There is simply no way that you could post pics like this online (lower left corner) and not be in prison if the TPWD was worried about wasting rough fish.

I actually took that photo on the lower left to one of the TPWD meetings and asked. They said it was illegal. If a game warden had followed the trailer and seen what was done with the fish, then a ticket would have been issued. Until the fish were dumped in the hole, everything was legal. So it goes back to how it's being monitored.

I'll call BS on you. I've shot many bowfishing tourneys in East Texas and that's the norm. They always have a huge roll off dumpster or dump trailer and haul them off to a hole. If you don't believe in it, that's fine. But as far as hard to monitor, that doesn't hold water. Game wardens were there checking boats and licenses at several events!

And you took the pic but didn't turn them in if you feel that strongly about it?! What a joke!!!

Sorry. Re read your post. You didn't take it

I can only tell you what i've been told. Email TPW and see what they tell you. Maybe you will get a different answer. Maybe the game warden chooses to look the other way. I don't know the circumstances, but all I can do is state what I've asked and what i've been told. If you think I'm wrong on what the wanton waste law says, then you should email them yourself and find out just like I did.

[u][/u]I will do that, and I'll post the response on this thread. I'm not saying I've been burying fish. But I know plenty that do. And if it is in fact illegal I would like to be aware of it.

10-4

Those photos are from a tournament roughly 2 years ago and were quite a hot topic. If these tournaments are still doing this, TPWD recommends calling Operation Game Thief to report the illegal activity as this falls under "Waste of Fish" laws. You can even get a reward of up to $1,000!

Operation Game Thief: 1-800-792-GAME (4263)

Waste of Fish
"It is unlawful to leave edible fish or bait fish taken from the public waters of the state to die without the intent to retain the fish for consumption or bait."

And under Bowfishing regulations:
"Any fish that is edible or can be used for bait (includes all gar species, common carp and buffalo) may not be released back into the water after being taken with lawful archery equipment."

So, TXmulti, under bowfishing regulations these fish may not be released back into the water? If that is the only reg on bowfishing then throwing them in a hole is perfectly legal, right?

"Edible or can be used for bait" is pretty clear. The only acceptable uses are for you to eat the fish or use it as bait.

Bow Fishing Regulations






Hunting and fishing regulations are addressed in the Texas Administrative Code. This page summarizes regulations that apply to bow fishing.

Fishing License

A freshwater, saltwater, or all-water license package is required to bow fish in Texas public waters. No additional stamp or license is required.

You don�t need a fishing license if you are:
�Under 17 years of age
�A Texas resident born before January 1, 1931

A hunting license is required to take turtles and frogs. You may elect to purchase a Combination or Super Combo license, which covers both fishing and hunting. For information on license fees and packages, see Licenses.

Legal Equipment

Fish may be taken with longbow, recurved bow, compound bow, or crossbow.

What to Catch

Bows are legal for taking non-game fishes such as gar, buffalo, mullet and sheepshead. A bow may be used to take any species of fish that is:
�NOT listed as a game fish and
�NOT listed as an endangered or threatened species

No minimum lengths or daily bag limits apply to non-game fishes in fresh water, except:
�For alligator gar, there is a limit of one (1) per day. On portions of Lake Texoma, harvest of alligator gar is prohibited during the spawning season in May.
�For Lady Bird Lake in downtown Austin, there is a daily limit of one (1) trophy-sized common carp, defined as a carp measuring 33 inches or more. No limits apply to smaller carp.

Limits exist on some non-game fishes in salt water. See saltwater limits.

Any fish that is edible or can be used for bait (includes all gar species, common carp and buffalo) may not be released back into the water after being taken with lawful archery equipment.

Where to Fish

Texas Parks and Wildlife Department regulations permit bow fishing in Texas coastal waters and in most rivers and large lakes. However, this method is not allowed in:
�Community Fishing Lakes: public impoundments of 75 acres or less, located within a city or a public park (see list)
�Lakes lying totally within the boundaries of a Texas state park, or anywhere on state park property

Other government entities may have rules that apply to bow fishing on properties that they own or manage. TPWD is aware of the restrictions listed below, but there may be others. When fishing within city limits or at any lakeside park, it's a good idea to check first with local authorities.
�The Lower Colorado River Authority prohibits bow fishing in Bastrop and Fayette County lakes and enforces special regulations on bow fishing in other Central Texas reservoirs. For details, visit the LCRA website.
�The City of Tyler prohibits bow fishing on Tyler East and Tyler West lakes.

This is the entire bowfishing section directly from the TPWD website. It says nothing more about what you do with your fish. Period. You are copying and pasting from two entirely separate sections of their website!!

I will contact them directly in the morning, as said above, and post their answer on this thread. I truly want to know, and want to pass it on.

Of course, I posted the "Waste of Fish" section from the "General Fishing Regulations" which applies to all methods of harvest.