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ADVENTURE SPORTS OUTDOORS “The Voice of the American Sportsman”
January 2018
PIGS AND PREDATORS IN WEST TEXAS
By Darrell Sterling
How can you beat that combination in West Texas? It’s impossible because that area of the country cannot be beat for the abundance of predators and the size of their pigs especially their Javalina. You can find this unique little vampire of a pig throughout Central and South America and in the southwestern area of the U.S. The average size is around 35-50 pounds. The biggest are in Brazil but here in the states it’s in West Texas. The best part and this is where it gets good, is the Javalina average size jumps up almost 10 pounds but only in West Texas! Percentage wise that is an amazing increase in size. The very largest of the species can only be found in Brazil where they can weigh as much as 80 pounds! I personally have a thing for fangs, tusks, and claws. The nastier the animal the more I like it. I have had the privilege of hunting warthogs in South Africa and Russian boars so I was itching to get after these tough little critters. You can’t of course hunt in Texas without taking advantage of the night life which isn’t in the bars and honkey-tonks it means you get your head lamps fully charged grab your favorite caller and stay out late hollowing at the moon and bagging some coyotes. I had hunted with West Texas Hunting Organization before and Mike McKinny can set you up on self-guided hunts giving you access to some incredible country or you can do semi-guided hunts where you are shown around the property which will have bait sites for the pigs and hot spots for the predators. I choose to go fully guided as I was hoping to take a real trophy Javalina. I have never seen one before other than on TV so judging a 48-pound animal from a 54 pounder might prove to be difficult. The guide can tell you yes there are 7 pigs at the feeder but the largest one in the bunch isn’t what you are after. If left to my own devices I would shoot the largest pig which could be a waste of a tag. You are allowed to take two Javalina per year so you do have a mulligan if needed. I wanted to take two studs boars as I think these exceptional animals make for
an awesome mount. The problem was my luck on this hunt was just about all bad. My flight coming in was a half day late costing me valuable hunting time. The worst part was Mike was sick and could not make the hunt. The main problem was Mike had the high rack which you really need to hunt predators in this part of the country. If your hunting on the ground which we did some it’s a disaster because there is such thick cover and tall grass by the time you get eyes glaring back at you it’s too late they are on top of you. I would ease my gun over into place and poof they would be gone. We had a coyote that got to within 75 feet from us but believe it or not he stayed in and out of thick brush presenting us with no shot opportunities from the ground. If we had been in a high rack that would have been one less predator wreaking havoc. My guide was a local who lived in the tiny town of Van Horn which was only 15 minutes away from camp. The man’s name was Lee Choate and really this is where I got extremely lucky because he was one hell of a good guide and guy. I have done a lot of guided hunts and you can get a great guide but he has no personality
and it’s uncomfortable even being around them. If your hunting pigs during the day and predators at night that means your logging a lot of time together so having an enjoyable person to hunt with can make or
break the hunt. I had a blast with Lee who has had an amazing life living in that area. He shot three mountain lions off a tall mountain just behind our camp back when he was a younger man with his Dad, now
IN HOUSE BOAT SHOW JANUARY 31-FEB 4
TROUTT & SONS, INC. 18050 County Road 1000, St. James, MO.
800-843-9677 * www.trouttandsons.com
“Promoting hunter safety and enabling disadvantaged hunters to turn outdoor adventures into lifetime memories” Our organization provides opportunities to the disadvantaged of the community in order to get them out into nature whether it be hunting, fishing, four-wheeling or anything in between. We have gone as far west as Montana for an elk hunt and south to Louisiana for an alligator hunt. We also promote hunter safety because the organization was formed in memory of Jared Burke, as he was killed in a hunting accident in 1999. “Turning Outdoor Adventures into Lifetime Memories”
JARED BURKE FOUNDATION RAFFLE GRAND PRIZE:
All Expense Paid Antelope Hunt at Cayuse Hills Outfitters - Shawmut, Montana for one hunter and one observer. Lodging will be in Big Timber, Montana Hunt includes all permit fees - Lodging - Guide Service - $1,000 Visa Gift Card Additional information on hunting in Montana Hunting can be obtained by visiting the Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks Website. All permits need to be applied for by June 01, 2018 The hunt will take place in Sept-Oct of 2018
2ND PRIZE: 2 Night Weekend Stay at JJ’s Hideout and Lodging in Beautiful Shawnee National Forest for up to 8 people • 3RD PRIZE: Winchester Super X 4 12 Guagem Shotgun chambered in 3.5” • 4TH PRIZE: ARMSCOR 1911 9mm Pistol • 5TH PRIZE: Reconyx Game CameraTo be drawn February 17, 2018 at theJBF Banquet at Germantown Legion
Tickets: 1 for $10 - 3 for $20
Please take a moment to check out our website www.jaredburkefoundation.com or check us out on Facebook. You can also email jbfadventure@yahoo.com or call 618-973-3134 for more information or for donations.
