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{"id":482,"date":"2019-10-26T20:52:27","date_gmt":"2019-10-27T02:52:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bradbery.com\/wp\/?p=482"},"modified":"2020-01-29T19:33:59","modified_gmt":"2020-01-30T01:33:59","slug":"mason-mountain-archery-javelina-oct-2019","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bradbery.com\/mason-mountain-archery-javelina-oct-2019\/","title":{"rendered":"Mason Mountain Archery Javelina. (Oct 2019)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Once again we were blessed with the opportunity to hunt Mason Mountain. We had not been drawn for any hunts (as of yet) this year so any hunts we tried would be as standby. I had called ahead and learned that there would be a few standby spots available for the archery javelina hunt so we decided to try our luck.

“Going standby” is always a nerve racking occasion for me. First we have to get prepared as if we would get to hunt, guns and or bows checked and packed, backpacks filled and ready, hunting clothes washed and packed, cameras charged, fresh batteries in everything, butchering tools sharpened, snacks, food and drinks loaded up. But then get as mentally prepared as possible for the devastating disappointment of going through all of that and NOT getting to hunt. Not to mention the fact that most hunting areas are a couple to many hours of driving away from home. So I do as much research ahead of time to pick the very best possible places to try. <\/p>\n\n\n\n


Anyway, we drive over five hours, with a few stops in-between, to get to Mason Mountain. Once there we check in, fill out a stand by card and wait. When all of the drawn hunters are checked in and the deadline passes we learn that their are still compartments available. Awesome! We were in.

We draw for our compartment then go through orientation. For this hunt only compound, re-curve or long bows were allowed. No crossbows. Each hunter is allowed only one javelina but all the feral hogs they want. Because it is archery only, hunter orange is not required. With archery you have to sneak in close so there is no need to warn other hunters of your presence by wearing orange.

While still at the check station, getting our gear ready and talking with Mark, the area Manager, the hunter in the compartment next to ours comes back in. He forgot to mark himself out before heading into his compartment. We notice that he is wearing hunters orange. Mark reminds the fellow that orange isn’t required and the guy marks that he is out hunting and leaves.

We also check ourselves out, that is, mark on the board that we are out hunting in the compartment. Then we gear up and drive into our compartment in hopes of finding some javelina.

Before this hunt we had been watching videos on javelina hunting. We got lucky last time and wanted to learn a bit more about the habits of these new world pigs. One thing we came across that we thought would be a blast was calling them in. Javelina are intensely social and highly protective critters. If one is in distress it is not uncommon for the whole herd to come charging in defense of their fellows. High pitched calls like cotton tail will sometimes bring them running, quite literally. So we brought one along in hopes of spotting a herd and bring them in. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The first day was spent intensely scouting, calling and climbing rocks. I even went back to the place I shot my javelina last year in hopes of finding them there. But no. We didn’t see, or smell, any javelina. We began to worry that they had moved out of our compartment. In addition to our hunting gear we were also carrying quite a bit of video equipment. Steve had a large tripod and camera. We had cameras on our bows and wore a couple of cameras as well. If we got the javelina to come to the call we wanted to get as much as possible on camera. But that meant lugging all that gear up and over rocks. The first day ended with no sign of javelina and two very tired hunters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The second day wasn’t much better. But we did get to see some awesome country and beautiful views. The third day looked much like the first. We drove around, climbed vantage points, glassed and walked valleys and scaled stone walls loaded down with hunting and camera gear. We had covered almost all of the compartment without so much as a glimpse of our quarry. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Nearing lunch time on the third day we decided to head back in for some much needed people fuel. Lugging all that gear around was wearing us out. But before we left the compartment we stopped in one last place just before the check station. It had some decent rocks that we might concentrate on after we ate. We parked on the side of the road and were standing at the back of the truck going over our plan when I saw a group of javelina cross the road. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Honey! There is a bunch of javelina behind you!” I yelled excitedly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Yeah right.” Steve says, thinking I was messing with him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“No really!”

We grabbed our bows and started after the herd. Remember, we had put everything up. We didn’t have time to grab any cameras and Steve had just taken the camera off my bow to take video while we were driving around. Then, in the rush and excitement Steve double taps his bow camera resulting in just a second of video before his camera turns back off.
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There were maybe 20 javelina in this group and they had split into two smaller groups as they made their way to the rocks and canyon ahead of them. They didn’t know we were there but were moving rather quickly. I broke away from Steve to try and head the largest group off as he closed in from the side. I looked back just in time to see him draw his bow and aim. He had picked out a nice javelina and made a great shot. She ran about 20 yards before piling up in a small ditch. The rest of the herd scattered toward the rocks and were gone.

What a shot!

Of-course none of it was on video.
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