Do Traditional Hunters Miss More Often?

[Lone archer]

I think we shoot at game less therefore injure less then compound hunters which seem to have more shots.

[Rod in SC]

I don't post much but I have to tell you that a compound is a huge advantage for ALL but a very select few--but so is a rifle! The compounds are so fast with the light carbons that a hunter can use one pin out to 30yds. He doesn't even have to judge yardage! Couple that with 80% letoff and a release aid and there's just no comparison.
  I've killed 98 deer and 1 hog with trad bows over the last 21 years and I've killed 19 with a compound and the compound was just easier. And my misses with the trad bow sometimes happen at close range not because I tried a shot out of my range. You just have to ask yourself how much of a challenge do you want--rifle, shotgun, crossbow, compound, recurve, selfbow, or slingshot?
Most of my buddies shoot a compound but I still love them! But I do agree with George, the compound is not a bow. However, I'm glad that it's available for those that want to use it.
Rod

[dpowers311]

I think using "none traditional" equipment is more mechanical and has less margin for error.

If I use my compound and in a tree 20 feet up and a deer walks in anywhere from 5-30 yards I can use one pin. If I am off a little I still make a good shot on the deer provided my equipment hasn't been bumped or come loose (down side to technology).

If I am shooting a recurve I must be more certain of the shot distance and conditions. If my estimation is off I miss.

There are a lot of factors that go into the success of the shot regardless of the equipment.
I could not imagine taking a shot thinking I probably will miss, I would do a mind bend and I would not be successful.

It is like shooting at a steel target with a hole cut out at the 3d range, sure I can put the arrow in the spot all day with out the steel up but if the steel is there I know where my arrow hits.

Compound shooter are missing also, not sure if it is less but they do miss.

Dave

[Sixby]

One thing I would disagree with is that if you practice enough you will not miss. I have shot with a lot of top shooters,. My team partner was Ibo World Champ/ Missed a bull elk at 30 yards. Hope he doesn't read this. LOl. I have seen the best shots in the world miss on game. It just happens sometimes. However I have also known hunters that just do not miss. They will not take a shot that will be a miss. Even then a twig, an anmimal that jumps and you have a bad hit or a miss. No matter what kind of equipment you are using. I had a big bull whirl so fast at 10 yards that the arrow looked like the center lung I was shooting for and completely missed him. With a hot compound. It just happens and if you say it doesn't you are one of two things. Green or the luckiest person in the world.

[vermonster13]

Never said you wouldn't miss, but you'll miss a lot less and no more than with any other weapon at reasonable distances. Same goes to tuning and quieting your equipment.