Maryland moves to ban spear hunting, restrict air guns

ANNAPOLIS — The Maryland Department of Natural Resources is proposing rules aimed at banning spear-hunting for big game.

The agency says in a statement it’s accepting public comments through Oct. 17 on a proposal to add regulatory language stating that only the weapons listed in the regulations may be used for deer and black bear hunting.

Those weapons are bows and firearms, including a powerful new type of air gun that shoots full-sized arrows.

Spear-hunting big game became a hot-button issue after a video was posted online in June showing Ohio fitness company executive Josh Bowmar killing a bear with a spear in Canada.

Another proposal would limit deer hunting with air guns to the modern firearm season. Air guns would be prohibited during the deer muzzleloader season.