I spent a few days in southern Arizona with my good buddy Austin and a few of his friends from Idaho chasing coues deer and javelina. The guys had been down there for the week, and I caught up with them for the tail end of their stay. It didn’t take but a few minutes over a cup of coffee to become fast friends with Blake and Chad.

It’s cliche to say, but the next few days were less about the hunt and more about time in the field with good friends. We spent the next couple of days doing more laughing and telling stories than actual hunting. In the times that we did spend glassing hillsides we found a few herds of pigs and were able to connect on a couple of javelina.

The few days I spent in the field flew by and before I knew it, I was packing up my gear and pointing the truck north to home. When it’s all said and done, I came home with a few physical objects: a cooler full of meat for my family, a skull for the bookshelf, and a handful of pictures. But ultimately, I left with something greater: A couple new hunting buddies and the memories of a successful hunt.

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While gulping a cup of coffee, I scrawled a note to my wife and kids telling them I was planning on morning javelina hunting. Little did I know as I threw my pack and bow into the truck, that it would turn into a full day hunt. I met up with a few buddies and spent the morning glassing the sunny slopes in search of pigs. When we finally found them, they were a good mile and half hike away, but after formulating a game plan, we made our way over to them working in to about a 100 yards. From there, we silently made our final stalk into a big herd of javelina, where at 6 yards, my arrow found it’s mark. When the dust settled, my friend David and I had been able to harvest pigs.

The sun was already headed deep into the western sky by the time we shouldered our heavy packs and started to make our way back to the truck. It turned into a long day in the field, but it was a good day javelina hunting with friends that I won’t soon forget.

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I have written about the Hunting and Angling Heritage Work Group (HAHWG) before here. The HAHWG is a collaboration between the Arizona Game and Fish Department and many different sportsman’s groups throughout the state. As the title states, the HAHWG is focused on sharing the heritage of hunting and fishing with the next generation.

Joe Darago is an avid hunter who started a local youth archery club in Peoria, AZ. Shoot for Life passes on the love of archery to students and adults using a safe, fun, and proven teaching method taught in thousands of schools and clubs world wide. Shoot for Life has grown and been extremely successful in introducing kids and adults to the world of archery. Last year, Joe put together the first Shoot for Life Javelina Youth Hunt which was a huge success.

This year was the 2nd annual javelina hunt, and in total there were 16 youth hunters, each accompanied by a parent and mentor. We all met up on Friday night and talked to the AZGFD wildlife manager for the unit. I had the honor of mentoring one of the young hunters and her dad on Friday and Saturday. We hunted hard for 2 days and didn’t see a pig. Although our group saw a bunch of deer and had a great time in the field, it was tough to finish up without spotting a pig for our hunter.

The overall experience at the Shoot For Life camp was extremely positive. Each youth hunter I spoke with had a huge smile on their face and couldn’t stop talking about what a good time they had. Hanging out during lunch at camp with the other hunters and mentors, the air was full of stories from the hunt and positive vibes. Although only one youth hunter was able to kill a pig, the experience of helping out in a youth hunting camp is extremely rewarding.

If you know of any new archers or hunters who are looking for an opportunity to get into the field and enjoy the beauty of Arizona, definitely check out the Outdoor Skills Calendar which shows many other camps put on by great organizations like Shoot for Life.

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With archery javelina and deer season around the corner, I’ve been shooting the recurve even more than usual. I always enjoy fletching arrows in preparation for the new season as well as putting a new edge on the broadheads. These simple tasks paired with flinging as many arrows into the target each day puts me in a great state of mind and is one of the reasons why I love shooting a recurve.

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The story begins a couple weeks back when I knew that I’d be headed to the HAHWG meeting in Yuma. The meeting was in the afternoon, and I figured I could squeeze a couple hours in the morning, to get out in the field and explore this new bit of area. I called my buddy, David Power, from Yuma Valley Rod and Gun Club, and asked him what type of hunting opportunities there were for a morning around Yuma. Specifically, I asked about javelina. My usual January archery hunt had been on hiatus with the birth of our gorgeous daughter, and I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t itching to get after the skunk pig. David told me about the Gila River bottom, and the over the counter non permit tag that was available in Mohawk Valley. He made it clear to me that, although there are pigs there, they are difficult to hunt in the traditional sense of glassing hillsides, as the river bottom is almost impenetrable with brush. Instead, you have to glass the edges of the alfalfa and hay fields and cross your fingers that you catch a pig or two working the fields.

With expectations set very low, I left the valley early on Saturday morning and made it to my destination as the sun was just starting to lighten the morning sky. I drove several roads and glassed a dozen or so fields in search of javelina, but didn’t have much luck. The last spot I checked was also a bust, but I heard a Gambel’s quail call in the distance. As an opportunist, I shrugged into my bird vest and grabbed the scattergun, in order to scratch out a bird or two. Just at that moment, my cell phone rang and it was David.

“I’ve got a big boar working through an alfalfa field. Hurry up”

Out of the vest and back into the truck, I headed back to area he described and sure enough, one of the fields that I had glassed an hour earlier, was now home to a single javelina working through the field. Making a quick plan, I worked the edge of the field, carefully making my way through the head high brush, and quietly slid out of the foliage at about 50 yards from the big male javelina. Settling the sights behind the front shoulder, I touched the trigger and the pig piled where he stood.

As David made his way up, I truly could not believe my good fortune. A low probability morning hunt completely turned around in a matter of minutes. Without David’s help and expertise, I would have been wandering around missing wild flushing Gambel’s. As if that wasn’t enough, David even provided me with a place to skin and clean my javelina, thereby ensuring that my alfalfa fed pig would be clean and ready for a nice green chili. He’s going to get sick of me saying this, but a big thanks to David Power of the Yuma Valley Rod and Gun Club for his help and hospitality.

With my javelina skinned, quartered, and on ice, I cleaned up and pointed the truck towards the Yuma Proving Grounds and the Imperial Dam. The HAHWG meeting this year was held at the Hidden Shores RV Village right near the Imperial Dam outside of Yuma. I have written about the Hunting and Angling Heritage WorkGroup before on several occasions, but for those just tuning in, here’s the skinny. The HAHWG is a group of individuals and organizations who are working in conjunction with the Arizona Game and Fish Department to ultimately “preserve our hunting, angling, and wildlife-recreation heritage.” In this day in age, you do not have to look very far to see strong opposition to what we as outdoorsman love and cherish.

One important focus of the Hunting and Angling Heritage WorkGroup is to introduce new hunters and anglers to the sport through free camps put on by the various sportsman’s groups such as the National Wild Turkey Federation, Arizona Elk Society, Youth Outdoors Unlimited and many others. I’ve had the pleasure to be a part of the NWTF junior’s camp for the past several years and it is one of my favorite “hunts” of the year.

The main reason we met in Yuma for this meeting was due to the recent success of this past dove season opener in the city. The city of Yuma collaborated with the Arizona Game and Fish Department as well as the Yuma Valley Rod and Gun Club to promote the spectacular dove hunting opportunity in the immediate area. The result of this unique collaboration was an economic boom in the community, as well as a positive experience for new and seasoned hunters. One of the topics that the HAHWG focused on at our meeting was how to replicate this positive experience in other Arizona communities and pass on the heritage of hunting and angling.

In truth I had never been to Yuma before, and was completely unaware of the amazing country and ample outdoor activities that are available. Between the morning javelina hunt, the like-mindedness of HAHWG members, and a tour of Yuma, I’d consider it a pretty successful trip. See you soon Yuma.

The post A day in Yuma appeared first on Arizona Wanderings.

I drew a javelina tag this year and was very excited about heading up north to try and seal the deal. In the two and a half days of hunting, the wind gusted through the whole thing. We were able to get on a small herd the last day I hunted, but we couldn’t beat the wind. Although I had grand intentions of getting back up to camp, my schedule just would not allow it. There is nothing like javelina camp. Cold nights, good food, and good company.

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Many weekends find me camping out, either hunting or fishing in the Arizona backcountry. What’s ironic is that as wonderful and exciting as my time in the wild is, nothing really compares to the moment when I turn the truck on to my street and drive up to the house. The garage door opens, and I can hear the excited barks of my two pups, as I kill the engine of the vehicle. I drag a couple of bags into the house, give my girl a hug, and scratch the boys behind the ears. While I recount the weekend’s events to my wife, the dogs are going to find out the story in a different way. With their snouts buried deep into my hunting pack, their noses seek to find out what I was up to, where I’ve been, and if I was successful. Their tails never stop wagging, and they look at me with pleading eyes, hoping that next time I take them with me.

The post The Ritual appeared first on Arizona Wanderings.

The morning sun was just starting to lighten the sky as I tiptoed to the top of the bluff where I was going to set up and glass the surrounding hills. I moved from rock to rock and quietly stood at the very top and was about to put down my bow and pack when I heard movement. As I peaked over the edge of the ledge I was sitting on, I could see a small herd of javelina feeding through the brush. Grunting and browsing through the brush, I slipped down behind them and followed them as the moved through the brush with the wind in their face.

For the next hour and a half, I stalked the herd as they moved over the next couple of hills. I passed up several marginal shots in the 20-25 yard range while I waited for something a little bit closer. Something closer never came. Cactus and palo verde trees kept this little herd safe and before I knew it, one of them circled around and winded me. After the sound of pounding hooves subsided, I was left alone with the sound of the wind rustling through the dry desert.

The beauty of shooting a stickbow is that the hunt becomes very intimate and personal, with the hunter being forced to close the distance between himself and his quarry. No looking through a scope over hundreds of yards across a canyon. No sites to rely on. No triggers. Nothing mechanical. Being in that close on a herd of wild animals is truly a thing of beauty and even though I did not loose and arrow, I feel grateful to be a part of the desert and have a front row seat to viewing God’s creation.

The post Arizona Javelina Hunting: So close yet so far… appeared first on Arizona Wanderings.

Although I did not get drawn for my go-to unit, I bought an over-the-counter javelina tag in a unit closer to town. While quail hunting there over the past couple of years, I have kicked up a couple of herds of pigs and figured I could get lucky. I put some miles under my feet and looked at a bunch of country but could not find the pigs that I know are there somewhere. I made it back to the truck around noon and decided to check out another area a little farther out of the way. Bumping along I heard the unmistakable hissing of escaping air which also deflated my spirit. After getting the spare squared away, I figured without cell service, continuing on would not be in my best interest. So I headed back to town to get my blown tire replaced with hopes of getting back into the field a little later this week. Hopefully, I can get these pigs figured out and get lucky enough to get an arrow off before I head back to school next week.

The post What You See While Javelina Hunting… appeared first on Arizona Wanderings.

Rambling Review – Browning Pursuit Jacket

Why:

Even though Arizona is a desert, we still get some fairly serious weather that rolls through the mesas and canyons in our later season hunts. Mornings can start below freezing and the wind can make it feel so much colder. As I started my search for the right jacket, I wanted to find something that would be quiet and form fitting for bow hunting, but rugged enough to stand up to the prickly desert foliage. Enter: The Browning Pursuit Jacket

First impressions:

Soft Shell – The Browning Pursuit Jacket caught my eye immediately because of its construction. This outer layer of the jacket is a polyester/spandex blend while the inside is lined with fleece. This combination makes an extremely rugged article of clothing. The coat boasts an OdorSmart scent control as well as being wind and water resistant.

Pockets – This jacket has a two deep outside zipper pockets and one nice pocket on the inside that also closes with a zipper.

Detachable Hood – I know many guys do not like to have a hood on their jacket but Browning Pursuit fixes that problem. The hood offers warmth on those windy days when you cannot feel your ears, but you can take it off when the weather gets a little warmer.

Form Fitting – Although the sizing was a little bit off, the XL fits me just right (normally I can get away with a large). The arms are slim and not bulky allowing me to shoot my recurve without having to put an armguard on. Although it fits very well, I am still able to load up on layers if necessary.

OdorSmart Technology – I am not one to jump into all the hype of needing to wear specially constructed garments to cut down on scent. I believe in playing the wind and being smart. Mankind has been killing animals for centuries just fine without the marketing of scent free clothing. All the same, the Browning Pursuit jacket does boast OdorSmart Scent Control Lining.

Field Use:

I have worn this jacket for 2 seasons of hunting and plan on many more years of use. Glassing for deer or javelina on those early January mornings, things can get real cold, real quick. The coat is incredibly warm for its relatively lightweight and the wind resistant material coupled with a fleece lining definitely delivers. I will say that once I start moving and hiking (generally uphill) things heat up pretty quick inside this jacket. My normal layering has me in a long-sleeved t-shirt, my Cabela’s Wooltimate Vest, with the Browning Pursuit on top. Once I start hiking the Pursuit jacket comes off and I stalk in just the vest. On a tree-stand though, the Browning Pursuit jacket is the ticket and keeps me warm all day long.

I really like the camouflage pattern that Browning has on this jacket. Although not a huge freak about the actual pattern itself, I believe the purpose is to break up the silhouette of a human. The Mossy Oak Treestand pattern does just that and I think it is appropriate for many different hunting situations.

The Browning Pursuit jacket is great for late season Arizona bow hunting (or any cold weather bow hunting) because it is so quiet when I need to position myself and draw my bow. The slim sleeves keep the jacket bulk down allowing for the string to clear my arm.

The wind always blows strong during javelina season and the utility of this jacket is great. Since it is not extremely bulking it folds up relatively small and can be tucked into a pack for the stalk. The jacket is water resistant and does a good job of beading up water during inclement weather. After two seasons of use I have reapplied a water resistant spray to keep up its water resistant features.

Pros:

Extremely quiet

Wind/Water resistant

Rugged Construction

Light but extremely warm

Camouflage pattern

OdorSmart Technology

Cons:

Sizing may be off (I recommend trying the jacket on)

No armpit vents

Prognosis: An amazing bow hunting jacket that rises to the occasion when taken into some very nasty country. I highly recommend this jacket if you are looking for a durable, quiet, and warm softshell jacket.

* Disclaimer:

The reviews at Arizona Wanderings are my honest opinion. Arizona Wanderings is not sponsored by or associated with any of the stated companies and is accepting no compensation, monetary or otherwise, in exchange for this review.  My independent status may change in the future but, as of the date of publication, no relationship other than described above has been pursued or established.

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