Bow fishing

[M70]

I just saw an episode of "Hunting Canada and Beyond" and the crew were out "hunting" carp with their bows and I must say that looks like a lot of fun. Has anyone out there done much of this?

[russ]

I've got the stuff, but I've never had a chance to use it.

[double gun]

I have wanted to bowfish for quite some time, but I thought there are lots of restrictions now. Where in Alberta are you allowed to bowfish, and for what species of fish?

[russ]

rough fish such as suckers are legal. Used to be able to go after game fish such as pike & walleye but over fishing wrecked that.

[wctbowtech]

Lake Whitefish is also a species you can still bowfish. When you could bowfish pike I used to go to Lake Wabamum. It was a blast, but not like what I saw on "Hunting Canada and Beyond". That looked like it was unbelievable. You sure would get a workout doing that much shooting. I don't think there is any lakes in Alberta with Carp. Maybe I guy will need to do a roadtrip to find a lake that has carp.

[double gun]

Not that they are a big target, but are perch legal to hunt?

According to page 16 of the regs you are NOT allowed to bowfish for:

trout
mtn. whitefish
arctic grayling
lake sturgeon
walleye
northern pike.

No bowfishing in the following lakes:

Gods
May
Siebert
Winefred
Andrew
Gardiner
Namur

[M70]

Here's another couple of questions then. When do suckers spawn? What are your opinions on shooting suckers when you don't plan on eating them? (Yuck) Ethical?

Originally Posted by M70

Here's another couple of questions then. When do suckers spawn? What are your opinions on shooting suckers when you don't plan on eating them? (Yuck) Ethical?

Freeze them for next spring bear bait?

[7 REM MAG]

anyone thought of usinng bow fishing stuff for beaver control? I shot a few this spring and found it quite hard to get them out of the water before they sunk. So if theres a list of what i cant bow fish for is there a list of fish i can bow fish for?

I have talked to a couple of guys that tried the bowfishing for beavers.
If they don't die absolutely instantly, you won't be able to retrieve them. They are such powerful swimmers, you will either break your line, or they will make it back into the lodge and you won't be able to drag them back out. Pretty expensive arrows to risk IMO.

If the fish is not on the list, you can bow fish for it.

[russ]

Originally Posted by Hoochie Papa

I have talked to a couple of guys that tried the bowfishing for beavers.
If they don't die absolutely instantly, you won't be able to retrieve them. They are such powerful swimmers, you will either break your line, or they will make it back into the lodge and you won't be able to drag them back out. Pretty expensive arrows to risk IMO.

If the fish is not on the list, you can bow fish for it.

Then there's the issue of the BARBED point. You might want to review the reg's.

[7 REM MAG]

never thought of the barbed point but i was thinking shoot em with a 22 mag or 17 hmr in the head and then stick em with the arrow and haul to shore, i wonder if a string tied to an arrow with a broad head would work ok?

[MathewsArcher]

I am fairly certain the barbed restriction only applies to big game and does not apply to small game or birds.

I would check with F&W first though before heading out to do so, there may even be something in the trapping regs that you should be aware of.

[7 REM MAG]

as long as you are on private land you can shoot beavers, i dont really plan on floating down the nsr poking beavers with my bw so i should be fine in that aspect

[russ]

7mm, do you need written or verbal permission to hunt them? Can't remember.

[7 REM MAG]

ive always gone hunting with verbal permission, that being said i always have the land owners phone number and full name in my cell phone so if there is a debate i have the guys phone number which was at one point in time required. I have only shot em as a favor to get them away from the guys land not as a sustained effort or to try and provide bear bait lol