Talk:Bowfishing

Untitled
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)

History?
Fred Bear indicates when writing in 1968 that "In the past ten or twelve years this fast-growing sport has gained thousands of enthusiasts who find it a new source of excitement when the regular game seasons are closed."

That would place the 1956–58 time period as the beginning of popularity in the west...but I haven't found a good reference. Bowfishing is clearly older than that. ⋙–Berean–Hunter—►  ((⊕)) 02:11, 27 October 2008 (UTC)

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Legality
In several countries outside the U.S., bowfishing - like bowhunting - is illegal. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 2003:C0:DF30:6F00:69DF:6203:42B2:6DF7 (talk) 23:02, 28 November 2019 (UTC)


 * These countries lack freedom, and many other basic human rights as well. It should not be surprising that even possessing objects like a bow with a string attached to it might constitute jail time somewhere.  The real question is why defenders of natural rights would allow atrocities like the existence of such restrictive legal codes to exist anywhere in the world. 65.34.72.48 (talk) 13:00, 8 January 2023 (UTC)