My first video footage of a hunt came this past January. I had just filled my Javelina tag that morning and my Dad still needed to fill his. So I decided it would be a great chance to try and do some filming. Well, this is how it turned out. The next one will be better.
Paul's Javelina Hunt 2007
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
Friday, January 19, 2007
Javelina Hunt - Jan '07
Brrrrr... Besides the freezing weather we had a great hunt. The hunting party included two buddies of mine, Jeff and Robert, as well as my Dad. This was Jeff and myself's second archery javelina hunt and neither of us killed one last year. I was a virgin archery hunter until now.
Friday was the first evening of excitement, I had spotted some pigs in the bottom and the hunt was on. We working out way across the bottom and up the other side in hopes of getting in front of the herd, which also gave us the wind in our favor. After a few minutes searching the bushes, Jeff spotted one move behind a bush. The herd was still moving and we needed to get in front of them. Dad and I backtracked a little bit a got out in front only to find a couple other pigs moving at us. We held out position and waited. At about 25 yards, I have my first decent opportunity to shoot. I let it go and it hit low and back and the pigs busted out of there. Without a blood trail or tracks, we searched to no avail. Walking back we saw Jeff motioning that he hit a pig and it was down in the bushes. After a couple more shots to finish him off, Jeff had successfully killed his first javelina. There was feelings of discouragement that night knowing that I couldn't find the pig I had hit. Recounts of the evening filled the air around the campfire and the excitement of knowing we still have several days left to hunt.
Saturday was a pig-less day, the temperature never reached above freezing and the pigs knew that the best way to keep warm was to stay hidden. But as the weather changed, so did our hunting chances. Sunday started late, but after about 10 minutes of glassing, Dad spotted a few pigs about a mile away. How lucky do you have to be to see that. :) After a short hike back to the quads we set off to get closer, and close we did. We circled around them again to get the wind in our favor and came within 30 yard before they knew what was happening. With a shot in the dirt, the pigs busted again. One pig ran up the hill in front of me, but right behind the bush. This forced me to hold my draw a little longer then I am comfortable with, waiting for him to step out to give me the shot. The pig moved just enough to give me a shot and I blew it. My arm was so tired, this I dropped the shot and sent the arrow into a rock ricocheting it into the air. With no pigs killed after our second perfect stock, we headed back to camp for lunch.
Monday turned out to be the day of days. We headed to another area in hopes of finding a different herd that hadn't been run around and within 10 minutes of glassing we did just that. Off we went, up the hill after them. With the wind blowing from the south we were unable to circle around to get ahead of them, so we had to hope they would stop moving to we could catch up. We dropped out packs and we topped over a ridge. There they were only 80 yards way feeding on a prickly pear cactus. We slowing moved in to about 25 yards and waited for the right shot. One pig moved down in front of my Dad and after a short standoff, he was able to release an arrow. This arrow found the top of the pigs back right below the vertebrate and we watched the pig rumble out of sight with the arrow. With all that excitement the other pigs stood there a little shocked, giving me a great shot. After my not-so-great shot (I hit the prickly pear) the pigs ran off. Dad ran after his pig to see if he could get another shot and I was off to the races as well.
The pigs had circles around and were running into the next canyon trying to get to the bottom. I proceeded to run down the ridge top, across the saddle, and down to the bottom. As I ran I was able to see the 4 pigs all in a row weaving their way down the ridge into the bottom. I had to stay ahead of them if was going to get another opportunity. As they headed down I headed down. As they went side slope, I tried harder to get ahead of them. Then I reached the bottom and I had some time to catch my breath. I set up in the bottom because the last time I saw them they were heading down. Then I saw the pigs cross over a little rise.
They were on the slope! I moved up the slope about 20 yards and waited. It only took about 10 seconds when I saw the pigs trotting right to me. I was comfortable and when the pigs dropped into the final draw, I drew my bow and waited for them to appear. Just then the first pig topped over and came right by me at about 3 yards. I just turned and shot. When he is that close there is no need to aim. Down he went, head over heals. I did it. My heart was about ready to explode. I had ran down a hill and worked it perfectly to get a 3 yard shot at a pig. I now had my first archery kill!
After 2 1/2 hours of searching the hillside, the bottoms, and kicking the brush we were unable to find the pig that ran off with Dad's arrow. Frustrated with the fact that this pig just disappeared we decided to pack up camp and head home. Dad felt that he had killed his pig and that this hunt had more excitement then anticipated already. With a little arm twisting (very little) I convinced him that we should take one final drive in the truck quickly to see what we see.
We had some sandwiched quickly and loaded in the truck around 3 o'clock. We were heading out to the same place Jeff had killed his pig on Friday. After the 25 minute drive and a short hike we were glassing from the same point. Why mess with success. I think we were only glassing for about 5 minutes when I spotted a herd of pigs in the bottom. We pretty much followed the same path down and across the bottom as before. This time Dad was the only one with a bow, I had the video camera. We topped out on the other side and searched the bottom for movement. Then he spotted it. One pig going to town on a prickly pear. I mean this pig had it's whole head in this thing. Dad moved around to the left to get the nice broadside shot and was about 25 yards way. With one great shot, the pig ran about 50 yards and fell over. WOW!!!!
This hunting weekend was awesome. We were 4 for 4, that is four herds spotted and each time we were able to get within bow range. Of course we weren't as successful in our shooting, but we did finally manage to each get a pig. I want to thank God for providing me with a great hunt and the opportunity to share it all with my Dad. Of course, I cannot forget to thank my wife for allowing me to pursue this hunting passion.
Friday was the first evening of excitement, I had spotted some pigs in the bottom and the hunt was on. We working out way across the bottom and up the other side in hopes of getting in front of the herd, which also gave us the wind in our favor. After a few minutes searching the bushes, Jeff spotted one move behind a bush. The herd was still moving and we needed to get in front of them. Dad and I backtracked a little bit a got out in front only to find a couple other pigs moving at us. We held out position and waited. At about 25 yards, I have my first decent opportunity to shoot. I let it go and it hit low and back and the pigs busted out of there. Without a blood trail or tracks, we searched to no avail. Walking back we saw Jeff motioning that he hit a pig and it was down in the bushes. After a couple more shots to finish him off, Jeff had successfully killed his first javelina. There was feelings of discouragement that night knowing that I couldn't find the pig I had hit. Recounts of the evening filled the air around the campfire and the excitement of knowing we still have several days left to hunt.
Saturday was a pig-less day, the temperature never reached above freezing and the pigs knew that the best way to keep warm was to stay hidden. But as the weather changed, so did our hunting chances. Sunday started late, but after about 10 minutes of glassing, Dad spotted a few pigs about a mile away. How lucky do you have to be to see that. :) After a short hike back to the quads we set off to get closer, and close we did. We circled around them again to get the wind in our favor and came within 30 yard before they knew what was happening. With a shot in the dirt, the pigs busted again. One pig ran up the hill in front of me, but right behind the bush. This forced me to hold my draw a little longer then I am comfortable with, waiting for him to step out to give me the shot. The pig moved just enough to give me a shot and I blew it. My arm was so tired, this I dropped the shot and sent the arrow into a rock ricocheting it into the air. With no pigs killed after our second perfect stock, we headed back to camp for lunch.Monday turned out to be the day of days. We headed to another area in hopes of finding a different herd that hadn't been run around and within 10 minutes of glassing we did just that. Off we went, up the hill after them. With the wind blowing from the south we were unable to circle around to get ahead of them, so we had to hope they would stop moving to we could catch up. We dropped out packs and we topped over a ridge. There they were only 80 yards way feeding on a prickly pear cactus. We slowing moved in to about 25 yards and waited for the right shot. One pig moved down in front of my Dad and after a short standoff, he was able to release an arrow. This arrow found the top of the pigs back right below the vertebrate and we watched the pig rumble out of sight with the arrow. With all that excitement the other pigs stood there a little shocked, giving me a great shot. After my not-so-great shot (I hit the prickly pear) the pigs ran off. Dad ran after his pig to see if he could get another shot and I was off to the races as well.
The pigs had circles around and were running into the next canyon trying to get to the bottom. I proceeded to run down the ridge top, across the saddle, and down to the bottom. As I ran I was able to see the 4 pigs all in a row weaving their way down the ridge into the bottom. I had to stay ahead of them if was going to get another opportunity. As they headed down I headed down. As they went side slope, I tried harder to get ahead of them. Then I reached the bottom and I had some time to catch my breath. I set up in the bottom because the last time I saw them they were heading down. Then I saw the pigs cross over a little rise.
They were on the slope! I moved up the slope about 20 yards and waited. It only took about 10 seconds when I saw the pigs trotting right to me. I was comfortable and when the pigs dropped into the final draw, I drew my bow and waited for them to appear. Just then the first pig topped over and came right by me at about 3 yards. I just turned and shot. When he is that close there is no need to aim. Down he went, head over heals. I did it. My heart was about ready to explode. I had ran down a hill and worked it perfectly to get a 3 yard shot at a pig. I now had my first archery kill!After 2 1/2 hours of searching the hillside, the bottoms, and kicking the brush we were unable to find the pig that ran off with Dad's arrow. Frustrated with the fact that this pig just disappeared we decided to pack up camp and head home. Dad felt that he had killed his pig and that this hunt had more excitement then anticipated already. With a little arm twisting (very little) I convinced him that we should take one final drive in the truck quickly to see what we see.
We had some sandwiched quickly and loaded in the truck around 3 o'clock. We were heading out to the same place Jeff had killed his pig on Friday. After the 25 minute drive and a short hike we were glassing from the same point. Why mess with success. I think we were only glassing for about 5 minutes when I spotted a herd of pigs in the bottom. We pretty much followed the same path down and across the bottom as before. This time Dad was the only one with a bow, I had the video camera. We topped out on the other side and searched the bottom for movement. Then he spotted it. One pig going to town on a prickly pear. I mean this pig had it's whole head in this thing. Dad moved around to the left to get the nice broadside shot and was about 25 yards way. With one great shot, the pig ran about 50 yards and fell over. WOW!!!!
This hunting weekend was awesome. We were 4 for 4, that is four herds spotted and each time we were able to get within bow range. Of course we weren't as successful in our shooting, but we did finally manage to each get a pig. I want to thank God for providing me with a great hunt and the opportunity to share it all with my Dad. Of course, I cannot forget to thank my wife for allowing me to pursue this hunting passion.
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