Bullwhips effectiveness with wild animals

ShanghaiJack · Post by **ShanghaiJack** » Thu Dec 02, 2004 1:11 pm

I wasn't sure if I should post this here or in Lao Che's, so Mods feel free to move it.

I was thinking about the opening of LC tonight, specifically the scene where young Indy drives back the lion with the whip, and it got me thinking. How effective is a bullwhip in driving off a wild animal? It's my understanding that the whips used by lion tamers are not really used to control the animals, but are really more for show. If you were out in the wilderness with your whip and were confronted with a wild animal would the whip drive it away or just make it angry?

Swindiana · Post by **Swindiana** » Thu Dec 02, 2004 1:14 pm

This calls for some field testing. I'll be right back after I've visited with my friends 'the polar bears'.

I think there are some stories in the archives with whips and frightened dogs... Interesting question.

Regards,
Swindiana

Scandinavia Jones · Post by **Scandinavia Jones** » Thu Dec 02, 2004 1:19 pm

Domestic animals tend to have respect for the crack. About 10 years ago, I drove cattle with my old 10-footer and the cows went pretty much where I wanted them to. I've made some dogs nervous as well...

As for wild animals, I guess it's better to not experiment unless facing a potentially lethal situation.

Paul_Stenhouse · Post by **Paul_Stenhouse** » Thu Dec 02, 2004 1:27 pm

I've cracked my whips in the woods before at bears, and had them keep running away. Of course, it scared the @#$% out of me when the bear came out of the trees about 30 feet away and darted across the road in the wilds of north Idaho.

I've scared off domestic dogs before, but use a snakewhip almost every day when walking the dog. It's a great training tool, and she comes right back at the crack of the whip.

Best Regards,

Paul Stenhouse

Snakewhip_Sable · Post by **Snakewhip_Sable** » Thu Dec 02, 2004 1:27 pm

I've scared the stuffings out of pitbulls and rotties in parks with my whip cracking. I've seen quite a few 1950's and earlier films where lions shy away big time from the business end of a whip - but the 'Tamers' often have a chair in the hand without the whip which they jam in the kitty's face. And they ALWAYS have a pistol at their side in case the lions figure out that if they get in close the whip won't work.

It's mostly the noise, I figure. There's no noises like that in nature.

Feraud · Post by **Feraud** » Thu Dec 02, 2004 1:31 pm

I assume the whip is an effective tool for influencing animals. Cowboys and drovers have historically used a whip in their profession. If a guy were cracking one near my face, I'd move myself along!

Hemingway Jones · Post by **Hemingway Jones** » Thu Dec 02, 2004 1:32 pm

My roommate has a cat that likes to scratch the heirloom oriental rug under the dining room table. Well, I cracked my whip toward her and it sure had an effect! "Her" equals cat, not roommate.

8-[

Sergei · Post by **Sergei** » Thu Dec 02, 2004 1:33 pm

It's always been the noise. That's the great myth about whips is that herders used the whip to strike the animal. A well directed crack near the head is a great motivator.

As far as wild animals, yes they do run away by the sound of loud crack. I have a black bear respond by running away, as well as coyotes.

ShanghaiJack · Post by **ShanghaiJack** » Thu Dec 02, 2004 1:40 pm

Great answers and stories guys! Keep 'em coming! This one's the best!

Swindiana wrote:This calls for some field testing. I'll be right back after I've visited with my friends 'the polar bears'.

You be careful with those Polar Bears Swindy!

Swindiana · Post by **Swindiana** » Thu Dec 02, 2004 1:40 pm

I guess it's the same deal with the reason to why great many a dog does not like the noice of fireworks and thunder. Smart trhings to stay away from, I think.

Regards,
Swindiana

Feraud · Post by **Feraud** » Thu Dec 02, 2004 1:44 pm

I agree with Sergei. It's the noise. You would not want to damage costly livestock by whipping and harming the animals.

It seems a couple of our members have had some experience with bears. Is it fair to conclude that a whip is a potentially better bear deterrent than some other outlandish claims that are out there? If so, I'd be sure to pack a short whip in my travel bag as opposed to bear pepper spray or head to toe anti-bear armor!

Snakewhip_Sable · Post by **Snakewhip_Sable** » Thu Dec 02, 2004 1:51 pm

Hence 'bear-bangers', I guess. Those are those little keychain zip-gun type deals that make either aloud noise, or shoot a flare depending on what you load it with.

I hear bears also run away if you have cooked wieners in your back pocket. Who wants to test that theory?

Feraud · Post by **Feraud** » Thu Dec 02, 2004 2:03 pm

Snakewhip_Sable said:

I hear bears also run away if you have cooked wieners in your back pocket. Who wants to test that theory?

Don't you mean fresh salmon? Not that I am volunteering!

Post by **Michaelson** » Thu Dec 02, 2004 2:09 pm

Those who have tried it have never been heard from again, though.

Best story I ever read was when a fellow wrote to Guns and Ammo and asked what was the best lubricant to use on his .357 Mag Ruger revolver in the cold Alaskian territory, as he was going up to hunt in bear country. He was told that bacon grease was the VERY best lubricant to use on .357's in that area. If a bear started chasing you, drop the gun and run. The amount of time it took the bear to stop and eat the gun might give you more of a head start toward your truck. (true story!):roll:

I have a feeling testing a whip would probably be in the same category.

Regards. Michaelson

Snakewhip_Sable · Post by **Snakewhip_Sable** » Thu Dec 02, 2004 2:11 pm

Bears aren't fussy about what they eat. Lions may be.

Feraud · Post by **Feraud** » Thu Dec 02, 2004 2:11 pm

Great story Michaelson! I guess Common Sense is the best life preserver.

winrichwhips · Post by **winrichwhips** » Thu Dec 02, 2004 2:49 pm

When I first got into whip cracking I went walking over to the neighbors house by way of their holstien pasture. I took a whip with and I thought that I could keep the cows at a distance with a crack or two. It turned out they became curious and only got closer. Kind of a back-fire there.

Talking about whips and animals, a whip cracker in Wisconsin told be that in some cultures whips were used to hunt birds. I think he said that a whip could be made with a sling where the fall is supposed to be and you could fire shot at the birds. I messed around with but I didn't have a whole lot of success.

-Adam Winrich

Post by **Michaelson** » Thu Dec 02, 2004 2:54 pm

It's been written that the old tried and true side throw was the trick of choice for taking birds out of trees when hunting. I tried once to nail a squirrel (which was doing SERIOUS damage on my sister-in-laws house at the time. It had chewed a hole through the side of the eve and was burrowing into the insulation in the attic. Just to be clear....I was not just arbitrarily attempting to harm a woodland creature for the heck of it, and I didn't have my pistol on me at the time.

), and durned if I didn't knock it nuts on the first try. Didn't nail it solid though, and it spun in circles, then ran up and into the top of another tree. Bet IT was cussing me for a while.

With that experience, I'd say it would be possible to hunt small game if the situation were right and the hunter truly serious about his target. Regards. Michaelson

Snakewhip_Sable · Post by **Snakewhip_Sable** » Thu Dec 02, 2004 3:10 pm

that's twisted, but it's funny too.

Post by **Michaelson** » Thu Dec 02, 2004 3:17 pm

About par for one of my days, Snakewhip. 8-[

Regards. Michaelson

rick5150 · Post by **rick5150** » Thu Dec 02, 2004 3:48 pm

Bullwhips effectiveness with wild animals

I thought that bullwhips were invented for the purpose of fending off animals and modifying their behavior?!?

One good connection with the business end of a bullwhip and that animal will learn to communicate in English if it means never getting hit again. Why, you can knock a Chihuahua clear into the neighbors yard with a strike from a bullwhip

Post by **Michaelson** » Thu Dec 02, 2004 3:54 pm

I'll remember that the next time I'm out moving my Chichuahua herd to better pasture.

Regards. Michaelson

JAN · Post by **JAN** » Thu Dec 02, 2004 4:12 pm

I think I´ll do a test on the wife... Up to X-mas she is like a wild animal..

ha, ha, Honey I was only joking....ok, I´ll go off-line now...You where saying.... shhh.. You´ll wake the children..

binkmeisterRick · Post by **binkmeisterRick** » Thu Dec 02, 2004 4:15 pm

So can I assume that whips are good against Care Bears, too?

"Care Bears... I hate those guys!

bink

rick5150 · Post by **rick5150** » Thu Dec 02, 2004 4:22 pm

I'll remember that the next time I'm out moving my Chichuahua herd to better pasture.

I thought the herding Chihuahuas were indigenous to New Hampshire :evil: You usually see them shaking their way south each fall trying to get back to Mexico.

English Adventurer · Post by **English Adventurer** » Thu Dec 02, 2004 6:52 pm

Well, I cracked my whip toward her and it sure had an effect! "Her" equals cat, not roommate

Didn't Carmina sort her out?

Ian

ShanghaiJack · Post by **ShanghaiJack** » Thu Dec 02, 2004 10:18 pm

Michaelson wrote: Best story I ever read was when a fellow wrote to Guns and Ammo and asked what was the best lubricant to use on his .357 Mag Ruger revolver in the cold Alaskian territory, as he was going up to hunt in bear country. He was told that bacon grease was the VERY best lubricant to use on .357's in that area. If a bear started chasing you, drop the gun and run. The amount of time it took the bear to stop and eat the gun might give you more of a head start toward your truck. (true story!):roll:

Michaelson, this reminds me of a story a ranger at Yellowstone told me.

Two friends, Jack and John were on a two week camping trip in the back country. One day while they were out hiking they heard a crash in the woods directly in front of them. As they were wondering what it was, out came the biggest, meanest lookin' grizzly that anyone has ever laid eyes on. He had a murderous gleam in his eye and charged them. One look at that bear was enough to convince John that the bear was going to tear them limb for limb and he high tailed it out of there as fast as possible. After a few steps he realized Jack wasn't beside him, so he stopped and turned around fearing the grizzly had already gotten his friend. What he saw when he turned around was unbelievable. Jack was calmly sitting one the ground putting on a pair of running shoes as the bear was quickly closing the distance between them. "What do you think you're doing? That's not going to help you outrun the bear!" John shouted. "I don' have to outrun the bear...just you." Jack calmly replied.

Glurrk · Post by **Glurrk** » Thu Dec 02, 2004 11:18 pm

ShanghaiJack wrote: "I don' have to outrun the bear...just you." Jack calmly replied.

I've heard that one before, only it involved a lawyer. (The lawyer replaced Jack, not the bear.)

Getting back to the topic, I managed to rid my wife's garden of a pesky rabbit with a nice forward crack right over its head. It hasn't been back since.

Elmer Fudd had it so wrong all these years...

McFly · Post by **McFly** » Thu Dec 02, 2004 11:30 pm

I've scared away cats many a time with my whip - for their own protection of course. I scare them away when they wander too close to the area in which my whip is flying around. (There's a family on my street that doesn't really care where their cats run to.) I'd have to say it works very well. Funny that the birds don't react quite as nicely as they used to... maybe it's because I'm not as harsh on my Stenhouse as I was on my Keppler. *shrug*

Either way, I can attest to the whip working well scaring away animals. Just today I accidentally sent a dog running around the corner and up the street, while the poor owner had to chase it - she caught him pretty quickly. I did feel pretty bad after that though.

In Christ,
Shane

Merrick · Post by **Merrick** » Fri Dec 03, 2004 3:18 am

Langpuss wrote: I've also often wondered what the common length would have been in this case - were other lengths "invented" for western shows and stunt work??

In my adolescence when I actually used a whip for its intended purpose, we all had six or eight foot stock whips. I dont know what the guys on horseback used, as I certainly couldn't use a whip when I was riding.

On another note, the tool we use most for rounding up cattle these days is called a Toyota Hilux.

Swindiana · Post by **Swindiana** » Fri Dec 03, 2004 3:48 am

-Giddiyap'ah!
*Beep, beep*

Regards,
Swindiana

Paul_Stenhouse · Post by **Paul_Stenhouse** » Fri Dec 03, 2004 9:35 am

Dear Merrick,

That reminds me of a story a former co-worker told me. He grew up in a small town in Montana, and had one particularly large, and mean bull in the field of cattle. He told me that he used a whip as a kid to move the bull along, until the bull got used to it. After the bull got used to the sound, it no longer worked so he used a dirtbike, and would ride up along side and boot the bull to get it to move, which worked great. That is, until the bull dismounted him off the dirtbike by putting his horn through the frame. After that, he'd just use a pellet gun to shoot him in the butt, because he wasn't going near that bull anymore.

I don't know if bulls are wild, but they sure as #### aren't tame, as in most cases I've heard. I suppose if we all went around cracking whips in the woods, then wildlife would get used to it, and it wouldn't work so well. Sort of along the same lines as how deer in national parks are so used to people that you can sometimes hand feed them potato chips and junk food. (No, I haven't done that. I've only ever given my gum to a chipmunk at Hurricane Ridge. But don't worry, I softened it up for him ahead of time).

Best Regards,

Paul Stenhouse

Gater · Post by **Gater** » Fri Dec 03, 2004 10:10 am

About par for one of my days, Snakewhip

Isn't this a paraphrase for "Happens to me all the time" ?

Merrick · Post by **Merrick** » Fri Dec 03, 2004 9:10 pm

That's a great story Paul and how true it is. In the current herd that is on the farm that I used to help on (and my Dad still works on), there is one bull and a whip has absolutely no effect on him. But I guess like many fellas, his mind is ruled by his stomach, and the best way to get him to go where you want is to throw a handful of hay in front of him and then let him see the whole bale in the back of the Hilux. Just drive the hilux (slowly so he can almost keep up) where you want, drop the bale off and there you go.

Paul_Stenhouse · Post by **Paul_Stenhouse** » Sat Dec 04, 2004 10:38 am

Dear Merrick,

How true that we are ruled by our stomachs! I guess if I was 1000+ kilos, and cantankerous, the only thing that would get me to move was food!

Best Regards,

Paul Stenhouse