I had not moved an inch at this point and have no idea how he made me. Javelina are commonly found throughout the southern portion of the unit. Around the fire - check. My next stand was much better. I told him that there was very good chance that I could put him on a pair of them if he could spend the day with me. I placed the cross hairs over his chest and pulled the trigger, just as the ‘yote trotted off. Finding trophy animals and high quality areas to hunt are just as hard as finding a good outfitter. Access to the unit is best obtained by purchasing a USFS Tonto National Forest Map at local map and hiking stores or by contacting the Tonto National Forest Service Office in Phoenix at (602) 225-5200 or at any of the local Ranger Districts located in: Mesa (480) 610-3300, Cave Creek (480) 488-3441, Payson (520) 474-7900, Globe (520) 402-6200, Tonto Basin (520) 467-3200, and Pleasant Valley (520) 462-3311. A juniper/grassland mosaic is found at the upper end of the watershed. Day two went pretty similar to day one. There was no way to get a site picture with the 223 so I dropped the rifle, stood, and pulled my 357 from my hip. See how weather varies by elevation within a unit by selecting an elevation range. When scouting look for signs of Javelina rooting around various plants, grasses, bushes, and cactus. If you plan on hunting in higher elevation, as a rule of thumb, expect the tempture to decrease roughly 5° for every 1000' in elevation gain. I had my FoxPro SpitFire in my backpack and figured that I could do some calling if the dove hunting didn’t work out. These maps will give you more detailed information on canyons, peaks, springs and roads to aid you on your hunt. This will allow the herds a chance to recuperate especially if several hunters harvested Javelina from the same herd. The thick grass muffled any noise from our boots and I was fairly optimistic about our next stand although it was only about a 100 yard walk from where we had parked the truck. I still have half a lion, 4 squirrels, and a few pounds of bear and buffalo from a friend. By taking Highway 188, you can hunt the Jakes Corner, and Tonto Basin areas. Cross-country driving is prohibited. After about 10 minutes I switched to the Bay Bee Cottontail sound and within about 30 seconds saw some movement on the hill directly in front of me. Elevation in this unit ranges from 1332' to 7253' with a median elevation of 2416'. Thirty minutes and a mile further up the canyon I had composed myself and was following a set of javelina tracks trough heavy cover. Sure enough, within about 15 minutes of calling I heard something coming in, and a nice reddish coyote busted right out of the blind spot and was about to run off with my decoy. I had an apple for lunch and hiked back to the jeep under a light rain right at dark. I spent the time to evaluate the pigs again, and there was one that was still way bigger than the rest. When I squeezed the trigger this time I saw the bullet hit. I got my rifle ready and waited for it to clear the horizon but it never came. Started the same song on the caller, DSG, Platinum fox, then bay bee cottontail. I told him that I had hunted that canyon the last two years and never seen another pair of boot prints. But at about 10 minutes into this stand a coyote appeared out of nowhere directly behind the caller and decoy. There is a huge 4×4 mule deer bedded down in this picture, do you see him? I found a spot off the main trail to park and hiked into the sunset. Region VI is also solid. Learn about licenses, regulations and more. I had run the call longer then I had planned and it paid off big time. This was huge for me because this Jeep is the first car since my old Cordova back in the day that was more than transportation to me. These maps are 1:100,000-scale and include unit boundaries, … Hover or click a month to see how many days will pass between precipitation events. On the way into my spot I saw a big dist could up ahead of me, as I rolled over the ridge there was a car, upside down, on the side of the road with four confused teen aged kids slowly waking away from the wreck. The ‘yote paced back and forth trying to figure out what there was to eat but always stayed in just enough cover that I didn’t trust my shot with a 40 grain 223. Still I was pretty happy seeing 2 coyote on 2 stands. Most of the animals were living off of the prickly pear cactus as a last resort. There was the expected hammer fall and a loud bang, my ears immediately started to ring, I had let my ear protection behind. I spent the day looking for sign, found tons of fresh tracks but no feeding or bedding areas. We talked about the areas of the canyon that we were going to focus on and went separate ways. I had my back to a cliff and the wind in my face so I knew from here I would be able to see anything coming in. We never did see a fox but sometimes hunting success isn’t measured by the fur in the back of your truck. This was disappointing. 15 minutes into the stand I saw a yote coming in fast over the ridge toward my call. The Sun is setting pretty early these days so I had to race across town to get into position before dark. About half way into where the first “spring” would be my stomach turned sour. It was right in the middle of the highway, so I spun around, flipped on my emergency lights, and stood in the highway in a blaze orange shirt directing traffic around it until it was well on its way. But between sitting out a deer hunt and poor judgement on my part I have yet to lay one down this fall. Select a month to see what you can expect and how to prepare for extreme events. But the pigs did not move, not even the one I had shot at. You can also try scouting west of Payson on the Doll Baby Ranch Road FS 406. There had to have been at least 25-30 javelina here within the last 12 hours. Nothing beats time spent outdoors with a good friend. The bottom of this wash channels all of the rainfall from the valley and here it acts like a spring, bubbling up for about 20 feet then the water drops back into the gravel of the wash. The next few stands were blank as well, but we were in some amazing country and a light rain blew in cooling everything down about 20 degrees. During that time, I have also gained a love for hunting them. I headed deep into Unit 22, in an area I had been four wheeling and seen lots of sign the last two years, but had never been calling. The only thing I can think is that it circled down the sleight wash we were sitting above and winded us. About 7-8 minutes into the call I saw some movement to my right. Right then I heard something behind me, looked over my shoulder to see two coyotes about 20 feet away and coming in at a slow creep. I hiked down into the valley right as the sun was coming up. We found them cuddled u… Our scouting packages were developed to give the do it yourself hunter a head start when planning their Arizona Deer, Elk, Bear and Javelina hunts. Once a track is hit, the race is on and you will see some of the best hunting dogs in the world do their thing. Still running the call 5 minutes later, watching this hawk, I saw some movement on top of the rise about 80 yards in front of me. With all the rain this season I figured that they would be full, and there is no ranching going on out there so I wouldn’t have cows to deal with. Once you decide on a unit, it’s time to find out where to go. All models use 1600-g Thinsulate(TM) insulated boots. The Hornaday 40 grain 223 had done the trick. But I wouldn’t say that I am disappointed. Well it finally happened, my old blue hunting truck decided it wasn’t going to go freeway speed anymore. Versatile, comfortable, stylish and appropriate for almost any occasion. Terrain varies from relatively flat desert grasslands to high, forested mountains. Concentrate on hunting Reed Springs, Cottonwood Creek, Slate Creek, Buena Vista Springs and The Three Bar Wildlife Area. Don't miss out on this amazing opportunity to kick off the 2021 season with an additional hunt. Concentrate on hunting the edges of the unburned vegetation. The thick green grass under the mesquite kept us cool and muffled our footsteps on the way in. I bought the Jeep around noon, spent 3 hours getting it registered, and got home around 4pm. I was starting to doubt my decision to come out here. The first mile of the forest road looked like it had a higher population density then most cities in the Phoenix area. I have been worried that my scope might be a little off and cursed myself for not seeing where the bullet hit. I started hiking in a circle from that point, then found a bed. Except for the my target and one other that came right down my side of the hill. Eventually we had to drive about 2 miles down the river bottom further from the highway then I had planned just to get free of the campfires. There was plenty of room between us but to be safe and to increase our chances of calling something in we headed even further down the canyon away from any traffic. This got me pretty fired up about hunting doves, so I decided to head out on my own the next day. Javelina will also eat hedgehog cactus and it will appear as if the cactus was laid open and the inside of the cactus was scooped out with a spoon. Usually javelina will look for a south or east facing slope to warm up first thing in the morning. This was Tuesday. The view from lunch, unfortunately I didn’t take any pictures of the sheep. The coyote was headed straight to the West and turned heading North when he reached the wash bottom that the caller was setup in. The point of the “L” is a lower elevation and creates an easy saddle to get through to another valley. Unit 32 is second (77), with units 30A and 37 (A & B) following closely behind. High quality 36" x 48" printed Unit 22 hunt maps shipped to your door. A reddish coyote was coming in and froze on the hillside looking right at my decoy. Petroglyph on top of the mountain during my javelina hunt. I had a plan. However, the elevations with the most concentrations of Javelina are in the lower to mid elevations ranging from 1,500-5,000 feet. It sounded like they were filming another sequel to Mad Max. Look for scat, tracks, and roo. Then I noticed a staghorn cactus that had been shredded by javelina. After a few minutes of checking out my decoy he just disappeared. I was right on the inside of the “L” of my L mountain. Preseason scouting, preparation for the environmental conditions, and physical conditioning are important factors. pinyon/juniper and extensive chaparral in the Mazatzal Mountains and along the base of the Mogollon Rim. There was almost no chance of anyone being anywhere near me but I still needed my privacy. The success and quality of your hunt will likely increase with the distance from your vehicle and roads. Game Management Unit 22. The Town of Payson, Arizona and the Town of Pine, Arizona are located within Unit 22. I told him I had seen his boots on the way in but couldn’t date them, I then asked who was wearing the Danner’s. It looks like the rain has done more than just green up the desert, I will be chasing those fat rabbits in about 2 months. If you are preparing to hunt this unit If you are looking for the best hunting experience, look no further. Within the first few steps from the road I nearly stepped on the biggest desert cottontail that I have ever seen. Then I climbed a hill about 30 yards, and put the three Dead Coyote ammo in the 870. Saturday I finally found one with relatively low miles and a perfectly straight body. They were 3/4’s of a mile away and about 500 feet up, feeding in the sunlight. Around three it finally cleared and I hiked in. I repeated the same call pattern and at about 10 minutes I saw the back of a coyote coming in to the call. Javelina can be found in a variety of different habitat types in Unit 21 from the Sonoran desert up to the pinyon juniper woodland. In 1980/81, The Arizona Game and Fish Department successfully translocated approximately 30 desert bighorn sheep into Unit 22 in the Goat Mountain area north of Apache Lake. But, the herd did not notice. I hiked just short of a mile from the tank and set up the caller on top of a staghorn cactus. I lined up the shot with the ribcage of the big pig and squeezed the trigger. Beginning at the junction of the Salt and Verde Rivers; north along the Verde River to Childs; easterly on the Childs-Strawberry Rd. Properly balancing these bacterias aids in improved digestive health, stronger gut lining and combating symptoms such as Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), abdominal pain, bloating, diarrhea and irregular stool frequency. These units (20B through 26M) have a fair amount of record book listings, especially units 21 & 22. Most piglets will stay close to their mother's heels, but can be as far as 20 yards away. But there was an incredible sunset that night and Four Peaks had received a heavy dose of snow. Opportunities exist to pick up a leftover tag for spring javelina and turkey in Arizona! If you use an OHV or four-wheel-drive please stay on existing roads. If you are looking to hunt common game like quail, deer and turkey, Arizona can provide prosperous hunting. As I was standing up to collect my prey the hawk that had been circling dropped out of the sky and sunk its talons into my decoy. I decided on day three to hike into a canyon about an hour further down the road which I had hunted the previous year. When I got to the area I wanted to hike into I grabbed a box of dove shot for my 870, and an extra 3 rounds of Dead Coyote #T shot. I climbed a few big hillsides and glassed the canyons below me. It’s funny, you think that you play through every possible scenario in your head, but when you get out there something totally unpredictable happens every single time. More than a few times, I have said the word javelina to folks and received a blank stare in return. A mix of cactus, creosote, and thin mesquite. So not seeing any doves I decided to change tactics. Also look for Javelina scat, it looks similar to dog scat but dries up quickly, turns white and falls apart. I first spotted a new javelina herd back in November. Javelina will eat prickly pair cactus more during the fall winter months and it will appear very shredded at the bite location. It was close to thirty individuals and they were bedding down within about 3 miles of the highway, seemed like a much easier hunt then the herd I chased (unsuccessfully) in the previous year. My first big game animal ever taken was a javelina I shot with my dad. My plan was to park on Four Peaks Road and race into the hills a few miles away from all the dirt bikes as quick as I could.Instead I found a new road that took me back a few miles. Enjoying the sunset at the end of a great day. The coyote stepped downwind of the decoy and did not like the smell at all. During the bay bee cottontail I saw some movement to my left. The sun just starting to set through the storm clouds from high on the hillside on the last stand of the day. More than just a reservoir, the Mil Spec Antidote Reservoir redefines the ultimate delivery system for an operator's water supply and provides maximum adaptability for changing missions or combat environments. Be sure to make note of the extreme temperatures as these often pose the greatest risk to hunters. FOXPRO SpitFire with a Mojo Critter setup about 30 yards from me. This product is still in Badlands "Skullworks Concept" so may be changed and updated before the product arrives but will be updated with more information as soon as it becomes available.Features:Ultralight FrameVented SuspensionIntegrated Meat ShelfMultiple Lashing PointsBow Wrap Carry System. Scouting for Javelina and locating several different herds will also increase your chances of a successful hunt. My buddy set up on the other side of the low tree I was using to break up my silhouette and my caller was setup about 35 yards right in front of me. I waited until he was about 15 yards from the caller before I dropped him. Scout areas prior to your hunt to locate fresh sign where javelina travel, bed, and feed. After catching my breath from the hike up the hill, I started running the call at about 30% volume. A coyote on the first stand, my day was made no matter what. I headed out around midnight took my heavy wool blanket, that I usually use instead of a sleeping bag, and spent the night in my Jeep. There was still enough light for me to move to one more stand but I figured missing a total of five yotes in a day was enough. This was the freshest javelina bed I had found, and next to it another, and another. The second stand was a great setup overlooking a big riverbed and we called in a coyote at about 10 minutes. While the fire was a devastating and torched a lot of land, it is a great opportunity to create some fantastic deer and bear habitat for the unit in the next 2-10 I packed up my gear and headed out. Most of these were a few days old, but the coyote tracks were fresh. Take on a daily consistent basis for best results. This one was following right in the first ones steps and I wasn’t sure what it would do when it came up on the first one. Being alone in the desert is something that is hard to explain. To be fair it had been nearly three weeks since I had fired my rifle, but I was hammering a dime at 100 yards and there is no way my scope was that far off. I took a few pictures then carried her off a ways before field dressing her. Locate springs and water holes and scout a 360-degree circle around that water source of approximately 1.5 - 2 miles from the source. I parked the jeep and headed down into the valley. The only thing I can think is that he was suspicious of me before I saw him and was just double checking. I was shocked to see that I had shot a female. The sun was setting out in front of us and he had lost sight of the coyote in the shadows. It rises up about 500 feet and from space looks like a backwards capital “L”. Javelina (Collared Peccary) Javelina inhabit the entire unit, but … Continue reading "Unit 20B – Arizona" Midway through an apple and bottle of water I realized I was not alone. A grey fox was coming up out of a rocky wash and headed right to my caller. I dropped my AR-15 and grabbed the pistol at my hip, but he was too fast. There was no one to take a picture of my with my javelina, I managed to catch this in the reflection of my Jeep’s rear window. I watched them, finished my apple and left them the core. For 2021, there are more than 2,600 leftover permit tags available. It was odd to stand in front of it and realize that it was at the perfect height to comfortably work, and to realize that a few hundred years ago someone was standing in the same place banging three rocks together to leave their mark on the world. Javelina can be one of the most enjoyable game animals to hunt in Arizona. I hiked up the mountain where I would have enough elevation to see into the flat parts of the valley. I spent two weeks shopping around for something that I could use out in the hills and as a daily driver. Access district and public hunting land maps. I had the coyote in my sights and was just about to bark to freeze him, when he raised his head, looked at the decoy, and paused. I had some time to kill today after work so I went out to the four peaks area in Unit 22 to do some hiking and predator calling. the sandy wash I have hiked hundreds of times was a flowing river. * Listing courtesy of the Bowhunting in Arizona Record Book Committee. I actually slept pretty well for a few hours and woke up 10 minutes ahead of my alarm. Please note these are abbreviated listings, the record book contains extensive harvest data to include: skull width & length, time and hunting method, range, where hit, bow & broadhead information, hunting "how to's", and more. Juniper and catclaw grow on hillsides at higher … Continue reading "Unit 21 – Arizona" You should consider Unit 22 or Unit … Then the coyote collapsed, sliding through the dust, coming to rest short of 8 feet from my boots, stone dead. I stopped to talk to them and found out that they were all uninjured. I had a late start this morning counting against me but with a little cloud cover on my side I figured we might have a good chance at seeing some action today. Usually this is all bone dry, but there was water for miles. I headed deep into Unit 22, in an area I had been four wheeling and seen lots of sign the last two years, but had never been calling. The other thing up against us on this morning was the fact that this was the long weekend for Martin Luther King Jr. Day. The guy I was with takes a shot and misses. While many would believe that this Southwestern state is nothing but desert, Arizona’s ecosystem is perfect for a variety of wildlife. The unit can be accessed by taking Highway 87 north from the Phoenix area towards Payson. I settled on a high ridge with my FOXPRO SpitFire about 50 yards out. I couldn’t smell the javelina but knew this was close. There were at least a few herds of javelina that based their territory off of these springs and I had walked right up on them last year, but blew my stalk and never took a shot. I crossed four or five hills before finding a place to setup. I was on a big rise, with a giant cholla behind me. I hiked in and glassed the hillside at sun up, nothing. I hiked up the hill opposite of L mountain to get some elevation and had a snack. Each month of the year brings it's own challenges for weather. About 2 minutes later, another fox came up out of the same wash. Javelina are peccaries, not pigs. We hiked in, spooked the herd, reconnected with them about a mile later, got within 51 yards, and spooked them again before he had a shot. We drove up the canyon a few hundred yards after this and hiked in for our second stand. They tend not to be dangerous but do sometimes charge and bite. You will most likely be horseback with some VERY well trained hounds casting for scent on the dry ground. There was not a drop of blood on him, the bullet left all its energy in its heart and lungs with no exit wound at all. We were heading into an area that I had some success with the previous week and figured at the least we would get a shot at a fox or two. At this point I was kicking myself yet again for not bringing my shotgun along, but remembered that there was a spot with some lighter cover and bigger hills a few miles from there. We love chasing “Stink Pigs” Arizona offers over the counter archery Javelina opportunities in December and January and easy to draw hunts January through March. After working another night shift I went home slept for about 4 hours then started planning my afternoon. Javelina may utilize the edges of the burned area for new green growth. In Arizona, they hunt mountain lions different as well. He came all the way down to within about 50 yards on the far side of the call before clearing the brush and giving me a clear broadside shot. Park the Jeep, hike in and glass the east side of L mountain, hike around the top of it where the water was, then south down the other side to where the hugs javelina bed was. After the hunt - double check. Slip one on and instantly become the most interesting person in the room. This profile is what We stayed up there on that hill and watched the sunset, it was pretty dramatic with all the storm clouds in the sky and everything in the desert had come alive from the rain. The lower branches were scattered in every direction. The reservoir image on this page is backlit to show detail. From where I was sitting I should have been able to see him leave the valley I was in, but he found a way out. The shot scattered the rocks on the hill right where the coyote had been standing. I love this desert more every time I go out, even more when spending time with an old friend that I had not seen in ages. I couldn’t find the herd for weeks after that.That was the end of his hunt. Being an Arizona resident who lives and breathes the outdoors, I have become very familiar with these little animals. Rain, and more rain. This was shocking to me, but not the first time I had talked to myself in the last week. But I chased the same herd for mine. In 2012 we were in the depth of a drought and there was hardly any water in the desert. The rest of the hike to the tank had me jump 3 coveys of Gambel’s quail and one big red striped rosy boa. When weather patterns are cold, Javelina move relatively late in the day when the weather warms up. The coyote was right at 100 yards from me and I pulled the trigger with the crosshairs right behind his shoulder. I hiked around the tank a few times, there were a bunch of coyote tracks in the soft sand. Shop Unit 22 Hunt Maps. I played a ki-yi for a few minutes and watched the ridge but they were on the run and moving fast. Two bighorn sheep had walked within 50 yards of me. We shook hands and introduced each other. We both climbed over to the top of the hill where the coyote had disappeared just to be sure, and realized that in a way it was a good thing I had missed. 80% of your immune system is stored right in your gut and that is why MTN OPS BIOTICS(TM) is so important for your daily health and wellness. Two years of unfilled tags, hundreds of miles of hiking, as many hours of scouting, finally paid off. The highest densities are located in the desert scrub communities north of Roosevelt Lake. I started the first 10 minutes of the stand with the DSG Cottontail on my These tags are left-over, archery only, over the counter (OTC) and can be purchased at any AZ game and fish office. I then headed North to the top of L mountain and in a patch of heavy palo verde trees I found a javelina bedding area with loads of fresh scat. Four coyote in one stand was a new best for me. I whistled and he about jumped out of his skin. I had put three bullets into its heart and lungs. By the end of the morning I had two ‘yotes, and between stands Don shot a good sized jack rabbit. The maps and information provided are for reference only. AR15.COM is the world’s largest firearm community and is a gathering place for firearm enthusiasts of all types. second stand location with Four Peaks in the background. BIOTICS is an advanced Pre and Probiotic blend specifically formulated to increase healthy gut bacteria, while decreasing the bad gut bacteria at the same time. This is the view from the stand. I sent one shot off at it missing the back of his head by about a half inch and blowing a nice sized crater into the desert 15 yard ahead of him. Coyote number two. When I finally looked over that outcropping after the climb, the pigs had moved on. I was only a few hours behind the herd and there was only one way they could have gone. Aunt May's funeral...maybe think twice unless she was a fun loving casual type. From hunters and military members, to competition shooters and general firearm enthusiasts, we welcome anyone who values and respects the way of the firearm. I raised my 870 and fired at him with a load of Hevi-Shot Dead Coyote T shot. When I got to her left side I found three bullet holes. The road on the way out that usually is totally empty, aside from some cactus and snakes, looked like a gypsy camp. I was positioned just to the west of where two washes joined in a Y. I set the caller and decoy on my side of the Y so that nothing would be able to sneak in without me seeing it. I usually see that as a good omen, and I really love watching these birds so I let it run a few more minutes. I laughed, this was perfect. I had setup the stand with about 10 minutes before sunset, and had a coyote in my hands with 5 minutes to spare. I had a half dozen open shooting lanes from where I was sitting out to a slight incline 50 yards in front of me. For more information, contact the appropriate tribe directly. Fleece-lined hand-warmer chest pocket, internal flip-up device pocket allows touch-screen use while enclosed, six easy grab shell loops and adjustable belt and suspenders.