BOWFISHING PUTS DIFFERENT TWIST ON TWO ANCIENT PASTIMES

Do you enjoy fishing but find that it sometimes lacks the excitement and adrenaline rush of other outdoor activities?

Then you may want to try an alternative called bowfishing which merges archery with traditional angling.

"You basically hunt fish with a bow and arrow," said Brett Huster, a representative of the Pro/Am Bowfishing Association (PABA).

Huster, a resident of St. Peters, and his partner Robin Parks of Bonne Terre were in Cape Girardeau this weekend at the Sports Show at Show Me Center promoting the sport.

PABA is a recently founded national sanctioning organization for bowfishing and sponsors many tournaments.

The growing sport allows archery enthusiasts a greater chance to test their skills on live targets rather just being limited to bowhunting during the brief fall game seasons.

"It's a chance for someone who likes to shoot a bow and arrow and likes to hunt to go out during the summertime and shoot a lot," Parks said.

Bowfishing requires an ordinary fishing license and bowfishermen are restricted to three species of large fish -- carp, gar and buffalo.

In Missouri bowhunting is allowed year-round from sunrise to midnight and with a daily limit of 20 fish of any combination of those three species per person. In Illinois, Kentucky and Arkansas bowfishing is permitted 24 hours a day, 365 days a year and there is no daily limit.

Equipment needed to bowfish is minimal, a bow with a large reel such as a Zebco 808 or Zebco Brute mounted on the side or front. A 200-pound test line is standard. The point of the arrow is equipped with two barbs angled backwards which keep the arrow in place while the fish is being reeled in.

"Once the arrow is in the fish the fight is on because the fish is not going to die by any means," said Huster.

Getting started in bow fishing is easy according to Parks and Huster. They added that the popularity of the sport is growing in Southeast Missouri but is especially strong in the St. Louis region.

"It's easy enough for even little kids to go. If they can draw a bow they can bowfish," Parks said.

Added Huster: "Even if you just hit water you're having fun".

To be effective the shooter should be within 10 yards of the target with an outer limit of about 15 yards.

"But the closer the better," said Parks.

Bowfishing can be done just about anywhere there is water and in just as many different ways as traditional fishing -- from a boat, from shore or a dock, or wading in the middle of a river or stream.

"We urge people to give it a try; it's a lot of fun," Parks said.

For more information on bowfishing or PABA, Huster and Parks will be on hand at the sports show today from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. or call Huster at 314-939-2261 or Parks at 314-337-7585.