You would have a chance, but there is also a chance you wouldn't be able to. When an arrow hits a bone for example, it's liable to damage one part of the arrow or another. However, if it just strikes flesh and nothing solid or overly tough, the arrow will likely be undamaged.

I find it's random chance on getting the arrows back. Sometimes I get quite a few back, and sometimes I'll shoot 5 or 6 and find none on the corpse. I find Daedric Arrows to be in very short supply in this game. I gave Lydia ONE Daedric Arrow, and she has supplied me with many more, since she seems able to get them magically. Whenever she shoots her bow, I find a few on the ground and in the corpses. I have never yet found them for sale from any vendor. Maybe I'm not going to the right places.

Wow that's a good one.

Actually I'm going to sig it

I meant the ones that stuck in the body. Or at least most of them. I rarely do it since I already have an overabunance of arrows, already

I haven't done all that, but i did do a mode which allows you to re-head existing arrows with more powerful heads, such as converting steel arrows to (say) ebony. But your idea seems dangerously like the annoying "different types of ammo" thing in Fallout: New Vegas.

You can only remove some, not all.

Example: You shoot that Khajiit thief who, you swear, you just killed 15 minutes ago, with 3 ebony arrows. Select corpse, bring up inventory menu and...there's 1 ebony arrow retrievable.

Because, after you shot him the third time, he flew back and rolled down the hill, snapping off the arrow shafts.

On flat ground right outside Whiterun?

Also, people seem to think ancient arrow shafts were extremely weak. Protip: they weren't. The shafts were made from highly durable material (i.e. sturdy with enough flexibilty to not snap) and were notched in such a way to allow the tips to come off inside their victim. In other words, arrow shafts were designed specifically to be reusable.

so it seems a plausible reason for the arrow not being retrieved is most likely because the arrowhead is stuck in the victim? And nothing to do with the shaft.

Pretty much. But with a good grip and a few rotations, the arrow should come right out. I bow hunt irl on occasion, and most modern arrow heads are designed to cause more damage on impact, creating a more fatal wound. I've yet to have to leave an arrow in a deer carcass because of some arbitrary random dice roll.

Flesh is quite pliable. Accidentally hit the tree instead...and it becomes a different story.

Though you get that nice sound *thunk* when arrow hits wood i was kind of addicted doing that in skyrim, started shooting arrows into doors and pillars.

genius. My speech increased to 40 now!

agreed that sort of thing can be irritating if thats not your style of play. but if,like me you'd like to play an archer character with a degree of realism then things like useing a bodkin head arrow up against armour,a broadhead or hunting head against light armoured or beasts. rarer ebony or daedric arrows against magical armoured types.
what i suppose id like is a more immersive and accurate portrayal of what in reality would be the most deadly warrior class available. it is now when youve smithed and enchanted and improved some existing game bows up the wazoo!
i mean,i should not be able to drop a dragon with 6 arrows! cheers