Last year I was hunting a tank. It was early and I was on my way in with a full set of dekes over my shoulder. I heard what sounded like hogs and I looked ahead turned on my head lamp and I saw a large hog staring right at me only 30 yards aways. I have heard so many stories about people being gored by hogs. Luckily the hog was just as startled as I was and took off.

Do any of you guys keep a handgun with you on your duck hunts? Because after that I think I should start

LOL, this is being discussed in another thread:

Open Hunting Discussion, "Ever been scared hunting"

I always carry a sidearm, pigs and other critters are everywhere and can be very dangerous. Let a pig attack you and get you off your feet and you stand a fair chance of dying or at least ending up in a hospital.

Most carry a shotgun while hunting...why not just use that?? The load you use might not be the best for shooting a hog but at 10 feet it won't matter cause all 1 1/4 oz of steel will go into the hog and might come out the other side. I shot a dead bloated cow one time from about 10 yards and it went clear though it.

It's not like you are going to have better aim with a handgun anyway.

I have been hunting for a little while now and never once have I ever heard of a pig attacking anyone. Carry a side arm if you want but do it because you want to, not in fear of the giant Armadillo.

Hogs usually just run away and if your going to the duck blind you have a shotgun anyways. On public land I don't think your gun can be loaded on the way to the blind, but you could keep some shells in your pocket.

IF ANYONE HAS EVER BEEN ATTACKED BY A HOG PLEASE COME FORWARD AND TELL THE STORY!!!!!!!!

Every hog I have ever seen has been scared chitless of people and has taken off as soon as it saw me.....

except for that one time

Load up a couple of oo buckshot with you next time, I'm pretty sure the GW wouldnt think you were using lead to hunt waterfowl.

not allowed to posses buckshot on CORP land

Not allowed to have LEAD Shot either, hummmmm Wondor if anybodys making steel buckshot??????????

steel bb's will kill hogs.

sweet pic

Nice load of bacon

that is an awesome pic!

You can't carry a handgun on any corp or public unless you have a CCH license.

Like I was saying earlier...if you are up close I really don't think buck shot would be all that much better than whatever steel shot you are using.

Thanks for the tips. At that time I didn't have a gun in hand and besides carrying a couple dozen decoys and a loaded shotshot is not a good idea. And for the story of people being attacked by hogs. My friend was charged by a wounded hog that he did not shoot and it chased him up a tree. I was not there to confirm the story so I am going by his word. My grandfather lives on Hawwaii and goes hog hunting there all the time,he and told me stories of hogs charging him, but the hogs in Hawwaii a little different. than the ones here.

Don't get Sabrina started on this thread, you'll never hear the end of it!
Kind of like Sniper is going thru right now on "Obama and Guns" in the section below!

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My son and I went scouting for hog and turkey one afternoon. After a few hours of scouting in waist high grass, we heard a [censored] load of squealing. I don't mean squealing at a distance. I'm talking about squealing right in front of us. We looked at each other and said, "Holy [censored]." I kept saying, "Do you see them, do you see them?" All you could see was the tall grass parting coming straight at us. There would be a loud snort and then parting of the grass as one would charge us. It would stop at about 10 feet or closer. I kept my bow pulled, just waiting for it to come out, but it would stop and then there would be another at one side or the other. My son climbed up a tree a few feet and said, "Holy [censored] dad, They are everywhere." There were piglets running wild as the boors and sows surrounded us. Loud snorts and charges went on for what seemed like a half hour or so, but you couldn't see them but for short occasions. I would get a aim on one, and then they would duck back off into the grass.

Steel shot works just fine if they are inside of 10 yards.

Came to TX from Cleveland OH in 1984 (I know, damn Yankee, mistake on the lake and all. But to my credit I have never been back, no snow to shovel here and can hunt or fish year round. Greatness!) and was bow hunting in Freer TX at the Escondido Ranch home of "Muy Grande" deer. Well, being a recent transplant I was “green” to South TX hunting. (Evidence to follow)

In the stand an hour before sun up. Shooting light arrives and I am presented with a 35 yard shot at a small 25-35lb javelina standing under a 55 gallon drum on stilts. I'm like WTF is that to both the animal and trash can in the air? Shoot & miss. Wait 30 minutes and am thinking there is nothing else on this sorry ranch but rattle snakes, (big azz ones at that) cactus and I am pissed at how much cash I had spent. I get out of the stand, (1st mistake) walk out to retrieve the arrow and leave bow in stand (2nd mistake) just as I find the arrow and bend over to pick it up the feeder goes off and I almost soil myself. Put 2 & 2 together and say ahhhh... I get it. As I turn to head back to my stand the brush comes alive and it sounds like a freakin stampede!

Insert deer in headlight look at this point as I am standing still with one lone arrow in my hand. They, full grown Russian bores this time, come crashing into the open with reckless abandon and apparently only had eating on their mind. Wasn’t sure if it was me or the corn I was standing in but at this point I will admit to touching a little cotton. The first 3-5 bores immediately stop but the middle and back of the pack apparently did not have anti-lock breaking and there was a bovine pile-up 15 yards in front of me. They were all pretty well startled and in their confusion ran around and past me on either side. I’d guess 15-18 of em. It was after they had receded back into the brush that I noticed my legs shaking and a warm moistness around my midsection.

Don’t know if that counts as an “attack” but they damn sure didn’t retreat as they gave me the shock and awe treatment.

I've had one boar charge me while I was quail hunting (in defense of the boar, a buddy and I did chase him into the corner of high fence, so he didn't have much of an option). I have also had a javelina charge me and a friend while deer hunting. I don't know of anyone who was actually "gored" by a hog.

Yes but I pretty much put myself between her and her babies. I agree, you would literally have to be face to face with a hog to get it to charge. My buddy had a boar charge him once when he got on his 4 wheeler near a feeder. I believe the hog was challenged because of the food....my expierence.

Try shooting a lactating sow and NOT killing her. See what that gets ya...