Back in march I had an encounter with a very large hog on the trail, West Prong Branch, where he became very agitated and charged me.
I wrote the park to report the incident and to get a reading on the use of firearms to protect life and limb. I was armed at the time but was so deep in my pack to be of no use. Here is the response I received from the Chief Ranger from the GSMNP:
(He gave me permission to quote him directly)
"Your message was forwarded to me for a response. The technical answer to your question concerning the use of a firearm would depend upon the specific circumstances relating to the incident itself; i.e. was use of a firearm necessary to prevent physical harm to oneself or others? If the answer is "yes," then you would have a good legal defense. Experience has shown, though, that such instances would be extremely rare. I discussed this issue with our head of our Wildlife Management Branch, who has spent his career managing--among other animals--wild hogs in the park. He advised that in his 20 years here we have never had anyone seriously injured by a wild hog. Out of the many millions of people who hike in the park each year, he could think of only two cases in 20 years where visitors were knocked down by hogs. In both instances, the hog was running down the trail and our biologists believe they unknowingly ran into visitors on the trail. He knows of only one case where a female hog chased a boy to protect her piglet. The hog bruised the foot of the boy. As you can see your odds of becoming injured by a wild hog is extraordinary low. If, after your close encounter, you would still feel more comfortable with an added layer of protection, we suggest you carry a bear spray repellent. It is much lighter than a firearm, effective, and you won't have to worry about resisting the urge to use the firearm in a situation where an inadequate justification exists for its use. I hope this addresses your concern. Thank you for seeking our guidance and I hope that you continue to enjoy your visits to the park and add on to your long and impressive record of hiking in the park."