It seems that every year this question comes up. "Is it legal to bowfish from a boat under power?" This includes trolling motors.
The question comes from a difference between the Aquatic code (fishing laws) and the Wildlife code (hunting laws). For obvious reasons the wilddlife code states that no weapons may be discharged from a vehicle under power. This includes bows and boats. But the Aqutic code is different and Bowfishing is fishing with a bow.
The short answer is "Yes. Bowfishing from a boat under power is legal."

Bowfishers in Illinois have a Missourian, Robin Parks to thank for getting this clarified back in 2002.
http://www.illinoisbowfishers.com/ClickGallery/users/45/bfupA419.jpg

In 2004 the question came up again in the form of a citation being issued to a bowfisherman for having his bows uncased while the boat was under power. After several calls to Springfield, this letter was issued.
http://www.illinoisbowfishers.com/ClickGallery/users/45/bfupB701.jpg
http://www.illinoisbowfishers.com/ClickGallery/users/45/bfupC894.jpg
This is a partial copy of the letter. but the most important part is the next to last paragraph.

Thanks to all those who helped us get this clarified and to our CPO's who do an very difficult job keeping all the different codes straight.

Please feel free to print a copy of this letter and keep it with your boat. It could save you a hassle. Because despite our best efforts to keep everyone informed, it seems that this gets mixed up each year.

It's almost bowfishing prime time. Again, we recommend keeping a copy of the letter on your boat while you're bowfishing.

Great ideal. I think this post is great! So many times we hear story's about this or that and how the "rules" are mis "interpreted" to be used against the public. We seldom hear the straight facts. I think this is also an example of how the public has a false sense of what the job of the game warden is. I get the feeling sometimes some of the CPO's think the main part of their job is to write as many tickets , resulting in as many convictions as possible. And they interpret the laws in such a way to aid them in that goal. This just maybe my "false sense of what the game wardens job is". I think the example of how the criminal codes and the wildlife codes and how they deal with firearm transportation conflict also reveals something about the way laws are drafted and enforced. It says a lot about our system that this post is so important and the fact that you may find it necessary to carry a letter with you, not that it would do you any good. In fact presenting this letter to a CPO could result in agitating them by making them feel you think you know how to do their job better than they do. I'm sure someone will misinterpret and be offended about my assessment of the our current situation but this is the way I feel.

I absolutely concur with you Fun. Unfortunately the wildlife codes are so vague that the interpretation is left up to the law enforcement officer as well as the general public creating a cash cow for the dnr IMHO.

did you and EJoe team up cuz look at this...

http://bow.fishingcountry.com/bfcforums/showthread.php?p=248048#post248048

Fun, I can agree with ya.

Sometimes you gotta know the rules are written to provide the CPO's with the abillity to do their job to the fullest extent.

Then the interpretations get misconstrued with actuall laws. Then it takes an actuall law enforcement individual, understanding of the 'law' to provide a clear explanation of a certain regulation...

Then again, in the land of IL, we got alot of different authorities that all want their peice of the pie...

Fun, I know where you're coming from but I have to say that the IL CPO's have the toughest job in all law enforcement. They have to know all the codes, criminal, wildlife and fishing and when to apply each one. Bowfishing is one of those pass times that falls in the middle and it's real easy to see where a CPO could use the wildlife code for transporting bows.

I've met many CPOs over the years and would have to say that they all were great to deal with. Guess I've been lucky. :D

So what do you all do with your bow in the truck and boat? I don't keep my bowfishing bow cased at all, but I can see how it could be a problem. I guess its one of those things where its just better safe than sorry. For instance, if I get pulled over by some city cop and have an uncased bow in the backseat, things could get fishy.

If the bow is rigged up as a bowfishing bow, it doesn't need to be cased in the car or truck anymore than a fishing pole does.
But I'm like you, I keep the compounds in a case and the recurves get unstrung. It's just not worth trying to argue it with a police officer or CPO.

I guess its one of those things where its just better safe than sorry. For instance, if I get pulled over by some city cop and have an uncased bow in the backseat, things could get fishy.

Yep, like You and Christine have already said, why risk the hassle. Recurves are better off unstrung and all bows get beat up a bit less when they're cased. So it's sort of a no brainer for me.

But if you wanted to haul your fishing bow uncased, you should probably take a copy of that letter with you. ;)

I thought it would be a good time to bring this up again since several folks are getting the "itch".

It seems that every year this question comes up. "Is it legal to bowfish from a boat under power?" This includes trolling motors.
The question comes from a difference between the Aquatic code (fishing laws) and the Wildlife code (hunting laws). For obvious reasons the wilddlife code states that no weapons may be discharged from a vehicle under power. This includes bows and boats. But the Aqutic code is different and Bowfishing is fishing with a bow.
The short answer is "Yes. Bowfishing from a boat under power is legal."

Bowfishers in Illinois have a Missourian, Robin Parks to thank for getting this clarified back in 2002.
http://www.illinoisbowfishers.com/ClickGallery/users/45/bfupA419.jpg

In 2004 the question came up again in the form of a citation being issued to a bowfisherman for having his bows uncased while the boat was under power. After several calls to Springfield, this letter was issued.
http://www.illinoisbowfishers.com/ClickGallery/users/45/bfupB701.jpg
http://www.illinoisbowfishers.com/ClickGallery/users/45/bfupC894.jpg
This is a partial copy of the letter. but the most important part is the next to last paragraph.

Thanks to all those who helped us get this clarified and to our CPO's who do an very difficult job keeping all the different codes straight.

Please feel free to print a copy of this letter and keep it with your boat. It could save you a hassle. Because despite our best efforts to keep everyone informed, it seems that this gets mixed up each year.

I just made it a sticky so it will stay at the top. ;)

Thanks Kendall and Flat for helping to keep us on the right side of the various codes :)

Thanks to Flat. But the ultimate thanks goes to a guy from Missouri. :eek:

Anyone who visits BFC should give Robin Parks of Aim Low Productions a big thank you. He got the ball rolling before most folks even knew about bowfishing from a boat.

Thank you Robin!