Junior hunters: Rechelle Conde’s javelina hunt

By Ruben Conde, Tacna

We planned a javelina hunt for my 13-year-old daughter, Rechelle, this past spring. Our 2006 cow elk hunt in Unit 10 had been unsuccessful, so I was looking forward to coming through for her on this hunt.

As circumstances would have it, we would only manage to hunt one day this spring—the last day of Unit 37A’s general season. But it was truly a great experience.

We got up at 3 a.m. on March 1 and drove 150 miles to our hunting area in the Ironwood National Monument, arriving around 6 a.m. We met our friend Dan and began hunting in our first-choice area. It was no go. Pigs had been in the area, but we were unsuccessful at spotting or jumping any in their usual haunts. By 11 a.m. we were in yet another area, but couldn’t find any sign of recent activity.

After a quick lunch and reminiscing about last year’s successful javelina hunt, we were all charged up and ready to make the most of the remainder of our day. Dan cut tracks on a herd of pigs that had crossed the trail in the morning. We tracked them into heavy mesquite cover and heard a sudden “woof!” from the thicket just ahead. All of us froze, and I instinctively set up the shooting sticks. Rechelle quietly set her youth model single-shot .223 in it. A hog ran out of the mesquite, too soon for Rechelle to draw a bead on him.

Everything then became very quiet. Dan tried a few more calls, which were eventually met by another loud “woof!” from within the thicket. When I saw movement, I whispered to Rechelle, and she readjusted with her shooting sticks. At least two pigs were moving our way.

All of a sudden, a large boar shuffled out of cover about 40 yards out, and before I could say anything, “Bang!” a single shot from the .223 rang out. The javelina spun and then disappeared as fast as he appeared back into the brush. Pigs were running everywhere, and then all became quiet again.

In a few seconds, Dan pointed into the mesquites and said, “You got him!” There were collective sighs of relief and hugs and handshakes all around. Rechelle had made a perfect shot on a large mature boar. I could barely speak for a few moments, and then I felt this immense feeling of contentment and satisfaction. I offered thanks that my teenage daughter is truly a hunter, carrying on a sport and tradition that I love.