Texas Javelina!

[Basic Instinct]

Going on a hunt on Feb 7th 2008, hope it gets here soon.  San Antonio are.  What should I expect for weather Temps for that time of year??  Any snakes to worry about much that time of yr??

[**DONOTDELETE**]

It's little on the cold side that time of year, But the Tejas Gang should chime in and give you better answers..

[Whip]

A "little cold" is a relative term.  Along about February anything above freezing is a heat wave to me.

[Bushman]

I was there in the end of February last year and some mornings were below zero even then, so bring warm clothes!

[Cherokee Scout]

I was in that area last 2 years the around the 10 of Feb, temps got up into the 80s. Nights were 60s or so.
 

[Cherokee Scout]

If you have never hunted there I suggest you wear good leather boots and take some leather gloves. Everything in south Texas has thorns. This is not a joke, take it seriouly, I stll have thorns in my hands and feet that will not come out. If you have chaps, take them. When tracking the javilna in pictures I had at least 500 small thorns in my legs. They are bad bad news!

[Cherokee Scout]

One more suggestion....Many times you will see the javilan in groups. Ifyou miss a lot like I do, get a javilan or wounded rabbit varmit call. As soon as you miss blow the thing as loud and fast as you can after the group runs off. Many times the group of javlina will charge back towards you looking to help thier wounded friend. They will swarm around you, they cant see well, so stand still and be ready to shoot. It is scary but it works! It is one of the wildest things I have ever seen.

[Aggie1993]

I have hunted in Kennedy Texas, which is about 60 miles SE of SA, for 24yrs.  Weather can range from close to freezing to 80's just depends on the fronts.  Thorns, yes, but it depends on the area you are hunting.  Some areas a very easy to hunt with only scattered thorny plants or cacti.  While another area is so thick that you very litteraly cannot walk or crawl through.  Simply depends on the area.  Snakes, keep an eye out for a buzz-tail at all times.  They are less active in the winter months but I have seen several in the coolest weather.  Lots of javies in this part of the state and you should have a great time.

[Gary Kellar]

Dan -

As far as temperature is concerned I'd come prepared for anything from the mid-30's to mid-80's range at that time of year. Never know what to expect.

We see very few snakes at this time of year, and those we see are usually somewhat dormant, but here again, just keep an eye out and you should be OK. Certainly nothing to be greatly worried about.

POP

[deepshaft]

Good advice above.  Don't forget a good pair of tweezers.  They are most fun to hunt when you are on the move.  Javis are not the sharpest tool in the shed so hunting them with trad gear is productive.

[TradAlaska]

Have hunted south Texas for 11 years now, spending most of the month of Feb. there.  Pack for cold, rain, and darn hot.  Teens to 80s.

Also, besides the tweezers, duct tape will help get out a bunch of the iddy-biddy miserable stickers that are hard to get to, hard to see and hard to pluck.  I hate it so much I usually suffer for a few days before I will ask my hunting partner to pluck them out of by backside.  Some times you can get them with the tape before having to drop you pants in front of your buddy.

Cheers from Alaska

[Ol Man]

We have stickers here that have barbed spikes... they are roundish and look similar to a mini landmine in shape.  If you get into any of them - get em out quick cause they work themselves in deeper and cause not only a lot of pain but fester up real quick.  As mentioned above carry a pair of good tweezers to get them out.  I got some in my leg l2 weekends ago and used my fingers - well they stuck good in my fingers and thumb and for 2  days  they hurt like old get out.  Temps range from cold to hot... bring clothes for almost anything that you can think of. And a good pair of boots.

[TXRED]

Dan,if the weather doesn't suit yer clothes when ya get here,just wait five or ten minutes & it'll change!  :D  Good luck with the little stinkers!

[mike g]

Definetly get a good Javie call, As mentioned above they can't resist coming to the rescue of squelling baby....
The draw back is they will surround you, are is that the good part....

[Roadkill]

bring iodine for that cactus spine you can feel but not see, a dab of iodine will make it shine like a diamond in a goats A$$-easier to get out.  If there were ever an animal makde for trad gear, it's the 'lina!

[Red Beastmaster]

I hunted in Laredo last winter and fell in love with Texas Javelina! The 70-80 degree temps felt great compared to PA's snow storm I left behind.

I wore a boonie hat w/sewn in bandana that protected my neck. I still got a heck of a sunburn. Should have taken sun block (and tweezers).

I'm going back again this year. This time with 7th Age in Odessa.

Javies be toast!

[Basic Instinct]

Thanks for all the advise, I will take it to heart, I cannot wait to go. Hope to connect on Javelina and hogs.

[Red Beastmaster]

I think I'll be taking some knee pads this year too. They sure would come in handy. I had to stoop for 10min while my first javelina worked into position for a shot.

There is NO place to kneel without something nasty sticking you.

Something else we learned was how javelina like to reqroup quickly. If we busted up a group with a failed stalk it wasn't long before they were back out again in the same spot. We started staying put and had continued action for a couple hours.

[jdupre]

Bring a good pair of pruning shears. They are very useful in cutting out shooting lanes and trimming around a ground blind. A length of camo cloth is good to have because there is not much cover in that terrain.
I'll probably get some flack on this, but I've been to South Texas a dozen times and still don't have a pair of snake boots. I feel it makes me more careful where I put my feet. I have seen my buddies with their knee high snake boot tromp through the cactus because they feel protected,but I end up with fewer thorns by being more careful.
On that subject, one of the outfitters was talking about these guys wearing their knee high boots and he boastfully bragged " Them boots ain't no protection. Them big ole rattlers we have hear reach up and bite you half way up yer thigh! ".

[Horne Shooter]

I've hunted in Texas pretty much all my life and I'll be derned if I know what to tell you about the weather in February...especially early February.  Could be 20, could be 80.  
Depending on where you hunt will determine how bad the thorny stuff is.  Snakes... depends on the temperature.  If it's warm out, keep your eyes and ears open.  I don't wear snake boots but I have sure had some "close encounters" and each time I do I swear to myself that I need to get some.  Javalinas are really fun to hunt and (if cleaned properly) eat pretty good too.  Should be great trip...have fun.