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Arizona Javelina Guides and Outfitters
Javelina Hunts
Southern Arizona is home to the Javelina. Hunting seasons for this critter are during January through February. Javelina can be one of the most enjoyable game animals to hunt in Arizona. They are not pigs, nor are they even in the pig family. They are peccaries. Javelina are gregarious animals that live in a tight-knit family group of around 5 to 15 animals. The javelina groups are territorial with a home range of about a square mile and a half. The common name is the “collared peccary” because of a white ring of hair that circles the neck region. Javelina appear to be larger than they really are, but in actuality, they only weigh 35-60 pounds dressed-out. They offer a very challenging hunt for the bowhunter, handgun hunter, crossbow hunter, muzzleloader hunter or even rifle hunter. Spot and stalk is the technique we use to hunt these unique animals. Our guides use high-powered optics to locate a herd. Javelina are low to the ground and blend into their surroundings very well. So, they can often be a challenge to locate amongst the gray desert scrub. Once a group of peccary is located, a stalk can be planned. Javelina have poor eyesight, which enables bow hunters to approach within closer distances than other big game. This does not mean they are easy though. Hunters must keep the wind in their favor when making a stalk and be extremely quiet in order to get within a desired shooting distance. Because of their large canines, javelina make nice open-mouth mounts. If you are successful, a full-body mount of a snarling peccary (javelina) can be a very unique trophy. The meat from javelina is often made into sausage. Our favorite is jalapeno and cheese summer sausage or chorizo! Archery javelina hunts in January can be combined with archery Coues deer.
Hunters should note that javelina live in the mountains. Hunters are encouraged to condition themselves to the best of their ability in order to increase their odds for success. Note: This is a fair chase hunt where we use the spot and stalk method amongst desert mountain terrain. It can be challenging since it is not a “bait and wait” hunt, like in Texas.
Our Track Record: Over the past couple decades, our javelina hunters have experienced an extremely high Rate of Opportunity for all weapon types!
Javelina Seasons
Arizona offers several different Javelina seasons: a January Archery-Only javelina season, a late February Youth-Only firearms season, an early February H.A.M. Season (Handgun/Archery/Crossbow/Muzzleloader) and a late February Rifle season.
RIFLE CARTRIDGES: A .243 is the bare minimum cartridge for javelina. The best javelina cartridges would be: .25-06, .257, 6.5, .260, .270, .280, 7mm-08, .308, .30-30, .30-06, and .300 WSM. Regardless of what you have read on the internet sites, blogs and social media, javelina are very tough animals and often get away injured from smaller cartridges. We don’t recommend anything less than .243 caliber. Hunters should use their deer rifles on javelina, not their varmint rifles. Guides prefer to have the javelina D.R.T. (dead right there) than to trail and/or lose it!
Typical HANDGUNS to use are the single-shot Thompson or Remington XP100 centerfire rifle cartridges, like .257, 6.5, 7mm-08, .308, .30-30, etc. Revolvers in .357 magnum, .44 magnum, .454 Cassul, etc. with red dots or scopes are also common handguns that work well.
MUZZLELOADERS can be your choice of primitive style or modern inline style using scopes, sabots, bipods.
CROSSBOWS are not considered archery in AZ, but can be used during the firearms season and H.A.M. season.
Season Dates for 2024:
Archery-Only Season: Jan. 1-25, 2024
Youth-Only Rifle Season: Jan. 26 – Feb. 4, 2024
Handgun, Archery, Crossbow, Muzzleloader Season (H.A.M.): Feb. 9-19, 2024
General Rifle Season: Feb. 23-29, 2024
Licenses and Tags
If you would like to book a hunt, contact us prior to early October so we can point you in the right direction for licensing/tag procedures. Arizona javelina hunting is by an online draw application process through the Arizona Game and Fish Department. The drawing odds for our preferred areas are typically very high. The deadline to apply is early October. Once you draw a tag, we can then book the hunt. Contact us before October or as soon as possible if you are interested in a guided javelina hunt.
Hunting license fees: $37.00 (Resident) and $160.00 (NonRes). All draw applicants need to purchase a nonrefundable Arizona hunting license in order to apply.
Javelina Tag Fees: $38 (Res) and $115 (NonRes)
The Arizona permit-tag is for ONE javelina per person per hunt
2024 HUNT RATES
FOR JAVELINA
Javelina Hunt Options # Days Rate Javelina Hunt: 2-on-1 up to 3* $2,000.00/person January Archery Coues deer/Javelina combo (2 on 1) up to 5* $3,500.00/person January Archery Coues deer/Javelina combo (1 on 1) up to 5* $4,000.00/person
Ask about our 10% OFF discount to US military & veterans!
Javelina hunts are booked 2-on-1 (you are paired with another hunter), unless you request to have your own guide and pay for 1-on-1 (add $500/person).
The 2-on-1 option means two hunters per guide (you will be paired with another hunter). 1-on-1 means one hunter per guide (you will have your own personal guide). The 1-on-1 javelina hunt option is available for an additional $500/person. Archery and H.A.M. javelina hunters should consider 1-on-1 to increase odds of each hunter harvesting an animal.
Non-Hunter Fee: Some hunters like to bring along a buddy to camp and share the experience while they hunt. There might be an option to invite one person as a non-hunter or observer while on your guided javelina hunt. Non-hunter space is very limited. Based upon availability. Javelina Hunt Non-Hunter Fee: $800.00
* Arrive to camp the day prior to hunting. Depart camp about noon on the last day of hunting. Hunters depart sooner if they tag out early. So, it’s best if flying non-resident hunters arrive in Arizona the evening prior to meeting us (two days before hunting), rent an SUV from the airport, get a hotel room and we will meet the next day about noon in the hunt area about 1 to 2 hours from the Tucson Airport or 3 to 4 hours from the Phoenix Airport. These are the closest major airports. Flying hunters can follow us to camp with their rental vehicle. Flights should be scheduled to depart the morning after the hunt. More details on the general info page.
Description of Javelina Hunts
Javelina Hunts Include: complimentary accommodations (remote tent camps), complimentary meals, a guide, skinning, packing out animal, and up to *3 days of hunting (depart camp about noon on last day of hunting).
January Archery Coues Deer/Javelina Hunt: Includes complimentary accommodations (tent camps), complimentary meals, skinning, packing out animal, and a guide. The January archery Coues deer/javelina hunt is up to 5 days in duration. Note: January archery Coues deer hunters who hunt during the first 3 weeks of January, have the option of hunting javelina while hunting Coues deer, provided they draw an archery javelina tag for the area. The archery javelina tag is by draw in October and is optional with the archery deer hunt (we don’t charge extra to add on javelina).
Choose a “Hunter to Guide Ratio” of either 1-on-1or 2-on-1. The 1 on 1 rate means one hunter per guide. The 2 on 1 rate means two hunters per guide.
Additional Information
BOOKING INFO: The first step is to contact the outfitter to get on the list for a hunt. He will then point you in the right direction in applying for tags and licenses, which takes place in September through early October. Once a permit-tag is drawn for our preferred area, hunters will book the hunt by signing a contract and submitting a 50% non-refundable deposit. The remaining balance is due at least 21 days prior to the hunt. We recommend cancellation insurance for all of our guests. Visit our policy page for more details.
Space is limited, so contact us early!!! We usually only accomodate up to six hunters in camp at a time, so book early.
Other Costs and Considerations that are the hunter’s responsibility: Licenses and tags, transporting yourself to/from the camp, rental car, butchering, transporting your meat/hide/trophy to home, taxidermy, hotel stay before/after the hunt (if flying) are some other things to consider and are the hunter’s responsibility. Gratuity for your guide is gladly accepted and is customary (15% is typical).
Non-Hunter Fee: Some hunters like to bring along a buddy to camp and share the experience while they hunt. There might be an option to invite one person as a non-hunter or observer while on your guided javelina hunt. Non-hunter space is very limited. Based upon availability. Javelina Hunt Non-Hunter Fee: $800.00
The bag limit is one javelina per person per hunt.
Accommodations: Our complimentary accommodations are basic southwestern style outfitter tent camps which are often located many miles from civilization. Sleeping quarters for big game hunts are typically in deluxe outfitter tents, unless noted otherwise. If you are looking for a hunt with fancy lodges, this is NOT the hunt for you! Tent camps are used because we stay in remote areas. The deluxe tents consist of large outfitter Kodiak Canvas brand tents. The size of our tents are tall and spacious inside; typically 10X10 or 10X14 and stand 6.5 feet tall. The tents are equipped with heaters during the colder months. Cots with thick pads are provided, but all hunters must bring their own sleeping bags. For those that own a camping trailer and would like to bring it to camp to stay in are more than welcome to do so, but it must be short and high enough for ground clearance on rough, rocky dirt roads. Please ask for road conditions before bringing one. Video of our typical camp.
View our javelina videos for more feel of our hunts.
Be sure you visit our general info page.
Javelina Hunt Photos
Dylan with an old javelina boar that he shot at 209 yards
Kipp used his Hoyt bow and a Rage Trypan to take this nice javelina at 20 yards
Gary used his Ruger No. 1 in .30-06 to tag this old boar javelina
Dave shot this giant boar javelina at 235 yards with his .270
John with a giant javelina that he shot at 163 yards using his muzzleloader
Ted with a nice javelina that he shot using his .44 magnum pistol at 27 yards
Jay and Mike tagged these nice javelina with their bows
David used his Kimber in 270 Winch to take this javelina at long range
Gary made a great shot at 318 yards with his 35 Whelen to tag this nice javelina
Dan snuck up to this big javelina and took him with a 300 Win Mag
John came from the cold of MN to hunt Arizona javelina with his .308 Winchester
Drew shot this javelina at long range with his 6.5 Creedmoor
Phelps from CO shot this nice javelina at 30 yards using his bow
Kipp snuck into 18 yards to shoot this nice boar javelina with his bow
Tom shot this javelina with a 6.5 custom single shot handgun
Hill and Vic made an excellent archery stalk together to take their javelinas
Doug with his giant boar javelina that he shot during rifle season.
Mark from MO with his javelina that he shot at 320 yards.
Tom with a nice javelina taken using his Defiance custom 6.5 caliber rifle.
Dave from Montana shot this nice javelina with a custom 6.5 caliber rifle.
Mike from California with a nice javelina during rifle season.
Hunter L. made a great shot on this javelina at 275 yards.
Dean shot this javelina at 200 yards during rifle season.
Pete from Ohio with a big male javelina that he shot with his bow.
Russ with a nice javelina that he shot at 280 yards using his .260 custom rifle.
Justin with a javelina that he shot using a .270 at 150 yards.
Vince shot this big javelina with his 6.5 Creedmoor.
Vic shot this javelina at 25 yards with his bow and Rage Trypan broadheads.
Eric made an excellent close-in stalk to 5 yards with his 10mm pistol!
Jason used his 25-06 to take this big old javelina boar.
Steven with this tuff javelina that took several shots to put down.
Guide Jon and hunter Dave with his javelina that he shot perfectly at 202 yards.
Dave form IN used his pappy’s gun to take this nice javelina at 240 yards.
Mike from CA with his big Arizona javelina.
Bob from Utah shot this big Arizona boar javelina with his 6.5 Creedmoor at 250 yards.
Mark and outfitter Pat Feldt with a nice rifle season javelina.
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Javelina Hunt Videos
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