A thorough evaluation of the efficiency of bow hunting for large deer species in relation to animal welfare was conducted in Denmark. It demonstrated that skilled bow use aligns with high ethical standards.

This evaluation included a trial period (2018 – 2022), during which the Danish Environmental Protection Agency (MST) conducted controlled trials to gain knowledge about the effectiveness of bow hunting for large deer species, allowing the collection of data on the shooting of 282 deer.

Reports from Aarhus University (2021, 2022) show that most shots occurred on stationary animals standing at less than 20 meters, that the average fleeing distance was between 50 to 60 meters, and that 94% of the animals were retrieved. This shows a very low wounding and losing rate, as some of the unretrieved animals may have either recovered from the wound or were missed entirely and not wounded.

This led to a landmark decision by the Denmark’s Minister of Environment to extend the legality of hunting with the bow and arrow to large deer species (Red, Fallow, and Sika deer) on January 1^st, 2024. Bow hunting was already allowed on all huntable game species except large deer species, Mouflon and Wild boar.