P
PreserveFreedom
Guest
I read about this in a knife catalog. How common is this in the US? Sounds like it would be a real challenge...and something to brag about if you did well. 
Art Eatman
Staff in Memoriam
Spear hunting for what sort of animal? Stabbing ("spearing" 
) works a lot better than throwing, unless you get very, very good or go for very large animals. Most very large game animals reside in Africa, and are known to resent sudden pain.
Hog hunting with a spear, from horseback, was considered quite the thing by British officers in Africa and Injuh. Some of them tried other game than hogs. See "...resent sudden pain".
The indigenes on Palawan Island of the Philippines hunted with spears for wild boar. There is a cross-piece on the back of the spear head to prevent the boar from coming right on up the shaft to chew on the source of the sudden pain.
Sporting, what?
, Art
) works a lot better than throwing, unless you get very, very good or go for very large animals. Most very large game animals reside in Africa, and are known to resent sudden pain.Hog hunting with a spear, from horseback, was considered quite the thing by British officers in Africa and Injuh. Some of them tried other game than hogs. See "...resent sudden pain".
The indigenes on Palawan Island of the Philippines hunted with spears for wild boar. There is a cross-piece on the back of the spear head to prevent the boar from coming right on up the shaft to chew on the source of the sudden pain.
Sporting, what?
, Art
P
PreserveFreedom
Guest
I was looking more at throwing. The catalog I was looking at had a few different kinds available, but the one that caught my eye was a javelin type with a wooden midsection. I wish I could give more detail but I left the catalog at work. Are common American game ever spear hunted, such as deer or elk? Do they have a special season?
Shootist45
New member
I believe that you might be referring to the Cold Steel catalog.
They have many good things to look at and the latest articles on spear use are very interesting.
As far as the use of a spear to take animals, you'll have to check the regs of the state you want to hunt in. Most will not let you hunt big game animals with anything other than firearms or archery. I think Florida and Tennessee do have exceptions on weapons use for hog hunting but, you'll have to check.
Does sound like getting back to the spirit of fair chase though!
Don not only train, also teach.
They have many good things to look at and the latest articles on spear use are very interesting.
As far as the use of a spear to take animals, you'll have to check the regs of the state you want to hunt in. Most will not let you hunt big game animals with anything other than firearms or archery. I think Florida and Tennessee do have exceptions on weapons use for hog hunting but, you'll have to check.
Does sound like getting back to the spirit of fair chase though!
Don not only train, also teach.
K
KilgorII
Guest
In Texas you can use anything up to dynamite to take hogs. No season. No restrictions other than no trespassing.
That said, I'll stick to rifles.
That said, I'll stick to rifles.
Art Eatman
Staff in Memoriam
Read an article a few years back, on some guys throwing spears by using the ancient atlatl. They had done it enough to achieve quite decent accuracy.
Since the ethic of hunting is independent of the weapon, I'd suggest a whole bunch of practice. When you're as accurate with a spear thrown at full force as with a bow or handgun at "the ususal" hunting ranges, I guess you'd be okay...
FWIW, Art
Since the ethic of hunting is independent of the weapon, I'd suggest a whole bunch of practice. When you're as accurate with a spear thrown at full force as with a bow or handgun at "the ususal" hunting ranges, I guess you'd be okay...
FWIW, Art
BadMedicine
Moderator
My friend, a native hawaiin was telling me about doing drives for wild pig on the islands. They live in the thick unerbrush around volcanoes (all of hawaii) and they would do pushes through the brush with spears and knives to hunt them. I don't think these pigs were native to the islands, so it couldn't be that ancient of a sport...maybe a hundred years or so though.
Also...native americans used to use snow-shoes to follow bison into deep snow where they could hardly move, and then spear them. Not throw the spear, but spear in hand. The native alasskans also did this for moose. Moose have a real tought time up here when we get deep snow. It covers up alot of their food, and absolutely saps their energy trying to move around in it. Alot of them just lay down and die.
) and they would do pushes through the brush with spears and knives to hunt them. I don't think these pigs were native to the islands, so it couldn't be that ancient of a sport...maybe a hundred years or so though.Also...native americans used to use snow-shoes to follow bison into deep snow where they could hardly move, and then spear them. Not throw the spear, but spear in hand. The native alasskans also did this for moose. Moose have a real tought time up here when we get deep snow. It covers up alot of their food, and absolutely saps their energy trying to move around in it. Alot of them just lay down and die.
Keith Rogan
New member
I heard a story second hand about a guy in Mississippi who hunts deer with a spear thrown with an atlatl. He apparently owns a lot of acreage that is crawling with deer and can afford to miss a lot...
I find it difficult to picture being close enough and making all that movement to throw it without them spooking. My hat is off to anyone who can do it successfully - or is even willing to try.
I find it difficult to picture being close enough and making all that movement to throw it without them spooking. My hat is off to anyone who can do it successfully - or is even willing to try.
I was invited to go knife hunting for boar in texas once.. apparently you surround the boar with barking dogs then knock it over on its side and skewer it with a knife, taking care to avoid tusks and hooves and baying hound dogs. I didn't do it (didn't have time) but it did sound like fun. I defintely have the knife for it, a Cold Steel first edition tanto, bought it back in 86 or so.. paid $135 for it back then. At the time it was the most valuable thing I owned. I've quartered an Elk or two with that knife, and a number of deer, butchered a hog, dressed a pig after luau and broken many an antelope's bones with it. Its a serious knife., and I keep it razor sharp. best knife I've ever owned.
handgun357
New member
I have speared turtles and bullfrogs, but never big game.
And as for hog hunting with a knife, is that crazy or what?
I suppose it is what you are used to.
Sounds like a challenge that won't keep me up at night wondering if I should have.
I have nothing against it. It sounds like it is as basic as the cave man, but it is just not for me.
For me, big game hunting involves at minimun, a bow or a gun.
Happy Hunting.........
And as for hog hunting with a knife, is that crazy or what?
I suppose it is what you are used to.
Sounds like a challenge that won't keep me up at night wondering if I should have.
I have nothing against it. It sounds like it is as basic as the cave man, but it is just not for me.
For me, big game hunting involves at minimun, a bow or a gun.
Happy Hunting.........
BadMedicine
Moderator
hmmm...I have gigged (speared) frogs, and shot turtles, but how excactly to you spear a turtle? Do you spear them through the shell, or just aim for the head???
In Idaho we used to shoot frogs with our .22's and use them for catfish bait There were a couple places where the 3 of us could get a couple gallons in an hour.
In Idaho we used to shoot frogs with our .22's and use them for catfish bait
There were a couple places where the 3 of us could get a couple gallons in an hour.handgun357
New member
BadMedicine,
Through the shell.
We use to spear snappers. You need a very heavy spear.
Through the shell.
We use to spear snappers. You need a very heavy spear.
justice4all
New member
It worked for John Rambo.
Rottweiler
New member
A few years back (college days)I remember an article in in the local paper about some guys in Montana who wanted to hunt whitetails with spears and atlatls. The reporter said they were able to hit a soda can at 50 yards consistently.The only real problem they were having was with MT fish and game not being able to decide if it was legal or not.
semi_problomatic
New member
Wondering if you were still interested and thought it would be funny to bump an old thread.
Actually due to the thickness of hog's hide one of the better ways to use a spear is to plant the butt, step on it and point the spear as the hog charges. Takes a bit of grit I guess to stand there while a hog charges you. Now that I'd call a sport.
But in most states its illegal to kill game (even fish) with a spear unless its a survival situation. Seems like a bad time to start practicing when you're survival is on the line though.
Actually due to the thickness of hog's hide one of the better ways to use a spear is to plant the butt, step on it and point the spear as the hog charges. Takes a bit of grit I guess to stand there while a hog charges you. Now that I'd call a sport.
But in most states its illegal to kill game (even fish) with a spear unless its a survival situation. Seems like a bad time to start practicing when you're survival is on the line though.
hickstick_10
New member
I reccomend trying it on black bear.
Take a picture, and you'l never have to pay for a drink again, plus I really doubt the magnum boys will snicker at your 30-30.
In all seriousness, you better work on your ability to run like an SOB, and some serious physical fitness training.
The old boar spears and swords used in germany had a cross bar on them to keep the hog from chargin his way up the blade and splitting you wide open.
Just notices this thread is 9 years old, so the OP must be about 24 years old now, I hope he bagged something I'd buy him a drink thats for sure.
Take a picture, and you'l never have to pay for a drink again, plus I really doubt the magnum boys will snicker at your 30-30.
In all seriousness, you better work on your ability to run like an SOB, and some serious physical fitness training.
The old boar spears and swords used in germany had a cross bar on them to keep the hog from chargin his way up the blade and splitting you wide open.
Just notices this thread is 9 years old, so the OP must be about 24 years old now, I hope he bagged something
I'd buy him a drink thats for sure.semi_problomatic
New member
I think climbing like a SOB would be more practical LOL!!! And I second the buying of the drink!
reloader28
New member
Where's Hogdogs??
Aint this what he does with pigs?
I think it would be a heck of an adrenaline rush.
Unfortunatly, we dont have pigs around here.
Aint this what he does with pigs?
I think it would be a heck of an adrenaline rush.
Unfortunatly, we dont have pigs around here.
Spears are a hassle the way we hunt. A good one will be 5-5.5 feet long. That will be tangled from the moment you hear dogs bayed up.
I have a pocket knife if I need to kill the pig to save dogs. If a guy along wants to "stick" a hog. we will already have the dogs off and it would be he and the pig or one other person.
If yiou wish to kill the hog by hand, the knife method gets you real close and easier to tote in the woods.
Brent
I have a pocket knife if I need to kill the pig to save dogs. If a guy along wants to "stick" a hog. we will already have the dogs off and it would be he and the pig or one other person.
If yiou wish to kill the hog by hand, the knife method gets you real close and easier to tote in the woods.
Brent