Feral hog attacks anyone?

I have enjoyed the thread re snakes and cougars, both of which I have encountered while fishing. With between one and two million feral hogs in Texas alone ( I don't know pop. figures for other states) I'm betting some of you have had encounters with feral hogs. Here's mine from last spring:

Can't blame the wild sow as she was protecting her piglets. Dog went nosing off in the brush near the CO. River above Bastrop, TX. Hog chased the dog and dog ran directly to me. I had not time to unholster the .38.

Instinct kicked in--I yelled a primal scream and swung my walking stick at the charging beast. She swerved off at the last second and ran back to her brood. Dog and I ambled on, unscathed. Others have been less fortunate or so I have been told.

Wow! We don't have many in PA, but I saw on TV those things can be very dangerous.

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Originally Posted by lastchance

Wow! We don't have many in PA, but I saw on TV those things can be very dangerous.

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It sure wont be long before you do :)

YUM YUM, Bacon sounds really good right now!..... I've heard that they are getting really out of control in some areas and their numbers need to be kept in check.

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Originally Posted by lastchance

Wow! We don't have many in PA, but I saw on TV those things can be very dangerous.

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Yes we do and the problem is getting worse:

http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal...=621618&mode=2

That is the PGC website link on feral swine. The state has declared open season on them with the exception of a few areas for trapping and study like the area around my brother's house in Butler County. If you want pork dont' buy it in the stgore but treavel to one of the counties having problems and shoot your own. Most of the farmers will be glad to see you do it on their land.

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Originally Posted by juniatajim

Yes we do and the problem is getting worse:

http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal...=621618&mode=2

That is the PGC website link on feral swine. The state has declared open season on them with the exception of a few areas for trapping and study like the area around my brother's house in Butler County. If you want pork dont' buy it in the stgore but treavel to one of the counties having problems and shoot your own. Most of the farmers will be glad to see you do it on their land.

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I stand corrected.

Sort of on topic here. I have seen the reality show where they attempt to capture these things, by hand of all things. I have also seen where they attempt to kill one of these things with a compound bow. What I fail to understand is they are catching these things to destroy them and if they intend to kill one outright why the heck don't they use a 25.06 or something? I mean we have had pretty decent rifles around for quite sometime made just for killing wild animals. If I were out to get me a wild hog I would use the best weapon available. Certainly not a bow and arrow or a rope.

juniatajim,

Yep, you are correct, and the State of Penna. may also have ended those study/trapping areas too! That info should also be available on the link you provided! I will be checking on it myself. Thanks! I have been pretty close to them in Louisiana - did not see them, but was duck hunting a chute where they had the area freshly roto-tilled! It's actually a little scary! I've felt safer in the mountain lion country of Utah! LOL!!

Here is the latest PGC news release on feral swine -

http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal...e__035_11.html

Best regards, Dave S.

Even in beautiful Carmel CA. This sign is on US 1 at the Carmel River bridge. There were so many that at times 50 would be crossing OVER the highway and at least that many UNDER the bridge.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...3/IMGP0097.jpg

Mark

I remember growing up in MS livestock on roads was an issue from time to time. Cow were the most common but there was also the occasional mule. I remember my Dad tell me hogs were the worse due to their low center of gravity they could get under the car and flip it, if his with sufficient speed.

I also remember Dad warning me about domesticate hogs on the farm as been very dangerous to be around at certain times. But there is nothing as good as home cured ham and bacon and fresh sausage and tenderloin, crackin hot out of the pot where they boiled off the lard. I can feel my chlosterol going up thinking about it.

I have not done it myself, but here in NZ pig hunting is very popular, no rifles or guns, just a team of pig dogs and a knife. The dogs chase and bail up the pig then the hunter goes in and sticks the pig in the neck with the knife.
I have seen some pics of wild pigs that are huge, like 120 kg's, that is heavier than your average bloke!
All the best.
Mike.

A few years ago, I was turkey hunting when a small hog came out of the brush and charged me. I shot it at 8 feet.

Poke'em--your reflexes are obviously better than mine, but then again you were probably much younger at the time and that's my excuse for not even being able to get the revolver out of the holster. Eight feet is about the distance the sow charging me turned off, much to my delight!

Y'all just remember that in many parts of this country, these things can carry Bucellosos... You can still eat the meat, but you need to wear gloves an take a few sensible precautions when gutting, and processing.

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Originally Posted by bowfin47

Y'all just remember that in many parts of this country, these things can carry Bucellosos... You can still eat the meat, but you need to wear gloves an take a few sensible precautions when gutting, and processing.

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Very good advice! They also carry trichinosis:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trichinosis

as well as various strains of the flu. yes the swine flu (let the wise cracks begin :evil:) like all wild game cooking it thoroughly as in no pink meat will keep one from getting ill or perhaps even death.

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Originally Posted by Kerry Stratton

Sort of on topic here. I have seen the reality show where they attempt to capture these things, by hand of all things. I have also seen where they attempt to kill one of these things with a compound bow. What I fail to understand is they are catching these things to destroy them and if they intend to kill one outright why the heck don't they use a 25.06 or something? I mean we have had pretty decent rifles around for quite sometime made just for killing wild animals. If I were out to get me a wild hog I would use the best weapon available. Certainly not a bow and arrow or a rope.

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Kerry-- of course a good rifle would make more sense, but who watches reality shows to see intelligence!? :)

I've got a friend who manages a large farm in Georgia for a semi-absentee land owner and one of his regular jobs is to help keep the wild hog population in check. The hogs, hoglettes and hogettes regularly damage fences, crops and just about anything else you can name. On the positive side, they are delicious when cooked properly. As far as attacks go, like most wild things, they pretty much stay away from humans if you leave them alone. 8T :)

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Originally Posted by lastchance

Wow! We don't have many in PA, but I saw on TV those things can be very dangerous.

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Don't be so sure....
NYS DEC has finally fessed up to them beginning to get a foothold in some of the southern tier counties.
I've always heard that there three kinds of states. There are states that have wild hogs, states that wish they didn't have wild hogs and states that are glad they don't have wild hogs.

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Originally Posted by cj4750

Don't be so sure....
NYS DEC has finally fessed up to them beginning to get a foothold in some of the southern tier counties.
I've always heard that there three kinds of states. There are states that have wild hogs, states that wish they didn't have wild hogs and states that are glad they don't have wild hogs.

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I saw some photos and they sure do a lot of damage.