Long Range hunting versus bowhunting wound loss rates?

[Muskox]

Aaron from Gunwerks made the comment on a podcast recently that long range hunters get a lot of flack for wounding animals, but bowhunters seem to talk about it as a right of passage and an acceptable problem set.

My follow on question would be do you punch your tag in North America, after you can't find it for several days?

 

[Betterinthebush]

I lost a whitetail buck when I was 16 in archery season. I never recovered for use, but only found it 3days later watching the turkey buzzards. Kept the antlers.

I didn’t tag out. I was 16 and full of blood lust. Today I would have tagged out.

 

[Firebird]

Depends where the arrow hit and what kind of damage could be expected. In 35 years with a bow and a rifle I have missed afew, lost afew with both a rifle and arrows. Most all when I was younger.
I love to shoot long range rifle. The problem as I see it is that guys simply don’t have time and access to long distance ranges/places
To work on those skills and the equiptment to do it well.
Most want to practice on the desert floor then hunt in the mountains. . .

 

[Hunt anything]

I lost a giant whitetail around 1990. I had been hunting him for a few days and when I shot he bolted and fell after about 50yd, I collected my gear and watched him for 10 minutes. I stood up in my stand and he got up and was never seen again. Recovered the arrow a few days later. Spent a lot of time looking for him , never even found any blood from what looked like a good hit . Hope he recovered but I didn’t and never picked up a bow again . I have started hunting with a crossbow a little though.
Back then we had a buck a day limit so no reason to “tag” him, today we have a 3 buck limit and I would probably claim him as I do with lost game birds.

 

[skydiver386]

Everyone who spends a lifetime hunting will eventually lose an animal. I've lost animals that were well hit in what should have been a vital area, only to have them run long distances. Finely honed tracking skills were the only reason some of these were recovered.

In my experience, more animals are lost to firearms than archery. Properly tuned and razor sharp broadheads will leave a blood trail rifle hunters would find shocking. Rifle hunters simply expect an animal to go down in short order from tissue destruction or bones broken by the bullet.

 

[BryceM]

I for one would like to see some actual data…. But it’s ridiculously hard to obtain. Everyone has their opinions and biases. Most likely, lots of people are wrong.

 

[Flbt]

I now hunted one year.
I made 2 good shots one on a coyote and the other on a deer.
Recovery both with no problem.
But the length of time from the shot till they died.
It was not for me.
I put the bow up and never tuched it again and have zero desire to hunt with one again