Coach Report post Posted January 7, 2013 Well, I haven't had a chance to get the pictures off my camera yet, and TOTALLY failed to get a picture of Matt's first archery Javi, so for now the story will have to do. The whole family headed out Wednesday night for a long weekend of hunting javis. My oldest son, Matt was hoping to get his first ever with a bow. He's got 2 or 3 now with a rifle, and wanted to use his bow last year, but it just didn't work out. We set up camp Wednesday night and the wind was howling. We got up early and went to our first glassing spot, and it was super cold and windy. As the sun started to finally light up the hillsides, Matt says "I got 'em" and sure enough he outglassed dad and found the first herd. Honestly, as windy as it was, they were in the last place I expected them to be, right out in the open. Matt grabbed his bow and rangefinder and went after them. Having hunted Javelina for years, to me this was a 10-15 minute stalk. But Matt has been getting mentally ready for this for so long, he didn't leave anything to chance. Once he left me, I kept an eye on the pigs and tried to track his progress... 20 minutes pass, 45, and hour...I'm wondering where in the world he is. The pigs are still relaxed, so that's good, but I'm thinking he should have shot a long time ago. After it had been an hour and a half, I didn't want to call him on the radio and mess him, up, but I was starting to get worried a little. I grab my pack and bow and take a hard angle downwind and move back toward the pigs. Just as I get in range, I hear Matt on the radio - Dad, I just double lunged, come on in... I had to laugh, as I was looking at his pig bedded about 40 yards away. I snuck on in and had another one feeding below at around 35 yards. I waited patiently for it to turn broadside, drew, shot and hear the whack of a solid hit. The whole herd gets up now and I've got pigs from 15 - 30 yards all around me, but I felt my first shot was good, especially with the sound. The pigs eventually vacated, and we went to claim our "double". Turns out, my arrow was sticking out of the dirt right below where this pig was standing - no blood, no hair - a complete miss. I consider myself pretty accurate, especially at that range, but let's just say I was totally humbled. We continuned to hunt the rest of the day, found another group, but with nobody to guide us in we spooked them without ever knowing it. Late in the afternoon, we headed up a road and saw a single boar going over a little ridge right off the road. We started stalking in a circle around where we had last seen him, and found two pigs right below us in the wash. A quick change of approach and we are now about 25 yards away and busted by the "boss" boar. It's really thick and we can see him taking the herd out of there. I start blowing the Javi call, since they are clearly onto us. Now, I've used this call many times, and 9 times out of 10, it has little effect, sometimes, the dominant boar will come back. As soon as I started blowing this call, the entire herd puffed up and started running and bouncing right at us. Time for rookie mistake #2 of the day, I've got a pig 12 yards away in a tree with a little opening. I shoot, think - OK this time I've got him, only to find my arrow broke in half before ever reaching him. Once again - I'm feeling like a dummy. After that shot I had pigs in every direction from 12 - 30 yards but didn't shoot because I thought I had hit. Once again, no blood, no hair, just a broken arrow because I wasn't patient enough. I have to admit though, having all those pigs come crashing in...my adreneline was pumping. But it was a bad call to take the shot I did. I thought I could do it, but all it takes is one limb. So Day 1 is done, Matt has his first Javi back at camp and skinned in the dark. Day 2, we head back out. Pretty much every herd I know to hunt was chased out of the country yesterday. This time, my middle son Nick is with us. We hit all the standard spots and turn up nothing. So around 11 we hike into an area we have only seen from far, but figure there should be some pigs in there somewhere. About a mile or so in, we're up on a hill looking at some awesome country - no pigs. There's a huge knob way off in the distance where I had hunted with a friend a long time ago and he killed a nice buck in there. We decided to cut the heaviest darn tree in the area to make a pole and carry it out - just dumb kids learning to hunt. But as I talked about the story, Matt says, "Dad, you've got to look at this, I think I've got pigs." Sure enough, Matt finds a herd at least another mile in. It's mid-day, hot and the pigs are waaaay over there, and even if we do get to them, it's gonna be a LONG hike out. But hey, we're here, why not make a move? We watch them move over the ridge and start our move. I figure it will be 45 minutes to an hour before we can get to the last place we saw them. Sure enough, we get over there, and really start sneaking to relocate the herd. On the next finger over, I see them feeding and start working up the ridge into the wind. Then I hear the "WOOF". At least 2 stayed behind on this ridge and I had one broadside at 40 yards but before I could draw, a closer one that I could only see once it started running took off. The one I was watching followed. Back now to the main herd - about 200 yards off on the lower part of a steep finger. I get the boys back on the radio, tell them I'm going after them and start the stalk. Given how long it took to get to them from the first time Matt saw them, this last part seemed pretty quick. I had the wind, but it was a fairly open hillside. I drop down a steep, thick hill and start moving toward a Palo Verde I had picked out just above them. When I knew I was close, I started really taking my time - one small step, pause, repeat. Eventually, I see the tops of backs moving in front of me around 50 yards away. One step at a time, I narrow it down to around 35 yards, the 30, then 28...Finally I'm inside my "comfort zone", and know there is no way I'll miss. I've got 2 pigs in range and one of them makes the mistake of waking uphill and into an opening. I draw, settle my pin and loose the arrow. It found it's mark and the pig only went five yards and started making circles. The rest of the herd started puffing up and running around me, but I knew it was done. Whew, long story, lots of fun chasing pigs. I'll add a picture of the boar I shot. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
standman Report post Posted January 7, 2013 That's awesome Jason! Congrats to the both of you. Hope you left one for me. Brian Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Coach Report post Posted January 7, 2013 Thanks Brian, Huge congrats again on your coues buck. Very nicely done. I assure you, there are still plenty of those little buggers out there. They don't move that far, you guys will find them. If you get a chance to scout, Joshy has 24A/24B and I'm at a loss of where to start. Nick has 23 at the same time and my 24A spots are at least an hour away in the wrong direction. I've never hunted 24B, so I'll be going in blind. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
standman Report post Posted January 7, 2013 I know where a few bunches in 24B are at. I'll let you know where they are. We found them in November. You won't have to travel very far either. Brian Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Pine Donkey Report post Posted January 7, 2013 Great story Coach. Congratulations to Matt one his first archery pig. Thanks for posting the story, I love reading about kids as they mature into great hunters. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bonecollector Report post Posted January 7, 2013 Always enjoy reading your family hunting adventures. Congrats to Matt on his first archery pig, well done! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tjhunt2 Report post Posted January 9, 2013 You always put a good story together Jason. My congratulations to you but especially to Matt on arrowing his first pig. I know how proud you are of your sons. You are a very fortunate father to have your sons hunting along side ya. I envy you! Thanks again for another great story and the pictures you always share with us all here on cwt. TJ Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Coach Report post Posted January 11, 2013 Hey, thanks guys. I'll post some pix of the boar I shot. I misplaced my camera. I am SOOO kicking myself for not getting a picture of Matt's Javi. We were following the herd and he literally would not let me stop long enough for pix. We GPS'd the coordinates to his pig and came back to it in as it was getting dark after losing the rest of the herd several drainages over. I'm glad you like the stories - sometimes they get a little long-winded. But, hey, I'm always recording the story mentally, as it happens, so I can remember what to type when I get home. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Chef Report post Posted January 11, 2013 Congrats to Matt. I enjoyed the read Coach. Very nicely done. "I just double lunged...come on in." AWESOME!!! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Coach Report post Posted January 11, 2013 Congrats to Matt.I enjoyed the read Coach. Very nicely done. "I just double lunged...come on in." AWESOME!!! Thanks Chef, that was my favorite part of the hunt. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Coach Report post Posted January 12, 2013 Here's my boar. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
200"mulie Report post Posted January 15, 2013 Nicely done congrats !! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
standman Report post Posted January 15, 2013 Jason, clear out some pms. Tried sending you one says your full. Brian Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MULEPACKHUNTER Report post Posted January 15, 2013 Jealous here, I cant seem to find more than good sign. Working hard again this weekend Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
