What do you do with the fish you shoot? I assume some species are edible, and some are not. Do you eat any of them? What do you do with the ones you don't eat?
We eat the big gar we shoot, but the carp and stuff just get thrown away. Unless someone asks for them, which has happened before.
So would carp be considered a varmint? Like a crow or ground hog, for example. Some thing you just kill and not use?
I'm not sure you do, but I'll tell you why I started the thread. On certain bodies of water, I find fish killed by bow fishers. I'm sure some get away and then die, but carp seem to be the most common species I find. Often I will find a dozen or more in one area. Now I understand it could just be a few bad apples, but it had me wondering what people do with the fish they kill. The most common species to bow fish for in MI are considered "trash" fish by most people. These are species most people wouldn't eat, so what is done with them? Now I know some very legit bow fishers that shoot carp. They always take them home to dispose of. Some are used for fertilizer. I didn't know if this was common practice. Let me also say I don't have an issue with bow fishing, particularly because they kill species most people don't fish for. I do, however, despise spearing.
In a lot of states it is illegal to return rough fish (carp) to the water. Raccons gotta eat too you know.
We throw them in the bed of the truck, then I drive out into the pasture and dump them. The are cleaned up pretty fast.
On the rare occassions I do go bowfishing I either toss them in a field somewhere, or bury them in the garden for fertilizer. The ones I've tossed on shore are usually gone the next day thanks to the coons and other misc critters. I've never purposely thrown them back in the water.
i've wondered this too. what i've also wondered is how do folks cook/prepare the rough fish if they do keep them? cause i see a lot of them being kept by the damn. i presume they are smoked from what i was told long ago. some folks dont like cats but i love em! maybe if folks knew how to prepare the arrowed fish they'd keep em'? last few year in the midst of the white bass run up in Sconnie i was forced to try some sheepshead. i actually liked it. by the end of the weekend we were picking thru the white bass fighting for the sheepshead.
Is it legal to toss them on shore? I assume you meant the shore of the lake you are bow fishing. In MI its not, but I have no idea of the IL laws.
I never toss them on shore to avoid this bad rap you are talking about for bowfishing. A CO in KY showed me how to pop their air bladder in the belly and they sink like a rock. Just go to the middle of the river/lake an the fish tank like a rock to the bottom to be eaten by the other fish/creatures. This isn't legal everywhere though
Thats a good method. Out of sight, out of mind. You are correct that it isn't legal everywhere. In MI, we aren't even to throw the remains of a filleted/cleaned fish back into the water.
I understand why, I don't think it should be allowed to throw them on the banks either, makes the river look bad to look at. I'm pretty sure in Illinois they dont allow you to throw them back in the water, I think they do however want you to throw them on shore, Asian carp that is.
I would think leaving them in the water would be the better option, but I'm not familiar with the shorelines of IL waters. Fish rot much faster, and the smell carries much further, if left to rot out of water. This isn't an issue in IL?
I've only done that on private property where I was fishing along creek banks or flooded marshes. I would never toss them on the shore of public property where others may be walking by. That's just disrespectful IMO.
Flooded marshes sounds like a place to dispose of them, if you aren't burying them. To address your point of not throwing them on the bank, I have only seen this in areas not near homes or paths. But, the smell can be so bad it makes an area of the lake unfishable during certain winds. Add to the fact that its illegal and it becomes frustrating. For the record, I fully support the killing of all asian carp by any means possible. I don't care if everyone gets tossed on the bank and the entire Mississippi valley smells horrible...just keep them out of the Great Lakes.
I'll put out a more in depth answer when I have more time. But first, DO NOT LEAVE DEAD FISH ON THE BANK!!!!!!!!!!! (public lands, private would be okay)I don't care if you caught 'em regular hook and line, snagging, spearing or bowfishing.... just don't do it. In most places this illegal. (because it's nasty) It is illegal in IL. Find a field, far away from people's eyes and noses and dump them their if you must dump fish. Make sure you have permission! Many places will allow you to split and sink your fish. Do this away from ramps and beaches!! You can split and sink fish in many places in IL. Some places practically require it. More later....
