Hunting is basically broken garbage at lower levels unless you are a UA expert or very lucky.
With the current method of engaging combat with archery and then pursuing the animal, a kill can take a very long time. I've had several instances of chasing an animal, losing it on the minimap and spending 15 minutes finding it again due to their retarded, random AI. Only to approach it and realize that it's a different animal once it's too late.
Ideas -
Add literally any indication that an animal has been injured. Slight skin change? Blood drops on ground? Literally fucking anything.
Make it so a wounded animal will not run forever. This is a ridiculous mechanic, a shot animal would eventually bleed out. If I'm going to chase it for 30 minutes atleast make it passively lose hp while I'm doing so, especially if I can't even get near it without fully and immediately draining my stamina.
Give animals stamina bars? After running for a certain amount of time they have no choice but to walk? Things like fleeing horses are not even worth the struggle at this point.
Also, make animal stand fucking still like ONCE in a while. I have a feeling that most animal are generally trying to get away from you at all times, not unlike a rabbit just slower, and this greatly effects archery aiming.