PUT A BOW ON IT

A Newbie Tries His Luck Firing Arrows At Invasive Carp

By Tim E. Hovey

Iclearly remember watching the outdoor show with interest. The host and a few guests were standing at the front of the boat looking into the water. It was a flat, calm day, and instead of fishing rods, each person within view had a bow.

Then, one of the hosts drew the bow back, aimed almost straight down into the water and released.

Seconds later they hoisted aboard a fat carp with the white arrow sticking out of his back. I remember thinking that was pretty cool.

I’LL BE THE FIRST to admit it: In a lifetime of hunting, I’ve probably picked up a bow twice, and both times were to make sure I was buying the correct one for my daughter. I’ve never hunted with one or drawn one back. As far as hunting any kind of wild an- imal, I just know that bowhunting is not my thing.

But last year I was contacted by a friend of mine, Roger, who owns a ranch. I had helped him out a number of times by removing problem animals from his property, and it was always good to hear from him.

Roger’s property is watered through a series of canals that are fed off a main river system. Right out of the gate, I knew this was going to be a