Anyone ever hunt pigs in the US using either a spear/javelin, knife or both?

Over here in Australia we have a clique of hunters who hunt pigs with the above "tools". They also use dogs to run the pig down and corner it then "hunt" it with the spear or knife.

Never tried it myself, and have NO intention of doing so, but these guys reckon it is a real buzz. Had an old Army mate that used to do it all the time and he wouldn't do it any other way.

From what I have heard the porkers in the US are much bigger than those we have over here so maybe it wouldn't be a good thing to try over there.

Anyway, I suppose that is what primitive weapons hunting is all about....back to the real basics.

Cheers, Vince

It has been and is done that way by a few people over here, but not by me!!

Never did it, but it sounds like real fair chase hunting. All the best...
Gil

I have an old Military buddy that lives in Florida. He invited me down for a pig hunt, when I got there he told me to put up my Contender and gave me a home made spear and said that we were going to ues the spears only. These spears had a blade approximately 20" LONG and Very Sharp. They also had a 6" cradle about 30" from the very tip that would prevent the spear from going all the way through and out the other side. The total legnth of the spear was 6' and the whole purpose was to get the pig to charge, plant the butt of the spear in the ground and let the pig run onto the spear and commit Hari Kari while you held onto the shaft. Needless to say, I declined this method and told him I was either using my 45-70 Contender or I was going back home. It may be the way for some but not this puppy!!! He has taken 5 this way but last year his luck ran out and he spent a couple weeks mending from tusk slashes in both of his legs, the pig died but he almost went with it. He told me that was his last spear hunt!!!

Flint54 wrote:

8-O I have an old Military buddy that lives in Florida. He invited me down for a pig hunt, when I got there he told me to put up my Contender and gave me a home made spear and said that we were going to ues the spears only. These spears had a blade approximately 20" LONG and Very Sharp. They also had a 6" cradle about 30" from the very tip that would prevent the spear from going all the way through and out the other side. The total legnth of the spear was 6' and the whole purpose was to get the pig to charge, plant the butt of the spear in the ground and let the pig run onto the spear and commit Hari Kari while you held onto the shaft. Needless to say, I declined this method and told him I was either using my 45-70 Contender or I was going back home. It may be the way for some but not this puppy!!! He has taken 5 this way but last year his luck ran out and he spent a couple weeks mending from tusk slashes in both of his legs, the pig died but he almost went with it. He told me that was his last spear hunt!!!

Wow, no way in the world that I would do that with a spear. Sounds like the spear he was using is similar to the Zulu Asegai....a very efficient hunting tool, but I think that it would be better used either as a throwing spear or hand driven into the animal as it gets in close.

Seems that we aussies aren't the only silly buggers out there.

Cheers, Vince

Saw an episode of "Ted Barta" where he did it... seemed well... less humane than a quick rifle shot. I kindof got turned off to it after that episode (but I'll admit right off he did try hard to kill it as fast and quick as possible... but it standing there held in position by a pack of dogs waiting to be stuck didnt seem overly sportsmanlike LOL).


-DallanC

Dog hunting nah! I dont like it much myself

But I got to admit the prospect of hunting animals with primitive weapons like thouse interests me.

As for Pig hunting with spears ... sure if I was on a tree

Dimitri

That wouldn't be for me. My legs are short enough already without being cut off by tusks...............

10ring, that is the medieval way of hunting bore and was used through the 1700's in Europe. My wife and I were just talking about it the other day. (she was telling me about it)

Never done it put talked to a guide that said knife hunts were his favorite way to hunt hogs. The dogs run them down and pin the hog then you kill it with your knife, like on Barts's show.

DallanC wrote:

Saw an episode of "Ted Barta" where he did it... seemed well... less humane than a quick rifle shot. I kindof got turned off to it after that episode (but I'll admit right off he did try hard to kill it as fast and quick as possible... but it standing there held in position by a pack of dogs waiting to be stuck didnt seem overly sportsmanlike LOL). -DallanC

I know it doesn't seem fair using dogs, but believe me the doggs get as good as they give. The dogs now wear big, thick, wide, studded collars and often a leather braest plate as well. Never seen a pig dog that wasn't covered in scars from encounters with pigs.

Not uncommon for them to be killed.

Cheers, Vince

RPM1031 wrote:

The dogs run them down and pin the hog then you kill it with your knife, like on Barts's show.

That hardly seems like fair chase . If you are going to use a knife OK but why tire the pig out first by running it half to death with dogs then stick it ............. !!!!!!!!!!!!! Kinda like running a deer a few miles with a truck then shooting it. "Doesn't sound like fair chase to me". "CHICKEN" Like shooting fish in a barrel........... !!!! Be a friggin man and do it without dogs if you want to prove you are a hero, otherwise use a gun and get it over with!!!!!!!!!!! And then some wonder why hunters get a bad name............. I'm sorry but I believe in fair chase and I know opinions on fair chase vary...... JMHO

I agree with 1895ss,this hardly seems fair and sure wouldnt seem to help hunters image any.On the other hand the method Flint54 described seems much more like a fair hunt,not that I would be interested in doing it.There seems to be a very fine line between fair chase and unethical in some situations and everybody might draw the line at a different point. What about mountain lion or bear hunting with hounds? Or hunting over bait? Everbody has different opinions on these subjects. Personally hunting anything over bait turns me off,but hunting with hounds,especially mountain lions,seems a little better(maybe its just because I dont like cats).

I've got to agree with you 1895. I myself prefer when I'm hunting to ether have the animal drop almost instantly if it wont I wouldnt shoot.

Want to really see fair chase ?? Read this:

www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9896288/

Now thats a fair fight! Would take alittle more adernilin then I have in my body to pull that off

Dimitri

My hubby and me have killed plenty of hogs with rifle and bow but there is nothing like using the spear or the knife to end the hunt. Let you get real close to the action

ladyhunter wrote:

My hubby and me have killed plenty of hogs with rifle and bow but there is nothing like using the spear or the knife to end the hunt. Let you get real close to the action

Welcome to the site Ladyhunter

Hog hunting seems fun with a bow or gun. The Tred show I mentioned above seemed at first a bit of a turnoff to me but I've since spent some time thinking about it and its really no different than here in the west where people run cougar with dogs.

How many dogs does it take to run hogs? I know you need at least 7 and preferably 11 or so to run cougar (any less and a big cat will just kill'em).


-DallanC