Javelina in Arizona

[rusman66]

Was thinking it might be fun to hunt those Javelina in Arizona. ###Anyone have any experience. ###How hard is it to find public places to hunt places to stay or camp? ###is/was it worth the money?
Do they taste good? are they hard to hunt? ### any info would be greatly appreciated.

[doccherry]

I've hunted javelina several times during the February HAM hunt. ###There is a lot of public land to hunt and there is relatively little hunting pressure, particularly out away from towns. ###You can camp almost anywhere. ###Arizona Fish and Game has a really good website and you can download all the information on the various hunts, success rates, etc. ###I hunt just west of Tucson [don't recall the game unit] and have done pretty well. ###I enjoy javelina meat and find it to be a lot like rabbit. ###They aren't very big, maybe 40 pounds on average, but they are a challenging game animal. ###I highly recommend a javelina hunt.

[songdog]

Ok, who's going to head up the JHP AZ javelina-o-rama? ###I looked a couple of years ago and I think that it ran somewhere between $150-200 for an out of state license and tags. ###Not too bad when you consider that you can quail and duck hunt too...

(Edited by songdog at 12:26 pm on June 11, 2002)

[Coues]

I would be happy to help anybody out with their Javelina hunt. Once we determine who, if any at all, will be coming, I can hook you up with the units to apply for (free of charge!) and areas to hunt. Remember you can hunt ducks, Quail, small game, and Deer during the Javelina archery season. Only small game and Javelina can be combined during the HAM and general seasons. Archery season is the entire month of January. The HAM season is in Feb. Let me know. Tags will be as close to a lock as possible in the draw for this hunt and an excellent area too.

Jeff Rogers
Desert Bull Hunting Services (http://www.desertbull.com)

(Edited by Coues at 10:00 am on June 11, 2002)

[Speckmisser]

Sounds like a generous offer, Coues. ###

Appx. what does it cost for out of state license to hunt small game and javelina? ###Also wondering if you have to apply for lottery tags for jav? ###That's what it sounds like from several of these posts. ###

I can't see running to Arizona to hunt small game (I'm in NorCal...so that's a long trip), but I know a lot of the guys on this board have shown interest. ###

[gwhunter69]

Maybe I missed it, but how does the meat taste? Gamey?

[rusman66]

That is indeed a generous offer coues. ###I will have to give this some thaught. ###I have a friend who owns some land just south of seligman, are you at all familiar with that area? and if so ###how does it rate for javelina. ###When do you apply? Thanks for the input coues, I might be contacting you in the future.

doccherry said it taste a lot like rabbit in his above post.

(Edited by rusman66 at 10:05 am on June 12, 2002)

[Coues]

First, I want to clarify. I will provide the hunt units (usually $20.00 per application) and the scouting (usually $150.00 per day). I will not provide licenses or tags. I will do this for JHP site participants only and I would like to limit it to 2 groups of 4 hunters max. I would also like it we could all hunt from the same camp. We can hunt different areas of coarse. I am not a guide and cannot provide any gear. (it's an insurance thing!)

Ok, the apps need to be in by Mid-October. Non-resident Javelina tags are $68.00 and a hunting license is $113.50. If we could get 8 guys/girls that can hunt with either a bow, handgun, or muzzleloader, you can all hunt the HAM season in Feb. Or if you have to hunt with a rifle we can use any weapon during the general season in March. I personally will be hunting the archery only season in Jan. We can decide the season ###once we see who is coming.
I have three or four pretty reliable areas to hunt and tags are usually a lock. I just want to warn you, it is not an easy hunt. These animals do not flood into agricultural fields like the Cali pigs. They live in some pretty gnarley country and can be the devil to find during warm spells. That is why I like the archery hunt. It is in Jan. when the weather is cool. I can assure that it is a lot of fun.

[One Track]

Good idea Russman! ###Sounds like a blast. ###I'll be saving Feb for a Tejon hunt. However, January sounds great.

Mr. Coues: ###

Thanks for the info. ###I think this hunt would be a blast in January. ###Are you saying that I/we could do a deer/javelina combo archery hunt in January. ###I was looking at the regs, is your unit one that includes a January archery deer season? ### Does your favorite Javie unit, have a good population of deer? ###Are these Couses or Muley? ###Can you give me a ballpark success % rate on taking a buck and a pig during a five day hunt, (assuming I hit my mark?) ###Lots of questions, please send bill for intel to Speckmisser.

Thanks.

[Speckmisser]

Wow, almost missed that last line, One Track. ###Clever, but not too clever. ###:no no:

This sounds almost like something I'd like to check out... especially if I learn to hit anything with this bow. ###Unfortunately, with POR coming up and Christmas just over... ###well, there's always winning the lottery.

Might be something to think about for the next year, though. ###

[One Track]

Here's how it works Speck. ###

Instead of going out everynight and spending your money in the nightclubs, you practice shooting your bow ###everyday. ###That will save you a ton of money. You hunt your tail off for dear during the fall, which is almost fee. ###December rolls around and you spend three bills on the Tejon Hunt, money you saved by staying home everynight. You bring home the pork and she LOVES it. ###When your Sugar Momma asks what you want for Xmas, just tell her, "A trip to Arizona, that's all I want!" You buy her a trip to Paris with the money you are saving from not going out everynight to the expensive clubs. ### You go to Arrizona in January, and get a buck and a Javelina with your recurve. You video tape the whole thing, and sell it to The Outdoor Channel and make a few grand. ### Sugar Momma eats the pork and loves it. ###You tell her, "I can get more pork in February." ### She says, "Great." ###You book the Feb. POR without telling her. ### ###You're saving it as a surprise. ###You dissappear for three days, and return with more delicious pork. ###She will be thrilled. The best part is that you creatively financed the whole thing. If you can continue to refrain from going out at night, you could save enough money to quit work and start writing an outdoor column for Maxim! ###

[bubba]

Speckmisser, when you finally end up at Maxim, I would like to be a part of your team. ###I'll hold the lights when we take out the models dressed in bikini camo holding guns.

[rusman66]

One track I hope you don't mind me stealing your gameplan. I think I can pull it off minus the trip to Paris for sugar momma. How about a trip to wal-fart. ###Well now that I think about it whichever is cheapest. ###
I gotta put some meat in the freezer. The wife and kids are loosing faith in dear old dad as a Hunter gatherer.

[One Track]

Works for me. I just keep forgetting to bring the video camera. ###Let's go get a squeeler!

[Coues]

The only way you can combo a Javelina/Deer hunt is in the archery only season in January. The deer tag is $113.50 for non-residents. The unit that we will be hunting contains good numbers of Javelina/Muledeer/Coues Deer. Again, in order to pull this off as a deer/pig hunt it will have to be during the archery only season in Jan. If we have hunters that can't hunt with a bow we will have to do the pig only hunts. Another of the benifits of the archery season is that you can hunt quail without any additional licenses. This area is absolutley loaded with birds. I saw over 200 last saturday just driving the roads. As soon as we have at least 4 CONFIRMED hunters coming we can work out further details. Can we start a count of people that are even remotely interested in this and what season you would like to hunt. I think this sounds like a lot of fun. I am hoping to get to Cali next year for a "real pig" hunt also!

[Coues]

I put up a web page to help clarify some of the details. I set up an e-mail addy that we can use to correspond. Think seriuosly about this guys. This is probably the cheapest out of state hunt that you will ever go on. As an incentive I will bring all the Elk, deer, quail, etc. that I can for a big ole BBQ in the desert. Lots of mesquite out their to add that SW flavor too! Maybe someone can bring some hog chops?

2003 Javelina Cantina! (http://www.desertbull.com/jav-cantina.htm)

[rusman66]

coues:

I would be very interested in a Javelina hunt.

I guess my first choice would be an archery only ###Javelina/deer combo in January.

Are the Archery deer tags zone specific?

I tried the cantina2003 email but it wouldn't work?

[Coues]

I'll check out the e-mail. It was working yesterday.
The Javelina tags are zoned, but not the deer tags. You can hunt any open unit. Generally only the desert units are open in January.



Cantina2003@desertbull.com

www.desertbull.com/jav-cantina.htm (http://www.desertbull.com/jav-cantina.htm)

(Edited by Coues at 2:29 pm on June 15, 2002)

[doccherry]

If you're going to hunt the archery only javelina season, I'd suggest that you take along your favorite quail shotgun and a varmint rifle, if you're into either sport. ###I hunt the HAM season just west of Tucson and I scare up more quail than I ever have in California. ###I also hunt the quail during quail season and do very well, probably averaging 5 birds for a 2 hour morning hunt. ###Just stay down along the "green," the arroyos that have seasonal water flow. ###If you are in the Tucson area, you can drive up beyond Catalina and you'll see miles of grassland. ###This is good for scaled quail. ###If you're adventurous, go up into the mountains, up above 6000 feet, and try for Mearns quail. ###There are coyotes everywhere, so you might want to try for them.

My parents live in Sun City, Rancho Vistoso, near Catalina, and javelina come into their backyard almost every evening. ###Find out what unit Catalina is in, and hunt along the edge of the housing tracts. ###I find far more javelina next to civilized areas and golf courses than I do out in the wilderness. ###I had to cancel my HAM hunt at the last minute this year because my Brittany pup was being shipped from Nebraska and that was the only time frame they could ship due to weather. ###I'll be back for the HAM next year.

[Speckmisser]

The more I think about it, this really sounds like a blast, but not do-able this year. ###Too much else scheduled for that time frame. ###But if you guys put it together and pull this one off, I might very likely be up for it next year. ###The price is right, and the January combo sounds like it would be awesome. ###

Make it happen, so I can be there for the Second Annual JHP Javelina hunt! ###

[One Track]

I'm not going unless Speck goes. ###C'mon dude, I explained how to pull it off. ###From what I gathered by checking out Coues' website - he will charge $150 per day for scouting. I have never heard of this service before. However, it sounds like a great concept. ###If there were four of us, we could split the $150. Maybe we buy two days of Scouting service, and double the intel, for only $75 each. ###

Coues, am I on the right track, or did I miss something? ###Don't want to put words in your mouth.

[rusman66]

Not trying to take food out of coues mouth but he offered to wave the scouting fee for us JHP'rs which is very kind. ###This really does sound like something I just gotta try. Deer, quail,little pigs and varmints. ###That should be enough to keep any hunter interested. ###I had better start honeing my archery skills.

[yurmomma]

Hey this is me, Coues, at my crappy daytime job!
I am trying to organize a get together this coming spring for people that frequent this site. The first eight people to confirm will be in free of charge. I just ask that we all hunt the same unit so that I can do the scouting for everyone at the same time. I know an area where we can all hunt seperatley or with our partners and not be running all over each other. Coues Deer, Mule Deer, Javelina, and quail are abundant.

One Track:
You are correct. You are welcome to hunt with us for free, or I can set you up on your own for the fee. I will waive the licensing service ($20.00) if guys buy two days of scouting.

javelina cantina 2003 (http://www.desertbull.com/jav-cantina.htm)

[One Track]

Coues, AKA: Yurmomma, Dessert Bull, Jeff:

Sounds like a dang good deal to me. ###Thanks. I think I have a hunting or fishing trip planned for every month of the year. ###Hmmm. Momma's going to love that.

[Speckmisser]

Hey One Track,

OK, so I thought I had it all going smooth. ###Your plan seemed good, but then, for some reason, it all got turned around! ###

She said:

"Put the nix on the nightclubs anyway. ###Those evenings on O'Farrell and Polk are a little too pricey. ###Then you take that bow, and learn to shoot it, so you don't have to buy bullets or guns anymore. ###They're getting expensive too. ###

"Then you take all that money you're saving, and pay off the credit cards and bills you ran up buying hunts and hunting gear all over California and North Carolina. ###Whatever is left, you can take me to see my parents in South Carolina at Thanksgiving. ###And for Christmas, you need to spend money on your daughter's horse!

"As for those magazines... ###anytime you want, I'll dig out your little scrapbook of rejection notices. ###You're NOT Lionel Atwill or Ernest Hemingway. ###You're not even Pat McManus!"

Ooh, let me tell you, that last one hurt! ###But she wasn't done.

"Come February, maybe...just maybe... I'll let you kick out the ducats for a Pig O Rama. ###But if you come home empty handed....!"

So there ya go, One Track. ###The best laid plans of mice and men... and all that.

[One Track]

Speck:

Very poetic. ### You need to roll play with your buddies. Do a needs analysis, provide a solution, stress the benefits, practice objection handling, and close the deal. Ask for the order at least 8 times. ###If that doesn't work, just start crying. ###If that doesn't work, do the good cop-bad cop thing. I go with the Assumption Close. ###"Honey, just wanted to make sure that we can celebrate your birthday the night before I leave for my pig hunt." ###Or the Option Close. ###"Honey would you rather have a Swedish massage, or a Sports massage next weekend while I'm on my Albacore trip."

What's the topic of this thread?

[Coues]

I know it is still early, but do we have anybody that is thinking about coming over this spring?

Spring 2003 Javelina Hunt (http://www.desertbull.com/jav-cantina.htm)

[One Track]

Jeff, Yes I'm interested. However, have to work things out, and see if I get lucky and draw for CA or Az. ###Fat chance but, you never know. ###Totally sold on your program though.

[Coues]

I finally got some pictures of a few Javelina with my trailcam. It took awhile because there are so many cattle pounding the few water holes that still have water. I have about 100 pictures cows for every picture of a "real" animal.

What is interesting is that I poured some apple juice on the ground where they are digging and put a scent dripper with vanilla in the tree right above. They seemed to like it.

Javelina pictures (http://www.desertbull.com/photos.htm)

[wyokid]

COUES, ###PROHUNTER AND I WILL BE COMING THAT WAY FOR A BOWHUNT FOR JAVIE IN JANUARY. MAY HAVE 1 OTHER PERSON WITH US. LET ME KNOW WHAT AREA TO PUT IN FOR AND WE WILL BE GLAD TO HUNT AND CAMP WITH YOU. MY E-MAIL ADDRESS
### ### ### ### ### ### ### ### ### ### ### ### ### ### ### ### ###LDShelto@CO.TULARE.CA.US

### ### ### ### ### ### ###WILL BE GLAD TO BRING PORK CHOPS FOR BBQ
### ### ### ### ### ### ### ### ### ### ### ### ### ### ### ### ### ### ### ### ### ### ### ### ### ### ### ### ### ### ### ### ### ### ### ### ### ### ### ### ### ### THANKS FOR ALL THE HELP
### ### ### ### ### ###

[Coues]

WYOKID:
The Spring Regs should be out next week. You will have till mid October to apply for a tag. You will get drawn, as there are always archery tags left in this unit. Do you know what week you will be coming to Arizona?

Russman:
Are still planning to come over?

I just added some more Javelina info to my web site.

Javelina Info (http://www.desertbull.com/Javelina.htm)

[wyokid]

coues
we are wide open for suggestions on the best time I think we can make arrangements any time in jan.
again thanks

[Coues]

I would recommend the first week. They get harder to find as the season goes on. Are you going to buy a deer tag too. There are some really nice mulies and Coues deer in the area.

[rusman66]

I can't say for sure yet, But as it stands now I am definately planning on coming.

I just checked my work schedule and I am working the 1st thru the 5 th. That kinda blows the first week out of the water (Sorry). I could get the next 9 days off 6th thru the 14 th. That is the best I could do. Oh well such is life! Maybe next year.

[Coues]

Since the season opens on a Wednesday, anytime between the 6th - 14th would work great. I should be able to locate several herds by then. I'll just concentrate on some more remote areas that not as likely to be disturbed during the opening weekend.

[rusman66]

Sounds excellent coues, Do you have some type of gear list for that area that time of year.

[Coues]

There is really no specialzed equipment that you will need. I will say be prepared for a variety of weather conditions. It could be 80 degrees and sunny or in the teens and 8 inches of snow. Most likely it will be in the 60's in the daytime and mid 20's at night.

Bring the best binos you have. They will be the number 1 most important thing that you will use.

A daypack or backpack capable of holding a couple bottles of water, a knife, some rope, etc. The same things you would carry on any other hunt.

Bring a varmit call. You can call in Javelina rather easily with one.

Bring a shotgun. There are a ton of Gamble's quail is this area.

If you have a GPS it will be helpful. I will the coordinates to several good areas within the unit.

You don't need a 4 wheel drive most of the time. If it is raining you might need it, but you can usually just wait it out. The washes will run for a half day then dry out. If you have a quad there are many jeep trails and ranch roads that you can use it on to save wear and tear on your truck. Again, this is not a must have.

I can't really think of anything else. Basically bring what you want to.

There is lot's of more info on javelinahunter.com

So, it looks like the we can all get together during the second weekend in January.

I know I said the first week would be best, but the season starts on a Wednesday so the following week would be better. Sorry for the confusion.

I will be doing the scouting in November / December.

If anyone else wants to join let me know and I will tell you which unit to apply for. We have 3 of 8 spots spoken for.

[yotegetter]

Well after reading this thread over and over, it's been on my mind. It definitely sounds like something I'd like to do. I've never hunted javelina, but sounds like a blast. I'd like to do the combo deer/javelina hunt. I'm currently not a bowhunter and don't own equipment, but been looking into buying some for sometime. You guys figure that I will have good practice from now till january? Will a 40# recurve do for both coues or mule and javelina? I'm assuming that it will work for Javelina, but thinking it might not for the deer.

[One Track]

Well shoot. Now you guys have me thinking about this again. Mr. Coues, I forget, when is the application deadline? For January, are we talking archery-only for the pigs? Or, just for the deer? In your conservative opinion, would a four day trip be enough time to get a javelina and possibly get on a buck? It sounds like spot and stalk at it's finest. Is the idea to find a vantage point, glass up some pigs or a buck, and stalk them in the sage brush???

Thanks!

[One Track]

Coues:

I just went back and read all the posts. So, please disregard my last few questions. You had already answered them for us. I'm going to check with a few of my hunting buddies, and see who wants to pony up.

Thanks!

[Coues]

The deadline for apps will be in Mid-October.
A 40# bow will kill any animal in North America if the shot is through both lungs. A 100# bow will not kill a rabbit if you hit in the a$$! If you get a bow now and practice hard, you should be just fine by January. Getting a 20 yard shot on a Javelina is not hard. It is finding the little bass-turd that is hard.

Just be sure that it is actually a 40# pull. In Arizona you must hunt with at least a 40# bow to be legal.

I can't say that 4 days will be enough, but it is better than three days! I have killed 4 Javelina in the past five years with my bow, all on opening day. It all depends on how hard you hunt and lady luck. If you buy a deer tag and don;t get one, you can use the same license and tag for next September and December deer hunts, including Kaibab! So, I don't want to here any more of that "Arizona is anti non-resident" crap!

I put wrote an article on Javelina Hunting and put it on the website. It is under Spring Hunts / Javelina.

Spot and stalk is method of choice in the wide open desert.

Just so you guys know, I will not be able to hunt with you everyday for a week. I will be out every weekend though and can put in some prime areas for both deer and Javelina, as well as quail and lots of coyotes if you are into that.

Let's just go ahead and plan it for the first FULL week of January. If you can't come then, then come when you can and I will still help you out.

If you are interested, I have posted a pair of very nice Pentax 16 x 50 binoculars for sale on the "trading post" forum. I will take the first $100.00 and I will pay for shipping.

[One Track]

Thanks Coues. Working on my buddies right now. Hopefully, I will have an answer in a week or two.

Regarding the "resident 'vs non-resident percentage" issues - if any of my posts sounded insensitive, it was due to lack of knowledge. Sorry about that.

[Coues]

I was just jokin' ya!

http://www.jesseshunting.com/forums/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smiley-biggrin-aqua.gif

[Coues]

Spring Javelina, Turkey, and Bear regualtions now available. (http://www.gf.state.az.us/frames/regs/spring.pdf)

[wyokid]

COUES JUST DOWNLOADED REGS OFF OF WEBSITE. I WILL LET YOU KNOW HOW IT GOES. RIGHT KNOW I AM PLANNING ON COMING OVER FIRST WEEK. I AM JUST APPLYING FOR A JAVIE TAG THIS YEAR. CAN&#39;T WAIT.......PROHUNTER IS ON ANOTHER FIRE SO WE WILL GET THEM MAILED SOON AS HE GETS HOME...THANKS

[prohunter]

I will put in for a archery deer/javelina combo. First or second week of Jan. works for me. I will put in with wykid.

[Speckmisser]

Yotegetter,

Make sure that 40# bow is legal for deer in AZ. A lot of states have a 45# minimum.

[Coues]

Whoever is planning on coming over can e-mail me and Iwill give them the unit that I will be scouting. You can apply over the internet or by mail. After the draw (everyone will get drawn) I will do the scouting and locate several herds so that we all don&#39;t have to bunch up together. I already told a few of you the unit.
I am sure we will see a few nice deer too as it is the peak of the rut.

azhunter@desertbull.com

[Coues]

Ok,here is the list of people I have so far:

wyokid
prohunter
Bill, Carlos, and Kim from LA

That&#39;s five.

Just to remind, I won&#39;t be able to camp out with you guys during the week (I know that breaks your hearts), but I can on the weekends. I have a crappy day job that I have to work!

I will help all of you out as best I can but there are no sure things. I will guarentee that it will be a fun and challenging hunt.

[Coues]

We now have six people that said they are applying for the hunt, the five mentioned above plus one more who got in today.

Russman started this whole thing so I am holding a spot for him if still wants in!

That leaves room for one more, possibly two.

[Coues]

It looks like we have eight!

wyokid
prohunter
Bill, Carlos, and Kim from LA
Jesse
Doug and friend.

You guys should have no trouble getting a tag as there are always left overs in this unit.

Jeff

[rusman66]

Sorry people, I spent the week at Lake Mojave doing a little fishing, boating and just relaxing. I am still in If it is not to late. I will send off as soon as I get the ok from the boss.

[MNHNTR]

Dang it! I just found out about this thread. If there are any cancellations I would like to claim 2 spots after Rumsman. My bro "little Butch" and I would be very interested. Additonally is the area you are looking at 36a or 37m? http://www.jesseshunting.com/forums/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/stimpy--sm-ani.gif

[Coues]

I just got back from a deer scouting trip north of Phoenix and saw some Javelina and a lot of sign. I can&#39;t wait for January!

[prohunter]

Sorry everyone, but I have to pull out (I know last minute). My son had surgery yesterday (tonsils, atnoides, & tubes in his ears). He is home know, but has to stay down for a week. He is doing fine. The problem is insurance only pays 80%. I have to pay 20% and it is not cheap. The money I would use for this hunt has to pay my share of the hospital bill. Sorry so late in informing, but my mind was somewhere else (prehospital stuff & deer hunting here at home). I hope you guys have a great trip!

[MNHNTR]

Sorry to hear that PROHUNTER, hope your son is doing well. Right now Im my wifes slave as she had knee surgery last week. Anyway I put in for Unit 18 B, my bros and dad too. Wish me luck! in getting drawn,,,,,,,,