Size of pig herds in Unit 18B?

[Don Martin]

Having just spent two weeks up in Unit 18B on the HAM hunts with friends and a client, I came away with the shocking revelation that the pig numbers From Goodwin Mesa and south to Highway 93 are WAY DOWN. Same for herds on Bozarth Mesa.

 

Wondering what you other hunters in the unit found?

 

This year we had 12 hunters in our annual Big Pig contest for the HAM hunt. Only 5 of those in the contest bagged a pig. Two others missed two shots. Normally we would have nine or ten hunters fill out.

 

However what was alarming to us was the size of the herds that we found. Normally we see herds from 8-12 animals with some young ones (redds) and half growns (footballs we call 'em) in the herds.

 

This year the average herd had just five animals, and we never saw any young ones! We found two single pigs, one group of three and about five groups with four or five animals.

 

We found two herds with six, and only one herd with eight animals.

 

I spoke with Erin Butler, the Region III Game Specialist and she noted that in the Decemeber surveys, the average was 8.3 animals, and that plenty of young animals were seen in the herds.

 

She also said that the "trigger" for reducing tags was six animals.

 

Well 80% of the herds we saw had less than six animals.

 

So those of you that hunted the HAM hunt there I would like to know what you saw?

 

This weekends rifle hunt could really hurt those small herds. We've got about eight hunters coming in and I'm really concerned. I know I sure won't recommend to our hunters that they shoot a pig out of a group of less than five.

 

I don't know why the drop in numbers, is it over hunting, disease, lack of reproduction, predators (we saw a lot of coyotes on Goodwin Mesa).

 

So if you were there, please share your information.

 

Unit 18B is a great place to hunt pigs, sure don't want to see it ruined...

 

Here are a couple of photos of pigs that were taken by successful hunters. The first one is of the third place pig while the bottom photo is of the current second place pig.

 

Oh in our Big Pig contest, right now the top pig weighed in at 40 lbs 6 oz. Second is 36 lbs 11 oz and third is 35 lbs 10 oz.

 

 

Don Martin

Arizona Wildlife Outfitters

 

 

[azslim]

I'm inclined to think predators Don, was East of you after Elk in Dec and saw a bunch of coyotes and heard many more. Picked up lion sign in a couple spots too.

[brian390]

I heard (don't know if it is true or not) that in unit 21 there is a disease spreading thru the javelina and killing them off. Maybe there is a possibility that the pigs in 18b are spreading a disease also. Don't know, but could be a possibility.

[1uglydude]

I heard (don't know if it is true or not) that in unit 21 there is a disease spreading thru the javelina and killing them off. Maybe there is a possibility that the pigs in 18b are spreading a disease also. Don't know, but could be a possibility.

 

It's canine distempter, and it has always made runs through pig populations. Usually, it only a problem for herds near populated areas. In 21, it's an issue for herds south of Camp Verde. In 37B, it's an issue north of Oracle. Usually distemper doesn't leave smaller herds, it just wipes out whole herds entirely. 18B is pretty big and remote, it's more likely a predator issue.

[brian390]

1uglydude, thanks for educating me.

[mpriest]

Heard it hit 6A pigs pretty bad too prior to the hunts

[Don Martin]

Up date on our big pig contest!

 

We had 10 hunters in camp and 8 got one while one guy passed on one at 60 yards as he thought it was too late! (Hmm). One guy came from Vegas, had one day to hunt (Sunday) and it was cold and windy..no pigs.

 

Big pig ended up weighing 43.15 lbs

Second weighed 40 lbs 6 oz

Third was 40 lbs

Fourth was 38 lbs 1 oz.

 

All weights were after pigs were proiperly field dressed.

 

Gave my concerns to G&F in Region III, we'll see what happens!

 

Thanks for the information.

 

Don Martin

Arizona Wildlife Outfitters

[Seldom Drawn]

Don,

I think I asked you this same question a couple years ago on a different forum ,when you brought this same topic up.

I am not trying to stir the pot up because you do this for your Income, and a hard line of work It Is to make It In your business.

But you guys killed 13 pigs do you only take out of state hunters?If you take In state they will be back In your spots the next year and the next and they will start bringing there friends and family, I have outfitter friends that will only guide out of state hunters for just this reason.do you think killing as many pigs as you guys do year In and year out has an effect on the herds, I have friends you have help that could never kill a pig without your help now that Is the only unit they hunt.

 

Seldom Drawn

[ArizonaWildernessHunter]

Heard it hit 6A pigs pretty bad too prior to the hunts

Where at? I personally saw healthy herds as recent as the November muzzleloader elk hunt and a friend of mine got a nice Javelina during the 6A archery hunt. It would be bad if they were hit again, saw some issues about 4 years ago.

 

I know that some areas including 19A are over run with predators lately. My dad and I both got pigs during our 19A rifle hunt out of a very aggressive herd that had a fair number of coyotes trying to pick off young. They will be getting a visit from my FoxPro soon. Sometimes if a cat is working an area all the local herds will bunch up into a larger herd and they don't get along very well. You end up seeing tons of sign or none depending on where you are at. Saw this in 6A a couple years ago during archery. The next day we were out hunting and we started hearing hounds. Apparently the cat went right by us possibly twice in one day since we kept bumping into dogs, lion track, and running javelina.