The south Texas brush country region of Texas is known nation wide for producing some outstanding trophy whitetail bucks but we would not be hunting deer on this trip.  We headed down to south Texas to Javelina hunt with Brazos Archery Outfitters for a summer weekend of fun and man was it hot!

Javelina hunting can be done year round in most counties with open seasons and if you time your hunt just right, you will be in for some exciting non-stop action!  The temperature had already climbed near 100 degrees in the area of Texas that we would be hunting so we knew from the get go that the hunting would be slow.  Javelinas do not like the heat so they wait until it is almost dark before they began to move around.

The south Texas brush can really put your tracking skills to the test!  If you get a less than perfect shot on these little critters they run to the thickest, nastiest, and most thorn infested place they can find before they expire!  Knowing this it was hard to decide to hunt with my new Mathews Heritage long bow but I told myself if the situation was right I would give it a try.

I had only had my long bow a few days so I was not able to get in much practice before the trip.  I had decided that if I could get a Javelina down with my Switchback then I would give the old long bow a try and boy was I glad I did!  This would be my first hunt ever with traditional archery tackle.

We arrived at the ranch late Thursday night.  John Shelley of Brazos Archery Outfitters was already at the ranch and he met us at the intersection of the county road that led to the ranch and the main highway.

We followed John to the bunkhouse and man was it nice!  I did not expect to see such nice quarters at such a remote ranch!   This place was equipped with everything a hunter might need including cold storage.

Friday morning came early but we were all excited about hunting Javelina.  After a quick breakfast we were all loaded up and began cruising the roads looking for some Javelina.

John had a corn slinger on the back of his Suzuki and when we reached his favorite hunting roads, John slung out some corn as he drove along.  This was done in preparation for this afternoons hunt.  We really were not expecting to see any Javelina in the mornings since it was already so hot.

After we corned all of the potential hunting spots it was time to go fishing.  We followed John to a huge pond that was near camp.  While I was setting up the kid’s rods, John caught a fish on his first cast.  John always seems to do that!!!!

After a morning of fishing we had caught so many large mouth bass that I lost count.  Morgan had caught her fist fish all by herself and I had caught my biggest fish ever.  My Bass weighed around 5 pounds and it was the biggest fish of the day.  If we went home without sticking a Javelina the trip was worth the drive already.

After lunch we headed out to check the roads.  The mercury had climbed to around 101 degrees and it was miserable!  All of the corn was still on the roads so we picked out a spot on a power line right of way to sit for the afternoon.  This spot had a small shaded area that helped us bear the temperature until dark.  After some quick trimming we had us a hollow spot to sit under a medium sized Mesquite tree.  The shade provided by this tree made sitting out in the heat tolerable.  We had snacks, drinks, and our water jug in the truck so we were set.

We were not out long before we saw lots of deer.  We had deer in every direction.  I am not used to seeing deer out moving when it was so hot but they were everywhere.  We had plenty of time to take lots of pictures and look at the deer.  Having so much wildlife around really helped to pass the time.

The sun went behind the clouds and the temperature got a lot cooler.  Donna had moved to behind the Mesquite tree were she could watch the road behind us while I watched the road in front of us.  Our Bushnell optics made glassing an easy chore!  Most of the deer we saw were bucks in velvet.  I have never seen so many bucks!

As I was watching some deer about 200 yards down the road, I heard Donna whisper Javelina!  As I looked behind me there were about 10 Javelina mixed in with several deer about 400 yards down the road behind us.

The road we were sitting on was on a power line right of way.  The road ran next to the brush on our side and then there was about a 35-yard opening on the other side of the road before the brush picked up again. 

The wind was blowing across the road from our side towards the Javelina so we had to cross the road if we wanted to be able to get within shooting distance.  If we were able to get close enough for a shot that meant it would be a 30-yard shot at best.  With all of those factors in play, we decided that I would try to shoot one first and Michael would be back up on this stalk.

We quickly crossed the road and the clearing and disappeared into the brush.  I had my Mathews Switch Back, Michael had his Mustang, Donna was running the camera and Morgan was bringing up the rear.

Once we got into the brush on the other side of the clearing there was a trail inside the brush that looked like a game super highway!  The trail ran about 10 yards inside the brush and it paralleled the edge of the brush.  It was wide enough to walk with ease and we were able to almost sprint down to where the javelina were feeding.  I had my doubts about getting all of us close to the Javelina but this trail made it a piece of cake.

When we were about 100 yards from the critters, Michael had a run in with a cactus and the cactus won.  We found a place for Michael and Morgan to sit near the edge of the brush so they could watch the rest of the stalk.

Donna and I made the last leg of the stalk undetected.  At last we were perched under the cover of a tiny Mesquite tree several yards from the edge of the brush.  A lone Javelina was feeding into my shooting lane.  I checked the distance to the Javelina with my Bushnell Yardage Pro.  30 yards!  I slowly drew my bow and rose up on my knees.  I placed the 30-yard pin of my Trophy Ridge Rhino sight on the shoulder of the lone Javelina and touched of the trigger of my release.  I watched in horror as the Lumenok went right over the back of the Javelina. 

It was so close I am sure the broad head and fletchings of my Carbon Express Arrow smacked the back of the Javelina as they passed by.  The Javelina ducked and ran for cover. 

The rest of the Javelina scattered into the brush and all was quite.  I knew I missed but I turned to Donna and asked her if I had hit it.  She told me that it was a miss and that sick feeling set in.  I knew that I just missed on the only shot we might get on this trip.

I went to retrieve my arrow to confirm my miss and Donna signaled for the kids to come forward to our location.

I returned to with my clean arrow just as the kids arrived.  Michael was still limping from his cactus encounter. 

As we were sitting there talking about my miss, I looked over my shoulder and low and behold there were Javelina on the road!  I turned to Donna and excitedly told here, “There back, the Javelina are back!”

The Javelina were down the road about 100 yards feeding in a crossroad.  Michael and Morgan stayed put and Donna and I were off.

Within 10 minutes we were almost into shooting position again.  This time we followed the super highway near the edge of the brush up under a mesquite tree.  There was a depression under the tree that appeared to be a place where water stands when it rains. 

I needed to go just a bit farther to get a shot at the Javelina on the road.  Just as I was preparing to move again, I saw movement coming our way through the brush.  It was two Javelina!  They were walking on a trail towards the brush and guess what?  It was the trail that we were sitting on! 

When the two Javelona got to within 20 yards of the brush, they stopped and looked right at us.  I do not think they could see us but I think the lead Javelina sensed that something was not right.  Both of the Javelina veered off of the trail and never presented a shot. 

I looked back at Donna and told here there was a third Javelina coming and I was going to shoot it on the walk so she could be ready to get it on film.  The third Javelina came into view and I drew my Switch Back.  The depression in the ground gave me just enough room to draw without getting hung up in the brush.  I picked my shooting lane in the brush and waited.  As soon as the Javelina stepped into the lane I touched my True-Fire release.  The next thing I heard was my WacEm broad head breaking bones!  The Javelina jumped, squealed and took off running but he did not go far.  The Javelina piled up just on the other side of the road still within our view.  There would not be a need for trailing this critter!  Donna and I exited the brush and signaled for the kids to come to our location. 

In a few minutes we were all gathered around our Javelina!  Everyone was excited but I think Morgan was excited the most!  She said, “Daddy I am so glad you got one so we do not have to go home without one!”  She was smiling from ear to ear!  Morgan is my biggest fan! 

My streak of bad luck was over.  Finally after 6 months of hard hunting I broke the streak and what better way to break the streak than on a family hunt!

There was still shooting light left so we headed back to the truck in hopes of getting Michael or Morgan a shot at a Javelina.  When it got too dark to film, we packed up and headed in. 

I called John on the radio and all that he had seen were deer.  I never would have thought I would ever hear anyone say, “All I saw was deer!”

I did not tell John that we had got a Javelina.  We pulled up to the gate where John was waiting and got out.  I had already instructed everyone not to say a word.  When I got out I started small talk with John.  He knew something was not right and walked up to my truck and looked in the bed.  A huge grin appeared on Johns face and he asked who got it?  We all retold the story of our hunt to John several times.  John was as happy as I was and he congratulated me on scoring and breaking my bad luck streak. 

Saturday morning came and John went out to check the roads by himself.  I over slept due to only having a few hours sleep over the two previous days.  When we woke up, John was back at the bunkhouse and he began telling us how he had seen 4 Javelina and got busted by the wind on a stalk.  Man what a day to over sleep!

After breakfast we headed out to fish.  We tried several ponds and caught a few fish but they were just not biting like they were yesterday.  We ended up back at the huge pond by the bunkhouse.  John was catching fish like crazy; as for the rest of us we only caught a few.  John always catches fish!  I think it has something to do with his semi-pro fishing days!

Donna and I were getting ready to call it a day when Michael got a hit.  Michael was on the other side of the pond and he landed a good fish!  I did not know how good until I got over to him with the camera. 

When I got over to Michael there laid the biggest Bass I had ever seen in person.  I did not see how Michael managed to land this fish with his fishing tackle!  The fish ended up weighing 5.5 pounds, the biggest fish Michael had ever caught!  After several pictures the fish was released so it could grow even bigger!

After Michael caught that big fish the fish just seemed to quit biting.  We packed up and headed back to camp for lunch and a nap.

Saturday afternoon we decided to hunt a different location.  We were hunting an intersection where three roads came together.

After we got our little satellite camp set up in the shade it was time to relax and wait.  As the afternoon went on we saw a total of 30 deer and 1 Javelina.  The Javelina was running as it crossed one of the roads we were watching and it never reappeared.

When it got too dark to film we packed up and headed to meet John.  As we were driving to meet John, we drove up on some Javelina feeding in the road.  It was still legal shooting light so I decided to try to get close enough to one to shoot with my new Mathews Heritage long bow.

I quickly grabbed my bow and one arrow from the back seat.  The family waited in the truck while I went after the Javelina.  I had to get within 15 yards and I really did not expect that to happen.

I left the truck running and slipped off into the edge of the brush.  The Javelina were only about 150 yards down the road in front of me and the wind was in my face.  I was running out of legal shooting light pretty quick so I made a be line to the Javelina.

When I got within 50 yards of the critters something scared them and they all busted out of the road.  I sat there watching and trying to figure out what had just happened when the Javelina came back out in the road and they were only 20 yards up the road from me.

One of the Javelina began walking down the road towards me.  I could not believe what was happening!  The Javelina walked in front of me at 13 yards.  I drew back on my long bow, found my anchor point, looked at the kill zone, lined up my arrow tip and released.  I could see the bright yellow Flu Flu feathers (yes Flu Flu feathers, that’s all the arrows I had with feathers) of my Carbon Express arrow burry up in the shoulder of the Javelina!  The Javelina squealed, turned and disappeared into the brush on the other side of the road and then it was all quiet!

I stepped out in the road and signaled for Donna to bring the truck up.  By the time Donna arrived with the truck it was sure enough dark.  I retrieved my flashlight and began following the blood trail left by my Javelina.  After a short crawl on my hands and knees through the brush I found my target D.R.T..  I grabbed a leg and drug the Javelina out to the road.  The Javelina only went about 45 yards before expiring in his tracks.  That is not too bad for my first critter with a long bow!

We loaded up the Javelina and we were off to meet John.  John was happy to see that I had scored again using my long bow! 

John had another close encounter with some Javelina but it did not work out.

Sunday morning was our last chance to score and it was not a good chance!  We headed out and checked the roads but no Javelina.  We did see several jackrabbits so the kids decided that they wanted to try to get a rabbit.  I have never seen jackrabbits as skittish as these!  There must be a lot of pressure on these rabbits!!!!! After several failed attempts by Michael and Morgan it was time to head home!

Until Next Time......

Shoot Straight and Happy Hunting!

James Ferguson

President/CEO

Bowhunting North America, LLC

This hunt was made possible in part by our sponsors:  

Mathews, Inc. Bushlan Camouflage, Carbon Express,

The Gean-Edwards Company, Rynoskin, Trophy Ridge, VMASS, North Starr Tree Stands, 

Shed Hunter Co., Fieldline, DoskoSport, Lumenok, Tru Fire Corp., Rocket Aeroheads, Quake Industries, Limbsaver, Bushnell,

Huntin' Hoist, Wac'em Broadheads, Wildgame Innovations, Beard Buster

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