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Jan 18, 2:05 PM EST

Bowhunters to shoot Asian carp on Illinois River



EAST PEORIA, Ill. (AP) -- Bowhunters are being invited to shoot as many Asian carp as possible in a competition planned for July on the Illinois River in central Illinois.

Organizers are planning the first Flying Fish Festival and Bowfishing Tournament for July 11 and 12 with an East Peoria sporting goods store as the lead sponsor.

The (Peoria) Journal Star reports ( http://bit.ly/1cFIhka ) the event will offer cash prizes for the bowhunter who shoots the most of the invasive fish, some of which can leap high into the air if they are startled by boat motors. Asian carp dishes will be prepared and available at stands along the river.

The tournament will charge $120 per boat for up to four participants. Bowhunters, also known as bowfishers, use archery equipment to shoot fish.

Asian carp are an invasive species and have infested the Mississippi River and many of its tributaries. A multimillion dollar effort is underway to keep them out of the Great Lakes, where they could disrupt the fishing industry.

"This festival is about preservation and conservation on the Illinois River," said Mike Everett of the Union Sportsmen's Alliance at a news conference Friday at the Bass Pro Shops store, the lead sponsor of the event.

"It's also about a boatload of fun as we try to put a serious dent in the number of flying fish over a 50-mile area of the river," Everett told the newspaper. "We'll shoot a bunch of them, and I intend to eat a bunch of them."

Fish left over after the festival will be taken to a processing plant, said John Hamann, rural economic director for Peoria County.

"We're looking for ways to keep this fish in check, and commercial use of this fish is one of those," Hamann said.

East Peoria Mayor Dave Mingus held a crossbow at the podium as he thanked organizers.

"We're going to get rid of a few Asian carp," the mayor said.

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Information from: Journal Star, http://pjstar.com

I've done this a couple times over the years. In doing so, I've become good friends with one guide who does nothing all summer long but take guys out bowfishing for flying carp!

It's about the most fun that you can have with your clothes on! Every time I've done it, I've come off the river sunburnt, covered in carp snot, blood, guts and fish scales! And I've had more fun doing this bowfishing than any other time in my life.

If you want to do this, do a google search for Zach Nayden, bowfishing guide. Tell him Steve sent you....

Shof,

I've been wanting to try this for some time now…
Thanks for the contact I'll give him a look.

Not a problem. I know he's visiting family right now in Florida, but he's good, a lot of fun, and a good guy.

Have a great time.

I think this flying carp shooting would be a blast with a semi auto 20 gauge.

quote:

Originally posted by df06:
I think this flying carp shooting would be a blast with a semi auto 20 gauge.

It would certainly be easier! You really should try it with a bow sometime. Trust me, with how fast & furious the shooting can be at times, it won't really matter if you're an archer or not.