Arizona DIY Javalina Hunt - Information and Questions.

[Over&Under]

I would like to start planning a Javalina hunt in AZ in the near future and am starting my research.

It appears that there is quite a bit of public land to hunt on and a good population of pigs, but narrowing down a particular unit(s) to put in for where to find pig in that unit will be the tough part (as with any game)

Would be much abliged for any information that can help me in my quest.  Having never hunted them, I am all ears.  I certainly don't need honey holes, but a shove in the right direction would be most helpful.

I will most likely have more questions as I continue my planning.

Anyone do this before and had success?

Thanks
Jake

[wbyrd]

Last year was the first year I hunted with traditional archery equipment, didn't see any. This year I'm trying a new unit, it's actually six hunt units combined in to one hunt number, so it's kind of nice because you can choose where to hunt from a very large area. Within this area there is a nature conservancy that allows hunting to archery only and does not allow any motorized travel, it's called Aravaipa Canyon. They also restrict entry to 50 people per day and it does require a permit which is available online and is $5 a day. I went and scouted the area last weekend, saw three javelina on the drive in and saw all kinds of sign. Deer and mountain lion are also in season during the javelina hunt.

If you need any help locating the area or want info on some other areas let me know.

Oh, and nice looking dog you got there!

[Michael Pfander]

The draw is over. All of the tags are leftovers now.  The area wbyrd is talking about is in unit 32.  I will be in other parts of the same unit.  The last time I checked there are still tags left for the area.  I think Ferret hunted up in the western part of the state last year.  The only real challenge for us in hunting pigs [as trad shooters] is finding them.  This year with the rains the grass makes them even harder to see.  What you learn is every shadow could be a pig.  One more thing they have a very small kill zone its not much bigger than a grapefruit.  Make sure you get within your range.
MAP

[Tucker]

get some 7x35 or better binoculars and USE THEM!  As mentioned earlier, finding them is the most difficult part. Any units that have a season will have "pigs" in it. Finding them in that unit is the challenge.
 
Pick a unit.  

Though it's been a long time since I've hunted them in AZ, I'm told that areas south of I-10 and closer to the Mexican border have a significant amount of drug trafficking and human illegal immigration going on in the back country and may not be the safest places.