Bow-hunting for European Carp. (16.3.2011)

[CEO]

SHOULD BOW HUNTING FOR EUROPEAN CARP BE LEGALISED IN OUR WESTERN DRAINAGE SYSTEM?
                                      (Currently it is illegal in non spearfishing areas.)

This issue has got our west of the range members nervous. Some of them are graziers. What do you think? Have your say!

[CEO]

 "Ban bow hunting for fish," says the first email from a spearfisher. "It ain't fishing," he says.

  What are your ideas, views and opinions?

[CEO]

 Now spearfishers aren't at all happy about bow-hunters being allowed to hunt in spearfishing waters, citing the extreme danger posed by archers and their arrows! Hmmm.

[CEO]

And an ECOfishers member, who has a large mixed farming business on the Darling, between Bourke and Louth, phoned this morning to confirm some Easter fishing arrangements out there. He said he had a group of bow hunters from Sydney approach him about twelve years ago, to go bow hunting for pig along the river, on his property. He thought he'd give them a try. "Never again," he says emphatically! Too much collatteral damage. Dead sheep. Gates left open. Campfires not extinguished and they didn't even bury their rubbish! He reckons they made more mess and caused more damage than the feral pigs. Some fishers are still welcome - preferably ECOfishers, because they have the right ethics and attitude, but bow hunters ? Never again!
                          ECOFISHERS TAKE ONY WHAT THEY NEED & LEAVE ONLY FOOTPRINTS!

[Dr. Phil]

Greetings CEO

I am unsure as to your objections to Bow-hunting for carp.  As far as I can see it fits several criteria such as removing a noxious pest, providing an outdoor activity and surely less danger of 'wild' shots doing damage than a rifle.

I have seen bow-hunting for fish done in the southern USA and must say it is pretty tricky .. I can see NO danger to livestock, unless a deliberate shot is taken and absolutely NO danger to spearfishers ... who thought that one up??.

The objection and comments raised thus far appear to have a similar 'anti bow-hunting' message as do the Greens with their 'anti-fishing message'.  We used to own a property near the Macquarie Marshes (whilst they still had water and about 10 gazillion pigs) and the only problems we had were with the slow proliferation of pig shooters from the city who never bothered to ask permission and occasionally practiced target shooting on the windmills.

To 'demonize' one group of outdoor users is not productive in this debate when we all know there are a few fishers who are 'filth'

[CEO]

Dear Dr Phil. Asking the question must not be construed, or misrepresented as, "your objections!"

[CEO]

 In correspondence to our ECOfishers colleagues from the Central Acclimatisation Society, Duncan Gay (Shadow Minister - about to be fully illuminated) says he considers it "a silly idea!" Hence we suppose the minister elect, has the final say.
                          Thank you all for your participation and contributions, whether here, or via our ECOfishers network.