Feature Story

By Alyson Sheppard

Lagniappe staff

An African lioness stands down the hallway from an American buffalo that stands down the hallway from an outstretched ostrich that stands down the hallway from Eugene Morris, the self-proclaimed “Greatest Living Spear Hunter in the World.”

Morris personally bagged these animals and 376 others using only a metal-tipped spear, and has them on display in his spear hunting museum on Highway 59 in Summerdale.

“This is just my part in the scheme of things to put those who want to put hunting out of business, out of business,” he said.

Morris, 73, said he did not set up the museum to be profitable – entrance is $3, or $5 with a guided tour – he just wanted it to be a tribute to spear hunting and to himself, because he says he is the best spear hunter in the world.

Opened in December 2006, the museum is now run by Morris and curator Sharon Henson, who is also a spear hunter and hunting advocate. Morris built and operates the museum from his personal savings.

Inside the building, there are 7,600 square feet of white wall space covered with photos and animal trophies consisting of stuffed and mounted bodies, horns, skeletons and skins, all killed by Morris via close-range stabbing or by longer-distance throwing of the spear. Ten years ago, he was one of the main lobbyists who got spear hunting legalized in Alabama.

Morris, who flew planes in the Vietnam War, began hunting with a gun, but now only hunts with spears because he likes the challenge. He even became bored with typical spear hunting and now hunts with two spears at the same time, one in each hand, to kill two animals simultaneously.

“It started as a hobby,” Henson said. “Now it’s an obsession.”

Morris lives for spear hunting. He always wears camouflage head to toe, with the words “Spear Chunker” sewn across his shirt. He is constantly planning his next hunting trip, reevaluating the effectiveness of his spears and keeping an eye out for rattlesnakes, which he destroys with a spear he keeps in his vehicle.

“Not everyone can go out and get a buffalo, but you can have fun getting small game too,” Henson said.

Morris often travels around the Southeast killing alligators, boars and other animals he deems as “pests.” He also travels the world to hunt on game ranches, large enclosed areas where animals are bred and hunters pay a fee to enter and kill them.

“It’s like hunting in the wild, but it’s not exactly the same,” Henson said.

In such ranches, Morris has bagged everything from hippopotamuses to bears to goats. Later this month, Henson and Morris are traveling to South Africa in the hopes of getting a male lion.

For sale in the museum are spears Morris designed himself, instructional videos, his book, “Hunting with Spears” and other hunting memorabilia. He also gives throwing demonstrations.

In a typical day, anywhere between zero and 50 visitors will come in. Since the museum’s opening, three people have become appalled by the typically graphic contents of the museum and have left.

“I mean, if you come to a spear hunting museum, what do you think you are going to see? Babies?” Henson said.

The museum also hosts birthday parties for kids. Henson, who learned how to hunt as a child, is excited about the youth interest in Baldwin County and about the parents who want to bring in their children. “Hunting will die unless someone encourages kids to do it,” she said.

Morris set up a Spear Hunting Trust to ensure that the museum remains open after his death.

The museum is open Tuesday to Saturday, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is $3 or $5 for a guided tour. Kids and military personnel are free.

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