Page 38 - 2021 JAN/FEB Outdoor Oklahoma Magazine

Bowfishing tournaments provide great opportunities for wildlife agencies to learn more about the sport.

Because larger, older females are perhaps all selectively and beyond would be an ideal opportunity for bowfish-
removed by bowfishing, ODWC, as a management goal, would ers seeking nearly unlimited targets. The startled jump-
not support shortening the life of these bowfished species. ing behavior of silver carps adds an element of challenge
and excitement for bowfishers.
Invasives Equal Opportunities species (the females), it would be especially beneficial to
If bowfishers selectively target the largest fish of these

the native, nongame species competing with them for
These findings about native, nongame fishes indicate space and resources. And ultimately, removing non-na-
that managers here and nationwide need more informa- tives would also benefit game fishes.
tion on population numbers and management practices. Fortunately, silver carps and bighead carps have not
Unfortunately, with few exceptions including paddlefish successfully invaded most of Oklahoma at this time.
and alligator gar, the native nongame species have no Bowfishing opportunities for these species are found in
harvest restrictions in Oklahoma. Too little is known of several of the lower Red River tributaries in southeastern
their abundance, status, ecology, or biology. Oklahoma. And clearly, native game and nongame species
Bowfishing for these native, nongame fishes requires would clearly benefit if the non-natives do not spread.
responsibly managed fisheries. Some native species and ODWC is also seeking a better understanding of the
local populations will be candidates for sustainable bow- state’s bowfishers. Although our statewide surveys indicate
fishing under regulations, and others will not. The native that bowfishers make up only a small fraction of Oklahoma
species are not good candidates for high or unlimited fishing license buyers (perhaps 5 percent to 8 percent), it is
bag limits. And for those species, bowfishing regulations likely that they are under-represented in our angler surveys.
may need to be developed similar to those for more val- Targeted bowfisher surveys will likely be required to better
ued bowhunted species on land. describe the demographics, abundance, habits, needs, and
For non-native invasive species, opportunities for abun- impacts of bowfishers. ODWC intends to work with bow-
dant bowfishing are much more favorable. These species fishing tournaments as a cost-effective way to learn more
offer plentiful targets with few if any bag limits, which about Oklahoma’s bowfishing and bowfishers.
popular media indicates is a scenario desired by many
assist in fisheries conservation by helping reduce non-na- A Need for Management
bowfishers. Many opportunities exist for bowfishers to

tive invasives and their competition with native species.
The common carp and grass carp serve as ideal tar- Bowfishing in Oklahoma and across the country is chang-
gets for abundant bowfishing. On a larger scale, and with ing. The sport is expanding and evolving rapidly. Sustainable
potentially greater ecological benefit, the selective taking management of bowfisheries has lagged, and the need for
of silver carps and bighead carps from Oklahoma waters management to catch up to the fisheries is clear.
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