Are there any stealth benefits to bows and crossbows?

[N1ck0]

Because I certainly don't notice any. If I shoot a bolt or an arrow at an animal, whether I miss it or not, it, and it's entire herd will flee (even if they are far apart) as if I shot a bullet from a canon. As for the hunting pressure, it's the same as if I took down an animal with a rifle.

So basically the way I see it, the only thing about bows and crossbows is that they are extremely inaccurate, with no advantages whatsoever to them to counter-balance the higher difficulty.

Come to think of it, there's not much benefit to using pistols either, besides them being light-weight. I'm near maxing-out the scoring for bows and handguns, just for the sake of completionism and unlocking everything though.

[JPSGT40]

Hunting pressure is the same regardless of which type of weapon you use. If someone convinced you that bows/crossbows give less hunting pressure they didn't know what they were babbling about.

Bows and crossbows produce a significantly smaller spook radius when fired and animals tend to return to the need zone sooner compared to rifles and handguns.

[DanthemanBoone]

When you start hunting water buff and cape buff the bows really give a huge advantage.
If you fire a gun usually one or more of the others in the herd may charge you. But if you are using a bow they very seldom charge at all. Just run away and return a lot quicker so you can kill another one.

[N1ck0]

Originally posted by DanthemanBoone:

When you start hunting water buff and cape buff the bows really give a huge advantage.
If you fire a gun usually one or more of the others in the herd may charge you. But if you are using a bow they very seldom charge at all. Just run away and return a lot quicker so you can kill another one.

Thank you. It's not as stealthy as I would have hoped, but at least it has differences with the firearms from what you guys say. So it's not totally useless. So that's cool I guess.

[Leadmagnet]

Originally posted by ☪︎NickEclipse☪:

Thank you. It's not as stealthy as I would have hoped, but at least it has differences with the firearms from what you guys say. So it's not totally useless. So that's cool I guess.

Thing is, the bow is probably the most versatile in that you can carry it and all three arrow types and can hunt everything in the game. The only drawback is that you give up the long range capability if you carry just the bow. There are several instances of players wiping out entire herds of animals due to the lower spook range of the bow and the ability to call them back because they don't run as far.

[N1ck0]

So they run, but not as far. Cool.

[N1ck0]

Okay so when I shoot an arrow at one animal, it mostly only spooks it, and the herd. Not other animal species in the vicinity. It's what you're saying right?

Thanks a lot for trying to help guys by the way. I Love theHunter forums. A lot of helpful and mature people here, unlike some other forums.

[N1ck0]

Hahah okay, cool. Thanks for the info.

[N1ck0]

Originally posted by TheMarcosianOne:

I should clarify my previous answer: the first animal you are shooting at doesn't have to be more than 50m away, but if any other animals are less than 50m away from you when you fire from your bow, then you will spook the other animals. I hope I explained it enough. :)

Yes pretty much. I'm always taking notes. LOL Thanks again.

[yogisgoat]

I would add one thing. Imho if your target is under 50m away the bow is easily the deadliest weapon in the game. Once I learned to aim properly almost every animal just dropped where it stood. And I may be crazy, but the tracer arrows seem to be more accurate with all bows.

[Lekstil]

Does anyone know if there is there any difference between bows and crossbows in terms of spooking radius (or other stealth aspects)?

[JPSGT40]

Originally posted by Lekstil:

Does anyone know if there is there any difference between bows and crossbows in terms of spooking radius (or other stealth aspects)?

I've used both a lot. If there is a difference it must be very subtle because I haven't noticed a difference.

[N1ck0]

Originally posted by yogisgoat:

I would add one thing. Imho if your target is under 50m away the bow is easily the deadliest weapon in the game. Once I learned to aim properly almost every animal just dropped where it stood. And I may be crazy, but the tracer arrows seem to be more accurate with all bows.

They do are deadly when you hit right. I agree.

[DanthemanBoone]

I carry the pump action shotgun in slot 1 and the scoped crossbow in slot 3. With all the ammo types for both. I just swap out my rifle choice in slot 2 to suit the map or animals I am targetting. The weapon that gets the most use is the crossbow. I use it to farm money or remove anything that gets in the way.. often including the smaller target animals as well. It can comfortably take out a cape buff at 70 metrers with full integrity once you become familliar with the trajectory and amount of lead you must allow for a moving animal .