- My Forums
- Tiger Rant
- LSU Recruiting
- SEC Rant
- Saints Talk
- Pelicans Talk
- More Sports Board
- Fantasy Sports
- Golf Board
- Soccer Board
- O-T Lounge
- Tech Board
- Home/Garden Board
- Outdoor Board
- Health/Fitness Board
- Movie/TV Board
- Book Board
- Music Board
- Political Talk
- Money Talk
- Fark Board
- Gaming Board
- Travel Board
- Food/Drink Board
- Ticket Exchange
- TD Help Board
Customize My Forums- View All Forums
- Show Left Links
- Topic Sort Options
- Trending Topics
- Recent Topics
- Active Topics
Started By
Message
How many deer do bowhunters shoot and lose?
Posted on 12/31/12 at 2:16 pm
Posted on 12/31/12 at 2:16 pm
I will preface this by stating that I am not a bowhunter, so certain aspects of the sport are not second nature to me. I respect all ethical hunters and their enthusiasm for the sport.
That being said, my perception from the outside looking in is that a fair number of deer shot with a bow are never found nor mentioned. I am basing this off of hearing about or seeing deer running around with arrows sticking out them or the rare story of deer shot with bows that bleed but are never recovered. I recognize that gun hunters also lose deer, however their weapons are not silent and it seems like peer pressure can come into play to make better shots and admit to losses. The nature of gun hunting also maybe doesn't require the type of 'advanced' tracking skills of bowhunting, skills that perhaps some people lack.
Hopefully this isn't taken as a flame question - I honestly would like to understand more about this topic.
That being said, my perception from the outside looking in is that a fair number of deer shot with a bow are never found nor mentioned. I am basing this off of hearing about or seeing deer running around with arrows sticking out them or the rare story of deer shot with bows that bleed but are never recovered. I recognize that gun hunters also lose deer, however their weapons are not silent and it seems like peer pressure can come into play to make better shots and admit to losses. The nature of gun hunting also maybe doesn't require the type of 'advanced' tracking skills of bowhunting, skills that perhaps some people lack.
Hopefully this isn't taken as a flame question - I honestly would like to understand more about this topic.
15
Posted on 12/31/12 at 2:18 pm to weagle99
a lot
Posted on 12/31/12 at 2:23 pm to weagle99
I dunno. Never ever seen a deer running around with an arrow sticking out of it.
I've only shot a handful of deer with my bow, but have never lost one. I've spine shot two, which of course made for an easy tracking job. The others all fell within sight---no more than 50 yds away.
The furthest/most difficult tracking jobs I've ever had were from deer I shot with my .270. One went into a thicket well over a hundred yds. That particular deer went down instantly, did several 360s on the ground, then took off into the thicket. It was a bloodbath where he did the 360s, a perfect heart shot. The other was a deer I almost missed. I barely caught hair, low and back. That deer ran well over 300 yds into the woods. First sign wasn't blood, but guts. I still found him and he was basically disemboweled and dead when I did. Took about 5 hours of very difficult tracking...at night.
In other words, I feel that if a person is ethical, they'll do what it takes to find their animal. No matter the weapon of choice. But the hardest track jobs I've ever had were with gun. Not bow.
I've only shot a handful of deer with my bow, but have never lost one. I've spine shot two, which of course made for an easy tracking job. The others all fell within sight---no more than 50 yds away.
The furthest/most difficult tracking jobs I've ever had were from deer I shot with my .270. One went into a thicket well over a hundred yds. That particular deer went down instantly, did several 360s on the ground, then took off into the thicket. It was a bloodbath where he did the 360s, a perfect heart shot. The other was a deer I almost missed. I barely caught hair, low and back. That deer ran well over 300 yds into the woods. First sign wasn't blood, but guts. I still found him and he was basically disemboweled and dead when I did. Took about 5 hours of very difficult tracking...at night.
In other words, I feel that if a person is ethical, they'll do what it takes to find their animal. No matter the weapon of choice. But the hardest track jobs I've ever had were with gun. Not bow.
Posted on 12/31/12 at 2:26 pm to Salmon
I'd imagine it's less than the amount of deer shot in front of dogs....
Posted on 12/31/12 at 2:29 pm to weagle99
I have killed and recovered 2 deer, I have shot at and "clean missed" more than I would ever care to admit.
The worst feeling in the world though is the one buck I hit, blooded and never found.
For me to let an arrow fly I have to be 100% sure it is a killing shot. Things happen, deer jump or duck the arrow, limbs jump out and bump your arrow, broadheads fall apart and send you arrow into a crazy noisy flight pattern.
Yeah, I have some bad luck. The 2 I killed dropped within 30 yards of being shot.
I have, in 25 years of hunting, lost 4 deer that I know I hit, and only one was with a bow. In my opinion, 4 in 25 years is too many, but things can happen.
The worst feeling in the world though is the one buck I hit, blooded and never found.
For me to let an arrow fly I have to be 100% sure it is a killing shot. Things happen, deer jump or duck the arrow, limbs jump out and bump your arrow, broadheads fall apart and send you arrow into a crazy noisy flight pattern.
Yeah, I have some bad luck. The 2 I killed dropped within 30 yards of being shot.
I have, in 25 years of hunting, lost 4 deer that I know I hit, and only one was with a bow. In my opinion, 4 in 25 years is too many, but things can happen.
This post was edited on 12/31/12 at 2:31 pm
Posted on 12/31/12 at 2:33 pm to weagle99
Weagle, I don't know if this is the reason, but I think bow shot deer...half the time...don't even realize they're hurt. There's no loud boom to scare off every deer in the area, and although they know something happened, with sharp broadheads, I'm not sure they know what. I shot a doe one time that went literally about 15 yds away and stopped and turned around, looking at the other deer. She stood there for about 20 seconds, and I could see the blood coming out. Then she just fell over and kicked a time or two. She didn't even realize she was hit, and bled to death on her feet looking around.
I'm sure there are poor shots that result in a deer escaping wounded, and I'm sure some die. Just hasn't been my experience. I've either clean missed, or made a good kill shot.
I'm sure there are poor shots that result in a deer escaping wounded, and I'm sure some die. Just hasn't been my experience. I've either clean missed, or made a good kill shot.
This post was edited on 12/31/12 at 2:35 pm
Posted on 12/31/12 at 2:37 pm to MSWebfoot
quote:Exactly. And sure, it's too many. One's too many. But it happens at least as frequently with guns I bet, if not more.
in 25 years of hunting, lost 4 deer that I know I hit, and only one was with a bow
Posted on 12/31/12 at 2:37 pm to Fishhead
Being a bird hunter... I have err dogs have stumbled across many "lost" dead deer in the woods.
I can only remember 2 that were archery wounds... out of say a dozen gunshot(3 obvious buckshot) wounds.
and one.. just off a food plot with NO wounds..
based off the hunters me and my son talk too.. the number of wounded deer not recovered is greater by guns than archery.
I personally have lost 3 deer over the years.. 2 with a gun 1 each rifle and shotgun. and one with a bow. the one with a bow... survived - got killed in gun season.
I can only remember 2 that were archery wounds... out of say a dozen gunshot(3 obvious buckshot) wounds.
and one.. just off a food plot with NO wounds..
based off the hunters me and my son talk too.. the number of wounded deer not recovered is greater by guns than archery.
I personally have lost 3 deer over the years.. 2 with a gun 1 each rifle and shotgun. and one with a bow. the one with a bow... survived - got killed in gun season.
Posted on 12/31/12 at 2:38 pm to MSWebfoot
Don't have facts back this up so I just guessing and I know there are a lot more gun hunters than bow. But willing to bet 2-3 times more deer are wounded and lost with gun than those with bow every year. I also have never seen a deer running around with a arrow hanging out.
Posted on 12/31/12 at 2:42 pm to Fishhead
quote:
I think bow shot deer...half the time...don't even realize they're hurt. There's no loud boom to scare off every deer in the area, and although they know something happened, with sharp broadheads, I'm not sure they know what.
That is an interesting point.
Posted on 12/31/12 at 3:00 pm to Fishhead
quote:
Weagle, I don't know if this is the reason, but I think bow shot deer...half the time...don't even realize they're hurt. There's no loud boom to scare off every deer in the area,
I disagree somewhat. Many times I've shot a deer and had other deer show up right after. Or have multiple deer in front of me and hang around after the shot. I think it's just a load noise like thunder to them, doesn't seem to bother them much. Younger deer mostly. Older bucks are jumpy
Posted on 12/31/12 at 3:18 pm to Boats n Hose
But the one you shot, no matter if you barely grazed him or not, knows something is SERIOUSLY wrong. The point of that was the deer you shoot with a bow may not even realize what happened. Like the doe I referenced earlier. And the deer in the field with her? They didn't even leave. They looked around when she jumped, but didn't even leave the field and were eating again in seconds.
Posted on 12/31/12 at 3:22 pm to weagle99
I've killed 5 with my bow, and lost one.
Posted on 12/31/12 at 3:40 pm to weagle99
I can only speak for myself. I've lost one deer with my bow and I had no shame in telling everyone I knew that I made a bad shot. For one it humbled me and taught me humility. Another reason is because I was recruiting help finding her.
On this topic I'd like to point something out. For 6 years I hunted next to a big money big acreage landowner who in the name of management slaughtered does. This was mainly left up to women, kids, and trigger happy friends. Every year along our property border we would find about 3 dead deer that they had shot and usually one of them was a button buck or small spike. This guy obviously didn't care about putting forth effort to find does because, well, in the name of management they needed to be killed. I said that to say this... If you really wanna analyze, or find a group of hunters that are wasteful, whether it be on purpose or accident, look towards the larger, too big to pay attention to detail operations. The people that don't care about the fact that deer are wild animals that we share the land with but they are livestock raised for the bone on their head.
/End rant
On this topic I'd like to point something out. For 6 years I hunted next to a big money big acreage landowner who in the name of management slaughtered does. This was mainly left up to women, kids, and trigger happy friends. Every year along our property border we would find about 3 dead deer that they had shot and usually one of them was a button buck or small spike. This guy obviously didn't care about putting forth effort to find does because, well, in the name of management they needed to be killed. I said that to say this... If you really wanna analyze, or find a group of hunters that are wasteful, whether it be on purpose or accident, look towards the larger, too big to pay attention to detail operations. The people that don't care about the fact that deer are wild animals that we share the land with but they are livestock raised for the bone on their head.
/End rant
Posted on 12/31/12 at 3:44 pm to weagle99
quote:I have bow hunted since 1985. I have hunted areas that are either bow only, or seriously rifle restricted most of the time. I have never seen this.
I am basing this off of hearing about or seeing deer running around with arrows sticking out them
Posted on 12/31/12 at 3:57 pm to AlxTgr
quote:
I have bow hunted since 1985. I have hunted areas that are either bow only, or seriously rifle restricted most of the time. I have never seen this.
Last week while walking the dog (in town) I saw a basket rack with an arrow sticking out of his back. I didn't see it at first but noticed the shaft dangling around and the red fletching. I assume someone used a bow because they were trying to kill it in city limits. Same deer also had a gimped up shoulder and I assume he isn't long for the earth.
I once had a friend of a friend tell me about a deer killed on a dog drive that had been stuck and the area around the arrow was an infected mess. Said the deer acted like he was out of his mind.
Both unfortunate situations.
Posted on 12/31/12 at 4:10 pm to weagle99
I've been told deer have a better chance of healing from an arrow than they do a gun shot. I can say I've seen several healthy deer cleaned that had a broad head in. Been several years since I've seen one first hand but that could be a result of either more efficient broad heads.
Posted on 12/31/12 at 4:12 pm to weagle99
anything that is considered "a more challenging way to hunt" is usually more risky for the animal. a buddy of mine had a pay-hunt place for hogs and he and i saw first hand some of the problems that can happen.
Posted on 12/31/12 at 4:14 pm to weagle99
In 2 years,my two boys who hunt exclusively with compound bows have shot 11, found 7 within an hour of the shot and loss 4. 2 were found the next morning after sunrise and one was salvAgeable. So their success rate is 8/11 or 73%.
Posted on 12/31/12 at 4:18 pm to Yewkindewit
I'm sure many many more deer are lost shot with guns just because of the number of guns in the woods.
I'm sure a larger percentage of deer shot with bows are lost than with guns though.
I'm sure a larger percentage of deer shot with bows are lost than with guns though.
Page 1 of 3
Popular
Back to top
Follow TigerDroppings for LSU Football News