Are you serious? There is no comparison with proper shot placement. Any gun from .243 to shotgun slug blows an arrow out of the water. I hope this isn't bowhunting purists not willing to give a gun any good points. As far as hunters go, bowhunters are usually more serious than someone that only gun hunts, so they may take higher percentage shots and be able to hit them better.
skin your comment is contridicting itself. You say with proper shot placement a gun will blow an arrow out of the water...than finish off by saying bowhunters may take higher % shots and be better at excuting! I have to tell you that I just sat here scratching my head...then went HUH!
Proper shot placement, higher % shots to excute them with in your own ability are keys regardless if you have a slug, arrow or bullet! This is what is called ethics and failure to keep within your abilities can cause some suffering...that would be referred to as unethical.
Yes your dead right they are worlds apart in how they kill an animal but neither ones is more humane if you produce a clean harvest! A poor shot can happen with either, just because a gun may do more damage and have the ability to pump a second shot into the wounded animal does not make it more humane or effecient!
BTW, many guys who don't bow hunt are just as serious about hunting as those who bowhunt or do many types of hunting.
I agree with BC it's a tie!