IA Born Report post Posted January 17, 2016 I'm finally getting a chance to post this up. The last week has been incredibly stressful. Backstory: Last Saturday (9th), during one of my daughter's soccer games, she made a great play at goalie, clearing the ball from the box in the middle of a group of girls. As one of the opposing girls ran by, she intentionally threw an elbow, hitting my daughter perfectly behind the ear and under her concussion headgear. Because it happened away from the play, the refs didn't see, although the sideline ref should have. I've never felt so helpless watching that elbow land and seeing her go down screaming, clutching her head. The girl should have been red carded and thrown out of the game and I made sure the refs and the assistant coach from the opposing team knew my displeasure in what happened. The elbow was hard enough to give her a mild concussion and force her to miss her tournament this weekend. Fortunately, she's recovering well and will be back to playing this week, but it was a horrible thing to watch, knowing the other girl got away with it. Forward a few days. I had one day to hunt this season because of soccer and other craziness in life, but I couldn't go far. 18B is the only unit I really know in that big multi-unit tag. I'd been coordinating meeting up with SWDesertRat since he wanted to scout 19A, where my tag was valid. We've worked together on various projects over the years and I don't know 19A well. Thursday, I looked at the forecast for Friday and it called for a 90% chance of snow up here in Flagstaff, but with less than an inch predicted, most of it coming in the afternoon when I'd be driving back. I was debating on cancelling the hunt because I hate driving up the mountain in snow storms. My wife and I chatted quite a bit and she convinced me to go, emphasizing that I needed this time. I needed a break from the stress and a chance to decompress after Sydney's concussion. I'm so glad I listened to my beautiful wife. I got up early Friday morning and met up with my friend. I don't know this unit very well and he does. At the first spot, I glassed up a herd of javelina over a mile away, but they were moving and too far to catch. Spot number two had no javelina, but I was able to glass up 3 mule deer does just under a mile away. I was already feeling success because I'm really not that good at glassing. I will say that switching to using a tripod with a solid binocular adapter has made a huge difference. We ended up seeing 20 deer for the day, but they were all does. Within 10 minutes of arriving at spot number three, we had a herd of javelina moving 100-150 yards below us. We planned my stalk and it was game on. I remember saying a small prayer as I worked my way in. As I was working across the top of the canyon above the, I could see two in the opening below me. I worked my way around to come in even with and upwind of them, sticking to our plan. When I got to where they were supposed to be, they weren't there! We were able to work out some distant communication (radios weren't working well) and relocate the herd. Eight trotted past me within 20 yards, but wouldn't stop. Three ran across the canyon bottom, 30 yards away, including a huge sow with a red following close behind. I was able to get my range finder on two openings and both were 30 yards. As I was regrouping, two more ran by across the drainage from me. I picked one, waited for it to reach my window, and I was able to make a perfect 30-yard shot and fill my javelina tag at noon on the only day I had available! It turned out to be a good size, mature sow. She ran about 30 yards and I saw her fall under a big juniper tree. I saw all kinds of commotion from the rest of the herd and I started to think she was still moving. Then I heard the death throes from the juniper and I was sure we'd have a successful recovery. A short track job with a little blood lead to a great recovery and several high fives. My friend ended up showing me the gutless method on this sow and what a difference that made, although the pack up out of the canyon and back to the truck was close to brutal. The skull is at the taxidermist and the meat is at my processor's! This is my biggest javelina yet and reminded me why I love the hunt, itself! After all the madness of this week, it felt so good to fill a tag and find that kind of success again. My soul and spirit have been rejuvenated. I have refocused. Thanks again, Clay for the great day!! Javelina or not, it was a successful hunt. Filling my tag was icing on the cake! I'm hoping we can hook up more and keep this going. I'm having fairly good discussions about 15s with my wife, too! The snow storm ended up dumping way more than an inch and had I-40 west of town closed for a bit. By the time I got on the road, I-17 northbound was in good shape from the plows and the de-icing solution. Tomorrow, the kids and I are going to get up and go quail and pheasant hunting on the holiday. Syd is doing much better and is looking forward to getting back to practice Tuesday and playing in next Saturday's game. We were able to work through our soccer club and file a complaint against the girl who elbowed Syd so that there is a record of her behavior on file. That, along with watching Syd recover, has been extremely helpful in lifting our spirits. I'm hoping to get out a couple of times to chase deer before the end of the month and we have Syd'd youth pheasant hunt on January 30th, so we're still in it for this season and looking forward to it all. On top of that, we have to start picking our elk hunts because the regs are out and the online application system will be open soon. Bring on 2016! 8 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
'Ike' Report post Posted January 17, 2016 Excellent, gray hunt and good luck on the birds... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
azruger Report post Posted January 17, 2016 Congrats on the javi!!!! And stoked to hear your daughter is recovered and doing well. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
roadhunteraz Report post Posted January 18, 2016 Congrats Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Couzer Report post Posted January 18, 2016 Great job!!!! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SWDesertRat Report post Posted January 18, 2016 Glad to see you make it happen Brian. Fist held high after a shot is always a good sign to see through binos. Was back in the same area today and wasn't lucky enough to find the pigs again, goes to show it was your day. Haha...conversations with wives about 15's...that is a post in itself. Let me know when you're ready to get out again. -Clay 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wildwoody Report post Posted January 18, 2016 where you pheasant hunting??? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TOBY Report post Posted January 18, 2016 congrats on the kill and being a better parent than the one who taught their kid to play dirty. I coached soccer for years and was disgusted with parents and coaches teaching kids how to play dirty. I remeber one coach even a had a tripping sign to take out players she used. B!tch! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cramerhunts Report post Posted January 18, 2016 Congratulations on making the most out of the limited time you had available! Sorry to hear about the dirty player but happy your daughter is doing well. Good luck on the birds! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
IA Born Report post Posted January 19, 2016 Let me know when you're ready to get out again. I should be available to chase deer Sunday since my wife is taking the kids skiing! congrats on the kill and being a better parent than the one who taught their kid to play dirty. I coached soccer for years and was disgusted with parents and coaches teaching kids how to play dirty. I remeber one coach even a had a tripping sign to take out players she used. B!tch! Thanks, guys! I really appreciate the prayers and support for my daughter. She's back at practice tonight and should be back at the net in this weekend's game. Even after 5 seasons, I still haven't gotten used to some of what I see. I understand full well that soccer isn't non-contact, but there has to be a line. I try hard to be the better parent. I told her driving home that night that it was ok if she wanted to quit being a goalie. Her response: "Goalie chose me, dad. I'm not quitting!" After three years of tag soup, I'm still flying high on this. It may sound silly to be that excited over a javelina, but it was exactly what I needed in my life at that exact moment! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CouesPursuit Report post Posted January 19, 2016 Congratulations, IA Born! It looks like your arrow/broadhead/placement did quite the number on that sow! Wishing your daughter to get back on her full feet quickly as well. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
IA Born Report post Posted January 19, 2016 Congratulations, IA Born! It looks like your arrow/broadhead/placement did quite the number on that sow! Wishing your daughter to get back on her full feet quickly as well. I almost forgot about that. I love my Grim Reapers. When Clay and I were skinning it, we found a hole above the entry hole (side shown in pic), but only one exit hole. The only thing we can figure out is that the arrow passed through, hit the dirt on the embankment when exiting and pushed back through the entry side nock first! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
