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What's cold for javelina?

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I understand when it's cold javelina will hunker down and not be out if the weather is too cold. What's too cold to a javelina? In Tucson today the high was 58 -60 degrees with a breeze. Being a true desert rat, living in Tucson and growing up in Yuma, I must have thin blood. I was cold today. That got me thinking about my upcoming javelina hunt. Bet javelina wouldn't think it was cold out. Seems like every year when I'm out hunting in the early mornings I ponder this same question. So I thought I would put it out there for discussion. What's too cold for a javelina?

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They run thru the snow if they have to. We had warm weather this whole time and bam, a little cold front. Throws me in for a bit of a loop for the ham. But hopefully they will just be out latter. And all day long. If it gets really cold and windy, look in canyons and washes where there is shelter

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Not sure on your answer but from my personal experience during my deer hunt in November it was 40 in the morning and I spotted the javelina herd that I always see out feeding as soon as the sun hit their feeding spot. During my archery javelina I walked in, in the morning to be on there morning feeding spot. It was verryyyy cold that morning and the javelina didn't come in until about an hour. After the sun was already up. My point being with it being colder they don't get up a sun up like they were during my deer hunt. Just my .02 hope it helps some

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That's a good question Debbie. I hear pigs have been seen as far north as Flagstaff and I see pigs during my Nov. elk hunt every year north of Payson. The pig herd I hunt feed most of the night then bed hours before daylight even when the temperatures are below freezing.. They stay bunched up and head for their sunny bedding grounds at first light. Remember they have been feeding most of the night and still have full bellies. They normally lay by themselves in the sun and will stand once in a while and feed some. As the day warms my herd moves to thicker cover. Towards the evening they are up and feeding right up and thru most of the night.

Sorry Debbie for getting off track. I don't know how cold effects them above 5,000ft but they seem to survive somehow. They are tougher than we give them credit for. Look forward to seeing you soon. Good luck on your pig hunt. :)

 

TJ

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In my experience cold doesn't really bother them. Have seen them in weather below 20, like it's nothing. It's more the cold + wind. Add these two together, and they will stay down.

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IMO, javis are very unpredictable. The standard MO is they hunker down on cold, windy days and frolic on sunny warm days - especially after a cold front has moved through.

 

In reality, I've seen them very active on cold, snowy/sleety/windy days and very docile on warm weather days with the barometer rising.

 

Piggies generally follow the normal pattern of more activity when the barometer is rising, less activity when it's dropping, and almost no activity in high wind, cloudy and a front moving in. I have found that pattern to be pretty reliable for all game, even fish.

 

However, I've seen pigs in high winds, blowing sleet and rain, front of a front. I've also seen them gather under a tree super early AM, and hold there under perfect conditions, all day.

 

Bottom Line, IMO, go hunt 'em. They will probably surprise you with their uncanny knack of doing the opposite of what you expect them to do. That's why they are so fun.

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i have gotten more pictures of pigs at night whens its from 30 degrees down to around 10 degrees i think they move more when its really cold.

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i have gotten more pictures of pigs at night whens its from 30 degrees down to around 10 degrees i think they move more when its really cold.

Pigs are more active at night than most people think. So many think they sleep all night like we do but just the opposite. They crash just before daylight when it's colder than they are use to. :)

 

TJ

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what unit? i hope it rains and brings some fresh tracks

 

40-60% chance in 37b. I'll be following fresh tracks in the flats if it rains too. Temps aren't going to drop though

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