The myth of hogs as "dangerous game" (semi-long rant)
- Thread starter DigMe
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haynhogdogger
Member
Aloha All,
DigMe before I answer this subject in your honest opinion what do you consider dangerous game and why...
H&H since youve hunted "Dangerous Game" and DigMe seems to trust your Judgment I would like to ask the same of you...
This is just so I understand the both of you before I post.
Thanks!!!
DigMe before I answer this subject in your honest opinion what do you consider dangerous game and why...
H&H since youve hunted "Dangerous Game" and DigMe seems to trust your Judgment I would like to ask the same of you...
This is just so I understand the both of you before I post.
Thanks!!!
- Joined
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M'ahalo,
Hayn,
I think I know what you're going to say so before you do I'm going to point out some of the statements in my post. I never said hogs couldn't be dangerous when pressed (like hunting them with a knife and dogs.)
My definition of dangerous game is something that can and is willing to kill you dead with little or no provacation. Or something that will activley engage and try to kill you when wounded. I've never heard of anyone getting killed by a hog. Not saying it hasn't happened I've just never heard of it.
Another qualification in my book to qualify as "dangerous game" is an animal that is very difficult to kill and requires serious specialized equipment to do so. Such as thick skinned animals in Africa. (Hogs ALMOST qualify in this area on occasion.)
Hogs can cut you. And I've seen hogs get aggresive and charge. But I've never seen them do so with out being seriously pushed, cornered or pissed off.
I do not mean any disrespect towards anyone who hunts them and has had a near miss or a pasteing. I just believe that guys tend to over do it when describing their near death experiences while hog hunting.
I do also believe that hunting hogs with dogs and a knife in the tangled jungles of Hawaii would be right up there in the excitment department. I'd love to give it a go sometime.
Besides I never go anywhere without my bodyguard so I always feel safe!!
THE BODYGUARD.
'
Aloha, and lay it on me baby...
OH and welcome to THR.
Hayn,
I think I know what you're going to say so before you do I'm going to point out some of the statements in my post. I never said hogs couldn't be dangerous when pressed (like hunting them with a knife and dogs.)
My definition of dangerous game is something that can and is willing to kill you dead with little or no provacation. Or something that will activley engage and try to kill you when wounded. I've never heard of anyone getting killed by a hog. Not saying it hasn't happened I've just never heard of it.
Another qualification in my book to qualify as "dangerous game" is an animal that is very difficult to kill and requires serious specialized equipment to do so. Such as thick skinned animals in Africa. (Hogs ALMOST qualify in this area on occasion.)
Hogs can cut you. And I've seen hogs get aggresive and charge. But I've never seen them do so with out being seriously pushed, cornered or pissed off.
I do not mean any disrespect towards anyone who hunts them and has had a near miss or a pasteing. I just believe that guys tend to over do it when describing their near death experiences while hog hunting.
I do also believe that hunting hogs with dogs and a knife in the tangled jungles of Hawaii would be right up there in the excitment department. I'd love to give it a go sometime.
Besides I never go anywhere without my bodyguard so I always feel safe!!
THE BODYGUARD.
'
Aloha, and lay it on me baby...
OH and welcome to THR.
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I agree with what H&H said - I'm not claiming that hogs can't do some damage.
I think of dangerous game though as an animal that can be hard to kill and has a justified reputation for killing humans or severely maiming them nad has the means to do so at any time. A hog could severely maim someone I suppose but that is extremely rare.
EDIT: Oh yeah, you said what do I consider dangerous game - I would say Grizzly bears, lions, cape buffalo, oliphaunts, etc...
brad cook
I think of dangerous game though as an animal that can be hard to kill and has a justified reputation for killing humans or severely maiming them nad has the means to do so at any time. A hog could severely maim someone I suppose but that is extremely rare.
EDIT: Oh yeah, you said what do I consider dangerous game - I would say Grizzly bears, lions, cape buffalo, oliphaunts, etc...
brad cook
RaySendero
Member
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- Aug 29, 2004
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- 65
brad,
Seems to me this thread started out saying there just wasn't any danger hunting hogs. I too, like you have never had any time where I felt at risk.
BUT...... having said that let me relate 3 experiences of my friends. I wasn't an eye witness to any of these but I know these guys tell factual stories.
1) BH ran up on a guy poaching on his lease. BH said he just couldn't get mad because felt so bad for the guy - His leg was cut up bad. BH helped wrap up the cuts and took hin to hospital. Seem the guy had a pack of dogs and was "sticking pigs" on BHs lease.
2) BB had not hunted deer much so we helped get him started in this area. BB had a scpoed 06 but another friend had loaned him a CZ combo gun for his hunt as he would at best get a 35 yd shot from the stand he was going to use. As BB got to the bottom of the stand a hog charged him in the dark. BB killed it with 2 shots at 5'. BB said he would have never had been able to get his scoped bolt action rifle to shoulder and shoot in time and was just lucky he had that combo gun. The hog had an open cut from tip of nose to over the right eye and on butchering found another wound badly festering - a 22 bullet was suck in the chest cartledge.
3) RH was bow hunting from a tree stand and shot a large hog. He waited and waited then went to the hog as he had heard it set down close. As he approached the hog got up and chased him back up the stand. RH shot him again and waited more - the second time he found a dead hog!
haynhogdogger
Member
Aloha Gang
DigMe & H&H thanks for replying now I will reply.
Ive HUNTED hogs for the last 30 yrs WEEKLY sometimes 2-3X maybe more so I think that qualifys for a little experience in Hog Hunting. And as in anything the more you do it the more i feel you will see in terms of behavior etc. I also hunt Hogs for work so its my job also so it gives me even more time out in the field with them.
I primarily hunt hogs with dog and knife but I commonly hunt them with everything but the kitchen sink I just love hog hunting that much its in my blood.
H&H, you wrote that you laugh inside yourself when hairy chested hog hunters tell you theyve been treed because you think they overexxagerate I cant speak on their behalf but I have been treed with and without provacation and the hog stayed under that tree trying to get to me for ahwhile and if you think im exxagerating ive got alot of honest people who know me that was on that particular hunts to verify this info and its quite common here in Hawaii due to the thick vegetation you happen to run into pigs in tight quarters. On MULTIPLE occasions ive been CHARGED, RUNNED OVER, CUT UP, GORED, TRAMPLED, BULLDOZED OFF OF CLIFFS WHILE HANGING ON FOR DEAR LIFE, DRAGGED, TOSSED IN THE AIR LIKE A SEAL PLAYING WITH A BALL AND THE LIST AS THEY SAY GOES ON. I also have the scars and doctor bills to back up my "Stories" ive had 13 reconstructive surgeries to put back parts of my anatomy spent a combined time of several years in hospital care for injuries recieved while chasing these timid animals but the kicker is this over half of what I just wrote was UNPROVOKED.
I could go on all night about hikers here who have suffered great damage to themselves due to unprovoked boar attacks i'll try to see if I can pull up some recent ones from the newspaper to post for you guys.
In your terms of Dangerous Game the Wild Boar may not live up to your expectations as a Dangerous Animal but my experiences tell me otherwise although I do not personally know anyone who was killed ive heard it does happen and on several of my incidents if no one was with me I would have certainly bled out and died there is no doubt in my mind. The terrain here is ALOT different then in parts of the mainland very rugged,steep,thick etc
I chose to write this because I believe as you say alot people do exxagerrate ive heard it all but there is truth to this myth and I again can only speak for myself someone who considers himself a HOG HUNTER...
I would like to thank all of you for welcoming me to this forum to share my experiences as well as take part in yours.
H&H ive been charged by both a single Bull Elephant as well as a small heard of roughly 6-10 animals and Rhino and I can say this "Adreneline Rush" is an understatement LOL!!!!!
Aloha...HAYN
DigMe & H&H thanks for replying now I will reply.
Ive HUNTED hogs for the last 30 yrs WEEKLY sometimes 2-3X maybe more so I think that qualifys for a little experience in Hog Hunting. And as in anything the more you do it the more i feel you will see in terms of behavior etc. I also hunt Hogs for work so its my job also so it gives me even more time out in the field with them.
I primarily hunt hogs with dog and knife but I commonly hunt them with everything but the kitchen sink I just love hog hunting that much its in my blood.
H&H, you wrote that you laugh inside yourself when hairy chested hog hunters tell you theyve been treed because you think they overexxagerate I cant speak on their behalf but I have been treed with and without provacation and the hog stayed under that tree trying to get to me for ahwhile and if you think im exxagerating ive got alot of honest people who know me that was on that particular hunts to verify this info and its quite common here in Hawaii due to the thick vegetation you happen to run into pigs in tight quarters. On MULTIPLE occasions ive been CHARGED, RUNNED OVER, CUT UP, GORED, TRAMPLED, BULLDOZED OFF OF CLIFFS WHILE HANGING ON FOR DEAR LIFE, DRAGGED, TOSSED IN THE AIR LIKE A SEAL PLAYING WITH A BALL AND THE LIST AS THEY SAY GOES ON. I also have the scars and doctor bills to back up my "Stories" ive had 13 reconstructive surgeries to put back parts of my anatomy spent a combined time of several years in hospital care for injuries recieved while chasing these timid animals but the kicker is this over half of what I just wrote was UNPROVOKED.
I could go on all night about hikers here who have suffered great damage to themselves due to unprovoked boar attacks i'll try to see if I can pull up some recent ones from the newspaper to post for you guys.
In your terms of Dangerous Game the Wild Boar may not live up to your expectations as a Dangerous Animal but my experiences tell me otherwise although I do not personally know anyone who was killed ive heard it does happen and on several of my incidents if no one was with me I would have certainly bled out and died there is no doubt in my mind. The terrain here is ALOT different then in parts of the mainland very rugged,steep,thick etc
I chose to write this because I believe as you say alot people do exxagerrate ive heard it all but there is truth to this myth and I again can only speak for myself someone who considers himself a HOG HUNTER...
I would like to thank all of you for welcoming me to this forum to share my experiences as well as take part in yours.
H&H ive been charged by both a single Bull Elephant as well as a small heard of roughly 6-10 animals and Rhino and I can say this "Adreneline Rush" is an understatement LOL!!!!!
Aloha...HAYN
Double Naught Spy
Sus Venator
Hogs are dangerous game for hunters just like moose, bear, etc. If you stay far enough away and shoot them at a distance, then the risk to the hunter is absolutely minimal. I have known many people who have hunted large game and large carnivores all over the world and none have been injured by said game, but not because there wasn't any danger, but because they exercised proper caution. For example, the danger of lions on the African savannah to a hunter is really quite minimal. The difficult part is getting to them in the first place. You then pull the rover over100-500 yards out from the animals, get out, line up your shot, take it, and now you have a dead lion that never posed any threat to the hunter. Well, hunting isn't the right term, is it? It is more like lion sniping.
haynhogdogger brings up some good points.
I would guess that most of you who are claiming that it is a myth that hogs are dangerous game have never been downed by a hog. I am also guessing that those claiming the danger is a myth are those that using distance or height to provide a safety buffer zone between themselves or the hogs.
If you do use distance or height to aid hunting, dogs, etc., then no doubt that hogs pose little risk to all but the most careless or ignorant hunters. Don't let the seemingly lack of danger fool you. These are not Wilbur from Charlotte's Web. These are not the pigs you see at the petting zoo. A sow with a litter can be extremely dangerous to a pedestrian who happens upon her by accident.
http://agnews.tamu.edu/stories/WFSC/Jan1698a.htm
http://www.conservation.state.mo.us/landown/wild/nuisance/hogs/threat/
haynhogdogger brings up some good points.
I would guess that most of you who are claiming that it is a myth that hogs are dangerous game have never been downed by a hog. I am also guessing that those claiming the danger is a myth are those that using distance or height to provide a safety buffer zone between themselves or the hogs.
If you do use distance or height to aid hunting, dogs, etc., then no doubt that hogs pose little risk to all but the most careless or ignorant hunters. Don't let the seemingly lack of danger fool you. These are not Wilbur from Charlotte's Web. These are not the pigs you see at the petting zoo. A sow with a litter can be extremely dangerous to a pedestrian who happens upon her by accident.
http://agnews.tamu.edu/stories/WFSC/Jan1698a.htm
http://www.conservation.state.mo.us/landown/wild/nuisance/hogs/threat/
Horsesense
Member
- Joined
- Apr 6, 2003
- Messages
- 565
A fatal wound in Africa may only be a couple days in the hospital in the US.
I do understand that there are some animals that deserve the designation as “dangerous game†because there is an actual body count (dead hunters). What I don’t understand is why would someone, who has been blessed with being able to go dangerous game hunting, would want to spoil the thrill that those less fortunate hunters get out of hunting “semi dangerous game�
I do understand that there are some animals that deserve the designation as “dangerous game†because there is an actual body count (dead hunters). What I don’t understand is why would someone, who has been blessed with being able to go dangerous game hunting, would want to spoil the thrill that those less fortunate hunters get out of hunting “semi dangerous game�
Double Naught Spy,
Thanks for the lecture but I know what I'm hunting and I can do without the patronizing. I know this is not Wilbur and I'm not trying to pet them. I hunt on foot and I've killed them at as close as 5 feet with my .357. I don't do the knife thing and I'm sure that presents a greater danger but I just like to shoot so I stick to that. I never said that a hog can't or won't hurt anyone. If you think I'm full of it then please go back to my original post and point out the statements that I made which you feel are incorrect...not including the last paragraph where I'm just speculating - I recognize that part is speculation.
It seems some of you are somewhat confusing or twisting what I said.
haynhogdogger,
Again, I recognize what you're saying and I don't think that what you and I have said are necessarily contradictory. You are hunting hogs 2 or 3x a week sometimes and often close up with knife. Even if it were possible to do that with deer then you would probably have suffered some serious injuries from antlers and hoofs from being so close so many times over such a long span but no one really considers deer dangerous game. Yes, hogs are more aggressive than deer but I'm just saying. Do you think if you'd had that many physical encounters with..say, grizzly bears or cape buffalo that you'd still be alive today? Even with friends there I'd say no.
I stand by my statement that hogs do not qualify as "dangerous game". They very rarely represent a danger to one's life although it's possible that they could do some damage. In general (not always, I know) hogs tend to just want to escape when shot at or encountered. The majority of them are not aggressive and even when they are aggressive I'd say close to 100% of people escape with minor injuries. That doesn't say "dangerous game" to me.
brad cook
Thanks for the lecture but I know what I'm hunting and I can do without the patronizing. I know this is not Wilbur and I'm not trying to pet them. I hunt on foot and I've killed them at as close as 5 feet with my .357. I don't do the knife thing and I'm sure that presents a greater danger but I just like to shoot so I stick to that. I never said that a hog can't or won't hurt anyone. If you think I'm full of it then please go back to my original post and point out the statements that I made which you feel are incorrect...not including the last paragraph where I'm just speculating - I recognize that part is speculation.
It seems some of you are somewhat confusing or twisting what I said.
haynhogdogger,
Again, I recognize what you're saying and I don't think that what you and I have said are necessarily contradictory. You are hunting hogs 2 or 3x a week sometimes and often close up with knife. Even if it were possible to do that with deer then you would probably have suffered some serious injuries from antlers and hoofs from being so close so many times over such a long span but no one really considers deer dangerous game. Yes, hogs are more aggressive than deer but I'm just saying. Do you think if you'd had that many physical encounters with..say, grizzly bears or cape buffalo that you'd still be alive today? Even with friends there I'd say no.
I stand by my statement that hogs do not qualify as "dangerous game". They very rarely represent a danger to one's life although it's possible that they could do some damage. In general (not always, I know) hogs tend to just want to escape when shot at or encountered. The majority of them are not aggressive and even when they are aggressive I'd say close to 100% of people escape with minor injuries. That doesn't say "dangerous game" to me.
brad cook
trooper
Member
I'm not a hunter (yet) but several of my friends hunt.
Over here wild boars like the one below are considered dangerous if they are wounded or surprised by humans when raising cubs.
European boars are extremely tough animals. I have read confirmed accounts of 500-pound boars being shot right through the heart with a large-caliber rifle and still running more than a hundred meters.
According to an experienced boar hunter that I know a wounded one WILL charge you if you come close enough. He recommends nothing weaker than a .44 Mag (if you absolutely have to use a handgun, that is) when going after a wounded boar in thick undergrowth.
Over the years numerous hunters in these parts have been killed by wounded boars. Apparently the most common course of events was that the hunter wounded a boar, followed it into the undergrowth, got ambushed by the critter and and bled to death with his leg torn to pieces while being unable to move.
Regards,
Trooper
Over here wild boars like the one below are considered dangerous if they are wounded or surprised by humans when raising cubs.
European boars are extremely tough animals. I have read confirmed accounts of 500-pound boars being shot right through the heart with a large-caliber rifle and still running more than a hundred meters.
According to an experienced boar hunter that I know a wounded one WILL charge you if you come close enough. He recommends nothing weaker than a .44 Mag (if you absolutely have to use a handgun, that is) when going after a wounded boar in thick undergrowth.
Over the years numerous hunters in these parts have been killed by wounded boars. Apparently the most common course of events was that the hunter wounded a boar, followed it into the undergrowth, got ambushed by the critter and and bled to death with his leg torn to pieces while being unable to move.
Regards,
Trooper
Trooper,
Although the strains and bloodlines vary wildly the feral hogs over here are usually mixed with a good dose of domesticated hog and every one I've ever seen looks pretty different than the one you posted. I should have indicated that I was talking about the typical US feral hog and not the pure wild boars of Europe and Russia. Some of the hogs over here have more of the Euro blood than others but I think for the most part our hogs don't resemble their european ancestors all that much.
brad cook
Although the strains and bloodlines vary wildly the feral hogs over here are usually mixed with a good dose of domesticated hog and every one I've ever seen looks pretty different than the one you posted. I should have indicated that I was talking about the typical US feral hog and not the pure wild boars of Europe and Russia. Some of the hogs over here have more of the Euro blood than others but I think for the most part our hogs don't resemble their european ancestors all that much.
brad cook
Stand_Watie
Member
Trooper, check out this thread for some varying pictures of Texas hogs.
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthre...6&perpage=25&highlight=texas hog&pagenumber=1
You'll see they vary a lot. The ones I see around here (northeast texas) look a lot like your euro-boar, but longer overall and shorter legged in proportion. I understand we had a large release of "russian boar" here in the 1930's.
Here's one of them I trapped, and he tried his best to get through the trap to get a piece of me when I approached the trap. And kept trying to get to me, bent the trap a bit
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthre...6&perpage=25&highlight=texas hog&pagenumber=1
You'll see they vary a lot. The ones I see around here (northeast texas) look a lot like your euro-boar, but longer overall and shorter legged in proportion. I understand we had a large release of "russian boar" here in the 1930's.
Here's one of them I trapped, and he tried his best to get through the trap to get a piece of me when I approached the trap. And kept trying to get to me, bent the trap a bit
Double Naught Spy
Sus Venator
DigMe, no patronizing, simple rule. If the animal can hurt you in a serious manner, it can be dangerous to you. I can't find any stats on quail, ducks, rabbits, turkey, woodchucks, squirrels, and the like hurting hunters where hunters have been killed, much less injured. I can find them for deer, as you noted in brief, but in the case of deer, it is almost always the bucks and during rut when they pose a threat.
You have shot boars from 5 feet away. Good for you. That does not mean the boar wasn't a danger to you. It just means you were able to use technology to overcome the boar's abilities.
I will add something in your favor, however. Too many reports come about describing various parts of game as being razor sharp. Boar tusks are often described in that manner. Given that the edge angles on the tusks are not very acute, 'razor sharp' is not a very valid descriptor. The edges may be crisp, but the angles of the edges are often 45 to 90 degrees. When was the last time you shaved with a razor with a cutting edge angle that large? A boar has the ability to slice things up with the tusks, but that is a product of power (and they have very powerful jaws, close fit between upper and lower tusks, and the crisp edges of the tusks that are produced by the uppers gnashing against the lowers, wearing the contact surfaces flat, thereby creating the crisp edges often described as 'razor sharp.'
You have shot boars from 5 feet away. Good for you. That does not mean the boar wasn't a danger to you. It just means you were able to use technology to overcome the boar's abilities.
I will add something in your favor, however. Too many reports come about describing various parts of game as being razor sharp. Boar tusks are often described in that manner. Given that the edge angles on the tusks are not very acute, 'razor sharp' is not a very valid descriptor. The edges may be crisp, but the angles of the edges are often 45 to 90 degrees. When was the last time you shaved with a razor with a cutting edge angle that large? A boar has the ability to slice things up with the tusks, but that is a product of power (and they have very powerful jaws, close fit between upper and lower tusks, and the crisp edges of the tusks that are produced by the uppers gnashing against the lowers, wearing the contact surfaces flat, thereby creating the crisp edges often described as 'razor sharp.'
trooper
Member
Oh, I thought that American wild hogs were pretty much exclusively the descendants of escaped domestic hogs with a few imported European wild boars thrown in between. At least they look a lot like domestic ones, only with a bit more fur.
European wild hog are not feral critters but have never been domesticated. Some genuinely wild animals...
For some reason we don't really have feral animals over here except for the occasional feral dog who usually gets put down pretty quickly by the next hunter who happens to come across it.
BTW I read that the "russian boar" was originally named "prussian boar" and somehow lost the p somewhere. True? Anyway, they are pretty common all over Europe but tend to be bigger in Russia and Eastern Europe as far as I know.
They are a regular nuisance to crop-growing farmers in Germany because they are smart, hard to kill, can survive anywhere and procreate like rabbits, indeed. There have been cases of wild boars roaming the parks and cemeteries of major cities like Berlin at night...
Well, hog hunting sonunds like a fun thing, so I'm actually thinking about getting a hunting license and do my part.
Regards,
Trooper
European wild hog are not feral critters but have never been domesticated. Some genuinely wild animals...
For some reason we don't really have feral animals over here except for the occasional feral dog who usually gets put down pretty quickly by the next hunter who happens to come across it.
BTW I read that the "russian boar" was originally named "prussian boar" and somehow lost the p somewhere. True? Anyway, they are pretty common all over Europe but tend to be bigger in Russia and Eastern Europe as far as I know.
They are a regular nuisance to crop-growing farmers in Germany because they are smart, hard to kill, can survive anywhere and procreate like rabbits, indeed. There have been cases of wild boars roaming the parks and cemeteries of major cities like Berlin at night...
Well, hog hunting sonunds like a fun thing, so I'm actually thinking about getting a hunting license and do my part.
Regards,
Trooper
haynhogdogger
Member
Dig Me
Whatever you say!!!
You have your feeling about this issue and thats that.
By the way about your comment about the Grizzly and Buff I been there and done that. HAVE YOU!!!
And just because I made it to medical treatment in time to save my life doesnt change the fact that it was a LIFE OR DEATH sittuation. So you have your opinion and ill stay with mine because it seems to me that you speak one dimensionally. You write like you have been in predicaments where if they were Dangerous then something would have happened but didnt so you base your case on this but in my honest opinion you havent so to say pigs arent dangerous because you shot alot of them and nothing happened is not Fully Factual.
Africans have been killing Lions,Elephants,Cape Buffalo,Leopard,Rhino etc with spears and many types of prmitive weapons before guns ever arrived so to the Inuit with Grizzly,Polar Bear etc does this make them Non-Dangerous Game. The circumstances and environment in which I choose to hunt hogs makes them Dangerous in my mind if you had some of the run ins I had it would be interesting as to your feeling about the subject.
Put down your gun and pick up a knife and come with me we can go and have some fun together. I'll be in Texas in Nov. hunting hogs with knife cant wait.
H&H met pat not to long ago talked about our African experiences he wasnt to happy about the woodleighs perfomance. Maybe i'll see you in Africa sometime heading back in 2006.
HAYN
Whatever you say!!!
You have your feeling about this issue and thats that.
By the way about your comment about the Grizzly and Buff I been there and done that. HAVE YOU!!!
And just because I made it to medical treatment in time to save my life doesnt change the fact that it was a LIFE OR DEATH sittuation. So you have your opinion and ill stay with mine because it seems to me that you speak one dimensionally. You write like you have been in predicaments where if they were Dangerous then something would have happened but didnt so you base your case on this but in my honest opinion you havent so to say pigs arent dangerous because you shot alot of them and nothing happened is not Fully Factual.
Africans have been killing Lions,Elephants,Cape Buffalo,Leopard,Rhino etc with spears and many types of prmitive weapons before guns ever arrived so to the Inuit with Grizzly,Polar Bear etc does this make them Non-Dangerous Game. The circumstances and environment in which I choose to hunt hogs makes them Dangerous in my mind if you had some of the run ins I had it would be interesting as to your feeling about the subject.
Put down your gun and pick up a knife and come with me we can go and have some fun together. I'll be in Texas in Nov. hunting hogs with knife cant wait.
H&H met pat not to long ago talked about our African experiences he wasnt to happy about the woodleighs perfomance. Maybe i'll see you in Africa sometime heading back in 2006.
HAYN
haynhogdogger,
I NEVER said that hogs can't be dangerous. Just like a beaver, a deer or a coyote, a hog can be dangerous.
No, I've never hunted grizz or cape buffalo and I never claimed to and that's not the point. I doubt there is anyone who doesn't consider those animals dangerous game. I also did not claim that you haven't hunted grizz or cape buffalo.
Just answer this question though:
Think of all the physical encounters you've had with hogs over the past 30 years. Do you think that if you'd had even half of that number of physical encounters with a grizzly bear that you'd still be alive? No, because grizzly bear has much greater capability and likelihood to kill you in a physical encounter. Same for any other animal that is commonly and widely considered "dangerous game." In fact the experiences with hogs that you shared with us further prove to me the myth of hogs as "dangerous game."
brad cook
I NEVER said that hogs can't be dangerous. Just like a beaver, a deer or a coyote, a hog can be dangerous.
No, I've never hunted grizz or cape buffalo and I never claimed to and that's not the point. I doubt there is anyone who doesn't consider those animals dangerous game. I also did not claim that you haven't hunted grizz or cape buffalo.
Just answer this question though:
Think of all the physical encounters you've had with hogs over the past 30 years. Do you think that if you'd had even half of that number of physical encounters with a grizzly bear that you'd still be alive? No, because grizzly bear has much greater capability and likelihood to kill you in a physical encounter. Same for any other animal that is commonly and widely considered "dangerous game." In fact the experiences with hogs that you shared with us further prove to me the myth of hogs as "dangerous game."
brad cook
haynhogdogger
Member
Dig,
My comment about the Grizz and the Buff was my way of saying that ive been in cofrontations with both and like H&H said in one of his post they fell over dead with lead poisoning and asking you if youd been in these same circumstances.
To answer your question: Seems to me that you answered it for me. I cannot say Yes or No because I really cant say what would happen if it never happened. YET!!!LOL!
You asked that EXPERIENCED hog people reply and so I did and shared my experiences and my thoughts on the subject.
Lastly ive been charged by Big Bear, Buff, Elephants, & Rhino (Both Black & White) and IMHO the feeling for ME is the same VERY INTENSE. All im saying here is that ive EXPERIENCED these things and these are my OWN OPINIONS like I said I can only speak for Myself!!!
Just wanted to ask because not sure of the meaning. Because I didnt die does that prove the myth? If Yes, Then if I do die from a Hog one day will you promise me that you'll consider them "Dangerous" LLLOOOLLL!!!
Aloha...HAYN
My comment about the Grizz and the Buff was my way of saying that ive been in cofrontations with both and like H&H said in one of his post they fell over dead with lead poisoning and asking you if youd been in these same circumstances.
To answer your question: Seems to me that you answered it for me. I cannot say Yes or No because I really cant say what would happen if it never happened. YET!!!LOL!
You asked that EXPERIENCED hog people reply and so I did and shared my experiences and my thoughts on the subject.
Lastly ive been charged by Big Bear, Buff, Elephants, & Rhino (Both Black & White) and IMHO the feeling for ME is the same VERY INTENSE. All im saying here is that ive EXPERIENCED these things and these are my OWN OPINIONS like I said I can only speak for Myself!!!
Just wanted to ask because not sure of the meaning. Because I didnt die does that prove the myth? If Yes, Then if I do die from a Hog one day will you promise me that you'll consider them "Dangerous" LLLOOOLLL!!!
Aloha...HAYN
Art Eatman
Moderator In Memoriam
I think H&H came up with the best definition:
"My definition of dangerous game is something that can and is willing to kill you dead with little or no provacation."
As a general rule, this does not apply to the vast majority of feral hogs in the US.
Art
"My definition of dangerous game is something that can and is willing to kill you dead with little or no provacation."
As a general rule, this does not apply to the vast majority of feral hogs in the US.
Art
haynhogdogger,
Hey man, you're right - I do appreciate you posting and sharing your experiences because I did ask for those with lots of experience. I appreciate your opinion even if we don't completely agree so thanks for posting. I always like to hear good hunting stories.
Anyway...my whole point in my last post was that hogs are not dangerous game because if they were so many people wouldn't be out hunting them armed with only a knife. Going out and hunting dangerous game with just a knife would get you dead real quick. I know what the Africans did and all but could you imagine someone going out armed only with a bowie knife and saying "Hey, I'm going polar bear hunting!" or "I'm gonna go kill me a cape buffalo and an elephant!" You'd probably be thinking "It's your funeral, bud." However, if someone heads out with a knife to go pig hunting you're not thinking that. It's not unusual. That's just another indicator of why I can't consider them dangerous game. Again, don't confuse that with me saying they can't ever be dangerous or there are not some dangerous situations with them.
I just want my points to be understood and everyone to know that I'm making a distinction between what's commonly called "dangerous game" and game that CAN be dangerous. ANY game can be dangerous.
brad cook
Hey man, you're right - I do appreciate you posting and sharing your experiences because I did ask for those with lots of experience. I appreciate your opinion even if we don't completely agree so thanks for posting. I always like to hear good hunting stories.
Anyway...my whole point in my last post was that hogs are not dangerous game because if they were so many people wouldn't be out hunting them armed with only a knife. Going out and hunting dangerous game with just a knife would get you dead real quick. I know what the Africans did and all but could you imagine someone going out armed only with a bowie knife and saying "Hey, I'm going polar bear hunting!" or "I'm gonna go kill me a cape buffalo and an elephant!"
You'd probably be thinking "It's your funeral, bud." However, if someone heads out with a knife to go pig hunting you're not thinking that. It's not unusual. That's just another indicator of why I can't consider them dangerous game. Again, don't confuse that with me saying they can't ever be dangerous or there are not some dangerous situations with them. I just want my points to be understood and everyone to know that I'm making a distinction between what's commonly called "dangerous game" and game that CAN be dangerous. ANY game can be dangerous.
brad cook
haynhogdogger
Member
Dig,
I think im just an adrenaline junkie Im thinking about hunting Brown Bear with a Knife seen it in a movie once I'll let you know how it goes if I dont post again then you were right all along. LMAO!!!
On a more serious note though I know where youre coming from and your point is clear. Missed out on Lion and Leopard earlier this year Leopard didnt come to the baits We did see Lion got real close so close actually I pulled out the trusty ol' PK (Pocket Knife) and was ready to go in for the Kill (I know what youre thinking, probably yours) but my PH convinced me it was TOO SMALL!!! Thats the BIGGEST SMALL cat I ever saw Actually I had a 338 Ultra Mag. the Big Cats are very beautiful animals hope to do better next time. Thanks Dig I didnt laugh this hard since I was in Africa back in May.
BTW is Waco far from Nixon thats where i'll be hunting come Nov.
Hunt Hard but Stay Safe...HAYN
I think im just an adrenaline junkie
Im thinking about hunting Brown Bear with a Knife seen it in a movie once I'll let you know how it goes if I dont post again then you were right all along. LMAO!!! On a more serious note though I know where youre coming from and your point is clear. Missed out on Lion and Leopard earlier this year Leopard didnt come to the baits We did see Lion got real close so close actually I pulled out the trusty ol' PK (Pocket Knife) and was ready to go in for the Kill (I know what youre thinking, probably yours) but my PH convinced me it was TOO SMALL!!! Thats the BIGGEST SMALL cat I ever saw
Actually I had a 338 Ultra Mag. the Big Cats are very beautiful animals hope to do better next time. Thanks Dig I didnt laugh this hard since I was in Africa back in May.BTW is Waco far from Nixon thats where i'll be hunting come Nov.
Hunt Hard but Stay Safe...HAYN
St. Gunner
Member
About 3yrs ago I topped 2,000 head of hogs killed and just quit counting.... I used to log every kill, where, with what, how far it ran.... Just gave it up. I started out wanting to believe that the wild hog was the poor mans Grizzly.... It just isn't so.
I finally came as close to getting my hash settled as has happened in my life by hogs this year in about a 1month span. The first time I got a call about a couple hundred pound hogs along a canal and went with one cur and one pitbull to catch them.... A cut and pasted story about it...
-------------------------------------
Got a call from a farmer friend about 2pm today, said he'd just seen a couple big hogs along the irrigation canal next to his cotton patch and wondered if I might want to try and kill them before he irrigated this weekend and they wallowed down a few rows of cotton. So I went to the house and loaded Chula(pit I bought from Ansmuella) and Sasha(catahoula pup I got a few months ago) and headed over to the field. I dumped Sasha and she left right away and I got in a hurry and left my gun belt at the truck and took off leading Chula. About 200yds from the truck Sasha veered to the right and started barking next to the canal under a big mesquite. I didn't cut Chula loose wanted to make sure she didn't have a skunk or assorted other critter under that tree. Well when I eased up next to her and looked into the thick stuff a big ol boar was backed up to the tree. Chula made a lunge and caught him still attached to the lead rope by the bottom jaw. He blasted towards us and when i jumped away I pulled her loose. Sasha grabbed him by his nuts as he made the canal and he backed up to a culvert and I sent Chula. He caught her on the first pass in the front shoulder and chunked her right up on the bank with me. The 2nd time at him she caught an ear. He laid down on her at one point and I was there just as he stood up, and tried to leg him but couldn't. He was so slick I couldn't get him flipped. So I just hopped on his back and reached for my sticking knife and realized at this point I had no gun, no knife, no nothing. Just a pocket knife. So out it came. He looked like he got in a knife fight at a Southside bar with about 16 sobs when I was through, but he died in the canal.
He banged Chula up pretty good, I put about 2 dozen staples in her and she has a gaping 2" cut on the inside of her left cheek that I can't get a staple in and don't know if I should even try to. A deep cut in the front of the shoulder and a 5" gash down her rib cage. But after I doctored her I fed her and she ate with no problems(Knucklehead bulldogs)
It wasn't exactly what I was looking to find and so only took those two dogs(Chula is in heat). The farmer said a couple big hogs, but normally that means 100lbs... I about got my butt kicked, but I was pretty impressed with the two and what they did. Sasha took a couple good licks and actually set up the catch by nutting the hog again after Chula got thrown on the bank.
It wasn't a good spot to get on a hog like that, the canal was really muddy and low and the hog could move and the dogs couldn't. Both times Chula made a try at him he whipped her pretty bad. I screwed up when I first saw him, Chula had him caught and I forgot to let go of the lead rope.
I don't know what he weighed, he bottomed the 200lb scale I have at the house. He stood 32 1/2" from the top of the shoulder to the ground. He was real thick, just not real long. I'd guess him at 250lbs give or take a few lbs. Course the farmer swears he pushes 300lbs.
It was a good hunt, hot as hell, but it was over in less than 20 minutes from the time i dropped the tailgate till I loaded the dogs back on the truck.
In the 2nd pic, Chula is right by his head, you can tell how tall he was, she was sitting up and she isn't a little dog. Oh yeah, he was a bit more than I wanted to tackle alone with no back-up in a mudhole...
-------------------------------
A couple weeks later I went to the cotton patch with a catahoula and another pitbull named Bandit. Sasha bayed more hogs than I could count in that cotton field. The stuff was about chest high and you couldn't see your hand if you put it in front of you. I ended up shooting two and sticking one with a knife. But the first shot I took the hog was about 5' away coming down the row I was going in and hit him as he came out the end. The next shot I fired I was crawling on my belly and with a 4" barreled .357 left a 5" circular powder burn on a large sow who came blowing past me.
Part of the problem with these hogs being this rough is the fact they are existing in a subdivision. The people feed them and they have lots of water and have just lost their fear of man for the most part. I'm trying to re-instill that fear, but not doing that great of a job...
Can they hurt you, yep, will they, not often. I have never been charged, attacked, or run up a tree.... But then I won't say others haven't. I know one old timer who took 87 stitches to the inside of his leg because of a boar in a corn field one night.
But all told i'd say you are probably more likely to get bit by a snake than cut to pieces by a hog...
I finally came as close to getting my hash settled as has happened in my life by hogs this year in about a 1month span. The first time I got a call about a couple hundred pound hogs along a canal and went with one cur and one pitbull to catch them.... A cut and pasted story about it...
-------------------------------------
Got a call from a farmer friend about 2pm today, said he'd just seen a couple big hogs along the irrigation canal next to his cotton patch and wondered if I might want to try and kill them before he irrigated this weekend and they wallowed down a few rows of cotton. So I went to the house and loaded Chula(pit I bought from Ansmuella) and Sasha(catahoula pup I got a few months ago) and headed over to the field. I dumped Sasha and she left right away and I got in a hurry and left my gun belt at the truck and took off leading Chula. About 200yds from the truck Sasha veered to the right and started barking next to the canal under a big mesquite. I didn't cut Chula loose wanted to make sure she didn't have a skunk or assorted other critter under that tree. Well when I eased up next to her and looked into the thick stuff a big ol boar was backed up to the tree. Chula made a lunge and caught him still attached to the lead rope by the bottom jaw. He blasted towards us and when i jumped away I pulled her loose. Sasha grabbed him by his nuts as he made the canal and he backed up to a culvert and I sent Chula. He caught her on the first pass in the front shoulder and chunked her right up on the bank with me. The 2nd time at him she caught an ear. He laid down on her at one point and I was there just as he stood up, and tried to leg him but couldn't. He was so slick I couldn't get him flipped. So I just hopped on his back and reached for my sticking knife and realized at this point I had no gun, no knife, no nothing. Just a pocket knife. So out it came. He looked like he got in a knife fight at a Southside bar with about 16 sobs when I was through, but he died in the canal.
He banged Chula up pretty good, I put about 2 dozen staples in her and she has a gaping 2" cut on the inside of her left cheek that I can't get a staple in and don't know if I should even try to. A deep cut in the front of the shoulder and a 5" gash down her rib cage. But after I doctored her I fed her and she ate with no problems(Knucklehead bulldogs)
It wasn't exactly what I was looking to find and so only took those two dogs(Chula is in heat). The farmer said a couple big hogs, but normally that means 100lbs... I about got my butt kicked, but I was pretty impressed with the two and what they did. Sasha took a couple good licks and actually set up the catch by nutting the hog again after Chula got thrown on the bank.
It wasn't a good spot to get on a hog like that, the canal was really muddy and low and the hog could move and the dogs couldn't. Both times Chula made a try at him he whipped her pretty bad. I screwed up when I first saw him, Chula had him caught and I forgot to let go of the lead rope.
I don't know what he weighed, he bottomed the 200lb scale I have at the house. He stood 32 1/2" from the top of the shoulder to the ground. He was real thick, just not real long. I'd guess him at 250lbs give or take a few lbs. Course the farmer swears he pushes 300lbs.
It was a good hunt, hot as hell, but it was over in less than 20 minutes from the time i dropped the tailgate till I loaded the dogs back on the truck.
In the 2nd pic, Chula is right by his head, you can tell how tall he was, she was sitting up and she isn't a little dog. Oh yeah, he was a bit more than I wanted to tackle alone with no back-up in a mudhole...
-------------------------------
A couple weeks later I went to the cotton patch with a catahoula and another pitbull named Bandit. Sasha bayed more hogs than I could count in that cotton field. The stuff was about chest high and you couldn't see your hand if you put it in front of you. I ended up shooting two and sticking one with a knife. But the first shot I took the hog was about 5' away coming down the row I was going in and hit him as he came out the end. The next shot I fired I was crawling on my belly and with a 4" barreled .357 left a 5" circular powder burn on a large sow who came blowing past me.
Part of the problem with these hogs being this rough is the fact they are existing in a subdivision. The people feed them and they have lots of water and have just lost their fear of man for the most part. I'm trying to re-instill that fear, but not doing that great of a job...
Can they hurt you, yep, will they, not often. I have never been charged, attacked, or run up a tree.... But then I won't say others haven't. I know one old timer who took 87 stitches to the inside of his leg because of a boar in a corn field one night.
But all told i'd say you are probably more likely to get bit by a snake than cut to pieces by a hog...
BarnsBeware
Member
Shed a little light for us in the cheap seats...
Not to interrupt with the blatant newbie question here, but as I'm considering taking up feral game hunting within the year, I'd very much like to follow this thread...
Is there a specific definition of "hog" or "feral pig" as opposed to "boar"? Some people are using them interchangeably, and I would think that boar would be considered dangerous as hog would not?? I'd hate to think that there was some kind of accidental misunderstanding above... Are we making a distinction or just calling all wild swine "hogs" and then those that have been gored by boars take it as an insult?
Just need a little clarification. Please continue...
Not to interrupt with the blatant newbie question here, but as I'm considering taking up feral game hunting within the year, I'd very much like to follow this thread...
Is there a specific definition of "hog" or "feral pig" as opposed to "boar"? Some people are using them interchangeably, and I would think that boar would be considered dangerous as hog would not?? I'd hate to think that there was some kind of accidental misunderstanding above... Are we making a distinction or just calling all wild swine "hogs" and then those that have been gored by boars take it as an insult?
Just need a little clarification. Please continue...St. Gunner
Member
Here we mainly refer to them as hogs or pigs, saving the term boar simply for those pigs and hogs that are males. I think in some areas of the world boar is used to describe all members of the swine family. Here in TX we use it simply to cover the male members...
Feral hogs are by definition simply escaped members of some farmers stock, but in areas where european wild hogs where released they do interbreed, thus in most of the world you can't find a pure strain european hog. They have all had their gene pool polluted by domestic stock at some point. I've had the chance to deal with both critters(actually Europeans that where pretty close to full blood) and deal with Ferals daily anymore as their population explodes. Temperment wise I see no true difference, actually I think the ferals we deal with are more likely to fight since in many instances they are lesser removed from man, thus not as fearful as a European hog in the countryside might be.
I know that at the present time some game farms are working towards attempting to raise european strain wild hogs. Some slight differance exists within the chromasones of the different strains and they are attempting to breed certified herds of these animals.
Pure strain European hogs always have striped young, the entire litter is composed of these young striped pigs. Many folks show pics of a sow with a litter of 6 or 8 pigs where 2-3 are striped and claim that these are european or Russian hogs. It just isn't so, yes the striped pigs are throwback to European lineage, but not proof positive, since the rest of the litter does not contain this colorization.
We on occasion kill some hogs that look to have a large percentage of European blood in them. Long hair, long straight tails, dusky brown colors, long noses, and etc... But they aren't full bloods and in reality are probably so diluted you could never tell, just for some reason they have those traits that show the European blood.
Hope that helps a bit
Steve
I've lived in TX a few decades.
Lots of hogs in my area--I know lots of folks who hunt and trap them.
I don't know anyone who's been hurt by a hog.
I only know of one person who claims to have been "attacked" or "charged" and he was able to escape uninjured and kill the hog.
They could sure solve all your problems pretty quick if they tried, and they can be hard to kill, especially if you think they're laid out inside like a deer is, but in this area, at least, they seem to be pretty ineffective at perforating people.
Dangerous? Maybe, but the big problem with hunting hogs around here is trying to get a shot--they seem to be shy about getting out much in the light.
Lots of hogs in my area--I know lots of folks who hunt and trap them.
I don't know anyone who's been hurt by a hog.
I only know of one person who claims to have been "attacked" or "charged" and he was able to escape uninjured and kill the hog.
They could sure solve all your problems pretty quick if they tried, and they can be hard to kill, especially if you think they're laid out inside like a deer is, but in this area, at least, they seem to be pretty ineffective at perforating people.
Dangerous? Maybe, but the big problem with hunting hogs around here is trying to get a shot--they seem to be shy about getting out much in the light.
- Status
