Calling Javelina

[JimT]

(this article is from the old Sixgunner.Com website .. the hunt was in the 1980's)

The air was crisp as I shouldered my backpack. It was about an hour before dawn and I had a good half-hour hike to get to where I had seen the Javelina herd. I wanted to be in position before daylight. During the hike out I enjoyed the beauty of the Arizona mountains and the dawning of a new day.

It seemed to be just a short walk and I was at the canyon mouth I was seeking. Following on old trail I slowly eased my way down the hillside till I was about 30 yards from the canyon bottom. I sat down in the concealment of some brush and waited for the sun to rise so I could see the mountainside opposite of me. I could see tracks near the water in the canyon bottom and began to feel a stir of excitement.

As the light began to filter through the canyon I got out my Burnham Brothers Deluxe Fox call and started to blow softly through it. I gave about 5 soft calls and stopped to see what would happen. In just a few moments I spotted some movement near the top of the mountain, about 300 yards away. I thought at first it was a coyote, but when I looked through my binoculars I discovered it was a large Javelina making its way down the mountain toward me!

I gave a few more calls and the pig continued to come down the mountain through the brush. When it got to the edge of the brush about 150 yards from me it seemed reluctant to leave its cover. I called, but to no avail. At length I could see it begin to make its way back up the mountain. It would stop and listen when I called, but would not come to me.

I noticed some more movement near the top and looking through my glasses revealed several other Javelina milling around. I decided the only thing to do was to get nearer. There was a trail that circled around the mountain and would take me near the top, out of sight and smell of the Javelina. I began to work my way up the trail, and after about 15 minutes of climbing I cut off and headed over to where I had last seen the little porkers. When I thought I was near the place I got down in some deep grass and began blowing on the call. In just a moment I heard the "woof-woof" of the pigs as they moved toward me.

I had my gun ready as the first one came into sight, but the brush was so thick that I just couldn’t see them long enough to risk a shot. The pigs stayed about 25 to 30 yards out and circled me, curious but wary. After playing this game for 10 minutes or so I decided to try and move in closer.

Moving as quietly as I could I eased my way through the thick brush. At different times I spotted Javelina, but no good shots were seemingly available. I worked my way to the top of the mountain, and as I came over the top I saw movement to my left. I froze and slowly turned to see what it was. There, about 50 yards away, were 15 to 20 Javelina feeding in a clump of mesquite trees.

I had my call out again, and at the noise one came running directly at me at full speed! At 25 feet or so I touched it off and the pig squealed and went down. I could tell that I had missed a good hit and had broken it’s back! My next shot took it through the neck and finished it on the spot. It was a large sow.

The gun was my old model Ruger .45 and the load was the 300 gr. #457191 bullet with 18.5 gr. 2400 fired by a rifle primer. This was the 4th Javelina taken with this gun and load.

I cleaned the skull and found that the neck shot had broken the bones on the base of the skull where the neck joins it. It had nice tusks and makes a good looking trophy. The real problem was carrying the pig home. It was far enough that I was wore out by the time I got back to the house!

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I started hunting Javelina in the late 1970's. Once I learned more of their ways I never failed to get one each year for the next 10 years or so. The last Javelina Hunt I did was in 2005. Here are a few of them over the years.

1986 - Ruger .45 Colt

javelina 1986.jpg

1987 - 454 Casull

javelina 1987-2.jpg

1988 - 1858 .44 Remington

javelina 1988.JPG

1997 - 41 Magnum

javelina 1997.JPG

2002 - Reeder Custom Vaquero .45 Colt

javelina 2002.jpg

2005 - 480 Achilles

javelina 2005.JPG

I only shot 1 with a rifle in all those years. I don't have a photo of it and wish I did. I used a Marlin Model 1894 in .32-20.

[Griff]

One of my favorite game species... Just wish I had more opportunities!

[gamekeeper]

Interesting what will come to a fox call, some critters come running and others ignore it. Great photos Jim I especially like the one with the Remington that must have been memorable....

[Bill in Oregon]

Jim, I had no idea they would respond to any sort of call. They were always a pleasant surprise when we encountered them in New Mexico. They look impossibly too big for their dainty little feet, but they are tough little toots! Anything that snacks on prickly pear has my admiration.

[JimT]

Interesting what will come to a fox call, some critters come running and others ignore it. Great photos Jim I especially like the one with the Remington that must have been memorable....

I have called Mule Deer in with that call. I wasn't planning on it ... we were calling coyotes .. but we watched a small herd come from a bout a quarter mile down the canyon. They came right up to us. I found -at times - it worked on Whitetail also.

Even more interesting, I once called in a Javelina hunter! He came sneaking in with his bow ready. We both had a good laugh.

[Bill in Oregon]

Well, I'll be darned. Might have to fool with one if I can find a place in Texas to hunt.

[JimT]

Great photos Jim I especially like the one with the Remington that must have been memorable....

I hiked out into the canyons where I knew the Javelina hung out. About 9AM I was coming down this draw with a wash on my left. The wash cut across the draw in front of me and from about 300 yards I could see a herd down in the bottom of the wash. I slowly worked my way up to the edge of the cut and then eased up until I could see them. There were 15 or so milling around down in the sandy wash and one was scratching its butt on a rock about 30 yards or so from me. It had its right side toward me but angled away, head pointed away from me. It seemed to be enjoying the scratching. I aimed back a bit behind the front shoulder and touched it off. Big smoke cloud ... pigs running every which way .. and the one I shot laying there kicking its last.

The ball took it on the right side midway up in the body, ranged forward and exited the left side of the neck. Interesting to me was the fact that the entrance wound was larger than the exit wound. It made sense. A pure lead ball expanded some when it hit, then the forward part of the ball "wore off" going through ribs and other bone.

I cleaned it and carried it back to the truck. On the way I met a group of hunters .. all with AR's. I had heard them shooting up the countryside earlier. I asked them how many they got and the said "None so far." They asked how far I had to shoot and I was tempted to tell them "It was less than 100 yards." but I decided to be kind.

[JimT]

Well, I'll be darned. Might have to fool with one if I can find a place in Texas to hunt.

I practice ... calling up dogs, grandkids ...

[Grizz]

interesting stuff. in AK calling deer is as common as cold weather in winter, and sometimes very funny things happen, like laugh-out-loud funny. I've had hawks respond and fly over to inspect the source, they are rare in SE. Some times deer come running full speed ahead. The outcome of that can be cartoon-funny when their recognition sense kicks in.

sometimes the bear responds and disarms you and eats your guts. In one case at least.

the classic deer call is a blade of beach grass cupped in your hands. my pastor could do it, but i never got the hang of that. the little flat rubber band powered calls work. my yellow cedar call was like a megaphone and more directional.

calling grandkids? gonna give that a try for sure!

[JimT]

I have a friend who used to guide Black Bear hunts in Arizona. In the Fall, when the bears are in the prickly pear eating the fruit, it was fairly easy to call them in. They would come running. He called in 5 (not at one time - on separate occasions but on the same hunt) and the hunters only wanted the heads and hides so I ended up with all the meat!