Bowhunting is a type of archery where bows and arrows are used to hunt wild animals. The RSPCA is opposed to bowhunting for two main reasons:

First, bowhunting is not an effective method of controlling pest animals, as it is carried out by individual hunters and targetting only one animal at a time. In order for pest animal control to be effective, it needs to be carried out as part of an integrated management program that focuses on reducing the adverse impacts of the target animals. In contrast, bowhunting is carried out as a sporting activitiy that focuses on the achievement of the individual hunter. There is no evidence that bowhunting makes any signficiant contribution to reducing the adverse impacts of pest animals in Australia.

Second, even when carried out by a competent marksman, bowhunting does not result in a humane death. When an animal is fatally shot with a bow, it can take several minutes for them to die and will suffer severe pain over this period due to the high level of tissue trauma and damage to organs. There is also a high risk of non-fatal injury occurring. In contrast, when an animal is shot with appropriate firearms and ammunition, by a trained and experienced shooter, death is extremely rapid. Firearms deliver a percussive shock to the target animal which can delay the onset of pain, whereas arrows cause extensive damage without percussive shock. Ethically, there is no justification for using a method of killing that causes increased suffering when another more humane method is available.