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I was discussing things with a friend the other day, and this came up.

Suppose you're beset by a mob of hoodlums intent on causing you ill will. If in the process of this attempt you make one eat his teeth, it will probably do little to stop the storm of fists, legs, and possibly knives headed your way.

However, if you casually grab one by the face and break his neck, the other will most likely pause. Or rather, if you manage to do an obscene amount of visual damage it will definitely be an attack on morale.

But would animals react the same way?

For example if your attacked by a pack of wolves. Using your gun to smack one or maybe even take shots at one might do little to stop the back, but if you're using a shotgun with 3 buck magnum (I think thats right) and you take a shot that happens to go right down the throat of an open mouth that was very close to the end of the barrel, causing some splatter an liquification, would that cause pause?

pack of wolves

Pack Mentality. How far starved are they?

How use is the animal to you and is it fimiliar with fire arms?

Honestly, it's just a general sort of time. I know starved animals can become borderline suicidal (can't blame them) if it's bad enough.

I remember reading of some guys who went hunting and bagged an elk. Left to go get their horses and some carrying equipment, came back to find a pack of wolves had claimed it and started chasing them when they came near.

Edit - something along those lines. Not starving, but hungry in the usual sense.

Edit 2 - I've never heard of wolves just messing with people for kicks so yeah it would be something along the lines of them wanting to eat you, but they aren't starving. Just hungry and you happened to be there. Forgive my lack of wolf behavioral knowledge if I'm found wanting in this matter. I just picked a pack animal that was common enough in the wilds.

I know they read alot from body language so one's demeaner has to portray dominant aggresivness

Jihadin wrote:I know they read alot from body language so one's demeaner has to portray dominant aggresivness

Aye, however ripping one's shirt open and thumping on one's chiseled hairy pecks with equally hairy knuckles while running around in a circle and letting off a war whoop sometimes has the same effect.

Animals may be able to smell fear but not crazy... not until it's too late.

Canines hate loud bangs, so I'm guessing that the simple act of discharging one's firearm would probably be enough to scare off a pack of wolves. They are wild animals after all.

Judging by personal experience and other incidents ive seen 1st hand large flashy displays of skill, like pretending you know martial arts when really you only think you know some moves you saw on a Jackie Chan movie once, arent a good deterent against people intent on doing you harm but laying one out can usually make em stop for a second which will might give you that vital second you need to either punch more of them or leg it.


As far as animals go though. I dont think seeing one of their comrades get taken down by a shotgun blast to face would affect a pack of wolves that much, its all part of the game really, kill or be killed and all that. And smacking one in the nose with the butt of the gun isnt gonna do diddly as far as morale is concerned. Animals just dont think like that. Its why dogs make such effective weapons for police forces. You can kick and punch at it all day long but as long as it can, it will keep coming at you. Which brings me to my next point. Police and military dogs would have to be accustomed to Gunshots and other loud bangs otherwise they would be near useless in their assigned rolls. Take for example the following...



The dog in question is totally unphased by the bullets whizzing past him. To top it all of it gets an awesome take down added to its name.
Now going back to the point about shooting one of the wolves, depending on how starved they are i think the wovles are more likely just to turn on their dead mate and devour him coz its an easy meal. They may kill you too but i doubt it would be out of revenge.



@Albatross - While not incorrect i dont think to say "Canines hate loud bags" is entirely right either. Wouldnt you be startled if someone dischaged a gun near you without you knowing it was going to happen? Think about what happens if a car backfires close by. People get surprised just as much a dog would.

Didn't know wolves would resort to cannabalism

I once got into a situation with some bears. I called the largest one out and took him down with my kung fu skillz. All the other bears left me alone after that.

Necroshea wrote:Didn't know wolves would resort to cannabalism

I dont think they would be cannabalistic under normal circumstances. I was going under the assumption that they were starving and desperate.

Well they will eat the young if food is scarce.

So will many other mammals. Cats and dogs will do it too.

Certain larger ones with dominant mating structures will just kill and eat the offspring of lesser males.

That sounds about right. Male Lions are always knocking off the cubs if they belong to another male who lost control of his pride. Its a wonder its not more common in human society.

Snrub wrote:That sounds about right. Male Lions are always knocking off the cubs if they belong to another male who lost control of his pride. Its a wonder its not more common in human society.

Sounds like the Medieval Monarchy in some respects.