Javelina showdown...
I was driving around the ranch this weekend (2-10-08) with my grandfather when we spotted two javelina about 300 yards down a scendaro. I decided to make a stalk on them so I grabbed my bow and two arrows and dove into the brush on a jog. By the time I edged out of the woods to where they had been they were gone, however I noticed a very worn trail leading into the brush on the opposite side of the scendaro. It was still early morning and the light mist had been coming for a while now. On the sandy trail I could just make out dry spots of sand where the javelin had kicked off the wet top layer. I was hot on there trail!
Slowly creeping into the brush I made about 30 yards before I spotted a black back up ahead. It was seconds later that I realized that these two had been the stragglers of the posse and that I had come up on over 10 of them! They were all feeding away from me and seemed relaxed now that they were in the thick cover. The morning dew and mist made my footsteps silent as I crept closer and closer. It was at this point that I realized that in my excitement to catch up to them I had left my shooting glove in the rhino. I would have to shoot bare fingers. Not knowing how this would affect my shooting I wanted to get as close as possible for the shot and at ten yards I drew and let one fly at a baby...
I missed! My arrow caught the twig that I had squatted down to miss and deflected my arrow off course. Everything froze and the javelina all gained 20 pounds as their long hair brisseled up not knowing what was happening. I quickly nocked the arrow I was holding in my left hand and fired again at a good sized female about 15 yards from me. It was a bad shot but I got lucky and caught her in the jugular. I watched her going down not ten yards from where she was standing not realizing that I had javelina circled halfway around me and I was the center of attention. For what seemed like ten minutes but was probably more like 10 seconds we stood there sizing each other up. My initial thought was TREE but after no one made a move and cursing myself for not bringing my quiver with more arrows I decided that trying to reach my first arrow would be the best bet. It didn't happen as with my first movement they realized they were dealing with a cold blooded killer (ok they probably just decided I wasn't worth it) and took off in every direction.
Thanks for reading and for all the stories and information on everyone posts.
Also, my Uncle and I are interested in trading a Javelina or night hog hunt for a daytime hog hunt. We are just looking for some different terrain and some stick and string fellowship. We are near Falfurrias TX if anyone is interesed.