Hunting wildlife with spears will be banned in Alberta in the wake of video footage showing an American hunter throwing a spear into a black bear in the northern part of the province.

Labelling the practice of modern spear hunting as “archaic” and “unacceptable,” the government on Monday condemned the actions of hunter Josh Bowmar and asked fish and wildlife officers to investigate the incident to determine if charges were warranted.

The YouTube video, posted June 5, that shows Bowmar’s hunt (believed to be near Swan Hills, about two hours north of Edmonton) has been viewed more than 200,000 times, with many viewers, even some hunters, denouncing the kill as “barbaric” and “unnecessary.” By late Monday afternoon, the video had removed from public viewing.

“I just did something that I don’t think anybody in the world has ever done,” an elated Bowmar tells the camera after launching a spear about 10 to 12 metres into the side of a mature black bear that had been attracted to a bait bin.

Bear baiting is not illegal in Alberta, but it is restricted to certain areas.

The bear Bowmar targets isn't immediately killed by the projectile and flees into the dusk.

“I can’t believe that just happened … He’s going down, I drilled him perfect. That was the longest throw I ever thought I could ever make," Bowmar tells the camera.

"That was a 12- to 15-yard spear throw, on the ground, no blind, no backup. We have no shotguns within miles of here.”

Bowmar walks out to the spot, finds the spear and turns to the camera: “Oh yeah, I got mad penetration.”

The video cuts to the next day and shows part of the black bear's intestines wrapped around low-hanging branches and Bowmar discovering the animal “60 to 70 yards” away from where it was first struck.

A man identified as John on the video reasons that because of evidence of rigor mortis, “this bear died within seconds.”

'SURPRISED' BY REACTION

Bowmar, who runs an Ohio-based fitness company, credits Swan Hills outfitter husband and wife team of John and Jenn Rivet with helping in the hunt. Calls to the Rivets went unanswered Monday.

Bowmar told The Canadian Press in an email he was surprised by the reaction to the video. He said spears have been used for hunting since the “dawn of man” and the notion that the method is inhumane “couldn’t be further from the truth."

He said the spear blade he used was 13 centimetres wide and about 40 centimetres long and penetrated the bear more than 60 centimetres deep.

“The bear I speared only ran (55 metres) and died immediately, that’s as humane and ethical as one could get in a hunting situation on big game animals. Trust me, no one cares more about these animals than us hunters, especially me,” he wrote.

He also said the animals he hunts are not wasted.

“In fact, it is even against the law to waste the animals hide ... We also eat the meat from our harvested animals including bear. On top of tasting amazing, it’s extremely nutritious for our bodies.”

Wayne Lowry, president of the Alberta Fish and Game Association, said it is uncommon for hunters to use spears and "because it is so uncommon, it's never really had to be dealt with in the legislation, but knowing that it is being done in other countries and other jurisdictions, we figured it would show up here sooner or later."

Lowry said there was nothing prohibiting the use of a spear because it fits into a broad definition that allows hunters to use anything "that is a legal weapon."

That was until this video emerged.

The Alberta government said Monday it is currently updating the province’s hunting regulations and promised to introduce a spear ban in the fall.

"Hunting should be done with the most effective means possible to ensure you have a quick and immediate death as possible," Lowry said.

"The common weaponry — firearms or bow — can effect a speedy death so they are not suffering unduly by being wounded."

Lowry also said it was not illegal to leave an injured animal overnight but, "ideally you track and retrieve as soon as possible."

ONLINE OUTRAGE

Online outrage and death threats towards Bowmar and his 13-minute hunting video have closely mirrored that of when American dentist Walter Palmer shot and killed Cecil the lion in Africa in July 2015.

People commenting on the video post were quick to attack Bowmar and his hunting techniques.

“A real hunter kills quickly and humanely and shows respect for the animal that he has killed,” one person wrote.

Another wrote: “Surely there are laws against this kind of hunting? It's not even hunting — it's animal cruelty, pure and simple.”

One user, identified only as Shep said: "Dude ... I am going to make it my mission ... to hunt you down ... and then I'm going to do to you ... what you did to that bear ... then I'm going to take your head ... and it will be kept as my (expletive) trophy. Mark my words ... I WILL find you ..."

"Getting someone to lure a hungry black bear to a feeding station & stabbing it in the back," writes another viewer, "that's not hunting. It has about as much to do with hunting as killing your neighbour's cat. Or shooting a farmer's cows in a field."

According to a short bio on a website, Bowmar was a National Collegiate Athletic Association athlete with “All American honours” in javelin.

Bowmar's YouTube channel, Bowmar Bowhunting, has dozens of hunting videos showing him and wife, Sarah, hunting a wide variety of animals.

jgraney@postmedia.com

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