Pigs ARE dangerous game

Dr. Ed Ashby · April 10, 2008, 09:11:00 AM

Some species of pigs are much more 'attack prone' than others, but all can and will, sometimes, attack. Both bushpigs and the true Eurpoean boars tend to attack far more frequently that any of the others species I've hunted.

Out of the untold numbers of pigs of verious species I've shot, I've been 'routed out' a few times, but never personally had a truly close call. However, one fellow I was hunting with was ripped from mid-calf to mid-thigh by a big European-cross boar, as well as suffering numerous smaller wounds. As soon as the arrow hit, the boar came for him; cornering him. The fellow had a Ruger Blackhawk .357 with him, and emptied it into the boar, with the muzzle literally touching the boar. Six rounds of 158 grain jacketed semi-wadcutters (all into the thorax, but with none exiting) slowed the boar down, but it still stayed at him for a few more seconds before staggering away. It went several yards away before finally going down.

It took a while to get the fellow to the hospital, and he lost a fair amount of blood. I'm not sure that he could have gotten out of the woods by himself. I can't remember the number of stiches required to close the wound, but it was a couple of hundred, and his knee was perminently damaged.

Though the vast majority of hogs will never show any agression, don't under rate their POTENTIAL to turn nasty on you, doing real damage.

Ed
TGMM Family of the Bow

hunt it · April 10, 2008, 09:22:00 AM

Hogs can get real nasty real fast. Glad your ok and it sure was lucky having the dog along. Be the most exciting day of turkey hunting for you for a while I hope.

BEN · April 10, 2008, 09:29:00 AM

Great story and good shooting!!
I think I would have had an "O, sh*T moment"

Can Hahaka · April 10, 2008, 09:45:00 AM

Thanks for sharing - a really great story. Especially for someone like me who wants to try pig hunting some day.

BernieH · April 10, 2008, 11:26:00 AM

Great story Paul. Glad it turned out in your favor.

bowdude · April 10, 2008, 11:38:00 AM

Wow - that sounds like a rush! Glad you are safe.

straitera · April 10, 2008, 12:11:00 PM

Good story. Bet that was an adventure.

Hogtamer · April 10, 2008, 12:43:00 PM

Heh heh heh,,,,good shootin' pardner. I proclaim you honorary HOGTAMER!

Yazoo Bowhunter · April 10, 2008, 01:44:00 PM

Professor,

Too bad you didn't have Trusty with you. She would have done the ole' boar in on round 1. Good story though; didn't think of you as one to back away from a real man's fight however.

Grasshopper.

Pat B. · April 10, 2008, 01:58:00 PM

LOL, go get 'em tiger !! Or was it the other way around, grin..

blueslfb · April 10, 2008, 02:01:00 PM

WOW!!! Good story and glad you made out with just an awsome story and no stitches, and a dead pig of course.

Horne Shooter · April 10, 2008, 03:55:00 PM

Grasshopper...you are very young and will learn as you gain life experience. Confucius say that it is sometimes better to run and fight another day than to stand and fight and get you butt kicked by a ticked off wild pig.

razorsharptokill · April 10, 2008, 04:06:00 PM

Good shootin and glad everyone is ok!

I think I'd buy Luke a steak!

Ranger Rick · April 10, 2008, 07:16:00 PM

Nice pig and a great dog. I was almost caught by a boar several years ago and was fortunate enough to have a dog step in and distract the boar enough for me to put in a killing shot. Its scarry but what a rush. Congrats and thanks for sharing.

Aaron B 2213 · April 10, 2008, 10:01:00 PM

Hey Ucle Paul! Nice pig ha ha ha sound like you almost got owned. we need to get a hog hunt!!!! what you should do is take out it's longest tusk and pierce your nose through that skin between the nostrils with it you would like a hauss.... and a freak but any ways nice story.

Bjorn · April 10, 2008, 11:27:00 PM

Wild animals are unpredictable; but let's not get carried away.............every year more hunters are injured by deer than hogs.

Brian Krebs · April 11, 2008, 02:54:00 AM

I have never hunted hogs; but once long ago I was bird hunting near a game farm; and '100% russian boar' piglets started running through the corn ahead of me. I was thinking about the legality of a barbequed escaped pig; when the sow stepped out.
I am sure glad I didn't shoot one of the piglets.....!!!! She was huge !!
I do want to try hog hunting someday... I like the stories

tradtusker · April 11, 2008, 03:59:00 AM

great story!
yip iv had a few close calls and nearly had a touch up from a few pigs.

we had our best hunting dog (pointer) get killed by a warthog that was trying to eat Nigel (Leopard) very sad day

robslifts · April 11, 2008, 08:23:00 AM

great story my dad had a pig charge him once but he got out of the way and dispatched him after that great story

Biggie Hoffman · April 11, 2008, 08:37:00 AM

After being really close to hundreds of hogs, I would dare say that most "charges" are just a matter of someone standing in the path they have chosen for escape. Another high charge factor is the smell of a K-9. I've been charged once in 25 years and he stopped short before he got to me.
The circumstances there were 3 other boars challenging him for breeding rights. I just got in too close and hunkered down, resembled another rival.