For the sake of argument,

justplainpossum · May 14, 2013, 02:55 AM

(and trust me, an explanation would take too long), let's say you are hiking around and run into a mama sow who chooses to charge instead of hightail it. You don't have a gun with you. Would a knife provide any kind of protection or provide an opportunity to get away -- and if so, what kind of knive would you carry and where would you stick it to the pig? Or a bow and arrow? Please, no grief, I'm serious with this question. Would any self-defense have to be overwhelming to make a pig change its plan of attack, instead of just makes it mad? Or would they perhaps split if they see there may be some resistance? Would mace work better? Thanks for your continued patience.

twins · May 14, 2013, 05:46 AM

I've been charged by a medium sized boar (chased off before it got near me) and they are quicker than any human can respond. I don't think a knife would be of any help unless you can get a hold of the animal. As for a big sow, I'm guessing you'll just be a road bump as it charges.

tahunua001 · May 14, 2013, 10:33 AM

it depends on how defensive the sow is. the knife will most likely offer little to no protection unless you are very quick on your feet and have the reflexes of a fighter pilot. the bear has 10 1-4 inch blades of it's own(depending on species) and would take a lot for it to give up it's attack. afterall the reason that the mother sow attacked you in the first place is because it thinks you are a danger to it's cub, why would confirming that you are dangerous convince it to leave? I know that's trying to add logic to the motivations of a wild animal but that's just the way I see it. mace, and not the stuff you get in the little kimber squirt guns, is a much better option, at least by blinding the bear it gives you a chance to high-tail it out of there, I personally live in an area that only has blackbears with one of my fav summer spots having just a very remote chance of seeing grizzlies so I feel perfectly safe with a 45 auto on my hip. yes a 44mag or 480 ruger or 500 S&W would be much better especially should I find an agressive momma griz but odds are against such an encounter so I just plan for little blackies, cats, and puppies(the 120LB kind)

justplainpossum · May 14, 2013, 10:37 AM

I think you misread, I meant feral hog, not bear. And again, no guns. Right now my best plan is to put ladders up against different trees on my place that are in the open, but any other suggestons would be appreciated (traps are baited, they're being hunted, but this has yet to be successful). I suppose I could carry around a pole vault...

Evan Thomas · May 14, 2013, 10:51 AM

Even though we're talking hogs here, bear spray might be a good option. You'd need to have it in a belt holster so it's very accessible, and perhaps get into the habit of having it in your hand if you're walking through brush or anywhere else with limited visibility. It works very reliably on bears, and I'd think it would be effective on hogs, as well.

Wild Bill Bucks · May 14, 2013, 10:51 AM

Been around a lot of hogs, and the only time I ever thought I was being charged was when I was standing in the only path of retreat the hog had, and it ran into me while trying to escape. I have seen cornered hogs with little ones that will become rather aggressive, but will only chase you until they are certain you are not a threat. Most of the time a sow will only chase you a few yards, then will return to her piglets, the same way they will do a yote if one is stupid enough to try and get one of her little ones.

I would think a quality can of pepper spray would do the trick, but if you are truly being charged by a hog that means you harm, you would not have time to use it before it got you. You would have to be right on top of a sow for her to become aggressive enough to charge, as they will run from you if they have more than 20 feet on you.

As far as a knife against a charging hog, my thought is it would be only serve to cut your own throat if you had time.

justplainpossum · May 14, 2013, 11:23 AM

lol Wild Bill!! Well, at least I know I have options!

I will check into that bear spray, Vanya, thank you. I've accidentally walked up on babies way too many times for my comfort (actuallly, most times they saw or heard me and ran out to see me, and I'm like, no, get away, we're not friends!), and hearing that grunting (or screaming) a few feet behind them is not something I'm all that crazy about.

globemaster3 · May 14, 2013, 11:51 AM

Having first hand seen a hog taken down with a knife

, you will want a big one. Ka-Bar comes to mind. Either a neck/throat hit to get the jugular (other than the spine, no bones to contend with), or try and get between the ribs into the heart or lungs. If the hog is working you over and you have the presence of mind, anything is better than nothing!

I have been charged once, by a boar, and still am not sure why as it was pretty open with plenty of options for his route of travel, unless I just happened to be in the way of the 1 route he chose... But agreed, most often, they just take off.

TheBear · May 14, 2013, 02:06 PM

get yourself a boar speer, you can use it as a walking stick. you could stop a charging boar with a boar speer, people hunted boar with those for centurys...a big and strong dog (mastino, russian terrier...) would also be a great help

kraigwy · May 14, 2013, 03:03 PM

Don't think I'd take a knife to a sow fight.

Strafer Gott · May 14, 2013, 03:40 PM

Anything that resembles a big bore handgun will probably work. If I went for a hike and left one at home, especially in free pork country, imagine my chagrin!

tahunua001 · May 14, 2013, 04:34 PM

oh, sorry, I just got done with my spring bear hunt so I have bears on the brain. hogs and smaller bears though are still pretty close to eachother as far as temperament goes. they avoid people wherever possible though they will get defensive over young. I've seen pretty gruesome wounds caused by hogs using nothing but their teeth. much like bears they have very thick hide and a lot of fat and extraneous muscle to get through before you begin to limit their mobility or start to cause any serious harm. I would still recommend bear mace or handguns but since you don't want to talk guns bear mace is your best bet.

justplainpossum · May 14, 2013, 04:35 PM

Yeah, I can't use guns now at all for a few months (bummer), so I'm looking for alternatives.

I'm a pretty slight girl, I guess, so I'm not sure how I'd do with the boar spear!

tahunua001 · May 14, 2013, 04:36 PM

Quote:

Yeah, I can't use guns now at all for a few months (bummer), so I'm looking for alternatives.

I'm a pretty slight girl, I guess, so I'm not sure how I'd do with the boar spear!

one of my favorite lines from 'the thirteenth warrior':
JUST PUT YOUR FOOT ON IT AND STAND!

justplainpossum · May 14, 2013, 06:08 PM

Ha! If I walk around with this, my Dad, family, friends and neighbors are gonna think I'm nuts! lol But it says it only weighs four pounds, so that's kind of cool. Methinks I better try honing my tree-climbing skills first.

http://www.coldsteel.com/Product/95B...OAR_SPEAR.aspx

justplainpossum · May 14, 2013, 06:10 PM

It is relatively short and heavy and has two "lugs" or "wings" on the spearsocket behind the blade, which act as a barrier to prevent an injured and furious boar from working its way up the shaft of the spear to attack the hunter.

Definitely going to go with the tree climbing.

jmr40 · May 14, 2013, 06:51 PM

Hogs, and for the most part black bear are not trying to kill you. Most black bear rarely put up much of a fight even to protect their young. Grizzlies are a different story. Put up a good fight, even with bare hands and they will almost always retreat. You may be hurt, even badly, but putting up a good fight is far better than the alternative. A sturdy fixed blade with at least 4" of blade would be my 1st choice.

If they do decide to kill you, they will win. But a bear or hog does not know that they can easily kill you unless they have done so in the past. Put on a good show and hurt one bad enough with a knife, stick, rock or whatever you can find and they will decide you are not worth getting hurt over. Wild animals don't go to the hospital when hurt so they avoid it at all costs. They won't go after prey that shows the ability to hurt them.

justplainpossum · May 14, 2013, 07:23 PM

Does singing You Light Up My Life qualify me to inflict enough pain on them? Because I'll do it, if they make me.

BuckRub · May 14, 2013, 08:42 PM

I think a knife will kill a sow, she may eat off your legs or rip you from privates to your neck but if you are determined enough you may still get the blade in deep enough before you bleed out.

justplainpossum · May 14, 2013, 10:23 PM

Wow, Buck, I feel so much better now!

BuckRub · May 14, 2013, 10:53 PM

Really most pigs will haul butt away from you but if you ever get ate up before you're able to shoot them off of you like I did, it ain't no fun. They're very, very quick and fear nothing when trying to hurt or kill you. You're better off using plenty of gun and make sure you kill instantly or be very careful when tracking them after you wounded one. If you ain't so sure of your gun or your shooting maybe you should take up golf or something. They eat good and a blast to hunt but if you hunt/shoot enough of them, sooner or later your luck will play out.

Buzzcook · May 15, 2013, 12:11 AM

Big stick. Oh and makes lots of noise when walking in the woods.

But not a bad idea to work on your tree climbing skills.

justplainpossum · May 15, 2013, 12:15 AM

Yeah, I am not allowed to shoot for at least six months now (new medical problem, sigh). At this rate I'll have to defend myself with bad language. So... today I hauled a few ladders down to the fenceline and hitched them up against the pecan trees, so if I have to get up a tree quick-like, I won't have far to run! lol Hopefully that and a cell phone should square up against a pig charge.

Now please just tell me that wild boars don't climb trees (or ladders)!!!

On the bright side, we've got a good man who put out three large baited traps; hopefully we'll get some relief that way, until I can protect myself again properly (man, I miss my Springfield XDM...)

Scorch · May 15, 2013, 12:53 AM

Quote:

Does singing You Light Up My Life qualify me to inflict enough pain on them?

Ouch!

big al hunter · May 15, 2013, 01:37 AM

Pigs, like bears, live and die by their noses. A good shot of pepper spray in or about the nose and eyes will stun and disorient any animal. Especially those that have a particularly sensitive sense of smell.
Just make sure you are up wind when you discharge the spray, or you will join in the pigs discomfort.

May 14, 2013, 02:55 AM	#1
justplainpossum Senior Member Join Date: February 24, 2013 Location: duh, Texas! : ) Posts: 222	For the sake of argument, (and trust me, an explanation would take too long), let's say you are hiking around and run into a mama sow who chooses to charge instead of hightail it. You don't have a gun with you. Would a knife provide any kind of protection or provide an opportunity to get away -- and if so, what kind of knive would you carry and where would you stick it to the pig? Or a bow and arrow? Please, no grief, I'm serious with this question. Would any self-defense have to be overwhelming to make a pig change its plan of attack, instead of just makes it mad? Or would they perhaps split if they see there may be some resistance? Would mace work better? Thanks for your continued patience. Last edited by Brian Pfleuger; May 14, 2013 at 09:36 AM.

May 14, 2013, 05:46 AM	#2
twins Senior Member Join Date: October 1, 2010 Posts: 393	I've been charged by a medium sized boar (chased off before it got near me) and they are quicker than any human can respond. I don't think a knife would be of any help unless you can get a hold of the animal. As for a big sow, I'm guessing you'll just be a road bump as it charges. Last edited by twins; May 14, 2013 at 05:52 AM.

May 14, 2013, 10:33 AM	#3
tahunua001 Senior Member Join Date: July 21, 2011 Location: Idaho Posts: 7,839	it depends on how defensive the sow is. the knife will most likely offer little to no protection unless you are very quick on your feet and have the reflexes of a fighter pilot. the bear has 10 1-4 inch blades of it's own(depending on species) and would take a lot for it to give up it's attack. afterall the reason that the mother sow attacked you in the first place is because it thinks you are a danger to it's cub, why would confirming that you are dangerous convince it to leave? I know that's trying to add logic to the motivations of a wild animal but that's just the way I see it. mace, and not the stuff you get in the little kimber squirt guns, is a much better option, at least by blinding the bear it gives you a chance to high-tail it out of there, I personally live in an area that only has blackbears with one of my fav summer spots having just a very remote chance of seeing grizzlies so I feel perfectly safe with a 45 auto on my hip. yes a 44mag or 480 ruger or 500 S&W would be much better especially should I find an agressive momma griz but odds are against such an encounter so I just plan for little blackies, cats, and puppies(the 120LB kind) __________________ ignore my complete lack of capitalization. I still have no problem correcting your grammar. I never said half the stuff people said I did-Albert Einstein You can't believe everything you read on the internet-Benjamin Franklin

May 14, 2013, 10:51 AM	#5
Evan Thomas Senior Member Join Date: July 7, 2008 Location: Upper midwest Posts: 5,631	Even though we're talking hogs here, bear spray might be a good option. You'd need to have it in a belt holster so it's very accessible, and perhaps get into the habit of having it in your hand if you're walking through brush or anywhere else with limited visibility. It works very reliably on bears, and I'd think it would be effective on hogs, as well. __________________ Never let anything mechanical know you're in a hurry.

May 14, 2013, 11:51 AM	#8
globemaster3 Senior Member Join Date: January 28, 2006 Posts: 1,482	Having first hand seen a hog taken down with a knife, you will want a big one. Ka-Bar comes to mind. Either a neck/throat hit to get the jugular (other than the spine, no bones to contend with), or try and get between the ribs into the heart or lungs. If the hog is working you over and you have the presence of mind, anything is better than nothing! I have been charged once, by a boar, and still am not sure why as it was pretty open with plenty of options for his route of travel, unless I just happened to be in the way of the 1 route he chose... But agreed, most often, they just take off. __________________ NRA Life Member "We have enough gun control. What we need is idiot control."

May 14, 2013, 10:37 AM	#4
justplainpossum Senior Member Join Date: February 24, 2013 Location: duh, Texas! : ) Posts: 222	I think you misread, I meant feral hog, not bear. And again, no guns. Right now my best plan is to put ladders up against different trees on my place that are in the open, but any other suggestons would be appreciated (traps are baited, they're being hunted, but this has yet to be successful). I suppose I could carry around a pole vault...

May 14, 2013, 10:51 AM	#6
Wild Bill Bucks Senior Member Join Date: December 28, 2005 Location: Southeastern Oklahoma, Next door to Sasquatch Posts: 1,266	Been around a lot of hogs, and the only time I ever thought I was being charged was when I was standing in the only path of retreat the hog had, and it ran into me while trying to escape. I have seen cornered hogs with little ones that will become rather aggressive, but will only chase you until they are certain you are not a threat. Most of the time a sow will only chase you a few yards, then will return to her piglets, the same way they will do a yote if one is stupid enough to try and get one of her little ones. I would think a quality can of pepper spray would do the trick, but if you are truly being charged by a hog that means you harm, you would not have time to use it before it got you. You would have to be right on top of a sow for her to become aggressive enough to charge, as they will run from you if they have more than 20 feet on you. As far as a knife against a charging hog, my thought is it would be only serve to cut your own throat if you had time.

May 14, 2013, 11:23 AM	#7
justplainpossum Senior Member Join Date: February 24, 2013 Location: duh, Texas! : ) Posts: 222	lol Wild Bill!! Well, at least I know I have options! I will check into that bear spray, Vanya, thank you. I've accidentally walked up on babies way too many times for my comfort (actuallly, most times they saw or heard me and ran out to see me, and I'm like, no, get away, we're not friends!), and hearing that grunting (or screaming) a few feet behind them is not something I'm all that crazy about.

May 14, 2013, 02:06 PM	#9
TheBear Senior Member Join Date: April 11, 2011 Posts: 303	get yourself a boar speer, you can use it as a walking stick. you could stop a charging boar with a boar speer, people hunted boar with those for centurys...a big and strong dog (mastino, russian terrier...) would also be a great help

May 14, 2013, 03:03 PM	#10
kraigwy Senior Member Join Date: June 16, 2008 Location: Wyoming Posts: 11,061	Don't think I'd take a knife to a sow fight. __________________ Kraig Stuart CPT USAR Ret USAMU Sniper School Distinguished Rifle Badge 1071

May 14, 2013, 03:40 PM	#11
Strafer Gott Senior Member Join Date: May 12, 2011 Location: New Mexico Posts: 1,315	Anything that resembles a big bore handgun will probably work. If I went for a hike and left one at home, especially in free pork country, imagine my chagrin!

May 14, 2013, 04:34 PM	#12
tahunua001 Senior Member Join Date: July 21, 2011 Location: Idaho Posts: 7,839	oh, sorry, I just got done with my spring bear hunt so I have bears on the brain. hogs and smaller bears though are still pretty close to eachother as far as temperament goes. they avoid people wherever possible though they will get defensive over young. I've seen pretty gruesome wounds caused by hogs using nothing but their teeth. much like bears they have very thick hide and a lot of fat and extraneous muscle to get through before you begin to limit their mobility or start to cause any serious harm. I would still recommend bear mace or handguns but since you don't want to talk guns bear mace is your best bet. __________________ ignore my complete lack of capitalization. I still have no problem correcting your grammar. I never said half the stuff people said I did-Albert Einstein You can't believe everything you read on the internet-Benjamin Franklin

May 14, 2013, 04:35 PM	#13
justplainpossum Senior Member Join Date: February 24, 2013 Location: duh, Texas! : ) Posts: 222	Yeah, I can't use guns now at all for a few months (bummer), so I'm looking for alternatives. I'm a pretty slight girl, I guess, so I'm not sure how I'd do with the boar spear!

May 14, 2013, 06:08 PM	#15
justplainpossum Senior Member Join Date: February 24, 2013 Location: duh, Texas! : ) Posts: 222	Ha! If I walk around with this, my Dad, family, friends and neighbors are gonna think I'm nuts! lol But it says it only weighs four pounds, so that's kind of cool. Methinks I better try honing my tree-climbing skills first. http://www.coldsteel.com/Product/95B...OAR_SPEAR.aspx

May 14, 2013, 06:10 PM	#16
justplainpossum Senior Member Join Date: February 24, 2013 Location: duh, Texas! : ) Posts: 222	It is relatively short and heavy and has two "lugs" or "wings" on the spearsocket behind the blade, which act as a barrier to prevent an injured and furious boar from working its way up the shaft of the spear to attack the hunter. Definitely going to go with the tree climbing.

May 14, 2013, 06:51 PM	#17
jmr40 Senior Member Join Date: June 15, 2008 Location: Georgia Posts: 10,805	Hogs, and for the most part black bear are not trying to kill you. Most black bear rarely put up much of a fight even to protect their young. Grizzlies are a different story. Put up a good fight, even with bare hands and they will almost always retreat. You may be hurt, even badly, but putting up a good fight is far better than the alternative. A sturdy fixed blade with at least 4" of blade would be my 1st choice. If they do decide to kill you, they will win. But a bear or hog does not know that they can easily kill you unless they have done so in the past. Put on a good show and hurt one bad enough with a knife, stick, rock or whatever you can find and they will decide you are not worth getting hurt over. Wild animals don't go to the hospital when hurt so they avoid it at all costs. They won't go after prey that shows the ability to hurt them.

May 14, 2013, 07:23 PM	#18
justplainpossum Senior Member Join Date: February 24, 2013 Location: duh, Texas! : ) Posts: 222	Does singing You Light Up My Life qualify me to inflict enough pain on them? Because I'll do it, if they make me.

May 14, 2013, 08:42 PM	#19
BuckRub Junior member Join Date: October 3, 2012 Location: Central Texas Posts: 1,046	I think a knife will kill a sow, she may eat off your legs or rip you from privates to your neck but if you are determined enough you may still get the blade in deep enough before you bleed out. Last edited by BuckRub; May 14, 2013 at 10:53 PM.

May 14, 2013, 10:23 PM	#20
justplainpossum Senior Member Join Date: February 24, 2013 Location: duh, Texas! : ) Posts: 222	Wow, Buck, I feel so much better now!

May 14, 2013, 10:53 PM	#21
BuckRub Junior member Join Date: October 3, 2012 Location: Central Texas Posts: 1,046	Really most pigs will haul butt away from you but if you ever get ate up before you're able to shoot them off of you like I did, it ain't no fun. They're very, very quick and fear nothing when trying to hurt or kill you. You're better off using plenty of gun and make sure you kill instantly or be very careful when tracking them after you wounded one. If you ain't so sure of your gun or your shooting maybe you should take up golf or something. They eat good and a blast to hunt but if you hunt/shoot enough of them, sooner or later your luck will play out.

May 15, 2013, 12:11 AM	#22
Buzzcook Senior Member Join Date: November 29, 2007 Location: Everett, WA Posts: 6,126	Big stick. Oh and makes lots of noise when walking in the woods. But not a bad idea to work on your tree climbing skills.

May 15, 2013, 12:15 AM	#23
justplainpossum Senior Member Join Date: February 24, 2013 Location: duh, Texas! : ) Posts: 222	Yeah, I am not allowed to shoot for at least six months now (new medical problem, sigh). At this rate I'll have to defend myself with bad language. So... today I hauled a few ladders down to the fenceline and hitched them up against the pecan trees, so if I have to get up a tree quick-like, I won't have far to run! lol Hopefully that and a cell phone should square up against a pig charge. Now please just tell me that wild boars don't climb trees (or ladders)!!! On the bright side, we've got a good man who put out three large baited traps; hopefully we'll get some relief that way, until I can protect myself again properly (man, I miss my Springfield XDM...)

May 15, 2013, 01:37 AM	#25
big al hunter Senior Member Join Date: March 12, 2011 Location: Washington state Posts: 1,558	Another vote for pepper spray. Pigs, like bears, live and die by their noses. A good shot of pepper spray in or about the nose and eyes will stun and disorient any animal. Especially those that have a particularly sensitive sense of smell. Just make sure you are up wind when you discharge the spray, or you will join in the pigs discomfort. __________________ You can't fix stupid....however ignorance can be cured through education!