Montana's Spear Hunting bill, SB112 reads, in accordance with the provisions of this title and commission regulations, a hand-thrown spear must be considered a lawful means of hunting DURING THE GENERAL RIFLE SEASON and may be used to hunt the BIG game animals for which a license is held. SB112 has already passed in the Montana Senate. Sen. Greg Hinkle, R-Thompson Falls, said about 12 other states legalized the use of spears. The bill, SB 112, would also allow the use of an atlatl, a spear thrown with a separate device to increase power. Spear hunters often await their game from up in trees or track the game with dogs.
We do not support an animal being speared from a tree or potentially chased for miles whilst it is terrorized, just so it can be hunted with a spear or knife, and stabbed repeatedly or its throat slashed to kill it, whilst the animal is paralyzed by fear and pain and completely bewildered. It is not known how many stabs it will take to kill an elk, deer or other big game animal or how the animal will eventually succumb to its death. This does not show respect for the animal and is not about obtaining food. It is marketed reportedly for those bored with using a gun or bow and arrow. Speared animals that are not found will be left wounded. This potential number is unknown. There is no information available to provide this answer from the other limited states that permit this. There is a high certainty someone will hurl a spear into a herd of elk or deer hoping to hit one. The likelihood is good other wildlife species will be speared. No training is required. There is no definition of a legal weapon. The danger to dogs and their potential attack of the prey is not to be minimized. This bill contradicts MCA 87-3-124 that states a person may not use dogs to hunt or chase game animals in Montana.
The Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks is taking no position on the bill. They claim this is a social issue. It certainly is socially unacceptable. Its unsportsmanlike and does not support ethical hunting rules of a quick and clean kill. Spear hunting is a black eye for Montana hunters.
We do not need more objects to kill animals in Montana. Spear hunting is not about feeding the family. This is not the dark ages. Montanans urge you to vote against spear hunting (SB112) as a lawful means of hunting big game in Montana.
