Hunt
HistorySince javelina are found in so many habitats, its natural
that their foods should vary. Javelina are opportunistic feeders eating flowers,
fruits, nuts, berries, bulbs, and most succulent plants. Prickly pear cactus
makes up the major portion of their diet.
Hunt History
Javelina were not legally designated as big game until 1929, when a season from
November 1 through January 31 was authorized and a bag limit of one javelina a
year was imposed. Hunter interest gradually increased, particularly among
non-residents, and the javelina became an important game animal in Arizona after
World War II. By 1950, hunters were purchasing nearly 10,000 javelina tags and
taking more than 1,000 animals a year. In 1959, an archery javelina season was
initiated, and by 1971 more than 30,000 hunters were harvesting more than 6,000
javelina a year. This pressure was deemed excessive in some game management
units, and permit-only firearm hunting was instituted in 1972. To further
curtail hunt pressure and better distribute hunters, permit-only HAM (handgun,
archery, and muzzleloader) hunts were initiated in 1974, and archery hunting was
limited to permit-only hunting in 1992. In 2006, Arizona began offering javelina
permits for fall seasons as well as spring seasons.
Behavior
Javelina are herd animals with herd sizes averaging 8 to 9 animals. Territories
are set up using droppings and the dorsal scent gland to mark these areas.
Aggressive displays will be made to intruding javelina. Territory size varies
with the productivity of the habitat, but averages about 750
acres.
Just because they eat fruit, nuts and berries does not mean
they won't be a danger to humans. As with fruit, nut, berry and picnic-basket
eating bears, it is best to keep out of their territories. Keeping the numbers
to a level that maintains ecological balance is best done by trained and
regulated marksmen employed by the State to cull the excess.
I suspect
that the professional culling of javelina is not carried out with an assault
rifle because of the danger of unnecessary pain and suffering of the
javelina.---
Regards
Ian Al
Software Patents: It's the disclosed functions in the patent, stupid! [ Reply to This | Parent | # ]
|
