A hunt that sounded somewhat fun

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MCgunner

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Buddies from Waco are going to Arizona to hunt 150,000 acres for vermin like fox, coyote, etc and stink pigs (javelina). Well, I really ain't excited about stink pigs, got one on the wall, that bucket list has been filled. It don't sound like it's fun enough to drive that far, and I'm not feeling real well lately. My anemia is bad due to a bone marrow cancer called "myelofibrosis" that I just started chemo for. I run flat and sleep most afternoons. It sux. Hopefully, I'll be getting better. Just day three on the medication.

Anyway, hard to turn my buddy down on a cheap hunt, 100 bucks for the hunt. But, I just don't think it'd be that fun and I don't know if I could handle the activity right now. I've really been feeling like crap.
 
Like the others I’m wishing you the best!

Curious if peccary are good to eat. “Stink pig” makes me think maybe not.
 
If you can manage the drive to Arizona then maybe go to just hang out with the buddies. Sometimes getting out of the house for light activities does wonders for the mind, body and soul.

Just make sure you have the option to rest in the afternoon if you get tired.
 
They are edible if cared for properly. They make decent sausage. It's tough and dry though, a lower quality meat.

Cared for properly? How so?

Guessing since it’s dry smoking it on a pit is out.

Loved Flagstaff! Awesome place! Too many fires though. SWMBO’s asthma wouldn’t handle it. And her aversion to feet of snow...
 
If you can manage the drive to Arizona then maybe go to just hang out with the buddies. Sometimes getting out of the house for light activities does wonders for the mind, body and soul.

Just make sure you have the option to rest in the afternoon if you get tired.

Great advice!
 
First let me say, I wish all the best for a resolution to your rare disease MC. Would be hard to get excited about hunting after going thru what you are. That said, one of the things I've noticed the most about hunting and getting old is how the fire has waned for me. Used to be I thought about bow hunting for months before it started....had all my clothes ready, tree stands repainted, etc., and was sitting in my stand opening morning, regardless of the weather. Now I dig out my hunting clothes probably three weeks into the season. Same with Turkey hunting. Used to start to practice with my mouth calls two months before season. Now I generally start in the Jeep on the way to the farm on opening morning. Used to be I hunted sun-up to sun-down. Now, lunch and a nap take priority. I know the day is coming that I will finally hang it all up, but I'll be glad iffin the good Lord allows me to make that choice, instead of taking me early, before I'm ready to. Used to be I always thought "I can't wait till next year!".....now it's "I hope I'm still here next year".

Take care my friend, hopefully you'll be ready come the next opportunity.
 
Cared for properly? How so?

Guessing since it’s dry smoking it on a pit is out.

Loved Flagstaff! Awesome place! Too many fires though. SWMBO’s asthma wouldn’t handle it. And her aversion to feet of snow...

They're tough as nails. Even the crock pot ain't enough. The backsstrap tastes like little pork chops, DRY pork chops. I reckon if I shot another one, I'd grind it all and stuff the sausage with massive amounts of added pork fat. :D

So, I was out in pumpville one year skinning a doe when a Hispanic fellow with his two boys came in and hung up 3 javelina. I asked him what he was going to do with 'em and he said they make GREAT tamales. He shredded the meat and his wife made the tamales. THAT sounded like a great use for 'em. They're so tough you can't really do much else with 'em other than sausage.

As to handling the meat, the things have this giant zit on their backs, is a musk gland, hence the name "stink pig" or "skunk pig". You take that off with the skin. I put the meat in a cooler with a doe I'd shot. I always soak 'em on ice water for a few days to get the blood out. I've not had a nasty bunch of venison since I started that many years ago. Well, I'd go to that cooler to change the water and dump more ice, open it up, and the funk would about knock me over. I started to worry about if I'd ruined that doe by soaking it with the javelina. I delayed butchering for about 7 days. After that length of time, I'd open the cooler and couldn't smell the funk anymore, so I butchered. The meat tasted fine, just tough, and the venison was fine. Whew, thought I'd ruined a good doe. That doe was a big one, too.
 
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The first rule of javelina hunting is Don't Shoot The Big One. Shoot one that's about two inches less high at the shoulder. Younger and far more tender.

First thing: Cut off the scent gland. If you killed via a head shot, you can gut it and not get your hands bloody; just greasy. Skinning does indeed take a sharp knife.

Not much meat on the shoulders. I used to barbecue the hams. No salt in the basting mix; used tongs to turn the meat, no fork. I'd start with a brief high-heat to sear, turning and basting every three to five minutes. A crust builds up and that's when you get the heat down to around 275 or 300. Takes about an hour or a little longer. The crust keeps the moisture in. Yeah, it's a little dry, but very tasty. I cook the little back straps at the same time as a cook's-privilege nibble. :)
 
Sorry to hear of your added problem, Mcgunner, but as stated above, hunting is supposed to be fun. If in doubt stay home and recover.

I missed the next-to-last weekend of deer hunting around here because it was a cold rain on Saturday and 34 deg. and windy on Sunday. I said, "It's supposed to be fun" when the alarm went off so I turned it off and went back to sleep. I never regretted it.
 
Back in deer-lease days, a couple of the guys were on up in years where I am now. They did little actual hunting, but it was worth it to them to have some friendly folks around a campfire to talk about the old days and past hunts and all those campfire tales.

I'd climb off my deathbed to ride along with a group that's going on a hunt.
 
Back in deer-lease days, a couple of the guys were on up in years where I am now. They did little actual hunting, but it was worth it to them to have some friendly folks around a campfire to talk about the old days and past hunts and all those campfire tales.

I'd climb off my deathbed to ride along with a group that's going on a hunt.

My first deer hunt with my father included on old timer who just like sitting in camp with his 6.5mm Jap. Funny old guy. Some stories were too far fetched as I recall, including his rifle being loaded with armor piercing rounds, which were FMJ (and no doubt illegal to have loaded in a hunting camp).
 
Get your rest, Bubba, when your body tells you to rest. God Bless you and your family. Will keep ya’ll in our prayers, and you’ll wrasle that ol cancer til it dont know whats hit it! Doggone, i have a young co worker, 29 yo, big ol boy, we call him “yeti”, and he started filling tired and went for bloodwork, he has leukemia, cure rate is good, but will be a tough year to get there. Keep fighting brotha, folks on this board got your back
 
Thanks for the thoughts, all. This disease is rare as hen's teeth, but I'm always lucky in such things. I'm pretty sure how I got it, though, exposures to aromatic hydrocarbons at work. I worked in a chemical plant all my working life. I have to take this stuff called "Jakafi" which is relatively new, no generic available. The stuff is $13000 for 60 pills, one month's worth. I've been told I have to take this stuff for the rest of my life, too. The insurance covers all, but 2000 dollars a month. In no way can I afford that! The company found me a "grant" and I got the first 4 months free of charge, but I'll have to continually apply for that help. I found a site online that I can get it for 50 bucks a month, not sure what I'd have to do to qualify for that.

Anyway, I'd love to go with my friends just to go, but I don't need no stink pigs anyway. LOL If it was an elk hunt or something, I'd try. I know even sick I can get around better than one of my old friends who's not exactly in shape. No further judgments on his physical condition. LOL But, I'm only a week into my treatment and haven't really felt any better, yet, but it's supposed to come soon. I hope so, need to till for a spring garden. Ain't exactly dry enough to till, anyway. I think that rear tine tiller would whip my butt right now. LOL

I think I'd take my M4, nothing big I'd have to worry about shooting, nothing bigger than javelina, perfect for my .223 Bushmaster. :D Oh well, otra vez as they say, another time.
 
Finished cancer treatments 2 months ago. In physical rehab to get some strength back now. TRUST ME that rest is your best friend right now.The health sciences need all the help they can get from your body and rest is the best way it can provide that. Eat as healthy as you can and rest. A fun hunt will come another day.
 
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