ethics of bowfishing

[Browningbolt]

last summer I started bowfishing for carp. I understand that carp are an exotict species and should not be in our lakes. Ethically is it ok the shoot them and throw them away (not on shore).

[fisherking01]

Most will say ??? I say I think that is ok. Don't tell anyone and you won't catch any flack! Brent

[Questor]

I don't see anything wrong with it. If you're not eating them, they make excellent fertilizer.

[mncarphntr]

You can certainly draw a parallel to varmint hunting, coyotes and prairie dogs etc... Some populations need to be controlled to better the whole balance. Carp and most other "rough fish" species are prolific and not harvested by game fishermen. However, every effort should be made to find a way to utilize your catch in some way.

[Ralph Wiggum]

I see no problem with it for carp and other exotic species, but I have a problem with other "rough fish". I don't condone doing this with suckers, bowfin, gar, etc. because they are native fish. now, if you want to shoot them and actually eat them, go ahead, but please don't waste native fish!

Carp, on the otherhand, I have no problem shooting and throwing in the dumpster. If I had something better to do with them, I would, but trash is my best option right now.

[PierBridge]

Please be careful when throwing Carp into the Super America dumpster on 44th and Lake Street in MPLS my neigbor hangs out in there looking for day old bakery for his Bear hunting bait pile.....just give a little shout before tossing them in ...

Thanks Pier...

[Ralph Wiggum]

Quote:

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Please be careful when throwing Carp into the Super America dumpster on 44th and Lake Street in MPLS my neigbor hangs out in there looking for day old bakery for his Bear hunting bait pile.....just give a little shout before tossing them in ...

Thanks Pier...

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LOL! Mine go in my apartment complex's dumpster. I can only imagine rooting around for old doughnuts and getting dumped on by a garbage can full of bloody, slimy carp

[riverrat56]

Or give the carp to someone who bear hunts, they make great bait. Thats what I do with the ones I catch.

Otherwise toss em in a dumpster or bury them.

[Scott K]

Hog farmers would take them also!

[eyefever]

As far as I know it's illegal to use fish for bait for bear. Since carp have a season I would assume they are not comparable to varmints, but I've found no good use for them. My great aunt and uncle say they taste like salmon when they are canned, but they may have lost their taste buds

[sparcebag]

Eye; Carp dont have a season there Rough fish, no limit no season,no spearing or archery from march to may 1st only to protect game fish from accidential spear, arrow and from illeagle taking of game fish use all ya want for bear unless Bear rules prohibit it!

[riverrat56]

I guess I don't really know, I wasn't the one using them, I gave them away, the people I give them to are pretty straight shootin ethicle guys though.

[Sonicrunch]

Quote:

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I see no problem with it for carp and other exotic species, but I have a problem with other "rough fish". I don't condone doing this with suckers, bowfin, gar, etc. because they are native fish. now, if you want to shoot them and actually eat them, go ahead, but please don't waste native fish!

Carp, on the otherhand, I have no problem shooting and throwing in the dumpster. If I had something better to do with them, I would, but trash is my best option right now.

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Do some carp have a sucker mouth?

I can't tell the difference between carp, and really big suckers. Unless the mouth is the only difference.

[Roughfisher]

Carp have whiskers (barbels) by their mouth, suckers don't.

There are 16 different kinds of native suckers in Minnesota, they all look different.

[Sonicrunch]

Thank you!

That about clears it up.