AZ javelina

This seemed like a good hunt to go on in Feb. Cold in WV, snow. Go to AZ and get warm. Was I ever fooled.
I did my usual testing of guns on groundhogs and deer to find one with a bullet that wouldn't tear these animals up. The 6.5JDJ, .25-06, .250 Sav. AI, and 6.5/.284 all failed. Way too much damage.
After 6 groundhogs and 3 deer out to 401 yds. the winner was my 6mmAI Encore and 85 gr. NPTs. I though I chose wisely. Showed the gun to my guide and he was not happy. He said he'd had problems with other hunters not using enough gun on these tough, little fellas. I told him what I had and he said I should have brought my .376 Steyr!!!
First day of the hunt found us on this bowl shaped knoll with a 360* view out to 1200 yds. He'd already taken 6 pigs here. That made me a little concerned. Sunny AZ was 28* and 15mph winds the first morning. I'd brought my fall hunting gear. I was cold and shivered for several hours.
Finally at 11 AM he saw 4 pigs at 100 yds. We put the move on. The brush was thick. We couldn't see them on each little knoll on the way until 300 yds. He showed me a grey spot that looked like a big rock. The brush was still too thick and I refused to shoot the "rock".
We continued our sneak. No good at 200 yds. (still a rock to me). We made it to 110 yds. and had a good view of the rock. He had me look closer and the rock finally twitched an ear!
I set up my BogPod with PSR , and we waited. We made no noise. Suddenly the rock exploded and pigs ran in a line. 4 little ones. No go. 4 mid size ones. Nope. Then, holy cow!!! was a whopper, but they were all running???
Josh pulled out his rabbit call and blew it like crazy. The pigs came to a stop in 30 yds.??? , then started back to where they were bedded!
Again, 4 little ones and 4 mid size- all running. The big boy walked to the only opening in the brush and stopped. I heard the pop of the bullet hitting. He ran hard. We waited 15 minutes.
There was no blood at the site of the shot, but 10 yds. later he lay dead!!!
The PT hit an onside rib and showed a 2" entrance hole. Internal damage in one shoulder and lungs was 1 1/2". The exit was 1". The nose of the PT expanded on the rib. Only the base penetrated fully. I asked him why they were so tough? He didn't like the question.
Cool animal, cool hunt, awesome performance from my little pea shooter gun. The rest of the trip was memorable. 20-30*, snowed on twice, saw the Grand Canyon (in the cold). I had to come back to WV to get warm.

EXCELLENT..........................

Congrats and cool hunt. 376 on javelina? That's crazy!

Congratulations Doc! That's some serious terminal performance....YOU ARE THE MAN......I bet your 376 Steyr would have been pretty cool to test on these guys....I loved my 376 Steyr...really like the 300 gr Norma Oryx

Great read. If you don't mind a few questions, what scope is that? What would you use if you did it again for a bullet and caliber?

IN SOUTH TEXAS JAVELINA ARE NOT SOUGHT AFTER TABLE FARE. MY HAT IS OFF TO DOC FOR TRAVELING A GOOD WAYS TO SHOOT A JAVELINA.

Way to go Doc! Mine didnt like my 358JDJ much either

Outstanding! Congrats.

Congrats. Those suckers eat prickly pear cactus, so they gotta be tough little critters.

Way to go, Doc! I've been researching hunts on them critters here lately; for a varmint, they sure carry a stout price tag. None the less, it's a critter on my bucket list.

I didn't realize I was going to need a 376 steyr to hunt one though....

I hunted them with 357s in AZ. I want to hunt them here in TX, and had plans, but they got changed. I will get this done this coming. Season.

Good shootin', Doc. Sounds like a fun trip even if it was a bit unseasonal.

Spinsail, the scope on the 6mm is the scope I have on all but one single shot-Burris 3-12 BPlex.
The guide really threw me on his gun choice. I'd originally planned on a pristine Colt Trooper for a backup/primary, but didn't shoot it as well as the .41RB.
I'd have no problems taking the 6mmAI again since it was dropping deer at 400. The one's I ruled out, I think would do as good with tough bullets-6.5JDJ-120 GMX, .25-06-100 TSX, .250 Sav. AI-100TSX.
I just can't imagine these animals needing more power than that. They ain't bullet proof. I had complete penetration. Thank goodness I have a bunch of guns to choose from. That's the fun part of hunt prep.
I'd really like to blow his mind and take my .416 Taylor.

You would have done fine with all of them. The problem we encountered when we hunted them was that, in South Texas anyway, they're always two steps from thick cover and cactus. I used a .357 mag. and my cousin used a .44 special, both revolvers. I saw one of his absorb a 240 Sierra JHP in the boiler room. It probably went less then 40 yards, but took a long time to find. We just started using headshots. As we hunted in really thick stuff, usually on the ground in close, it wasn't a hard shot. Plus, their heads are about half their body.

To echo 45man, they don't seem to be real popular game animals here. No one really eats them, but I've had it twice. Once fried, and it was OK, and once in stew. The stew recipe was purported to be one Larry Kelly wrote about using for Cape Buffalo. Sort of fitting, we thought.

We enjoyed hunting them, partly because of the rough terrain they occupy, and partly because they were a great quarry for sixguns. They have poor eyesight, but a great sense of smell, and we had a lot of fun hunting them.

Interestingly, I read that in 2000 scientists discovered a giant Peccary species in Brazil. It weighs upwards of 88-110 lbs. that's staring to get scary!

Nice job Doc! Glad to see you getting out of the cold!!! I love to hunt Javelina & have taken several with revolvers in Texas, it can get lively. The last time was along the Brazos River & I had just shot one with the Ruger 41 shorty out of a group of 5. I was in heavy brush & I took out my varmint call & hit it with a few quick blasts & I heard him before I ever saw him, didn't even have time to get the call back in my pocket. I was sure glad he chickened out at the last second, he hit the brakes at about 10-12 feet & I busted him through both front shoulders with a Keith cast bullet & that calmed him down.
I hope when you go next time it's a bit warmer & you can enjoy some good old Arizona sunshine! Keep after them.

Dick

THERE HAS BEEN SOME MENTION OF USING A HAND HELD VARMIT CALL TO CALL JAVELINA. I HAVE USED ONE IN A VERY LOUD AND DISTRESSED MODE TO SCARE THEM OFF THE CORN IN THE SENDERO. IN THE SAME MODE THE CALL WILL CALL IN AOUDAD AS THEY MUST THINK IT IS 1 OF THEM IN DISTRESS. MY SON WAS USING AN ELECTRONIC SET UP THIS PAST DEER SEASON AND CALLED IN SEVERAL PISSED OFF DOES, WHO MUST OF BEEN THINKING A FAWN WAS IN DISTRESS.

Great job. Always love reading about your hunts.

Great story Doc. Looks like you got a big one! Nice shooting.

Nice "Pig".

looking at the photo again I see your really bundled up.... not the weather you would think of for AZ.......