Pretty much all my leather has come from wolves and sabercats attacking me in the wild. I've tried hunting several times, but I get one shot in and off they go. I chase after them with Sprint, but after they're hit once they apparently never stop running. One time I actually did see an elk I shot run into a mammoth and get in a fight and he bought the farm, but other than that, they all get away. And of course I didn't get the venison, pelt and antlers because the elk died in the middle of a #*$*%*@ giant's herd of ($*&@$&T mammoths.

So how good do I need to be with a bow and sneak to even have a chance at hunting elk and deer? I think my sneak is in the low thirties, with one point in a perk, and I've got +25% sneak boots on.

Damn, 51 views and nobody with advice? Show some love, people.

Well, I am currently about level 13. I have approximately 30 in archery and 25 in stealth and I think i've taken 1 or 2 of the archery perks (the first kind that ups the damage percentage).
I use Orcish Bow and Arrows when I'm hunting. Normally I'll spot one, crouch and wait till it tells me I'm hidden (like, if the deer looks in the other direction) and that's enough to take one down in one shot. Sometimes I have to shoot again or miss, and while it is difficult, it's possible to hit a running target (aim a little in front of them and hope they continue in that direction). Hope this helps and good luck hunting!

its a little rough at first till u get the perk that slows down time when u aim

Don't forget to use Sneak. I think elk only have 40 hitpoints, so any bow+arrow that does at least 20 damage is a one shot kill if you're sneaking.

Bonus points if you use a bow enchanted with Soul Trap. An incredibly easy way to farm souls for enchant practice or to refuel your staves/weapons.

Okay, thanks. I take it then from the responses that one-shot kills are essential? I wish arrows caused bleeding damage over time like axes - then I could just track the thing and find it when it died. Oh well - one shot kills it is. I was planning on improving my archery anyway for when I start taking on more dragons.

Well if you have good stamina or get lucky and chase the animal into a corner, you can just run up and club it to death like my orc was doing. Orc is strong! Do not need weakling elf weapon to kill prey! :toughninja:

It is actually easier to run up to elk or deer and chop them down with your sword at times. But if you do want to hunt, be aware that there is a certain distance in sneak where they seem to notice you then dart off. Chasing them is hilarious as they often come to a difficult area where the terrain is too much of a challenge and do a u-turn right at you. If you want to hit them with a bow though, just take up a reasonable distance, go into sneak (for the sneak crit) and take your shot. Shouldn't take more than 2 hits, but the second shot has to be pretty good.

Of course i'm doing this without the zoom and slow time perks.

the 25% slow time perk helps with aiming alot and try to be a bit more sneakier or get the x3 hidden shot bonus from sneak.

Be careful with that, I actually got fined for doing that in Markarth. Apparently it is illegal to attack deer / elk near that city.

Really LOL'd @ that :biggrin:

I don't really do hunting but I do like to burn the occasional elk to a crisp when running around the wild
flames or firebolts work just fine for me

With 3 points in overdraw you should be able to one-shot most of them while in sneak mode.

I swear I had an elk die shortly after hitting it with an arrow. I hit it and it ran about 20 yards and then fell over dead. I don't think I had poison on my arrow at the time.

You want to get as many perks as you can in archery and sneak, then try it.

I suggest that you find Angi's camp near Falkreath and start hitting those targets to improve your archery skills. I pretty much play survivalist mode now and I have found that Falkreath and Rift have ample game and camps to use. Once you get the zoom perk it gets much easier as others have mentioned.

It's just me (wood elf), my trusty stray dog "Shaggy" and my bow. I love it. I have done most of the MQ and the rebellion / imperial quests but I have found my greatest joy in avoiding towns and people and living off of my wits in the wilderness. Making apple cabbage stew and salmon steaks by the fire, tanning hides, ambushing saber cats (Shaggy guards my camp when I'm hunting - he barks too much) make me incredibly happy.

Good hunting to you sir!