AMS Bowfishing, the Stratford, Wisconsin family business that has produced equipment for more than 45 years, has featured the activity on CarbonTV for five seasons, including common carp in Wisconsin, alligator gar in Texas and alligators in Florida. Participants pursue invasive carp that harm native habitat along with native rough fish such as buffalo, gar and bowfin, which many agencies still allow under harvest rules that some states are tightening.

A regular fishing license usually covers the activity, game fish stay off limits, and discarded fish violate waste laws in places including Wisconsin, Texas and Illinois. Spring spawning and summer nights bring fish into shallow water.