4 Arizona Javelina - Archery FUN!

[AZP&Y]

2008 came so quickly this year and before I knew it was time to grab the bows and go pig hunting. I arrived at camp Friday afternoon in time to set-up and meet Atypical (Mike) to talk some strategy to go after the stinky desert pigs.

Day 1- Saturday morning came with a passing cold front, wind along with intermittent sprinkles. Atypical's dad met us at first light to hunt with us for a couple of days. He is now in his 70's and moves through the hills like he is 35. Just before our departure to our hunt spot, I decided to pull the bow back and make sure the string was ok. What I failed to remember was my release was attached to the string (anyone else attach their release to the bow string?). Upon drawing down the bow, the release slipped between the cam and string, lodging itself. We did get the release off of the cam fine, but the string came off of the cams all together. We tried a portable bow press but to no avail. Atypical suggested using the come-along winch and I said "no" – I think I'll make the drive to Tucson from Oracle. Made some calls from Oracle and couldn't find a source to fix the string. PSE in Tucson couldn't work on it (not a pse bow) and Saguaro Bait and Tackle/Archery was closed every Saturday in January (probably hunting ) J .

 

 

I left a message for CWT member Mattys281 (Matt) who called me back 10 minutes later and just so happens owns a bow press. He saved me hours of hassle going back to PHX to try and get someone there to fix my bow. I was back in the field 4 hours later. 3 hours of daylight left glassing & nothing spotted…

 

Day 2- More clouds coming from west to east. We head to a spot that yielded a nice rifle sow for me in Feb 2007. Mike's dad almost immediately glassed and located a nice herd of pigs with some real nice big boars! The plan is that he will get the 1^st opportunity by slowly stalking the wash.

He gets to within 21 yards and lets one fly! The juvenile Javy goes down! 1 Javy down! The herd scatters with 3 going left and 5 going right up the canyon. Mike is above them now and has a sow standing at 34 yards – He makes a quick squeal and the pig stops. He shoots and the arrow hits the back quarters. Another arrow nocked and flung -2 pigs down!

 

Day 3 – The storm that left 10 feet of snow in the Sierra Nevada's is starting to bear down on southern Arizona. It is only the trailing edge, but the wind is blowing 30-40mph. Not exactly ideal pig hunting weather. We leave the tri-pods behind as there will be no glassing today. Dan, a fellow hunter that we met at our campspot has offered to show us some new areas that he has seen pigs. 4 hours and 5 miles later we have not seen a single critter. Every living thing is hunkered down. Rain spits intermittently, the wind then starts to calm and the sun peaks through the clouds. It's time to head back to the trucks. 2 more ridges and we hear grunts and jaws chopping. Dan nochs an arrow and shoots a sow @ 16 yards. 3 pigs down! (sorry I didn't show Dan's pig, but wanted to make sure it was ok before posting) …

 

 

I am already at full draw and must let off because there is too much brush between me and the javy! The wash below us is a natural funnel for the pigs to gather themselves and band together. I slowly creep the sides of the wash to intercept them before their departure. I already have an arrow noched from the up and close encounter. I see a group of 5 pigs and a nice large one which it turns out is at 52 yards. I put the 60 pin on him and the arrow flies right over his back and skips into the air up the wash. The group dashes up the side of the wash and vanishes into the cat-claw. There is one last boar that is a bit confused and stands broadside at 28 yards between 2 small palo verdes on the opposite side of the wash exposing his vitals. This time the arrow flies true – double lunger!!!!. He piles up 30 yards and within site in the nearby cat-claw.

 

 

Karma is a funny thing. Matt killed his first deer,a trophy archery Mule deer the next day. Thanks again for all of your help – getting me back into the field!

 

 

Good luck to all of you pig and deer hunters in January –

 

Thought you guys might enjoy some serious teeth!

 

 

AzP&Y

 

Doug

 

[azcouesandelk]

Great job there Doug and group!!!

 

In that last picture the thicket behind you is where a buddy hit a branch while shooting at a buck a few days ago!!!

[mattys281]

Great job guys! Javelina are definetely the Lord's gift to bowhunters. I can't wait for my ham hunt in Feb.

 

Matt S.

[Browning'sCustomMeat]

Good job with the pigs. Still waiting on mine.

[Kilimanjaro]

nice going Doug!!

[cubsfan]

Sounds like you guys had a great time! Nice job.

[Atypical]

Congrats Doug-e-Fresh. Also note, that the pigs in the second pic were made through the 10x binos, and you can see them in teh first pic of pops glassin. They're about an inch top right from the green spanish spoon near the bottom center. Hard to see, but they're there. Pops aka Gunner, bowhunting at 74, found them twice that day which in itself is a success, then stalked in for the shot.

 

Keep up the good work, and good luck on more points in this year's draw

 

Mike