this week's quail hunt

[lawson]

this past weekend a few of us went up to the north shore of Roosevelt Lake here in arizona to chase quail, and scout javelina for next month's pig hunt. we camped by the shore, and were able to do equal amounts of hunting and fishing.

the fish weren't biting, so i spent most of the time quail and rabbit hunting. i was using my dad's Artic Cat ATV since he was more interested in fishing and drinking beer than hunting, so i was able to cover a lot of ground.

in the first afternoon, i downed about 4 good sized quail, and a couple cottontail rabbits with my model 12 (she's old, but she works!). my hunting buddy matt brought back 4 quail of his own and and a rabbit. we had a nice spread of wild game appetizers to go with the rice and beans.

the next morning, i was more intent on scouting for pigs than hunting quail, but i figured i should bring a shottie anyway, so i opted for the lighter no-name 20 gauge SxS my dad passed down (there is literally no name on it, but he's hunted with it for over 20 years, and i've hunted with it for over 10).

i found some fresh pig tracks and droppings heading away from a cove, and followed them for about a mile or so along a game trail. i lost the trail on some rocky ground, so i climbed a nearby ridge to get my bearings. at the top, i could see a herd of about a dozen pigs grazing down in a gully below. had the season been open, i would've had my pig. couldn't have asked for a better shot than that. great weekend overall, and i can't wait for the pig hunt.

lessons learned from the weekend:

- as soon as you get back to camp, put your gun away, and sit down with a cold drink; quail will always fly slowly overhead.
- you will inevitably encounter large amounts of game you did not purchase a stamp for.
- and no matter how old you are, .22 rifles never stop being fun.

 

[Lennyjoe]

Sounds like a good time.

We took a few quail 2 weeks ago down by Kitt peak but no bunnies. Ran into a pack of 15 Javalina 3 weeks ago while bowhunting North of Benson. I could of hammered a big sow at 10 yards but took pictures instead cause I had no permit. She bailed after the 3rd flash from the camera and I had a male take up spacing between me and her. It was a true mexican stand off so to speak. My spotter was about 15 yds behind left of me so I started back peddling towards him. As I moved back the male Javalina started making agressive moves towards me. So, I pulled the S&W 1006 and put a 10MM shot across his nose. He ran off to my right about 25 yards and started to approach us again.

Needless to say, this is the first time I have seen a Javalina stand his ground. He let us skirt him and we headed a different direction.

Now that quail season and archery deer season is done here I can spend more time doing the honeydo stuff around the house. The wife reminded me of that.

Enjoy your Javy hunt.

 

[lawson]

that's interesting, lennyjoe. i've never seen a javy be anything but cowardly.

sidenote about javelina: when i was a kid, my dad found a dead sow on the side of the road with a little piglet trying to cuddle up to the mother. he brought it home in a box.

we kept it for a few days, and eventually it went to one of his friends who had a small ranch. they raised it, and it mimiced the behavior of the dogs, and behaved much like one. it sort of had a "bark" that sounded like a forced grunt, and it learned to fetch.

 

[Lennyjoe]

We shot a javalina here on base last year and there was 2 piglets in the group with them. The adults ran off but the youngins just milled around in shock. My buddy (the shooter) stood there after the shot and the 2 piglets snuggled up against his boot.

I ran and got a cage and some gloves and when he tried to pick them up they came out of shock and tried to bite his hand. Needless to say, they ran off shortly after that.

As for the agressive dude, it suprised me too. Usually they run like hell. Wierd.

 

[oldhammy1]

Javelina Help!!!

Just happened to look at this thread, and maybe someone out there can provide some assistance. Me and some buddies got drawn for a HAM hunt here in Arizona. I hunt in the mountains west of Marana,Az, and have had moderate sucess with quail this year. I see lots of javelina sign such as fresh eaten prickly pear, tracks, etc. I have never seen a pig though, and have spent some time scouting out there. What is the best way to hunt these stinky little varmants. Some say just glass like for deer, others say find out where they are and try to find them, and others say walk and walk until you come to to them. I know there are Javelina out where I have been, but with the season open in two weeks, I still don't feel like I know the right way to go about it. I would appreciate any experiences, advice, or good spots in 37A that I can check out.

Thanks

 

[Lennyjoe]

Best I can tell you is to walk the ridges midway up and glass into the washes. The ones we ran into were actually on top of the ridge we were on. Had 2 other buddies on the other side of a long draw and he seen them well before I did. Talked me into them on my Rino GPS radio.

Had a buddy take a Javalina a couple of weeks ago on the other side of the Rincon mountains over Redding pass. Not a big oinker but big enough for him.

I'm sure you already checked out the hunt unit reports on the Arizona game and fish website but in case you didnt.

Areas:Roskruge Mountains: This range has good javelina populations and lower numbers of hunters compared to other areas. Be sure to check maps before hunting to avoid crossing into the Tohono O'Odham Indian Reservation which runs through the center of the mountains from east to west and makes the western boundary of Unit 37A.

Access is from Highway 86 near the town of Three Points on the south end, and Sandario Road along the Avra Valley east of the mountains. This area contains several herds of javelina. Hunt the broken and rolling hills throughout this area. In the flats hunt along the washes. There is an extensive network of roads throughout this area so remember to restrict vehicle travel to roads.

Access to the northern end of the mountain range is west of I-10 from Red Rock Road exit 226 and Avra Valley Road exit 242.

The Picacho Mountains can be reached from I-10, Deep Well Ranch Road, and Houser Road. Access may be somewhat restricted by the C.A.P. canal along the SW side of the Newman Peak complex. Hunt the washes and big canyons, as well as the flats and washes along the north and west sides of the mountains.

Coolidge has good populations of javelina around some of the agriculture fields. Remember to respect landowner rights and ask permission before entering private property.

The Tortolita Mountains, Owl Head Buttes, Durham Hills, and Suizo Hills have good densities of javelina throughout. The Owl Heads, Durhams, and Suizos can be reached by Park Link Drive off of the Florence Highway (79), and dirt roads heading west form Highway 79. The Tortolitas can be reached from dirt roads heading east from the I-10 frontage road (exit at Marana), from an access point at the county line on Highway 79 in Catalina or from Park Link Drive. The Tortolitas always have good javelina herds, but a 2-3 mile hike is required from the base of the mountain. Consult topographic maps for washes and springs in all these areas.

 

[oldhammy1]

Thanks LennyJoe. Didn't mean to take over the thread.

Hammy

 

[Lennyjoe]

No worries mate. Us Arizonans need to stick together.

 

[lawson]

ARIZONA PRIDE!!!

sorry about that, i love my home state.


i grew up hunting javelina, and have been pretty successful at it so far. lennyjoe has good advice, climb a ridge and glass the washes and gullies.

bring a good pair of binoculars. javelinas have great natural camouflage for the arizona desert. often under close inspection i've noticed that a rock is actually a piggie laying down under a tree.

i don't really recommend just walking until you see some. the little buggers are pretty fast, and can fit through spaces you can't. often if you spook them, they will be gone before you can get a shot off, and they spook easily.

piggies love to eat, so look for areas with lots of food sources: mesquite trees, jojoba bushes, skindaggers, fruit-bearing cacti, etc.

when you find a trail, examine droppings. javelina don't chew much, so it's easy to tell what they're eating without touching it.

i hunt with a customized m59/66 sks using Winchester Super X 123 gr SP. i've never put in for HAM season, i should do that next year, i've always wanted to try handgun hunting.

good luck, and good hunting.

 

[oldhammy1]

Thanks

Thanks! Great advice. I'm hunting with a 1971 Ruger Security Six, 6 inch barrel, 110 gr. jacketed soft points. Should do the job. Even if I don't get a pig, I would at least like to see some. Thanks again.

Hammy

 

[lawson]

most guys i know who hunt them with handguns say that a 6" .357 is the right tool for the job. aim just above and behind the shoulder, that's where the vitals are. you don't want to break the shoulder, you'll have a mess of wasted meat.

 

[Lennyjoe]

I'd love to hammer one with my 10MM G20 next season.

 

[oldhammy1]

Javii Update

FYI-
357 magnum at 20 yards is sufficient to drop a medium sized Javelina. I had such luck last weekend here in Southern Arizona. First big game hunt (if you want to call it that). Had an awesome time.


Hammy

 

[Sistema1927]

Going quail hunting?











It might be good to have an attorney with you.











(Lighten up, I like Dick Cheney!)

 

[lawson]

Going quail hunting?











It might be good to have an attorney with you.











(Lighten up, I like Dick Cheney!)

"dick cheney's approval rating skyrocketed when the public found out he shot a lawyer"

 

[P-32]

Besides, most of us would rather go hunting with Dick Cheney than go for a car ride with Ed Kennedy.