Years ago I hunted javelina and killed a couple with a rifle. I found that hunting not particularly challenging and javelina not particularly tasty, so I haven't bothered putting in for a tag in over a decade. Recently, the kids have expressed interest in hunting them, and since NM is one of only a handful of states in which one can hunt javelina, I figured why not. I also figured since I'd be out with them, I just as well have a tag too, right?
That worked last year, but we didn't get to go out much. This year it backfired - the kids got skunked, but I got a tag. I decided that if I got the chance to go out, I would make things a little tougher on myself. No rifle. So I broke out the open-sighted Dan Wesson .357 and made sure it was still in fighting form.
Last week I finally got a chance to sneak out for a day. My son and a buddy joined me since they don't have classes on Wednesdays. We left town early and were at our hunting location before sunup. Our plan was simple - cruise the dirt roads and glass distant terrain for javelina. We stopped several times, but at first only saw a few desert mule deer. By mid-morning, we had looped around the small mountain range we expected to hunt. We glassed a few hillsides and then spotted a small group of javelina about a half-mile out.
We checked the wind, decided they were stalkable, grabbed our packs, and headed out. We last saw them headed through a small saddle between two low hills. We had to loop around the northernmost hill to get the wind right. After a good climb, we made it around the mountain to about where we thought the javelina would be. I unsnapped the holster and got the little revolver ready for action. As we eased around the hill, the boys, who were slightly behind me, spotted the javelina and got my attention. They were about 100 yards away, rooting around for tasty subterranean treats. Knowing that I was limited to about 40 yards for an ethical shot, I started easing my way through the sparse desert brush. At 56 yards, I was basically out of cover, so I had to wait for every javelina to be facing away before taking a couple steps closer. This worked for a while, until one finally spotted me sneaking in. It bristled up in warning, but didn't run. Knowing it was now or never, I slowly raised the revolver and lined up the sights on what I had identified as the largest of the group. At the shot, all heck broke loose! Javelina were running everywhere. I knew I had hit the javelina, but not how well, so I dashed forward and got another shot, this one dropping the nice sow where she stood.
The boys, who has watched all action unfold from higher up the hill, saw the javelina go down and headed my way. We admired the javelina, then notched the tag and took a few pictures. Though we are not required by law to remove the meat of javelina from the field, I refuse to waste the meat, so we field dressed her and got ready for the pack out. The boys decided to truss her up on an agave stalk and carry her out like we were headed to a luau!
I don't have permission to post my son's buddy's likeness on the 'net, so all I have to share is this picture of them headed away from me, javelina all trussed up.
I have to say, sneaking into comfortable open-sighted handgun range was WAY more fun than shooting a javelina with a rifle! Enough so that I think I'll put in again next year. Hopefully this time the kids will draw too and we can focus on them getting one.
That worked last year, but we didn't get to go out much. This year it backfired - the kids got skunked, but I got a tag. I decided that if I got the chance to go out, I would make things a little tougher on myself. No rifle. So I broke out the open-sighted Dan Wesson .357 and made sure it was still in fighting form.
Last week I finally got a chance to sneak out for a day. My son and a buddy joined me since they don't have classes on Wednesdays. We left town early and were at our hunting location before sunup. Our plan was simple - cruise the dirt roads and glass distant terrain for javelina. We stopped several times, but at first only saw a few desert mule deer. By mid-morning, we had looped around the small mountain range we expected to hunt. We glassed a few hillsides and then spotted a small group of javelina about a half-mile out.
We checked the wind, decided they were stalkable, grabbed our packs, and headed out. We last saw them headed through a small saddle between two low hills. We had to loop around the northernmost hill to get the wind right. After a good climb, we made it around the mountain to about where we thought the javelina would be. I unsnapped the holster and got the little revolver ready for action. As we eased around the hill, the boys, who were slightly behind me, spotted the javelina and got my attention. They were about 100 yards away, rooting around for tasty subterranean treats. Knowing that I was limited to about 40 yards for an ethical shot, I started easing my way through the sparse desert brush. At 56 yards, I was basically out of cover, so I had to wait for every javelina to be facing away before taking a couple steps closer. This worked for a while, until one finally spotted me sneaking in. It bristled up in warning, but didn't run. Knowing it was now or never, I slowly raised the revolver and lined up the sights on what I had identified as the largest of the group. At the shot, all heck broke loose! Javelina were running everywhere. I knew I had hit the javelina, but not how well, so I dashed forward and got another shot, this one dropping the nice sow where she stood.
The boys, who has watched all action unfold from higher up the hill, saw the javelina go down and headed my way. We admired the javelina, then notched the tag and took a few pictures. Though we are not required by law to remove the meat of javelina from the field, I refuse to waste the meat, so we field dressed her and got ready for the pack out. The boys decided to truss her up on an agave stalk and carry her out like we were headed to a luau!
I don't have permission to post my son's buddy's likeness on the 'net, so all I have to share is this picture of them headed away from me, javelina all trussed up.
I have to say, sneaking into comfortable open-sighted handgun range was WAY more fun than shooting a javelina with a rifle! Enough so that I think I'll put in again next year. Hopefully this time the kids will draw too and we can focus on them getting one.