Javelina habits

[Tom Baxter]

Having not hunted them before and now having them as a huntable option I am interested to hear what habits they have?

Have hunted feral hogs heaps and assume they are going to have similar habits?

Very dry here at present and am thinking that any water may be worthing staking out early and late in the day, but also there are maize crops that they get into as well.  

Do they have a defintite breeding season?

All and any help appreciated.

[macbow]

Tom, Don't know if it will be the3 same there. Javelinas  don't seam to mind the heat. May hole up during the hottest part of the day.

One thing I found to work in Texas was once some were spotted if they spooked blow on a predator call just as hard as you can, fell like your trying to break it. The most dominate Javelina or more will charge with his hair bristled looking like he is twice his size. A lot of fun.

In the thick parts of Texas putting a little corn down a lot of roads will get them out so a stalk can be attempted.
Ron

[Tom Baxter]

Thanks Ron, got a predator call and will keep that tip in mind.  Have you had them come close enough for shot when using it in that scenario?


Anybody else got any tips or info?

[Night Wing]

I stalk javelina. If you try this method, stalk into the wind to get close. You can get as close to them as 10 yards since their eyesight "isn't the best". But, like a feral hog, they have excellent noses. If the wind shifts and they get a whiff of your scent, they immediately take off.

[Cherokee Scout]

I will add that if you spook the group and then blow the call as loud and as fast as you can, they might run over you! I have had success doing that. I have seen them come to within a few feet snapping their teeth. They do not see well, stand still and be ready to shoot. It is a real blast when this happens.

[USAFdad]

I'm with Night Wing on the stalking thing. Once you locate them you can almost always get within shooting range.
I've seen that varmint call work both ways, they'll either come running or run away like their tails on fire.

[El gran J]

I use Javalinas for practice.  I dont like the meat, and the smell is not exactly pleasant.  I'd wont kill them for no reason, so I usually keep a few rubber judo points in the blind and hit them in the hind quarters.  They are practically blind, I don't think the nose is that great, and I've had them return 3 or 4 times to the feeder after hitting them with the judos.  A predator call does work though.  I've even had hogs come running.

[piggy]

Tom I found them similar to our pigs to hunt, I was surprised by how much smaller they are than our pigs, I was expecting them to be of similar size.
Pretty cool looking animals, I was also warned about a gland on their back and to avoid touching it, only after I moved it about for photo's.
I didn't notice any smell.
What type of predator call do you use?

Cheers

[Roadkill]

The scent comes from a nipple like gland in the center of spine onre the haunches.  Skin carefully and it comes off with the hide.  They are so much fun to stalk as you can make some mistakes and still get shots.  With our quiet bows, even a miss might not spook them all.

[iron_llama]

Javalinas are curious critters, I've 'called' them in to less than 10' just by popping my chewing gum and standing still.  They also make tasty bratwurst when combined 50/50 with pork trimmings.  Unfortunately they stayed in AZ when I moved back to MN.