Bass Pro Shops U.S. Open Bowfishing Championship Provides Environmental Benefits

By Justin Stakes

Springfield, MO -(AmmoLand.com)- Bass Pro Shops U.S. Open Bowfishing Championship and World’s Bowfishing Fair, held June 12-14, 2015, at the Bass Pro Shops in Springfield, Missouri, promises a fun weekend with lasting environmental benefits for Missouri lakes.

Species harvested by bowfishing include nongame and invasive fish species such as common carp, grass carp, buffalo and gar. Many of these species degrade water quality by stirring up mud. They also directly compete with spawning gamefish by damaging their spawning beds. This is a huge problem in deep water lakes because they already lack spawning areas.

“Bowfishing continues to grow in Missouri and is another unique opportunity for our citizens to get out and enjoy the aquatic resources we manage. Our nongame fish species play a vital role in our aquatic ecosystem and are important to many anglers in Missouri,” said Brian Canady, fisheries division chief for the Missouri Department of Conservation. “Bowfishing is a way to control populations of nongame fish and invasive fish species such as Asian carp. Invasive species pose a serious threat because they damage gamefish habitat and …read more

Source:: AmmoLand