Javelina Hunting: A Complete Guide to Collared Peccary

Javelina are one of the most misunderstood game animals in North America. They look like pigs, smell like something worse than pigs, and behave like neither. Getting one on the ground requires understanding what they actually are — and adjusting your tactics accordingly. We’ve put together everything you need to know about hunting collared peccary across their primary range in the American Southwest.

What Is a Javelina (And What It Isn’t)

The collared peccary (Pecari tajacu) is not a pig. Taxonomically, javelina belong to the family Tayassuidae, while domestic and wild pigs are Suidae — they split from a common ancestor over 30 million years ago. Practical differences: javelina have a two-chambered stomach (pigs have one), their tusks point downward rather than curving up, and they have a prominent musk gland on their lower back that makes them one of the most aromatic animals you’ll encounter in the desert.

The white-lipped peccary (Tayassu pecari) is a larger, more aggressive cousin found in Central and South America. You won’t find them in the U.S. What we hunt is strictly the collared peccary — named for the pale collar of hair encircling their neck.

Javelina live in herds of 6–15 animals. They’re nearly blind, relying on an extraordinary sense of smell and decent hearing. This is both your greatest challenge and your greatest opportunity: if you play the wind correctly, you can close to archery range without much difficulty. Get busted on scent, and the entire herd disappears into the brush with a series of alarm barks that sound like short rifle shots.

Habitat: Where Javelina Live

Javelina occupy two primary desert biomes in the United States:

Sonoran Desert (southern Arizona, extreme southwestern New Mexico): Lower elevation, dominated by saguaro cactus, palo verde, mesquite, and cholla. Javelina here use prickly pear pads as both food and water source — they’ll eat cactus in dry conditions when other water is unavailable.

Chihuahuan Desert (southern New Mexico, western Texas): Higher elevation desert grassland with juniper, lechuguilla, ocotillo, and scattered prickly pear. Javelina use creek drainages and rocky canyon terrain as travel corridors.

The single most reliable habitat locator is prickly pear cactus. Find dense patches of it at lower elevations with thick brush for bedding nearby, and you’ve found javelina country. Look for feeding sign — cactus pads chewed down to the woody core and scattered on the ground. Fresh sign looks wet; old sign is dried and brown.

Seasons and Draw Odds by State

Arizona

Arizona runs two javelina seasons. The archery season typically runs early January through mid-February. The general season runs early February through late February (exact dates shift annually — confirm with AZGFD).

Arizona uses a draw system for javelina. Units are split into two groups:

• Group A: More popular units, lower draw odds (15–40% for residents in most units)
• Group B: Less pressure, slightly better odds (40–70% in some units)

First-time applicants draw at roughly the same odds as everyone else — there’s no preference point system for javelina in AZ. This makes it an excellent species for new hunters to target. Apply in the October draw for January/February seasons.

New Mexico

New Mexico offers both archery and firearms javelina seasons, typically in February and March. Draw tags are required. Resident draw odds range from 30–80% depending on unit, with some less-pressured units offering near-guaranteed draws. The Chihuahuan Desert units in the southern part of the state — particularly Units 17, 18, 19, and 23 — hold the most animals.

New Mexico also allows archery hunters to use a special license in some units without drawing, making it one of the more accessible states for bowhunters.

Texas

Texas is the easiest entry point for javelina hunting. On private land, javelina are classified as non-game animals and can be taken year-round with a valid hunting license. On public land (limited in Texas), check TPWD regulations for specific units. The Trans-Pecos region — far west Texas — holds the highest densities on public land. The South Texas brush country also has strong populations, though access is almost entirely private.

Calling Tactics

Javelina respond aggressively to two call types:

Grunt calls: Imitate the low contact grunts herds use to communicate. A quality javelina grunt call will pull curious animals in from 200–300 yards. Call softly at first — javelina are prey animals, and loud calling can spook them. Start with 3–4 soft grunts, wait 3 minutes, repeat.

Predator/distress calls: Electronic calls with cottontail or javelina distress sounds also produce. The theory is that herd members respond to the sound of a herd mate in trouble. This method tends to produce faster, more aggressive approaches.

Calling works best from mid-morning to mid-afternoon when herds are bedded in shade. Set up downwind of known bedding areas with good visibility, call every 5 minutes for 20–30 minutes, then move if you get no response.

Legal Weapons by State

• Arizona: Archery season — archery equipment only. General season — rifle, muzzleloader, handgun, shotgun (slugs/buckshot). No restriction on caliber.
• New Mexico: Both archery and firearms seasons available. Firearms season permits all legal centerfire rifles, handguns, and muzzleloaders.
• Texas: All legal hunting firearms, archery, and crossbow year-round on private land.

Shot Placement

Javelina are small (40–60 lbs) but require precise shot placement. The vital zone is about the size of a softball. For broadside shots, aim tight behind the shoulder — roughly one-third up the body from the bottom. Javelina have a pronounced shoulder blade that can deflect arrows and bullets if you hit too far forward.

Field Care: The Scent Gland Problem

This is the most important step in javelina processing, and the one most hunters get wrong. The musk gland on the back must be removed within minutes of the kill — before it can spread to the meat. Here’s the process:

1. Do not drag the animal. Roll it onto its side without touching the gland area.
2. Using a separate knife (not the one you’ll use for gutting), carefully cut out the gland — a circular piece of skin about 2 inches in diameter on the lower back. Go deep enough to get all of the underlying tissue.
3. Dispose of the gland well away from your work area. Wash your hands and the knife before proceeding.
4. Skin and quarter the animal as quickly as possible and get the meat into a cooler.

Glassing and Locating Herds

Binoculars beat boots in javelina country. Glass canyon edges, cactus flats, and wash edges from high vantage points in the early morning before herds start feeding. Javelina are distinctly dark gray-black, which contrasts well against tan desert soil. Watch for the characteristic trotting gait — heads low, moving in a tight group.

Once you locate a herd, note the wind and plan an approach. Stay downwind at all costs. Move slowly, using terrain and brush as cover. Javelina often hold tight in brush if they haven’t winded you — you may be able to get to within 30 yards even on foot.

---

FAQ

Are javelina actually pigs? No. Javelina (collared peccary) are taxonomically distinct from pigs and have been for tens of millions of years. They belong to the family Tayassuidae. Wild pigs and domestic pigs are in the family Suidae. The resemblance is convergent evolution, not close relation.

What’s the best state to draw a javelina tag? For most hunters, Arizona offers the best combination of animal numbers, public land access, and draw odds. Group B units typically draw on the first or second application for most residents. New Mexico is a strong backup option with good public land in the southern units.

Is javelina meat edible? Yes — and it’s good. Properly field-cared javelina (scent gland removed immediately, meat cooled quickly) produces mild, lean meat that resembles pork in flavor. The key word is “properly.” Mishandled carcasses develop a strong musk that ruins the meat. Don’t skip the gland removal step.

What caliber rifle is best for javelina? Anything from .243 Win up is more than adequate. Many hunters use whatever deer rifle they already own. For spot-and-stalk in thick desert brush, a lighter, faster-handling rifle in .243, 7mm-08, or .308 is practical. Long shots are rare — most javelina are taken inside 100 yards.

Can you call javelina with a standard deer grunt call? Deer grunts don’t work. You need a javelina-specific grunt call, which produces a different pitch and cadence. Predator distress calls (electronic or mouth-blown cottontail) will also work and are more widely available than dedicated javelina calls.