[Quoheleth]

Our church is in the process of purchasing 9 acres of wooded land in NE Harris county. Current owners have warned us of snakes and also a decent hog population. One of my members is a surveyor and will be doing a thorough topographic map for purposes of analyzing drainage, etc. He's experienced in doing this kind of thing and when he's a bit nervous, that tells me something.

Whatcha think of trying to have a couple of guys with CCLs carrying while assisting with the survey work? Two men have approached me, asking their opinions, "SHould I pack my pistol?" I'm tempted to say yes. One carries a 9mm Beretta. While 9mm may not be the best choice for an unhappy hog, that's better than nothing, isn't it? I thought of loaning him my Ruger GP100, but he's not familiar with it. I would rather have him carrying his familiar Beretta than an unfamiliar Ruger...different platforms, trigger, manual of arms...I could see that going bad very fast.

So...whatcha think? Give these guys my "blessing" to carry?

Thanks,
Q

[Ske1etor]

I would. Even though the chances of being attacked by a feral pig is fairly low they can be mean at times. Most of the times they will just run but I wouldn't want to have to climb a tree when I could put the grimy little fella down. Plus, if they get attacked you can get some free pork out of the deal!

I say let them do it. No sense in making them do it without some type of protection.

[Jimmy Newman]

In my experience, you are extremely unlikely to be attacked by a hog (or hogs) unless you have cornered one and have it seriously agitated (i.e., because it is being attacked by a pack of dogs, which is how some people I know hunt them) or unless you are standing between mama and some piglets and are acting threatening. That's not to say that there's anything wrong with carrying, but I don't think that a pig attack is a pressing reason.

Of course, it's never a BAD idea to have a gun with you while you're in the woods.

[skinewmexico]

More people hit by lightening every year than attacked by hogs.

[XDKingslayer]

More people hit by lightening every year than attacked by hogs.

And every last one that was hit by lightning wished he was made of rubber...

[Quoheleth]

These are all "big boys," and don't need my permission to carry. All are legally licensed by the state. They were just asking my opinion about the situation.

Honestly, I'm more worried about people running into the snakes than the hogs. I know...usually snakes are more scared of us than us of them. If that's the case, snakes should be frozen rock-solid when they see me, because that's how scared I am of them. But this is thick brush. Stumble into a snake and it might be hard to get away fast. If it were me, I would carry either my GP100 or SP101 with two chambers of snake shot and the balance of 158 LSWC. The snake shot wouldn't do anything to a hog, but I figure I would have less time to react to a snake than a hog; a hog I could either shoot the two shot loads, or cycle the action twice to get to the solids. If I had one, I would pack a pistol-gripped Mossberg. But, then again, on a survey crew, that might be too much extra gear to hump.

I know one guy has a .45ACP; not sure if it's an XD or 1911 - it is a Springfield. What would you suggest for the 9mm? Load him up with FMJs or HPs? Or, alternate between the two for a combination of expansion & penetration?

Thanks,
Q

[countertop]

I be more scared of the snakes.

9mm? No way. I'd want to carry a .357 revolver loaded with snake shot. That or s shotgun.

[mbt2001]

I advocate always carrying a gun if you can. One reason to own several guns is that 1 or 2 guns are not suited for every type of carry or every kind of place.

That being said, carrying the 9mm is fine. There is no telling what you might find in the woods. A meth lab, a nutter, rabid or crazy animal, et cetera. Especially considering you are in Houston. In some of the random woods around houston there is all kinds of strange happenings going on.

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_sg/105-0788853-6913256?url=search-alias%3Dsporting&field-keywords=machete

Get a machete to use on the snakes and to hack around. The undergrowth is prolly pretty thick. It would easily take care of a snake.

[Quoheleth]

I be more scared of the snakes.

9mm? No way. I'd want to carry a .357 revolver loaded with snake shot. That or s shotgun.

Personally, I'm thinking M1A1 Abrams tank would be adequate against the garden-variety grass snake. Might be a bit weak against a rattler or moccasin. Then, something in the Iowa battleship class would be appropriate.

I hate snakes.

Q

[Titan6]

If you work in the day time the hogs will run screaming from you. In the dark they probably won't move, but unless you step on one or have the bad luck to run into a really nasty boar (a real rarity) than they should not be an issue. They sure sound mean in the brush in the dark though....

And yes, two well placed rounds of 9mm is more than enough for most hogs.

[Sergeant Sabre]

It's amazing how the myth that hogs are some kind of force to be reckoned with has perpetuated itself on the internet. Every so often there is mention on a thread of somebody going into "hog country" and wondering what how much firepower they will need to stop these raging, armored pigs.

Is sending an armed team to protect a survey crew from feral pigs something this is seriously being considered? Maybe we should re-name them from "feral hogs" to "North American lion", or "southern cape buffalo". If they are that dangerous somebody could set up an outfitting service so that all of the hunters that pay tens of thousands to go to Africa to hunt cape buffalo, lions, leopard, and elephant can spend their fortunes in the US and hunt real dangerous game.

[Quoheleth]

Yeah, but Texas hogs are different than Michegan hogs. Haven't you ever seen Old Yeller?

Q

[Quoheleth]

Yeah, but Texas hogs are different than Michegan hogs. Haven't you ever seen Old Yeller?

Q

[MCgunner]

I've actually never known ANYone to be attacked by a hog that wasn't wounded. I've heard of guys being run up trees by Javelina packs, but there are no Javelina anywhere near Harris county. :D I don't think the Javelina are all that ornery, just that they've got pretty poor eyesight and if you startle 'em up close when they didn't know you were there, they have preservation instincts that kick in.

But, I've been in near touching distance of big hogs, knew they were there, could see movement in the heavy cover, and they AIN'T comin' out! They're nocternal by nature, too. They avoid humans. I think all these internet myths get started due to the fact that hunters who wound one, occasionally get attacked while blood trailing in heavy cover. Too, guys that dog hunt are everywhere down here, popular sport. A hog that's being held down by hunting dogs and gets loose as you're trying to cut its throat can be pretty mean. I know a guy with a scar from his navel to his left nipple from such an incident. Hunting with dogs and knives is not for the meek. :D Most of these dog owners carry a suture kit for the dogs, and for the possibility they might need it on themselves. There's a lot of Rambo attitude amongst these guys and that gets out on the net in the legends, I think. But, no, a hog is not normally a dangerous animal. It doesn't eat humans and does not wish anything, but escape from humans under normal circumstances. Hey, there is no plot of land in this state with more hogs than I have on my place and I think nothing of going down there to work or play, armed or not, usually armed only because if I get a shot at one, I will fill the freezer. :D

[nathan]

A shovel would do fine to protect you against snakes. (A sidearm is best against two legged goons in case they make trouble.) But most snakes are dormant underground this time of the year. Summer time is dicey as they come out of hibernation. Wild pigs will run right away as soon they hear you trashing in the area.

[countertop]

It's amazing how the myth that hogs are some kind of force to be reckoned with has perpetuated itself on the internet. Every so often there is mention on a thread of somebody going into "hog country" and wondering what how much firepower they will need to stop these raging, armored pigs.

Aint that the truth. Heck, I've killed hogs with a .22 handgun.

Of course, some boars do grow a pretty touch bony plate. But their only animals. Any ol' large caliber handgun is probably enough for 95% of the wild hogs out there. its not like your running into 700 pound boars every day.

[Bailey Boat]

Personally, after wandering around the woods for 50+ years, I'd be more worried about something on 2 legs than anything with 4 legs or NO legs.... Hogs don't want anything to do with you and neither do snakes. Both will go out of their way to avoid you...... Your more apt to step in a hole or get scratched by a briar bush than attacked by a hog snake........ :D

[mbt2001]

Baily Boat - I agree with your comments...

I don't know if you have ever been to Houston, but the whole city is dotted with 30+ / 5+ / 100+ acre sites of "woods" with tall pines and thick undergrowth. Even dowtown and in the galleria areas (the hearts of the city). In any event, I would ONLY go into those "close to the city" woods areas armed.

I am telling you there is some absolutely nutty stuff from illegal aliens, to meth labs, to cults, to nutty kids, homeless lunatics, blair witch.... I would carry the aforementioned machete and 9mm. The machete because of the growth and the 9mm with silver bullets.

Don't forget the silver bullets. At least 1.

[wheelgunslinger]

Yeah. The pigs and snakes aren't a big worry.
If pigs come through, give them a little room and let them go. It is always nicer to keep them coming through/around and let the kids see them than to go into armed histrionics at their sight. Pigs aren't so bad. And, snakes can be moved or walked around.

The 2 legged varmints are the real worry.

[308win]

Maybe you should team up with the hogs; I have seen domestic hogs eat snakes so I imagine a wild one would also eat snakes.

[TCB in TN]

Most of the time you guys are right, hogs will typically run, just like snakes do. BUT from time to time you get one that doesn't. A sow with pigs will sometimes defend them when startled, other times there are just some agressive hogs that don't want to run. Haven't been to hunt hogs in Tx but here in TN we have Russian boar as well as a lot of Russian/feral crosses, and they can be VERY agressive. Most of the time they will take off rather than fight, but if you get them cornered, or they get separated from their group they will sometimes take the straight line right through anything between them and their herd.

As for snakes and hogs, well hogs do tend to eat lots of snakes.