Bowfishers are out for a good time. We love archery and we love fishing. Having an outdoor opportunity that combines these two sports into one is so gratifying we can hardly believe it exists.
But bowfishing is very real and is rapidly growing in popularity. Missouri is a great bowfishing state.
Aside from the obvious fun of bowfishing, the sport accomplishes a number of other things, including the reduction of invasive species of fish and putting food on the table.
"Bowfishing is a popular method for taking many nongame fish, and can be a highly effective way to harvest some nongame fish that can be difficult to catch otherwise," said Andrew Branson, a Fisheries Programs Specialist with the Missouri Department of Conservation.
Rough fish, otherwise known as trash fish, have their place. They often remove bottom debris and unwanted aquatic vegetation. A carp or gar here or there isn't going to do too much damage to a fishery. However, when the population of rough fish becomes significantly too high, the sport fish population suffers. Asian Carp are completely undesirable and all need to be removed from our waters. Bowfishers are doing their part.
The following list of places to bowfish is meant to highlight exceptional fisheries, while showcasing diversity across our land. You can bowfish all across Missouri, and I'm sure the waters you feel were overlooked in this article are incredible destinations. Here are five top bowfishing destinations in the Show-Me State.
See you down the trail ...
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Brandon Butler is an outdoors columnist for the News Tribune. Contact him at outdoors@newstribune.com