Wildlife biologist and outdoor writer Larry Weishuhn delves into the topic of hunting javelina or collared peccary, the medium-sized, pig-like hoofed mammal found throughout Central and South America and in the southwestern area of North America.

“Get ready they’re coming, coming fast!” whispered Judd Cooney. There was no doubt they were coming. I could hear their squeals, the popping of jaws, and the running over of anything in their way, all this above the loud, high-pitched squalling “call” I was making with my Burnham Brothers mouth-blown predator call. “Don’t stop blowing!” Warned Judd.

I indeed kept blowing on the call making as much noise as possible. Moments later a herd of 13 javelina charged in, bristles standing on end making them look ever bigger and meaner. They immediately started circling Judd and I. The javelina continued squealing, popping their jaws as they circled us, mere inches from our legs. My former Colorado game warden/outdoor writer/photographer friend’s camera was working non-stop capturing enraged javelina inches from Judd’s long lens. I am certain there was a bit of anxious concern parlayed in my calling.

I heard movement in the tree next to which Judd and I were standing. Crawling up the tree was the third party of our trio, whose name shall not be mentioned; suffice it to say he was a rather well-known outdoor writer of the era, one who had faced charging grizzlies and Cape buffalo without fear. Charging javelina were apparently far more intimidating.

I kept blowing my jack rabbit in distress call until I could blow no more. When I quit blowing the javelina stopped circling us and soon drifted into the nearby underbrush. Just as well, because this occurred back when we still used film cameras and a roll of Kodachrome held only 36 exposures. I knew Judd was out of film. Thankfully this happened before we had digital cameras, otherwise I might have had to blow the call until I passed out!

“Okay Sport, you can crawl down now,” said Judd looking up into the tree.

“Hey, I was simply trying to get a different perspective!” Said our companion. Judd and I looked at each other and started laughing, but we had to admit being charged by javelina, known to injure and even supposedly kill people should be and is a bit scary!

Javelina, perhaps more appropriately called collared peccary, or by their scientific name Tayassu tajacu, are a most interesting southwestern US, northern Mexico animal. They are sometimes called North America’s smallest big game animal.

There are basically two or possibly a total of four species of peccary found in the western hemisphere. The second more populous is the white-lipped peccary found from southern Mexico into South America. The other two species are extremely rare. Interestingly peccaries evolved in the eastern hemisphere about 30 million years ago. Fossil records of peccary exist on all continents, save Australia and Antarctica. But today the species only exists in southern North America into South America.

Javelina are not very big animals, most weigh from 35 to possibly 60-pounds. They are essentially salt and pepper in color, although occasionally some are seen with rather reddish looking bristly hair. And no, they are not rodents as some tout, nor are they hogs. They belong to their own family which essentially means “false hogs”.

Collared peccary have several of their own attributes and characteristics. These include having only three toes on their hind feet, a musk gland situated on their back (essentially on top of the back above the high quarters), have three chambers to their stomach (as opposed a single chamber in swine), and their jaws with elongated upper and lower canines are arranged such, that they can only chew up and down and have no sideward chewing capabilities.

The scent gland produces a liquid with a most unique odor. Once you have smelled the musk of a javelina, it is a smell you will never forget! This musk is used in the herd to recognize individual animals and for marking territory. They too, have a small gland right in front of their eyes which is also used in marking territory or home range.

Javelina live in herds. The herds can be as small as five or six or upwards of a hundred. In southern Texas I have seen herds with as many as 77 obvious individuals (possibly more because of small pigs). These herds are extremely territorial. Their home range can be as large as 700 acres, but are generally somewhat smaller. Home ranges are intensely defended from adjoining herds. Should two herds meet on a border, serious fights follow, accompanied by much squealing and serious combat to the point of blood shed.

The primary food source for javelina is prickly pear cactus, but they also eat a variety of other cactus and desert plants as well as their seeds and fruit. It is easy to tell if a javelina has been eating on prickly pear, because of the top and bottom teeth marks where they took a bite from the pad. Find freshly eaten upon prickly pear and you know you are not far away from javelina.

Javelina, depending upon who you talk to have a docile or ferocious temperament. Frankly, I have seen both extremes. Are they potentially dangerous? Yes, and they should be treated as such. They are not very tolerant of domestic dogs. Many a pet or ranch hound has lost its life because it became too curious of a herd of javelina, or accidentally ran into a herd. There too, are reports of people being badly bitten by javelina.

Hunting javelina is great fun, including by spot and stalk. Their eyesight is not highly acute and their sense of hearing is mediocre, but they do have a great sense of smell. And of course calling them, which I will get back to in a few sentences is my favorite technique.

Over the years I have learned if you really want to take a javelina, the best way is to not hunt for them. Hunt specifically for javelina and you may spend days in the field and never see one, only their signs; droppings, freshly eaten prickly pear, or minor “rooting”. Javelina do not “root” as deeply, nor as much as wild hogs do.

However, if you are in javelina country and you are hunting tyrannosaurus-rex, woolly mammoths or any other creature, you will likely see many collared peccaries! I cannot explain why this is the case, but I can tell you that is the case from many years of hunting javelina!

My favorite way to hunt North America’s smallest big game was mentioned at the beginning of this tome. Calling them with a mouth blown predator call. They will on a rare occasion come to an electric predator call, but not very often.

There are two keys to calling javelina. One of course is, you have to be where javelina exist and live. I look for their tracks, their droppings, and partially eaten prickly pear cactus pads. Once you have smelled the musk of a javelina, you too can locate their favorite areas by their aroma. Occasionally too, you may see a distant herd. Either way, seeing a herd or knowing they are in an area, I set up to call where I can see any approaching javelina. After setting up I start blowing the call as loud as possible, varying the pitch from high to “gruff” and hardly taking a breath. I continue calling for at least two minutes before taking a breath. Usually if javelina are within hearing distance they will come at a run, a full out run. You can hear them before they arrive on the scene. The adults in the herd will be popping their jaws, squealing and grunting as they approach. Although, on occasion I have had them come in relatively quiet, other than you can hear them charging in, running through the brush.

When they charge in, they seldom stop moving until you quit calling, but also you do not want to quit calling once you start until you are ready to take a shot. If they are coming in and you stop calling, the javelina almost immediately lose interest.

Why do they respond to such loud continuous calling? I have no earthly idea. Perhaps it is an aggressive response thinking one of their herd is in peril and they are coming to help.

Once your javelina is down, and yes Texas, New Mexico and Arizona all have seasons and bag limits, the meat of a javelina is edible. I have had good javelina and I have had bad javelina, the kind where two weeks later you are still burping the smell and taste of javelina musk. But I have also had really good javelina, usually for a youngster, that was excellent.

The mount of a javelina, mouth open showing off their dentals, is impressive. It is one that garners attention. So too, do skull mounts. The tanned skin of a javelina produces extremely soft and unbelievably durable leather. For years, back in the 1800s and early 1900s javelina were hunted for their skins.

As to bullets or “pointed sticks” when it comes to hunting javelina, I have shot them with a wide variety of handgun, rifle and muzzleloader calibers. I hunted them many years ago with a recurve bow, and have friends who hunt them with crossbows, modern bows and broadheads as well as with air rifles. My favorite firearm for hunting javelina is my Ruger Super Blackhawk Hunter, topped with a Trijicon RMR sight and shooting 240gr Hornady XTP, a perfect combination. Regardless of what is used, hunting javelina is great fun, and can be challenging, primarily because of where they live in a land of thorns and spines.

If you have not already hunted North America’s smallest big games species, might I suggest you do so. Once you do you will be wondering why you waited this long!

Photo Credit: Larry Weishuhn Outdoors; Running javelina image kindly provided by Luke Clayton Outdoors.