Danska resultat övertygar (engelsk)

THE EUROPEAN BOWHUNTERS ASSOCIATION

in co-operation with
The Danish Bowhunters Association
The Danish National Forest and Nature Agency 

Statistics on
Roedeer (Capreolus Capreolus)
shot with bow and arrow in Denmark 

Between 1 October 1999 –15 January 2002

Introduction
In accordance with paragraph §16 of the legislation governing hunting with bow and arrow, all bowhunters are obliged to submit a "game report" describing the number and species of game harvested during the hunting season/period.

The National Forest and Nature Agency sends the game report questionnaire to all bowhunters during February-March each year. The questionnaire must be answered and re-submitted no later than 1 May the same year. When individual reports are not submitted, the Agency may withdraw that hunter’s permit to continue bowhunting.

In addition to the general game report, which applies to all species of game, each hunter who harvests a Roedeer (Capreolus Capreolus) is required to fill-in a special report sheet. (Appendix 1). These are compiled for use in future evaluations of the bow’s efficiency as a tool for hunting roe deer. These reports will also be compared with the reports filed by the keepers of Danish tracking dogs who are required to be called-out in cases of suspected deer woundings and to file reports on their tracking results. 

Number of reports filed in relation to bowhunting permits issued 

The first bowhunting courses were held together with theoretical (written) and practical (shooting proficiency) tests in the fall of 1999, all in accordance with the new legislation governing the bow hunt. 

In all, during the period, 289 arrows were released at roedeer. 

On five occasions, the arrows released missed the deer completely with no evidence of impact. This assumption was substantiated by the total lack of blood or bodily fluids on the recovered arrows. 

In total, 274 roedeer were harvested, which forms the basis for the following statistics. 

Number of bowhunters taking one or more shots during the 3-yr. period

Hunting method in relation to shots taken

Bow type in relation to shots taken

Shooting distance in relation to shots taken

Angle of shot in relation to shots taken

One deer was shot from a straight-forward angle.

Deer movement at shot moment

Distance to recovery, measured in metres from place of impact to place of immobility

During a deer drive one animal was wounded and subsequently shot by another hunter.

Degree of arrow penetration

Additional figures are based on subsequently found arrows that showed evidence of a pass through.

Organs penetrated by broadhead on roedeer taken.

In some instances the arrow impacted more than one of the above areas. In these cases, the hit has been designated to the most lethal category. Example: An arrow penetrating both the liver and belly has been designated as a liver hit. One case of organ penetration is not shown due to a compilation error in the statistics for 2000-2001.

Wounding of bow-shot roedeer

A total of 289 arrows released at roedeer were reported.

In three instances it is assumed the arrow missed the animal. This was substantiated by the fact that no traces of blood or bodily fluids were found on the recovered arrows.

 In four cases, a tracking dog was summoned with the following results:

Two deer were found 30 and 150 metres, respectively from the place of arrow impact.

One deer was not found by the dog, but was found dead the following day, 130 metres from the place of arrow impact.

One deer was never found. 

On one occasion, a deer was wounded by an arrow impact high in the back. The animal was paralysed and fell on the spot. It was subsequently dispatched with a knife.

Conclusion: of 289 roedeer hit, 15 were never found.
A total wounding rate of 5.2%. 

Anders Gejer and Richard Cadwalader, Swedish Bowhunter Federation.