Javelina hunting

dailordasailor

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Well I'm in Germany for work and due to bbc being the only tv channel in English andjet-lag, I've spent much time online. I am on a hog hunt the middle of this month and have been watching videos on YouTube. One thing lead to another and I'm watching texas javelina hunts.

Who here has javelina hunts or has a suggested guide? I've seen prices for 2 nights ranging from $800 to 2200. I can't commit to $2200 for a pig hunt but am worried that $800 is too cheap? I really don't know the market?

Any input is appreciated!!! I am hoping to squeeze this in prior to a Canada black bear hunt in spring 2016.

Dale
 
Dale, it depends on what the $800 includes.

I have a guy in south Texas that does them for $1,000 for the weekend and is a varmint hunt for bobcat, coyote, pigs and javelina. Everything but license and transport to the lodge is included.
 
I'll shoot you a pm James. Have you actually had chance to hunt there?
 
Dale, it depends on what the $800 includes.

I have a guy in south Texas that does them for $1,000 for the weekend and is a varmint hunt for bobcat, coyote, pigs and javelina. Everything but license and transport to the lodge is included.

What is his success rate on Bobcats?
 
I have hunted there. It's been a few years ago. But it's a nice place and his success rate on Javelinas is probably 90% and bobcat is pretty good. The Bobcats can be fickle, but he is probably 75-80%
 
No one else has or knows some one? Only one option isn't as fun
 
In the same boat, looking for a archery hunt for one. Hope more people have input.
 
Have you ever done any javelina hunting? I've watched plenty of videos but curious how the actual hunts usually go
 
Have you ever done any javelina hunting? I've watched plenty of videos but curious how the actual hunts usually go

Most javelina in Texas are shot while hunting for other animals when the opportunity arises.

I have been hunting them in Arizona for over 20 years and there is a specific season for them. We will do spot and stalk 99% of the time since we travel from Colorado and our success rate has been over 90% for those years. There have been a couple of years when the population has been down that we didn't even see one, and then there have been other years that we have had them running all over.

Once you figure out their habits they are not a hard animal to hunt even without hiring a guide.
 
Our javelina hunts in south Texas have always been over baited fields from blinds.
 
I have 266 acres in West Texas that is chuck full of those critters. So much so in fact, I now have a Jaguar, undocumented resident, who came over from the South to dine on them. In any case, I'm not an outfitter and don't charge anything but good conversation if you ever get down around Sierra Blanca, TX. Here you only have to have a valid hunting license, hunters ed., should you be born after 1971 or 72', and can only take two or three per year. No season. It is all 100% spot and stalk with no facilities at my place. In any case, they don't really appeal to the taste buds or nose for that matter, so it is a mount only for most folks.
 
jduckhunter, who have you used? Or always on own?

Panielsen, going to shoot you a PM.
 
As to who with, or how much it should cost, I have no idea.

From my screen name you may guess that I'm kind of a Javelina junkie. Perfect bow quarry for any bowhunter, but most especially for us fat, OLD, farts. Very poor eye sight, only moderate hearing (the whole herd is constantly making noise), but a very good sense of smell. Really easy to get up on as long as the wind is in your favor. Even named my company after them. We 2 old fat farts who have poor eyesight, and probably don't smell go good either just felt it was appropriate.

Most hunters don't specifically seek them out, but a few of us do. Lots of "deer" hunters shoot them and let them lay, figuring they are varmints. Those folks don't know what they're missing off the pit, or made into tamales.

They have a gland on their back a few inches forward of the tail that for all the world looks like a small nipple. The smell is reminiscent of a skunk. Seems that they use it for group communications. Staying in contact, if you will. Once the critter is skinned the gland comes of with it, and that's the end of the smell factor. The flesh is a nice light pink like pork, but with very little fat. Absolutely excellent table fare. Also goes well in sausage mixed with venison.

In some areas they will be covered with fleas and ticks -- in other areas, not one to be seen.

They can easily be hunted from blinds, setting up in the brush over a sendero dribbled with corn, or spot and stalk. For sure, if you've got some corn out a herd will hit it twice a day, and sometimes more than one herd in a day. A given herd will usually come out 45 to 50 minutes later each day. I'm convinced this is tied to the Moon cycle.

Just be aware that their preferred food is prickly pear cactus. Not so good for snooping and pooping. The pear diet means that they almost never go to water.

If you get on a group, and especially if they have young, and they know something is up, they respond by popping their tusk. They can't see you, but know something is not right. It's a threat/defense thing, I believe.

At the shot, especially if one is hit and squealing, the bunch will scatter in every direction, still popping their tusk. According to some this is a sign of their aggression. I think it just shows utter confusion.

Only once have I gently laid my bow on the ground and sought shelter in a Mesquite tree. In your typical Mesquite you'll be doing good to get your feet more than 2 feet above the ground. That's OK, they simply can not look up.

At that point you'll probably still hear them in the brush. This is the time to take out your close range predator call (dyeing rabbit) . Use it very softly and you'll have them coming at you from every direction. Time to get number 2.

In Texas the limit is two per year on the honor system. No tags required.

Just my opinion, but if you can find someone to get you on a hunt, you'll have a ball. Often included are varmints and hogs.

Given their habitat, you want to do this in February or March. Any earlier and it's still deer season -- any later and it's too durned hot.

Give it a try, and best of luck with it. It's a action filled blast. Only in Africa can you have more fun.
 
As to who with, or how much it should cost, I have no idea.

From my screen name you may guess that I'm kind of a Javelina junkie. Perfect bow quarry for any bowhunter, but most especially for us fat, OLD, farts. Very poor eye sight, only moderate hearing (the whole herd is constantly making noise), but a very good sense of smell. Really easy to get up on as long as the wind is in your favor. Even named my company after them. We 2 old fat farts who have poor eyesight, and probably don't smell go good either just felt it was appropriate.

Most hunters don't specifically seek them out, but a few of us do. Lots of "deer" hunters shoot them and let them lay, figuring they are varmints. Those folks don't know what they're missing off the pit, or made into tamales.

They have a gland on their back a few inches forward of the tail that for all the world looks like a small nipple. The smell is reminiscent of a skunk. Seems that they use it for group communications. Staying in contact, if you will. Once the critter is skinned the gland comes of with it, and that's the end of the smell factor. The flesh is a nice light pink like pork, but with very little fat. Absolutely excellent table fare. Also goes well in sausage mixed with venison.

In some areas they will be covered with fleas and ticks -- in other areas, not one to be seen.

They can easily be hunted from blinds, setting up in the brush over a sendero dribbled with corn, or spot and stalk. For sure, if you've got some corn out a herd will hit it twice a day, and sometimes more than one herd in a day. A given herd will usually come out 45 to 50 minutes later each day. I'm convinced this is tied to the Moon cycle.

Just be aware that their preferred food is prickly pear cactus. Not so good for snooping and pooping. The pear diet means that they almost never go to water.

If you get on a group, and especially if they have young, and they know something is up, they respond by popping their tusk. They can't see you, but know something is not right. It's a threat/defense thing, I believe.

At the shot, especially if one is hit and squealing, the bunch will scatter in every direction, still popping their tusk. According to some this is a sign of their aggression. I think it just shows utter confusion.

Only once have I gently laid my bow on the ground and sought shelter in a Mesquite tree. In your typical Mesquite you'll be doing good to get your feet more than 2 feet above the ground. That's OK, they simply can not look up.

At that point you'll probably still hear them in the brush. This is the time to take out your close range predator call (dyeing rabbit) . Use it very softly and you'll have them coming at you from every direction. Time to get number 2.

In Texas the limit is two per year on the honor system. No tags required.

Just my opinion, but if you can find someone to get you on a hunt, you'll have a ball. Often included are varmints and hogs.

Given their habitat, you want to do this in February or March. Any earlier and it's still deer season -- any later and it's too durned hot.

Give it a try, and best of luck with it. It's a action filled blast. Only in Africa can you have more fun.
 
Very good post^ thank you for all the info!
 
One thing on the scent gland on their backs, do not try and cut it off bbjavilina mentioned it will come right off with the hide.

He also mentioned that they are great table fare, the problem with this is that he let the secrete out of the bag. In all the years that I have been hunting them with a buddy we have only had one that was not fit for a human and that one took a while to find in 90 degree heat in Arizona. The only reason that it was kept was that the head was one for the Arizona record book.
 
Great writeup, thanks. (y)

...At the shot, especially if one is hit and squealing, the bunch will scatter in every direction, still popping their tusk. According to some this is a sign of their aggression. I think it just shows utter confusion...

Running away while doing anything is not aggression, it is defensive. People want to believe that every time they can see an animals teeth it is behaving aggressively. Foals show and pop their teeth to show submission, few would argue that a few day old foal is behaving aggressively. Horses that approach then bite, kick or chase are behaving aggressively, Horses who bite or kick when pressured are behaving defensively. A coyote snarling in a trap is defensive, a black bear popping its teeth at you is being defensive etc, you get the picture.. This is true of all animals. Think of it in human terms, a man slowly and deliberately approaches a woman, grabs her and calmly forces her down with his superior strength, the woman screams, kicks him in the nards and claws at his eyes. Which one is being aggressive? No question there, but when a cornered animal fights back we call him aggressive??? An odd perception.

Just a few thoughts on the subject.
 

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