Another Junior Javelina Tale

[muskrat]

Last year, jlg was kind enough to help my daughter on her first javelina hunt (along with dank, kphunter, and friend rk). We were only able to get out one day but had an awesome time. No pigs were seen until Mikaela and I were already on our way home. With commitments at home, it was too late to turn back. John was bound and determined to get Mikaela another chance so he suggested that Miky put in this year for a 20B/21 Junior Tag. He would be helping jvincent and his younger brother Ethan, so it might make for a good hunt. He had also enlisted the help of Mr.Smith who had in turn offered up his super-secret honeyhole.

 

On Saturday morning, John's friend Miguel met us at my house around 4:30 AM and off we headed for the Sportsman's Warehouse on the west side of town. We met jlg, Mr.Smith, jvincent and his brother and were then northward-bound. The rains had made "the spot" inaccessible, so Plan B was implemented. I can only tell you that our new destination was along I-17, between Sunset Point and Flagstaff. The miles flew by and in no time we were parked, packed, and tromping up the hill (after a quick pop-in visit with TLH and drpice). It was a gray, blustery day. The wind was cold. Mud on the flats caked your boots and made walking a hassle. By day's end we had been rained on, sleeted on, and had sat glassing in snow flurries. It is the coldest day I have spent in a long, long time.

 

Mountains in the distance were covered with an odd white substance...

 

 

Everyone was cold, but they were all glassing hard

 

Even Mikaela

 

Man, it was cold!

 

Brrrr

 

Eventually, a herd of pigs was spotted - a lonnnnng ways off. John and Miguel stayed on the hill. The rest of us headed down into the basin. The pigs eluded us though. We went on a fairly robust trek. Saw some deer, including a monster buck that we bumped twice, and a smaller buck who had an arrow sticking out of his head. Mikaela only seemed to fuss when we stopped to rest or glass. She seemed to be happier when we were traipsing along, up and down hills, across the flats, through the washes. Eventually we made it to the road, and the guys met up with us to head back to the starting point. A quick lunch, and then we headed up the highway and across the road to spend the last couple of hours of the day glassing some new hills. It was not to be though, and we headed south, empty-handed.

 

Sunday morning, I think everyone was dragging a bit. Miky and I were running late by about 10 minutes, and so was Josh. He blamed the Whataburger drive-through, but did admit to hitting the "snooze" button, more than once. Miguel had to work, Jack and his brother had other plans, opting to hunt Monday and Tuesday. Mikaela and I piled in with Josh and John, and away we went.

 

It was fairly cool again, but we were looking forward to sun. We were on the same canyon rim as the day before, but a bit east. Within a couple of hours jlg had found the "Arrowhead Buck". Josh was determined to finish this guy off if we found him again, but he wandered off and we lost him. (The deer, not Mr. Smith) Within 45 minutes, the Pig Whisperer had found pigs. This time they were closer than the ones we found the day before. We formulated a plan, and down we headed into the canyon again.

 

There was a lone saguaro out on the point of a finger that would put us within a hundred yards or so of the pigs. That was our goal. We made our way down and soon arrived at our destination. John could still see the pigs but they were moving. We were having a hard time finding them. After setting and re-setting several times (jlg had loaned us his tripod and Claw), we finally had a couple of pigs feeding that would offer a shot. Mikaela settled in and waited for one to turn broadside. Finally it turned but even with the Claw, she couldn't get the rifle steady enough to take the shot. The two pigs wandered back and forth, in and out of view for the next 10 minutes. It was getting a bit frustrating, but Miky refused to take a shot she wasn't sure of. (Good for her!) Finally, Josh tightened the Claw up to the point where there was very little movement. Miky settled in and after a couple of minutes, squeezed off the shot. The pig staggered and sunk. She got up slowly and turned. Mik hit her again. One more for insurance, and we made our way down. The big sow lay in the jojoba bush she was feeding in when Mik shot her. Mik had broken the MacFarlane Curse.

 

Mik showing off the tusks

 

Mikaela and dad

[muskrat]

Epilogue

 

I sincerely want to thank jlg and Mr.Smith for their help and enthusiasm. Josh went out of his way to teach Mik about different things while we were on our walkabouts, and gave her some pep talks when she was tired and grumpy, coming up out of the canyon. I'm honored to consider these guys friends.

 

Mikaela was visibly upset about something on the way home, and we were having a hard time getting it out of her. I assumed she was just tired. She had been grumpy at reveille this morning and she really is a bit of a lazy-butt. I figured that she was just being a grouch. When she's tired or not wanting to do something, she's a bear. After the guys dropped us off at the truck, I kept probing to see what was up. "I just want to talk to Mom" she kept saying. Eventually, she blurted out that she enjoyed hunting with us, but that she had honestly never thought we'd actually get anything. She was upset that she had killed the javelina.

 

We talked a lot about hunting and killing. I told her that true hunters respect the animal, and one doesn't truly celebrate killing the animal as much as the hunt itself. We honor the animal by respecting it enough to only take ethical shots, and by using the meat. Taxidermy mounts aren't so much to brag, but to pay homage to the creature. We talked about how animals think (or don't think) and how they process pain. I told her I wouldn't push hunting on her, and that if/when she wanted to hunt again, she could ask me. She thinks she could maybe shoot a quail, and coyotes "for sure". I'm wondering if she feels a little more guilty because it was a sow. She said "Well maybe I'll feel better when I get some rest".

 

After a nap, she's doing better. Not sure if she's at peace yet, but she's excited about her skull and having some chorizo made. She mentioned a few times that she'd like to go hunting again, but maybe only if someone else does the killing. In a lot of ways, I'm glad this had an impact on her. It will be interesting to see how she ends up with it all.

[AZ402]

Congrats to your daughter!!

[bonecollector]

Congrats to you and your daughter. Good write up too.

[Coach]

Awesome - great job! Love to see those Jr. hunters out there. Thanks for posting the story!

[DesertBull]

MARSHALL!!!!!!!! That's awesome.I know you've spent a lot of time, money, and boot leather trying to get a pig with a lot of close calls. VERY HAPPY for you.

[Coues Archer]

Nice piggy congrats.

[muskrat]

Thanks DB. You were instrumental on my very first pig hunt!

Thanks to all for your comments

 

Folks, Mik wanted to write her own story. You can read it here: http://arizonahuntingtoday.com/desertrat/2...the-sunset-sow/

[Coues 'n' Sheep]

 

I simply love it when a good plan and good people come together! Congrats to all!

[CouesWhitetail]

Congratulations Mikaela!! Hunting can certainly bring out intense emotions!! Thanks for sharing your story with us!!

 

Amanda

 

[tjhunt2]

. She mentioned a few times that she'd like to go hunting again, but maybe only if someone else does the killing. In a lot of ways, I'm glad this had an impact on her. It will be interesting to see how she ends up with it all.

 

Firsat of all congratulations to Mikaela on her pig and for sticking in there when the weather was bad and the long hikes. She was a trooper for sure. My hats off to her and thanks for sharing her story with us here.

 

Know matter what impact this has on her it was a learning experience and know matter it she hunts again you come away with some great memories to share with others. I'll bet once she starts showing them boys her skull she shot, don't be surprises to hear her say let's do it again Dad. Give her time and if she decides to just go along on some hunts and not want to kill then how sweet would that be to just have her along as part of the team. I win win situation in my book. Keep us posted on her next adventure.

 

TJ