Your #1 source for blades and firearms news and updates…

  • Home
  • Knives
  • News
  • Hunting
  • Tactical
  • Prepping & Survival
  • Videos
Subscribe
Font ResizerAa
Blade ShopperBlade Shopper
  • News
  • Knives
  • Prepping & Survival
  • Tactical
  • Hunting
  • Videos
Search
  • Home
  • Knives
  • News
  • Hunting
  • Tactical
  • Prepping & Survival
  • Videos
banner
Create an Amazing Newspaper
Discover thousands of options, easy to customize layouts, one-click to import demo and much more.
Learn More

Stay Updated

Get the latest headlines, discounts for the military community, and guides to maximizing your benefits
Subscribe

Explore

  • Photo of The Day
  • Opinion
  • Today's Epaper
  • Trending News
  • Weekly Newsletter
  • Special Deals
Home » Bowfisherman Harvests Uber-Rare Golden Bowfin in Wisconsin

Bowfisherman Harvests Uber-Rare Golden Bowfin in Wisconsin

Adam Green By Adam Green March 13, 2024 3 Min Read
Share
Bowfisherman Harvests Uber-Rare Golden Bowfin in Wisconsin

A local fisheries biologist noted the bowfin was likely the first one ever killed in the state

A Wisconsin angler with a golden bowfin.

Tanner Peterson holds up the golden (xanthic) bowfin he harvested in Wisconsin in March. Photograph by Tanner Peterson / Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources

Wisconsin angler Tanner Peterson has the rare distinction of being the first person in the state to harvest a golden bowfin. That’s according to a fisheries biologist with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, who informed Peterson of how rare the catch was. Both Peterson and the DNR shared photographs of the fish on social media.

“First ever harvested in Wisconsin history,” Peterson wrote in an Instagram post over the weekend. “Truly a once in a lifetime opportunity.”

Peterson clarified that the bright gold coloration of the bowfin was due to a rare genetic skin condition known as xanthism (or Xanthochromism). The condition can affect a variety of fish, birds, and amphibians, and it sometimes results in a bright orange appearance instead of a golden color. There have been several xanthic bass (both smallmouth and largemouth) caught in recent years, for example. But since bowfin are caught less frequently by anglers across the country, a golden specimen is a rare thing.

Read Next: Best Bowfishing Gear for Beginners

“I confirmed with a statewide expert on fish ID that you have indeed harvested a golden bowfin,” DNR fisheries biologist Travis Motl told Peterson in an email. “He noted he’s never seen one that color and he’s seen a LOT of fish. Very cool!”

It’s unclear what waterbody Peterson pulled the fish from, and he did not immediately respond to a request for comment. But the DNR noted in a Facebook post that the bowfin was caught somewhere in Racine County. Although the species is sometimes confused with invasive snakeheads, bowfin (also known as dogfish) are native to Wisconsin and the larger Mississippi River Basin.  

Read Next: Anglers Catch All-White ‘Billfish Unicorn’ Off the Coast of Guatemala

As for the method of take, a Facebook user pointed out that Peterson’s golden bowfin “wasn’t caught. It was shot” — meaning it was taken with bowfishing equipment and not a rod-and-reel. And looking at the video of Peterson holding the fish, it does appear to have a hole in its belly. This would be perfectly legal, though, since the DNR classifies bowfin as a “rough fish” and allows them to be shot and speared by anglers.

“The angler didn’t share his method with us,” the DNR wrote in a response to that comment. “But when you bowfish, the arrow is connected to a line and it gets wet, so technically the angler did wet a line.”



Read the full article here

Share This Article
Facebook X Copy Link Print
Previous Article GearPatrol: This American Tool Watch Borrows a Feature from EDC Pocket Knives GearPatrol: This American Tool Watch Borrows a Feature from EDC Pocket Knives
Next Article Irish Setter Boots Partners with Montana Treehouse Retreat for a Collaboration Celebrating New Casual Footwear Line Irish Setter Boots Partners with Montana Treehouse Retreat for a Collaboration Celebrating New Casual Footwear Line
Leave a Comment Leave a Comment

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Wake up with our popular morning roundup of the day's top blades, firearms and survavial news and updates.

Rifle Roundup: Springfield Armory Kuna 9mm With An Aimpoint RDS Sight

June 6, 2025

The Da Vinci Code Theory (S2, E10) | Digging for the Truth | Full Episode

June 6, 2025

John Taranto Appointed Editorial Director of the GAME & FISH Brand

June 6, 2025

Team Remington’s Brandon Powell Continues Winning Streak

June 6, 2025

11 Incredible Wildlife Photos from Yellowstone National Park

June 6, 2025

You Might Also Like

There’s No Place I’d Rather Be Than Rural Ireland, Especially When the Trout Are Rising

There’s No Place I’d Rather Be Than Rural Ireland, Especially When the Trout Are Rising

Hunting
Hunting Sheep in Mongolia with a Crappy Scope and No Translator

Hunting Sheep in Mongolia with a Crappy Scope and No Translator

Hunting
CZ Bren 2 Ms Carbine and Pistols-Lightweight and Versatile 

CZ Bren 2 Ms Carbine and Pistols-Lightweight and Versatile 

Hunting
XS Sights Introduces R3D 2.0 Tritium Night Sight Kits for 1911 Pistols

XS Sights Introduces R3D 2.0 Tritium Night Sight Kits for 1911 Pistols

Hunting

2025 © Blade Shopper. All rights reserved.

Helpful Links

  • News
  • Knives
  • Prepping & Survival
  • Tactical
  • Hunting
  • Videos

Resources

  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Press Release
  • Advertise
  • Contact

Popuplar

Rifle Roundup: Springfield Armory Kuna 9mm With An Aimpoint RDS Sight
Everything You Need to Know About Joining the Air Force
Bournemouth Air Festival: The UK’s Largest Air Festival
We provide daily defense news, benefits information, veteran employment resources, spouse and family resources.
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?