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cal allison
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Posted: Thu May 29th, 2008 02:42 pm |
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I have been talking to some old timers that raised hogs back in the day. Most say the sows do not have the strong motherly instinct to protect their young like bears or other animals. However, most seem to think the boars will get aggressive around sows in heat. We all know hogs and pigs of any size will get plenty mean when cornered or trapped.
I don't worry about a hog getting after me out in the open. They will charge if cornered or crowded, but nearly always this is a bluff and if they have another way to go they will turn off. In a pen or trailer this does not apply!!!
I always carry a short gun with me when I am scouting for places to put my traps. I get as deep in the woods as possible and still be able to get the hogs out of the traps. When looking for wallows, bedding areas, and places of high traffic I often have to crawl through brush on hands and knees. This is when I most worry about meeting a hog. For one I may not look like as big a threat when I'm on their level, and neither of us have anywhere to go but straight ahead or backward. HOGS DON'T HAVE REVERS!!!
Anybody have any thoughts on this subject?
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Nutoy
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Posted: Thu May 29th, 2008 03:56 pm |
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HOGS DON'T HAVE REVERSE!!!,,,,,, I like that. They have reverse but it is very low geared and fails to function when they are in escape mode. lol
I agree with you for the most part. Were the old timers refering to domestics or ferals? There is a difference when it comes to the aggression factor.
IMO, the biggest threat of a "possible" sustained attack would involve a sow in heat. I've never had it happen to me but I've had several people tell me they've been attacked by a boar that was tending a trapped sow.
When releasing snared hogs, my experience has been that the mature sows are the ones to watch. They will make multiple attempts at you while the boars will usually make a single pass. Then again, the boars are usually leaving part of thier anatomy behind.
I hear stories all the time about someone getting attacked by hogs because they stumbled into a sounder. I've stalked to within a few feet of hogs many times and have never had them charge me once they were aware of my presence. They've always bolted in the opposite direction.
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firedawg226
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Posted: Fri May 30th, 2008 12:10 am |
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I too carry a short gun in heavy cover. Feral hogs will scare the pants off you, and might actually pull them off given the chance. Watch some you tube and you will get a good idea. I get nervous crawling into areas i know they bed in, using their paths some i use a ruger 44 mag loaded with hornady ammo out in front.
I remain on constent alert status in questionable areas. My best advice to you is be mindfull of closed in areas, and be ready for anything. Ive had hogs run out between my legs and scare the crap out of me. After the rush of adrenaline has subsided, i try to recollect what transpired and make sure i leave myself a better out. I've never had one run me up a tree, but that day is coming i'm certain. Hogs are like any other creature and not unlike us, they have a tremendous fight or flight drive, and when cornered the mindset kicks in.
I agree with Nutoy, and that is given the chance they will run before charging, but as you stated when cornered they will fight. Typically i have found that if you give them a out they will take it. I try to stand sort of off to one side and let them make their move, then you can shoot if you so desire.
When snaring, IMO Nutoy is the man here in the southern U.S. for hogs... He placed a great share and learn post on this forum a while back and he is a expert on those matters. While trapping i've dabbeled in, i prefer to hunt them as i dont alwasys have time to check traps and with the distance i travel to trap and gas prices what it is, i fair better hunting.
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trapper dan
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Posted: Fri May 30th, 2008 12:49 am |
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| Very good points from two guys that i trust there opinions very much some times on different subjects and sometimes on the same but if you want the real deal come see us all sunday night @ wildlifepro.net well be there discussing this very issue on a talkcast it starts at 8 p.m. its going to be interesting. Oh i have had sows and boars both charge me more than once at the same setting and have been put in the trees a few times.Some times they just get mad IMO.
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cal allison
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Posted: Fri May 30th, 2008 04:22 am |
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Thanks guys, nice to know I'm in good company with my thoughts. Seems like we're all thinking somewhat alike. The men I was talking to were referring to domestic hogs. Thats why I had my doubts about the motherly instinct. I also agree that when trapped the sows are very aggressive with multiple hits on the trap, where as the boars will make a harder hit but fewer times. Boars almost seem to plan an attack. So far I've not come up on one on the trail but I know it's coming. I carry a sowed off 410 shotgun with a 44 shell in it. Not much good at any distance but plenty of knock down power at close quarters. I just hope if one comes out between my legs I hit the hog and not my foot.LOL
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firedawg226
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Posted: Fri May 30th, 2008 11:11 am |
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| I love your since of humor Cal!!!!! Further thought on the subject of motherley instinct reminds me of this, with hogs as well as all critters the main drive in their minds is food and self preservation.. I have seen both domestic and feral porcine eat their still born young, placenta and afterbirth immediately after labor. if that is an indication, i'd have to say that the motherly instinct is on a minamal level. I have witnessed hogs lay on, step on, and even attack the piglets savagely..... If you can study the behavior and you can draw your own conclusions...
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Nutoy
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Posted: Fri May 30th, 2008 03:04 pm |
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I have witnessed the same behavior. I have also witnessed sows attacking boars that were twice thier size when it came too close to thier pigs. I have watched sows stand back and let the pigs have thier fill, then a week later the same sows would clobber a pig for trying to nose into thier feed.
I might be wrong for saying this but, If humans would adapt the same behavior as wildlife the population on this small planet would be drastically reduced. There wouldn't be any freeloaders milking the system and living high on the "hog".
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firedawg226
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Posted: Fri May 30th, 2008 07:07 pm |
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Good points Nutoy. I have seen several of the same, behavior that is.
People talk about time outs. My dad took time out of his busy day to blister my butt. Spare the rod and spoil the child........
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cal allison
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Posted: Sat May 31st, 2008 02:39 pm |
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Not wanting to disagree firedawg, but I've always been told eating the placenta, after birth, and dead young is the most basic instincts. Most dogs & cats, if left alone while giving birth, will also do this. Some cows and goats will even eat the afterbirth and placenta, and I've seen horses paw to cover it up. They do this so the smell does not attract predators, insects, ect. I don't have any doubt that wild hogs have motherly instincts, and I think fairly strong ones. I just wonder about their resolve to fight for there young against a human. I think the sows are more likely to make a stand if the piglets are real young, and less likely as the pigs get bigger and able to run. I think the fellows I've been talking to are talking more about domestic hogs. Some of the behaviors are the same, many are not. One thing that does seem the same is letting pigs that are not their own nurse. My dad raised hogs 30 or 40 years ago and said the ones he had would do this. When a pig got hungry they went to the closest sow and got something to eat. I'm sure we've all seen 1 or 2 sows with any where from 15 to 30 piglets. Now I'm not a mathematician,but thats a little bigger litter than I've been led to believe they have.
Question; What do ya'll believe to be the average number in a litter and how many of those do you think live to reproduce?
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Nutoy
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Posted: Sat May 31st, 2008 03:22 pm |
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| The avg litter in my area is six, eight on a good year. With the amount of predators and hunting pressure around here I'd say at the most 25% make it to maturity.
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Guess
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Posted: Tue Jun 3rd, 2008 03:54 am |
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Boars tending sows can be aggressive and boars battling other boars for top position can be aggressive. I once called to fighting boars and the dominate boar came fighting..
I think the biggest danger of being hit by a hog is by wounded hogs, thay are always the most aggressive.
Sows will flee with their young given the chance unless you catch one and make it squeal even then most will still flee.
I raised domestic hogs for years, some sows will let you castrate the boar pigs right there in the pen and some will take you out just for looking that direction.
Rules for wildlife are made by humans. Animals don't follow the rules, they make new ones daily.
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cal allison
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Posted: Tue Jun 3rd, 2008 12:24 pm |
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| I think thats a good point about the rules. We can try and get a good idea of whats most likely to happen, but there are no guaranties when dealing with wildlife. There aren't many guaranties when dealing with domestic animals.
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Guess
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Posted: Tue Jun 3rd, 2008 02:20 pm |
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exactly, there are general rules that apply but the circumstances change every minute of every day altering the way animals may act or react.
you started a good post here, this is the way we learn. I have taken guys out hunting with me that have never hunted before and they'll ask lots of seemingly dumb questions from an experienced hunters point of view, but they will ask questions that are so obvious we often over look them. I believe that is why so many beginners kill exceptional animals their first hunting trip. They are not yet bound by "our" rules.
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firedawg226
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Posted: Wed Jun 4th, 2008 02:09 pm |
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| Good points Guess.
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