Author Topic: Desert Pig Hunt (Read 1224 times)

mcwoodduck · « **on:** March 05, 2010, 06:24:40 AM »

Well this was the third year in a row that we went to the wilds of Arizona after Javilina.
This year started out bad as we could not see signs of them in the area we normally do. We also could not smell them.
But friday morning I picked a ridge and brought by turkey chair and settled in for a long wait.
With in a few minutes I saw a Javilina come running over the next ridge and headed toward mine.
Rather than grab the rifle and shoot the thing I jumped up, grabbed the radio to let everyone else know. I was not sure if the one I saw was the leader of a group, the tail end of the group or just a lone Javilina.
Well, He got away.
As usual Javilina hunting is about the camp food and not so much the hunting.
Friday night with the hopes that Saturday will bring More Javilina into our area we made dinner.

mcwoodduck · « **Reply #1 on:** March 05, 2010, 06:36:31 AM »

Here is the finnished Product of Dinner

mcwoodduck · « **Reply #2 on:** March 05, 2010, 06:45:35 AM »

The next morning headed out to the ridge I noticed a group at the bottom of the canyon, radioed in that saw a group. and moved into position to shoot one.
Mike Radioed me back asking what was waiting for shoot!.
shot and missed, racked the bolt and shot agian anchoring my Javilina.
Lenard, and Mike also shot. Tim had not gotten into position to shoot yet.
So Mike and I had animals down.

mcwoodduck · « **Reply #3 on:** March 05, 2010, 06:49:23 AM »

While Mike and I were skinning our beasts it started to rain.
and rain.

mcwoodduck · « **Reply #4 on:** March 05, 2010, 07:13:10 AM »

Later Sat Afternoon the Rain let up a little and Tim, Mike and I went out to see what we could see, We spotted three more Javilina and we got Tim oround to get a shot and as the three were running Tim was shooting and Just missing. With his 4th and last round in the rifle a just miss on the largest Javilina in the group, Tim yelled for me to grab ammo out of his pack, I loaded a round into my Rifle and handed it to him, giving him instructions as to where to aim, and dialing the scope from 3X to about 7X.
Tim took aim and THAWK. A javilina rolling back down hill. I marked the spot on my GPS and we hiked down to the bottom of the hill and back up to the middle of the next hill as the rain started again. I found the spot where the Pig was hit and marked it on my GPS.
.11 of a mile. Sounds impressive and even at 193 yards it was still a great shot on a 40 pound Javilina running up a winding trail.
Tim is a bird hunter and this is his forst big game animal.
We later went out and Lenard also connected on a Javilina. But by then I was out of film. As I get pics from the other guys I will post them as well.

This year we were 4/4.

Oldshooter · « **Reply #5 on:** March 05, 2010, 08:32:25 AM »

Nice post and pics, your a lucky guy Mc, you go hunting in the dessert and it rains?

Cecil · « **Reply #6 on:** March 05, 2010, 09:02:15 AM »

Man sure are some nice big pork chops!

mcwoodduck · « **Reply #7 on:** March 05, 2010, 09:07:26 AM »

1.5" dry aged Ribeye's. But SHH the wives think we had Beans and Franks and reheated KFC.
Thursday night was Pork Tenderloin Night and Saturday was Rack of lamb.
OH and with the oven we made Biskits, Cookies, and even Brownies.
I need to play with the little oven to see what else we can make.

mcwoodduck · « **Reply #8 on:** March 05, 2010, 09:11:08 AM »

Quote from: Oldshooter on March 05, 2010, 08:32:25 AM

Nice post and pics, your a lucky guy Mc, you go hunting in the dessert and it rains?

Did it ever rain. The rain was comming down sideways and went through the tents, the new easy up, and generally drenched us.
All I can say it thank God for MR Heater and LPG.
Must be me. In Sept I went to the Desert of So Cal out by the Salton Sea and there was a rainstorm there for about an hour that, well having grown up on the east coast I went through a few hurricanes and have not see this much water in any of them.

bladerunner · « **Reply #9 on:** March 05, 2010, 09:27:45 AM »

Cool story,nice pics,and next time I wanna go eating.....errr,I mean......hunting...with ya'll

Oldshooter · « **Reply #10 on:** March 05, 2010, 10:50:53 AM »

Quote from: bladerunner on March 05, 2010, 09:27:45 AM

Cool story,nice pics,and next time I wanna go eating.....errr,I mean......hunting...with ya'll

SHOOTALL · « **Reply #11 on:** March 05, 2010, 10:55:07 AM »

Nice hunt ,better food

mcwoodduck · « **Reply #12 on:** March 05, 2010, 01:43:15 PM »

Quote from: bladerunner on March 05, 2010, 09:27:45 AM

Cool story,nice pics,and next time I wanna go eating.....errr,I mean......hunting...with ya'll

Have gun,Tent, cot, and grill and will travel. Invite me and I will bring the steaks.

Meduim rare? Potatoes, Rice, or Pasta? Garlic Bread or biskets?
I can cook on an open fire as well.

mauser98us · « **Reply #13 on:** March 05, 2010, 05:18:09 PM »

Whereabouts? What unit?

fireman 108 · « **Reply #14 on:** March 06, 2010, 03:51:08 PM »

great stuff my hunt is coming up on the 19th of march I'll keep you all posted. Fireman

Land_Owner · « **Reply #15 on:** March 06, 2010, 05:14:46 PM »

Wouldn't an AR-15 and a 30 round clip work better than a bolt action rifle on these piggy wanna-be's?

Wyo. Coyote Hunter · « **Reply #16 on:** March 07, 2010, 02:52:55 AM »

MC, nice story...what caliber did you use on the pigs...also, how did you handle the cleaning and skinning...I was told in Tx. they are full of flees, etc...I have spent much time in Az. and have thought often of the pig hunt, but never got a tag..from what I have been hearing now they are not extremely difficult to get...Have an Az. lic. for this season, but suppose I would have to get a 2011 to hunt next spring..sounds like a fun deal..at this time of year, I am anxious to hunt something besides coyotes....

mcwoodduck · « **Reply #17 on:** March 08, 2010, 07:09:41 AM »

Quote from: Land_Owner on March 06, 2010, 05:14:46 PM

Wouldn't an AR-15 and a 30 round clip work better than a bolt action rifle on these piggy wanna-be's?

My Boss wanted me to use my AR-15 But I feel funny hunting with it.
Same caliber 223 in a bolt action and I only needed two rounds, 1 Miss and a Boiler room hit. Does not take much to anchor these little guys.

mcwoodduck · « **Reply #18 on:** March 08, 2010, 07:17:47 AM »

Quote from: Wyo. Coyote Hunter on March 07, 2010, 02:52:55 AM

MC, nice story...what caliber did you use on the pigs...also, how did you handle the cleaning and skinning...I was told in Tx. they are full of flees, etc...I have spent much time in Az. and have thought often of the pig hunt, but never got a tag..from what I have been hearing now they are not extremely difficult to get...Have an Az. lic. for this season, but suppose I would have to get a 2011 to hunt next spring..sounds like a fun deal..at this time of year, I am anxious to hunt something besides coyotes....

I used a Cz 527 American in 223 with a Remington 50 Grain HP.
I did not see any fleas on my javilina this year ot the two mike has shot in the same area in the past two years.
So far we have put in as a group and the past three years we have drawn tags. I should Say Tag as it is one a year.
Good luck. Get a few friends together and go have a good long weekend. The Javilina are like hunting teenagers. They do not get up early they usually travel in groups and if you know where they food is you can usually get see them.

Oldshooter · « **Reply #19 on:** March 08, 2010, 08:12:05 AM »

Quote

The Javilina are like hunting teenagers. They do not get up early they usually travel in groups and if you know where they food is you can usually get see them.

Haven't heard it put that way before but its true, from my experience!

drdougrx · « **Reply #20 on:** March 08, 2010, 10:06:00 AM »

Now THAT's funny!!!!