A U.S. hunter who posted a video of himself baiting and then killing a bear in Alberta, with a spear, will not face charges, a provincial government spokesperson said Tuesday.
A spokesperson for Alberta Justice and the Solicitor General said the investigation into the video, uploaded by hunter Josh Bowmar, had been completed, and there was no evidence to suggest existing laws were broken – so no charges would be laid.
The news came more than a week after the video gained popularity, and quickly sparked outrage for some online.
In a statement, a provincial spokesperson called spear hunting “archaic”, and said it was “unacceptable”.
The statement went on to say the province was looking at changing hunting regulations, with a ban on spear hunting expected in the fall.
