Bowfishing Investigation: Thousands of Fish Impaled and Tortured for ‘Fun’

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A PETA investigator traveled to two bowfishing tournaments, in Iowa and Texas. Bowfishing involves hunting for fish in shallow water and shooting them with arrows that are attached to fishing line. Impaled fish are reeled in by the arrow in their body, then thrown back into the water or into trashcans on board to suffocate and die from their injuries. The goal of bowfishing tournaments is simple: to kill as many fish as possible. PETA's investigator witnessed thousands of fish writhing in agony as they died on the boats.

Each pair of contestants killed 200 to 300 fish over the course of the tournaments. PETA's investigator documented fish impaled with arrows and pinned to lakebeds and tree trunks and left behind to die. Fish "exploded" from the impact of the arrow, spraying eggs, blood, and intestines while fishers gasped with excitement and tallied the body count. After the tournaments, the bodies of thousands of dead animals were dumped in the middle of the lake or thrown in the garbage. Watch the video to see for yourself the agony caused by bowfishing.

If dogs or cats—or even pigs or chickens—were hunted down and impaled with bows and arrows, the perpetrators would all be arrested for cruelty to animals. Of course, scientists have proved that fish feel pain just as all animals do. Fish are not swimming vegetables; they deserve to live free of pain and suffering.

Investigator's Log From Texas »
Investigator's Log from Iowa »

You Can Help

• Write a letter to officials at the department of natural resources in your state alerting them to this hideous "sport" and asking that they refuse to sanction bowfishing events.
• Fish are smart! Learn more about them, and share the information with your friends and family!
• Write a letter to the editor of your local paper about the suffering caused by bowfishing. Be sure to point out how intelligent and interesting fish really are, and direct readers to FishingHurts.com for more information. Read PETA's guide to letter-writing for helpful tips.
• Hand out our pro-fish leaflets to your friends and family and to people outside seafood restaurants.
• Read more about how you can help fish.
• Pass it on! Please take a few seconds to forward our bowfishing investigation to your friends and family—talk with them about how intelligent and sensitive fish are. Most people would never condone impaling dogs and cats for fun, and impaling fish is no better.

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