05-02-2006, 04:57 PM
[cool][#0000ff]Most of us know about the wording of the proclamation...that we are not supposed to leave fish carcasses laying on the shore. That makes good sense, both from a health and esthetics standpoint.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]I have had this discussion with COs in the field and have pretty much been left with this opinion. 1. The main reason for the ruling is to discourage the discarding of either game fish or non-game fish, in areas where others might be offended by the sight and smell of the rotting carcasses. 2. Discarded carcasses attract flies and other obnoxious bugs, as well as skunks or other undesirable critters. 3. Wholesale annihilation of carp, and the leaving of the unused carcasses can be overlooked IF THEY ARE NOT DUMPED IN AN AREA COMMONLY USED BY OTHERS.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]In other words, killing carp is a positive. Leaving them where others have to deal with the remains is a bad thing. Leaving them along a remote stretch of shoreline, or to fertilize a farmer's field (with the farmer's permission) is not a bad thing.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]If you are checked by a CO, while shooting carp, you will need to have your fishing license. If you are just leaving the mangled carp where you kill them, the CO may or may not ticket you. Most will not, unless you are leaving them where other people will be affected by them. Since it is clearly stated in the proclamation that you cannot litter with dead fish, it becomes a matter of interpretation by each individual officer.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]If it makes you feel any better, the forces of nature do not leave dead carp laying around forever. There is a pretty efficient cleanup crew around Utah Lake, in the form of birds, bugs, rodents, weasels, skunks, mink and other fish eating critters. It may take them a few days to dispose of your slaughter, but it will all go back into the food chain.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Those who have gardens can round up the killed carp and plant them. Dig a deep trench a foot or so away from prize plants and then lay the carp end to end and cover them. Too shallow and the neighborhood cats and dogs will dig them up. That will make you popular with the neighbors that own the dogs that have rolled in your rotten carp.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]I have had this discussion with COs in the field and have pretty much been left with this opinion. 1. The main reason for the ruling is to discourage the discarding of either game fish or non-game fish, in areas where others might be offended by the sight and smell of the rotting carcasses. 2. Discarded carcasses attract flies and other obnoxious bugs, as well as skunks or other undesirable critters. 3. Wholesale annihilation of carp, and the leaving of the unused carcasses can be overlooked IF THEY ARE NOT DUMPED IN AN AREA COMMONLY USED BY OTHERS.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]In other words, killing carp is a positive. Leaving them where others have to deal with the remains is a bad thing. Leaving them along a remote stretch of shoreline, or to fertilize a farmer's field (with the farmer's permission) is not a bad thing.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]If you are checked by a CO, while shooting carp, you will need to have your fishing license. If you are just leaving the mangled carp where you kill them, the CO may or may not ticket you. Most will not, unless you are leaving them where other people will be affected by them. Since it is clearly stated in the proclamation that you cannot litter with dead fish, it becomes a matter of interpretation by each individual officer.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]If it makes you feel any better, the forces of nature do not leave dead carp laying around forever. There is a pretty efficient cleanup crew around Utah Lake, in the form of birds, bugs, rodents, weasels, skunks, mink and other fish eating critters. It may take them a few days to dispose of your slaughter, but it will all go back into the food chain.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Those who have gardens can round up the killed carp and plant them. Dig a deep trench a foot or so away from prize plants and then lay the carp end to end and cover them. Too shallow and the neighborhood cats and dogs will dig them up. That will make you popular with the neighbors that own the dogs that have rolled in your rotten carp.[/#0000ff]
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