Oh my goodness...so this morning I actually bumped some javelinas..for a while I was starting to think two things, either there were really no javelinas in Arizona and someone was playing a cruel joke on me, or I was the only person in AZ that can't find them...I went back to the site where I saw the most prickly pear plants, due to the cold, I figured I could get there around 0730, but due to some school buses and slow moving traffic, I didn't get parked and ready to move til about 0830, I went back up the hill, then I did something that definitely paid off, I went over the hill and went thru a wash to see the most prickly pear plants I have ever seen...as I started to go up the hill, I realized there was something there because I could see all the digging in the ground next to the plants and it was all fresh, and every now and then I will catch a wiff of a skunk...having never hunted javes before, I would stop each time the wind hits my face with that smell and just scan...during one of those stopping and scanning sessions, I heard a large thump and scurring of feet...and as I peered thru the prickly pears in front of me, I saw them, about 3 javes running for cover about 40 yds in front of me...my jaw dropped and good thing I shut it, because my heart was in my throat and it almost came out of my mouth....I squatted down, got on the binos and watched as they ran down hill...at this point I am wishing I had my rifle instead of a bow...I watched them as they ran down the hill about 300yds, stopping every now and then, until they disappeared into a scrub...I slowly got up and figured I would track them then I looked up to see another javelina about 60 yrds on the shelf right above me, I watched him and tried to figure out where he would come out, I did not have a shot since he was not in bow range...once again wish I had my rifle....I made a plan to intercept him and possibly get a shot, but by the time I got on his track, he was gone...I went down hill to track the first 3 that ran away, with no luck, I continued the slow process, then I saw the same one that was about 60 yds away this time he was about 100 yds, he went behind a tree, I made my plans to go intercept and once again the willy bugger gave me the slip....the rest of the day, I kept seeing signs, real good signs, but not javes...I am going to give it another shot again tomorrow, this time, I will work the top of the hills in the morning, and the bottoms in the afternoon...will keep you all posted...wish me luck...
