Well.....if you tried them, and they suck, dont do it then! No animal should be wasted, or harvested if they are not intended to be utilized.......Except, in situations where the animal is a non-native invasive animal, like the bighead, silver, and yes..the common carp are also on that list, and the taking of them are incouraged by state biologists. States have a bounty on the fish, and many many scientific studies show them to be a detriment to the ecosystem. Just think...if the common carp were not so overpopulated, how much clearer would the water be without their feeding habits causing heavy siltation. Many more true native fish would flourish.
And smoked and pickled carp are very good to eat. NEVER, should native fish like buffalo and gar be harvested without being utilized.
Let your son bowfish, its a old way to use archery equiptment, and is great fun.
What bothers me, is why bowfishing, and the people who love the sport, has to be constantly attacked by other sporting groups. Not only do peta and the like attack this outdoor sport, but carp groups have tried to ban it in texas, N.Y., and have written anti bowfishing articles in In-Fishermen that would make a peta member proud. I would like to know why this is done. Do you know, these groups even suggest joining with peta to ban bowfishing? For what reason?? Is there a shortage of carp? With all our sports under attack, ALL sporting groups need to join togeather, and groups that would hurt us need to be shunned, and shown for the selfish radicals they are. Bowfishing is a great outdoor sport, just like deer, pheasant and squirrel hunting, bass and pike fishing, and should be supported by ALL outdoorsmen/women, the same as those sports are.
Its kind of funny, but i have heard the same question,"whats the point?", concerning the C&R fishing you enjoy, from non sporting people. It seems the catching of a fish purely for the sport of it, without eating it baffles some. Not me, Im for sportsmen, and support whatever they like to do. Heres a couple carp and invasive species studies that show the predation of these fish is not only good for the waters, but supported by DNRs.
www.nps.gov/miss/features/ruffish/history.htm
http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/gmu/l...x/exotics.html
P.S.....Rich, I saw you took a trophy sized mountain lion . Did you eat it?