No spears in Montana

[STW]

A bill allowing hunting with spears was considered my the MT legislature this session. The following was in the Billings paper this AM.

Dear Ed: I am really bummed to see that the bill allowing the use of spears for hunting big game in Montana appears to be going nowhere this legislative session. So I’m wondering, what are the regulations for the slingshot? — Bill Cheatham

Dear B.C.: Slingshots have not been approved for general hunting in Montana, but they may be used for the taking of giant Philistines. These creatures are present only in a handful of block management areas a bit southwest of Brockway and may be hunted between Sept. 3 and Oct. 5. For details, call the Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks. Tell them I sent you.

http://billingsgazette.com/news/opin...ca8281340.html

[Old Grump]

It is good because the next thing you know the anti-gun people would be demanding we give up guns and use spears for hunting. Then would come all the little killing regulations and statutes restricting the size of spears, the material, thickness, length, head material and number of spears allowed per individual and per household. A whole new set of regulations governing the use of spears for self defense would be pouring out of congress in a never ending flow and regulations regarding the manufacturing and sale of spears. Make your own and you would be in violation for not having a manufacturers permit or a dealers permit.

Just imagine the bad jokes on late night TV...is that a spear or are you glad to see me?

Ingenious slip on heads for us old wobbly legged codgers using canes turn us into potential concealed weapons carriers because the tip could be carried unseen in a pocket and slipped on to the end of your cane instantly in case of need. More regulations coming restricting the use of canes, crutches and walking sticks will evolve.

No, no, no, leave the spear issue alone. If you want to hunt with one do so but keep your trap shut about it. If there are no laws permitting it then there probably aren't any laws prohibiting it and that is a good thing.

[armoredman]

No want spear, want pilum!
Seriously, Cold Steel and a number of other manufacturers have been making high quality battle ready spearheads and complete spears. The spear is the oldest edged combat weapon, and is STILL present in the world's battlefield today. Yes, look at your rifle with bayonet, it's a modern day spear.
I like the Roman era pilum javalin, but a good soild spear is a great primitive weapon in the hands of someone who knows how to use it. As for hunting, the boar spear with it's nailed crosspeice, has been used for hunting wild pig for centuries. If I had nothing else, a spear in the wilderness ain't such a bad thing.
The Philistines line is a riot.

[catspa]

So if the antis are opposed to spears, I suppose they're even more opposed to atlatls ("magnum-ize" your spears)?

Parker

[230RN]

Nyet.

Not need-it spear.

Has Mosin-Nagant.

Can throw it many arshin.

Sling like fletching. Make-it rifle fly true, stick in boar. Boar good. Make-it boar-bacon. For-it men. Make-it men strong. Like Russian bear.



TEЯЯY, 230ЯN

[Selena]

I was told a story of a tourist that came to Rosebud Reservation that wanted to kill a buffalo the way the Indian ancestors did with a spear. Wiser heads prevailed and the guy was talked out of it which is a shame really because it would have been a much better story had he not been given the time to sober up and tried it.

[230RN]

What, he couldn't just drive one off a cliff?

http://ispy.mnhs.org/00000000/00000099.JPG

[Taillebois]

I was told a story of a tourist that came to Rosebud Reservation that wanted to kill a buffalo the way the Indian ancestors did with a spear. Wiser heads prevailed

Probably so, a pain crazed buffalo with a spear sticking out of it running down the highway, into town, or through the dance grounds would hardly add to the serenity of the place, or tourist revenue.

And a tourist being mashed into the prairie sod by the buffalo which did get away would not be especially photogenic either...

And using it as a lance, well that resulted in a fair amount of dead horses...

[armoredman]

OW, that would have DEFINITELY made it on Worlds Stupidest TV show!

[Lanius]

I bet a medieval knight with a serious lance and training could kill a buffalo by charging at it..

[Taillebois]

I bet a medieval knight with a serious lance and training could kill a buffalo by charging at it..

Possibly if close enough. However buffalo are much faster than they look, and the type of warhorse used for a sizable couched lance were more for shock than speed.

The type of knight closer to how the Sioux Cheyenne et al used to hunt buffalo would be the Norman era mounted knight. Who tended to throw spears, wheel and come back with another one. Or used it overhand to stab downward.

The whole concept of hunting with a spear however leans more to 'dances with wolves' fantasy than pragmatism. Historically when the aristocracy when out with spears to hunt dangerous game they had dog packs, beaters, and very likely some manner of sword as a matter of course.

And really the effective range of a spear, if thrown is quite short. Darts and atalatls different but these don't have the accuracy of a bow, crossbow or rifle.

Ancient hunting obviously had the main concern of getting the meat, so if the animal had to be run off a cliff, stabbed and left to bleed out only to be found by the dog packs, or chased all over the countryside it did not matter. Fair chase ethics today preclude a lot of that type of thing. As these exclude packs of dogs (literally chauvage/savage in the original sense of the word)and peasant mobs beating the brush.

If a spear has a place in contemporary society it is as a historical interest martial art (the Mike Loades contingent) or as a form of home defence for those inclined to be a bit dated.

[2Sharp]

It is good because the next thing you know the anti-gun people would be demanding we give up guns and use spears for hunting. Then would come all the little killing regulations and statutes restricting the size of spears, the material, thickness, length, head material and number of spears allowed per individual and per household. A whole new set of regulations governing the use of spears for self defense would be pouring out of congress in a never ending flow and regulations regarding the manufacturing and sale of spears. Make your own and you would be in violation for not having a manufacturers permit or a dealers permit.

Just imagine the bad jokes on late night TV...is that a spear or are you glad to see me?

Ingenious slip on heads for us old wobbly legged codgers using canes turn us into potential concealed weapons carriers because the tip could be carried unseen in a pocket and slipped on to the end of your cane instantly in case of need. More regulations coming restricting the use of canes, crutches and walking sticks will evolve.

No, no, no, leave the spear issue alone. If you want to hunt with one do so but keep your trap shut about it. If there are no laws permitting it then there probably aren't any laws prohibiting it and that is a good thing.

Not to mention a concealed carry license to carry a 'short' spear (aka an assault spear), you know those short, evil looking black spears which can only be used to kill humans in mass because they are black and look evil! Of course they have 'cop killer' tips which will penetrate any protective vest and then explode inside turning the organs into hamburger instantly! If they have a handle which protrudes menacingly or has a sharpened back end, if the tip is large and evil looking, if it is deemed to have no sporting purpose or you can throw more than one per minute then it is prohibited and is not importable! Possession of which in the US requires a $200 BATF transfer fee as it is an automatic spear, new ones of course can only be possessed by law enforcement or the military as the only ones which can be legally possessed by citizens must have been manufactured prior to 1986! If you see anyone carrying one of those short black evil looking assault spear's then you should panic and call 911 immediately cause it might jump out of the hand of the person carrying it and attack you! Yes, it's best if they are relegated to obscurity as far as any 'laws' or regulations are concerned else they become the next target by the 'afraid of weapons' crowd who will use it as a political ploy and regulate it to death, which is actually the real intent of piling on masses of nuisance regs! Truth....

[2Sharp]

OW, that would have DEFINITELY made it on Worlds Stupidest TV show!

Had they allowed it and the tourist been returned to the ground literally then they would have definitely have been a Darwin Award candidate albeit a strong one!