[Boom-stick]

I've developed a bit of an interest in non-firearm hunting and for added "pucker" factor I like the idea of big/dangerous game but I'm trying to work out what my options are.

I've seen people use knives, swords and spears for Hogs and Compound Bows for gators?

I'll probably rule-out brass-knuckle bear hunting....:evil:

But what else is out there.

If anything....??

[Birdmang]

That just sounds crazy and unsafe, but to each their own!

Good luck, if I knew anything about the subject I would inform you.

[JHK94]

atlatl, depending on your state?

[7X57chilmau]

IF (big, big IF) I were to attempt such a thing, I'd definately be using a spear. Being large or dangerous game becomes a pretty moot point once you've managed to get a poke in on'em, though, as even a deer isn't an animal you want to be in close quarters with as it struggles to survive....

There are LOTS of non-firearm weapons available to you. Bows and Cross-bows come to mind as main-stream implements. With dangerous game, you'd be very well advised to have a firearm bearing compatriot along for the ride....

The Prarie Indians drove game from cliffs.... Wiley used to attempt to drop heavy objects from cliffs... Perhaps a trebuchet could be used against herd animals?

Seems I've taken a silly turn here....

Then again, it depends on what you'd like to consider hunting to be. A plethora of options open up if you consider trapping...

Local laws will play a large roll to. I'm not aware, for instance, of any large game in south London that comes with a legal season :)

Can ya be any more specific as to what you may have in mind?

www.huntingwithspears.com <<-- Interesting site for you....

J

[Gunfighter123]

Club or blunt trama instrament for the Caveman in you !!!

[Boom-stick]

Then again, it depends on what you'd like to consider hunting to be. A plethora of options open up if you consider trapping...


Not really.... Thrill of the chase and all that....

Local laws will play a large roll to. I'm not aware, for instance, of any large game in south London that comes with a legal season


Plenty of two legged "game" in South London, although dispite the good you'll be performing for society you'd still wind up 'inside'....:cool:

No, this will be an overseas job. The most danger non-human game we have in South London is Foxes and you wouldn't want to get too close to them. Mainly for fear of contamination with whatever the horrible little mutts are carrying.

Cheers for the link, I'll have a read.

Dan

[zombienerd]

Well, you could always use your massive kicks:

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=409071

That thread is always good for a laugh :)

[CWL]

Tiger traps? Don't know what your constabulary will think about you digging holes and setting spikes in them in though.

[7X57chilmau]

Yeah, that's good reading.... :)

[Gaiudo]

Does anyone still use an atlatl for hunting?

[Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow]

Here ya go:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/wildlife/5289118/Woman-hunter-kills-elephant-with-bow-and-arrow.html

Does anyone still use an atlatl for hunting?

They sure do.

http://video.google.com/videosearch?q=atlatl+hunting&oe=utf-8&rls=com.google:en-US:official&client=firefox-a&um=1&ie=UTF-8&ei=h69oStC2PIuCsgOxy7CWBQ&sa=X&oi=video_result_group&ct=title&resnum=10#

[ArfinGreebly]

Odd as it may sound, I believe that in Texas, of all places, spears are outlawed.

Probably a hold-over from the Wild West days, but still . . .

I wonder if there are hunting exemptions for that.

[hso]

Big knife and then spear.

I knew an old boy who used a pack of dogs and a spear to take black bear. Big guy. Big spear.

We just recently had a thread about a fellow who used a spear of his design to take dangerous game.

[Boom-stick]

Here ya go:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/wil...and-arrow.html


Thanks for that Dr. Winslow
Interesting read, don't know how I missed that.

Been doing some research on atlatl's, there's a lot of folk into them, although nothing over here in the UK.

I'll get my knife sorted out, then a spear.... then we'll see what comes next... got to get proficent with these things before hunting with them.:)

[MCgunner]

The atlatl took down many a mammoth back in the day. It was the .600 Nitro Express of its day. Of course, the hunting tactics were to gang up with the tribe, not a one on one hunt. A hunter would occasionally get stomped to death, I reckon, the price of survival for the tribe. There are atlatl sites and people that hunt with 'em. They claim when you get good, you can kill at 20-25 yards with it. I don't know about that, though. I'd think 15 might be a better expectation for smaller than mammoths. A mammoth did have a rather large vital area, though. Anyone for taking on an African elephant with atlatls? I'd love to read about it. LOL!

I think my bows are about as primitive as I'll ever get and my charcoal burners, perhaps. I don't plan on taking down elephants with 'em, either. Hogs are about as big and dangerous as it gets around here if you don't gator hunt. Gator hunting is more like running trot lines, anyway, fishing.

[j-easy]

im thinking bow and arrow maybe?

[Mokwepa]

Ill stick with 7x57 and use a decent spear. That is my next mission, hunt a warthog with a spear. Ive done .375 centerfire, .50 muzzleloader, bow......next will be spear and then handgun when i get my license approved for my .44mag.

Then again, 7x57 and myself do love edged weapons, that would be my choice.

[MCgunner]

http://www.nwtpa.com/ATLATL%20DEMO.jpg



Atlatl is just a speer with the power of mechanical advantage. Think of it as the compound speer chunker of its day.....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RX52cl-f6ZU

This guy is good.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BGFuOgVG3js&NR=1

The ancients were pretty crafty. :D

[arcticap]

There are some interesting facts about ancient bows and their use in the following short article about the history of archery. Bows were more powerful than some of the earliest guns and could be repeatedly shot faster, even while on horseback. Sound familiar? :)

Experts believe the bow and arrow is one of the three most important inventions in human history, along with the discovery of fire and the development of speech....
...In Turkey, the Archery Guild — founded in 1453 — set aside large areas for distance or “flight” shooting. Incredible distances were shot and recorded on stone markers. The farthest distance occurred in 1798, when Sultan Selim shot a flight arrow 972 yards 2 inches — a record that stood until as recently as 1968...

http://www.archerysearch.com/History_of_Archery.pdf

[MCgunner]

Sound familiar?

Some might be thinkin' cowboys and indians, but to me, the Huns and the Romans popped up first and later the invading Mongol hoards, but since they didn't have firearms at that time, perhaps the English longbows vs the earliest firearms should be the first where firarms and bows are concerned. No way a matchlock can match a longbow for firepower or accuracy or probably distance in volly fire. However, by the time of the indian wars, firearms had at least caught up and, well, the 1866 Henry and perhaps the Spencer repeating rifles pretty much passed the bow for firepower and accuracy at distance. Later improvements only widened the gap. But, it is interesting that it's only been in the last 150 years that firearms have been significantly better than the bow in a one on one fight. The mountain men and their Hawkens were at a significant disadvantage against multiple attackers with bows. Give that guy an M16 and, well.....:D

The best thing about the early firearms vs the long bow is that you could take any idiot peasant out of his village, train him for a couple of days, and he's a musketeer. It took constant practice to stay sharp with the long bow. It also took strength and conditioning. I have a hard enough time with a 50 lbs recurve. I don't even know if I could draw a 100+ lb longbow. :what:

[22-rimfire]

I would say Bow & Arrow, Cross Bow, or Spear are reasonable choices. There is a crazy dude who has a show on the Outdoor Channel in FL... snake guy mostly. But he was hunting a boar with a spear on one episode. Pretty good show actually even though the cotton mouth handling gives me the creeps.

I guess it depends on how "dangerous" you are talking about? Some use big knifes on wild hogs. Not my cup of tea, but if it gives you a thrill, go for it.

[MCgunner]

"Savage Wild" with Manny Puig. Yeah, the guy's a bit nuts.

The atlatl tops all weapons systems mentioned for power on large beasts from a distance, I must point out, far more powerful than the bow. It's essentially a spear at bow velocities. I'd stick with a compound bow, myself, just because I've never handled nor even seen in person an atlatl and I can shoot my compound, shoot every day, already have put in two sessions today, one with compound and one with 50 lb recurve. Well, that and I've injured my right shoulder several times to the point that throwing anything anymore is a little painful. Too many falls off motorcycles at high speed in competition. Both shoulders are pretty banged up from racing over the years.

The compound is pretty wicked compared to the recurve and I can hold it at full draw for a LONG time now since I've been shooting the recurve for practice. The compound almost seems easy after recurve practice. 40 yards, no sweat. :D After about 10 shots with that recurve, I'm starting to throw shots all over the target block, LOL! I'm glad I ain't shootin' 70 or 80 lbs.:what:

[Boom-stick]

Thanks for all the info guys, think I'll have a go at making an atlatl, I reckon I've enough bits and pieces knocking around to make one, or at least have a damn good go at it.

I figure make one, get the basics down then invest in a 'proper' one, I'll have to ship it in by the looks of things but should make for an interesting project.

[Voodoochile]

Why not a Long Bow or Recurve Bow?

Ofcorse all barebow with no sights, no rest, nothing but a strung bow & your arrows...

[theotherwaldo]

Get back to basics - use ROCKS!

I took a young buck with a 20-pound chunk of shale.
I didn't mean to. I was walking a cliff-edge trail and saw the buck walk into the river for a drink. I tossed the rock to watch him jump.

My aim was too good. Even worse, I couldn't retrieve my kill.

It didn't go to waste, though. I heard a bear and a cougar arguing over it later that night.

[wheelgunslinger]

Why not a Long Bow or Recurve Bow?

Ofcorse all barebow with no sights, no rest, nothing but a strung bow & your arrows...

This is how I hunt. Barebow recurve.

You can hunt with a bare recurve using hand knapped flint or obsidian points, if you really want to get up close and personal.

[Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow]

Voodoo, I believe Howard Hill killed an elephant with a longbow. I heard it was in excees of a $100 pound pull.

Howard Hill actually appeared in the 1938 film Adventures of Robin Hood, as an archery competitor to Robin Hood, played by Errol Flynn.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Adventures_of_Robin_Hood_%28film%29

arcticap, thank you for that link to the history of archery; Being a huge fan of bows & archery, I do not doubt that it's one of the most important inventions in human history.




zombienerd, lol, I had almost forgotten about brutal Muy Thai kicks! :D

[Cosmoline]

Bow would be the first choice. But barring that a spear, pike, or something long and pointy. Plus some mean dogs that can find, bite and pin down the beast. Rhodesian Ridgebacks are a breed that come to mind. The idea is to stay far enough away to avoid getting mauled but to get close enough to make sure of your strike. A sword is absurd and puts you far too close. A blunt instrument is unlikely to make much of a dent in a predator's cranium. Have you ever seen a brown bear's skull? It's an armored hull designed to withstand moose kicks that would stove in a man's ribcage.

for added "pucker" factor

You'll get plenty of that if you're close, regardless of what you're armed with. Heck if you just want that I can introduce you to some street moose around this town who would be more than happy to chase you around. They'll take your wallet and max out your cards, too. Spend it all on hothouse tomatoes at Sagaya.

[gga357]

SPEAR
Wikipedia: The maasai people have traditionally viewed the killing of lions as a rite of passage. Historically, lion hunts were done by individuals, however, due to reduced lion populations, lion hunts done solo are discouraged by elders. Most hunts are now partaken by groups of 10 warriors. Group hunting, known in Maasai as olamayio, gives the lion population a chance to grow. Maasai customary laws prohibit killing a sick or infirm lion. The killing of lionesses is also prohibited unless provoked.