Spear hunting in Ontario

[philip140]

What are the legalities regarding spear hunting? been watching some videos on the net and it looks like serious fun.

I took the following from the 2009 regs and i'm guessing it's not allowed, does anybody know any different? I'm hoping it can somehow be classified as a firearm so it could be used for hunting deer.

Big game, including deer, may only be hunted with a firearm (this includes bows). When hunting deer you may use or carry a firearm of the type permitted for hunting deer at that time in that WMU. For example, when hunting deer during a bows-only season, you may use or carry only bow hunting equipment. You may not carry a rifle or shotgun for hunting other species.

Firearms
Firearms include rifles, shotguns, air or pellet guns, bows and crossbows. You may use semi-automatic or repeating firearms for hunting in Ontario, but not handguns or fully automatic firearms. Air and pellet pistols with a muzzle velocity less than 500 feet per second may be used for
hunting in Ontario.

Phil

[canadahunts2]

now why in pete sake would you want to hunt deer with a spear?

[Bushmoose]

Spear hunting for deer? I can just imagine how many wounded deer would be out there? I realize the First Nation's folks did it several hundred years ago before the white man came along with their technology, but it sure seems like a "hit and miss" deal to me? (pun intended)

[awesomeame]

It isn't allowed. I looked into it about a year +/- ago, even to the point of calling the MNR. Things may have changed, maybe give a CO a call? I would love to do it! Finding a suitable spear in ON is next to impossible...they're available mail-order from the USA, but it's pretty cost prohibitive once you factor in shipping on an oversized/weapon item like that. Then you need someone to teach you how to do it properly...when I lived up in Timmins I talked to some of our Native clients and even they couldn't (or wouldn't?) help me out with learning how to use one...

The next best thing is going to Arizona or Florida or other state and hunting wild hogs with spears. There are outfitters there, check these guys out http://www.razorbackoutfitters.com/ or http://www.tnboar.com/index.php (I'm not endorsing them, just providing examples)

Matt

EDIT: PS I totally agree there would be a lot of woundies out there...which is why proper instruction should be obtained..

[philip140]

Thanks matt, I would liked to have made my own rather than buy one. I was watching a video by those outfitters, they are amazing.
bushmoose, there are methods such as 'sticking' where you use a long spear either from an elevated position or behind an object and wait for your quarry to wonder by , it seems very humane and less likely to lead to injuries..... i'll let these guys show you:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b3cy5w9Ef7o&feature=player_embedded#at=38

now why in pete sake would you want to hunt deer with a spear?

Because it's a challenge, just in the same way people choose a bow over a rifle, or a longbow over a compound, you have to get in much closer and use all your skills to outsmart the animal.
Spear hunting has been done since the dawn of time, just because there are more efficient ways of hunting, does that mean it should die off? There are more efficient ways of getting meat, does that mean hunting should die? I hope you see my point.

In my opinion, all methods of hunting should be embraced as long as you have the skill to pull it off and it's legal, which unfortunately spear hunting doesn't appear to be.

Phil

[Bushmoose]

I don't know, maybe I'm too "old school", but this idea of hunting deer with spears seems assinine to me? (did i spell that right?)

[canadahunts2]

I believe that in present times as well as the age old times when spears were used there were many wounded animals getting away. Back then it did not matter because no conservation enforcment existed. However now if spears were legalized and included in the list of weapons allowed to be used on deer I believe it would be a disaster because you would have many unpracticed spear hunters out there wounding deer and not harvesting the game they wound. (mho)
kill what you shoot at in season and get um on the grill

Thanks matt, I would liked to have made my own rather than buy one. I was watching a video by those outfitters, they are amazing.
bushmoose, there are methods such as 'sticking' where you use a long spear either from an elevated position or behind an object and wait for your quarry to wonder by , it seems very humane and less likely to lead to injuries..... i'll let these guys show you:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b3cy5w9Ef7o&feature=player_embedded#at=38


Because it's a challenge, just in the same way people choose a bow over a rifle, or a longbow over a compound, you have to get in much closer and use all your skills to outsmart the animal.
Spear hunting has been done since the dawn of time, just because there are more efficient ways of hunting, does that mean it should die off? There are more efficient ways of getting meat, does that mean hunting should die? I hope you see my point.

In my opinion, all methods of hunting should be embraced as long as you have the skill to pull it off and it's legal, which unfortunately spear hunting doesn't appear to be.

Phil

[smallgamer]

I went spear hunting once about 25 years ago. I can't remember what we were after though .

[sawbill]

Its still illegal in Ontario and will likely remain so.

It is a challenge but if you want a challenge take up bungy jumping or sky diving. Don't take it out by wounding an animal.

[Kilo Charlie]

Its still illegal in Ontario and will likely remain so.

It is a challenge but if you want a challenge take up bungy jumping or sky diving. Don't take it out by wounding an animal.

Hmmmm.....bowhunting used to be illegal to in a lot of places. Still is in parts of Europe, for the reasons Sawbill gives. I personally have no interest in hunting with a spear or and/or atlatl, but it's not a huge step from the stickbow with wooden arrows and no sights I hunt with.