Talk:Bowfishing

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Hi, my name is Tom, I'm from Poland, i've just seen a short film about bowfishing and i'm shocked. How can anyone call this an outdoor recreation? It is barbaric!

Hi there Tom,

It's easy to call it outdoor recreation because that is what it is. It is hunting for fish. If someone is opposed to either hunting or fishing as recreation then they would likely find a combination of both "barbaric!".

Also please note that bowfishing is limited to fish classified as non-game which are often non-native or invasive species. The common carp, a common quarry in the USA is a particularly successful non-native fish that often overpopulates. Their feeding habits then cause poor water clarity which can adversely affect many other species. New species such as such as bighead and silver carp from China which have recently (accidently) been introduced into some areas are already causing a variety of problems.

In a nutshell, bowfishers target only non-game fish, most of which are considered nuisance species. Even so, bowfishing has very little or no impact on populations of these prolific breeders.

Steve in OK, USA

Hi guys, My name is Shane. I live in Nebraska and bowfishing is a popular activity during the spring and summer months. Here in our state, you can bowfish for all species of fish as long as you have a current fishing permit. It is a great way for sportsmen involved in archery to extend the archery season. Best wishes to all. Shane in NE, USA

It is no more barbaric than any other method of fishing. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 69.130.62.234 (talk) 16:33, 12 February 2008 (UTC)