Hunter Savaged By Boar In Bush

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30190, 23 July 1963, Page 17

Hunter Savaged By Boar In Bush

(New Zealand Press Association)

NEW PLYMOUTH, July 22. A 26-year-old New Plymouth pighunter won a battle with a savage boar in rugged bush east of Eltham on Saturday.

Mr lan Murray was hunting among the steep hills of the Omoana area with Messrs D. Allen, New Plymouth, and R. Smith, of Eltham.

They reached a river bank and spotted a pig on a clearing above a steep ridge. They sent the dogs after the pi& dropped their packs and a pig they had already killed, and headed for the clearing. They killed the pig and the dogs dashed away tracking more.

Then Mr Murray heard a movement in the waist-high scrub. Suddenly a boar charged.

Without time to aim, Mr Murray raised his rifle and fired. But the bullet just grazed the boar behind the ear. The boar crashed into Mr Murray and sent him sprawling on his back. As Mr Murray called for help the boar drove in savagely and Mr Murray fought desperately for his life in .the tangled fern. While the boar twisted its head violently, trying to rip with his tusk, Mr Murray fumbled with his rifle and squeezed the trigger and the bullet ploughed into the boar’s head. The boar, badly wounded, staggered back into the scrub.

Mr Murray scrambled to his feet, put his last bullet into the breech and waited for the boar to charge again. All he could hear was heavy

breathing. Suddenly the boar’s head appeared. Mr Murray lifted the rifle and aimed carefully and shot the boar dead.