides. I really enjoyed the write up as well.

That turned out amazing! I love the black color for the backing, it really shows the white fur of the belly. I am extreamly impressed that a nine year old was able to do that. Looks like it runs in the family.