FAQ

Hunting with bow and arrow is definitely a valid tool in the  modern game mamagements situation.
Statistically a bowhunter needs considerably more time in the field (5-10 times more)
to get within a range were he or she can successfully harvest the game,
this is usually around 20 metres. The short distance make it extremely safe to use in closness to property.

Good hunting ethics actually strongly support the practice of archery hunting! Hunters who choose the bow and arrow are so near the hunted prey and thus will show great respect for game by “hunting on nature’s terms” without utilizing some of the advantages of human technology give us. 
The fact that it is necessary to closely approach the game hunted – typically under 30 meters – means that animals have ample opportunity to detect the hunter and escape.”

Getting close enough to hunt game with a shotgun is certainly a challenge.
However this is ultimately an entirely different methodology from bowhunting
and therefore lacks the crucial aspects that many seek in bowhunting.

EBF´s official policy is that all hunters should have both a theoretical and practical hunter
education to form their knowledge base. In addition, to be able to hunt with bow and arrow,
each hunter should also complete a specialised course, such as the International Bowhunting Education Program (IBEP) or equivalent.

The “European Charter on hunting and biodiversity” mentions hunting with bow and arrows as one of the recommended hunting metods to facilitate biodiversity conservation and rural development.

There are no restrictions on the use of bow and arrow in any of the European Directives that govern hunting

A competent Archer is very accurate out to about 90 metres. While hunting this distance will lessen and and is ususally 20-30 meters. At this distance the accuracy is comparable to a firearms hunter.  Statistics indicate that the average bow shot on game will be taken at less than 25 metres, and bowhunters seldom shoot moving game.
Danish statistics clearly show that 85% of the harvested roe deer were standing still at the moment of arrow release. The same study shows that close to 80% of the roe deer were shot at less than 20 metres.

A modern hunting bow using arrows fitted with hunting tips is so effective that all game species in Europe can be ethically harvested. In nations with long bowhunting traditions, such as the USA, the primary species harvested with bow are deer (In 2011 1,1 million mostly white-tailed deer). However, thousands of bears, wild boar and moose are also harvested annually.

While each hunter has his or her own answer to this question. Most hunters have a passion to be surrounded by nature and even embedded  and partake as a harvester at times with quality and nutricious venison as a bonus.

Sometimes we relate to the differences amoung sport fishermen: Some of them fish with nets, others with casting rods, some with spinning rods and still others use a fly rod. Those individuals using a fly rod are usually highly dedicated and more interested in the catching process versus the catch itself.
We see very similar lines of reasoning among bowhunters.

Even today we cannot use the most effective hunting tools available. For example: hunting from vehicles is prohibited as is the use of fully automatic weapons, night-vision or thermal sights, spot-lighting as well as magazine capacities are restricted on all hunting firearms.

Tracking the game after a shot is always complicated, and many experts
consider this to be the hardest task in hunting. If the
situation allows, we always recommend choosing the most effective
means to recover game and firearms may be used in these cases.

These images are almost always the result of youthful archers
shooting low-poundage target equipment and using arrows with
simple target points. A hunting arrow has a specially designed
head with multiple razor-edged blades that usually passes
completely through the game animal

In normal situations the arrow will penetrate the body of the game animal and is often found just beyond the point of exit. Exceptions occur when the arrow strikes major skeletal structures, like the spine. Danish statistics show complete penetration of the entire body on roe deer in near 90% of all cases. In those unusual cases when ahunting arrow does not pass through the animal the arrow typically works itself out.
It is worth noting that modern broadheads are designed without barbs of any sort.

The Danish study we refer to was gathered during five consecutive
years and is compiled from 533 shots at roe deer by well educated
gun hunters who have also taken the Danish Bowhunter Education course
(mandatory 1-day theory) and passed a shooting-proficiency test
(renewed every 5th year). This study was crosschecked 
with results from mandatory tracking on bow-shot animals that
were not immediately recovered. This tracking was provided by
government-sanctioned Danish trackers and their registered dogs
to verify data.
A study from Sweden 1998-2002 made in fenced enclosures on
fallow deer and wild boar shows a wounding rate of 3.3%. In
this example the hunters were selected for their depth of
experience and skill.
The South Carolina study by Morton was conducted by experienced
bowhunters (average 8 yrs) and resulted in a wounding rate of 2%.
This study is interesting because it involves the extensive use of
tracking dogs to recover game, which is not typical in the USA.
The Minnesota study by Wendy Kruger, et al showed a 13% wounding
rate over 8000 hunting days.
This high number may be due to a lack of mandatory bowhunter
training, and/or the limited time the hunters could spend in the
field (2 days) with no possibility to pre-scout or use tracking dogs.

No hunter can hope for a safe and controlled second shot with any type of weapon.

We do all rely on: The first shot counts!

EBF knows of no research indicating that a controlled second shot is better
with a rifle.

The use of single-shot rifles and shotguns is legal in all nations in Europe.

Some hunters even state that the ability to shoot a controlled second
arrow is actually more likely due to the quietness of the bow and arrow.

The killing effect of a multi-edged, razor-sharp hunting broadhead is equal to an expanding bullet. Hunting arrows provide excellent penetration in tissue. The extremely small frontal area and narrow cutting edges effectively deliver a high load, resulting in very effective penetration. The arrow’s lethality is related to an immediate or a very rapid drop in blood pressure, i.e. clinical shock. The razor-sharp edges cleanly cut böoodvessels resulting in minimal arterial constriction and less release of blood-clotting substances. The prey succumb to chock,  pneumothorax and haemothorax.

No, the statistics from Denmark clearly show that this is not the case. The Danish study conducted between 1999 and 2004 reports 533 roe deer hit by arrows. Less than 5% of the roe deer reported hit were not recovered or were labeled as wounded.
A similar study made in the U.S. on white-tailed deer in South Carolina, showed only 2% losses (tracking dogs were used to aid recovery of downed deer). Comparable studies for rifle or shotgun show similar or higher losses.

President: Elected by the General assembly
Vice Presidents: Chosen from each national bowhunting organisation
Secretary: Elected by the General assembly
Treasurer: Elected by the General assembly

EBF is working to enable the use of the bow and arrow as a hunting tool
and support its wider acceptance in the nations of Europe.
It is our goal to educate the stake holders, authorities, general public as well as conventional hunters
in bowhunting-related issues.
EBF have also assisted several authorities in regulating bow and arrow as a hunting tool through seminars, meetings and printed matter.

2003, in Helsinki, Finland initiated by six national bowhunting nations that saw a need for the cooperation.

In order to determine the maximal achievable range of a hunting arrow equipped with a broadhead, the scientific committee of the EBF performed a series of practical  experiments and theoretical analyses. Based on these results it was determined that the range of average hunting arrow equipped with a broadhead and shot from a 75lbs bow, is close to 364 meters. More details of the experiment and conditions are available in this link.