L
et’s first try to get the personal emotions and pre-
conceived opinions out of the way on this topic and
look at it with a clear head. Maybe it’s not so easy
for some, as most hunters do not have any first-hand prac-
tical experience of the spear hunting skill and discipline
and cannot really relate at this stage.
Ethical spear hunting is alive and well in South Africa,
but is still being painted by some with the same brush as
illegal poaching and bush meat practices.
I still clearly remember the opposition and criticism
against bowhunting and even handgun hunting when it
was introduced many years ago. Some of the older hunters
here will also be able to recall the opposition to scoped
hunting rif les 50 or so years ago. Now it’s the norm!
HUNTING TOOL
If we first look at this legal hunting weapon (spear) and its capa-
bilities, there can be no doubt that it is on par (if not sometimes
even better) than some arrows or even some hunting calibres in
the wound channel/killing ability department.
Anybody can do the math of a wound three inches wide and
18 + inches deep delivered by a razor sharp blade...
With this hunting tool’s killing ability established and out of
the way, that brings us to another aspect, namely practice.
Spear hunting in South Africa
By Willem J. PretoriusHunting with a spear is not new or uncommon in
South Africa. Spear hunting raised some strong
opinions and reactions across the spectrum,
from ‘Go for it’ to ‘It’s unethical and border on
poaching’, from some of the hunters and official
bodies I contacted during my research for this
article. Without going too deeply into specifics,
legal spear hunting of non-protected (danger
list) open range game can maybe be classified
as a ‘grey’ area for some in their interpretation
of the ‘law’, depending on who you are talking
to. No doubt, any form of poaching is illegal,
irrespective of the hunting tool!PRACTICE
Spear hunting is no different in this aspect than bowhunting or
rif le hunting in the hunter’s preparation (maybe even more so!).
Anybody who just wants to pick up a spear one day because
they ‘feel’ like hunting with it without thorough practice, study-
ing the prey’s anatomy, the necessary camouf lage and stalking
skills, or understanding and adhering to hunting ethics etc. can-
not call themselves a spear hunter. (The same as with bowhunt-
ing etc.)