Oklahoma Department Of Wildlife Considering Rule Changes For Bowfishing

The Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation is proposing new changes for 2024. One of the 27 proposed changes is a new bag limit for bowfishing. 

The limit would be ten fish per person per day for native non-game fish. 

Game fish like bass, trout and crappie are regulated already. 

But this proposal would include fish like buffalo fish, gar and bowfin; species native to Oklahoma but not classified as game fish. 

Department of Wildlife officials say the idea in part is to encourage bowfishers to catch more non-native fish while also helping maintain native fish populations. 

“Being that they do not have any harvest limits, we needed to sort of start that conservation process and demonstrate that they have value by placing a limit on them,” Jason Schooley with the Department of Wildlife said.

The proposal isn't a done deal, they are taking public comment on proposed changes. 

They'll be accepting comments through December 8th on their website. 

There will also be a public hearing at the department's headquarters December 7th at 7 p.m.