What do you consider accurate?

[pseman]

I consider "accurate" and "acceptable accuracy" when answering this question. "Accurate" would be softball sized groups at whatever distance you are shooting. "Acceptable accuracy" would be every shot in the kill zone of the animal you are hunting. This would vary depending on the size of the kill zone of the animal you are hunting.

I am not "accurate" beyond 10-12yds, but I have "acceptable accuracy" on whitetails out to 20yds or so. If I can get a handle on this TP, I hope to extend my range to 25-30yds.

[Orion]

I agree with Shawn's first sentence -- 90% of the folks can't shoot consistently into a softball size area at 20 yards.  Close to the same percentage couldn't do it with a paper plate.  

I'm not much for groups.  You don't kill a deer with groups. You kill it with one arrow.  3-D shoots and stump shooting are good practice.  Each shot is at a different distance.  

Here's another way to determine your effective range.  Put a paper plate on a bale.  Shoot it from 5 yards.  If you hit it, move back a little farther and perhaps at a different angle.  Shoot again.  If you hit it, move again, perhaps dropping to one knee.  When you miss, you've just gone beyond your effective range, on a target range.  It will probably be less than that with an animal in front of you.  Just know your limits and be selective in your shot and you'll do fine.

[ChuckC]

RH.. maybe I read your post wrong, but please do not believe the kill zone on 3D targets.  There is a ton of literature available out there to learn from, and learn we must.

It is not a shame to not know what and where the kill zone of a deer is, but it is a shame if you don't try to learn.  This is not an intuitive thing.
ChuckC

[jacobsladder]

chuck....maybe that would be a good post for you to start on the powwow...the true vitals of a whitetail...it  would probably be of great help to alot of folks...

[leatherneck]

I agree with Shawn and some others. We as humans have a very low concentration level. Shoot one arrow at a time. Instead of thinking about what size to shoot at, shoot at a 1" dot from various distances and you will be surprised at how accurate you really are. At 20 yards, I don't hit the dot very often, but I'm usually all around it. Aim small, miss small. The hard part is putting that 1" dot on a deer. Shoot to your comfort level.

Mike

[George D. Stout]

First arrow accuracy is the bottom line, but shooting groups will fine-down your form to help make that first one a lethal one.

[Rico]

Just about every cb shooter I know can shoot softball size groups at 20yds and everyone of them has probably missed or worse deer at 20yds.
  There is alot more to deer hunting than groups.

 Practice enough and you will know if you should or shouldn't be taking the shot.

[George D. Stout]

Rico....yes there is.  And, there is a lot more to accuracy than one shot groups 8^).  Whatever works for you doesn't always work for someone else.  However, to say that shooting groups will not help is a little far-fetched.  

Most of my practice is just stump shooting, but if I start getting some lousy shots, I revisit my grouping ability; if nothing more, than to establish I didn't have a form let-down.  We aren't talking about compound bow shooters, we are talking about any archer.  The best bowhunters I know have attended NFAA shoots over the years and worked on their groups.  

In any event, working on groups will not detract from one's hunting skills....unless one is a complete disaster in their form.  Hunting skills and shooting skills are earned in different ways, and come together through practice in both.

I can shoot both groups and one-arrow hunting shots with no problems, and one compliments the other.

[Rico]

Shooting groups is fine if you’re into checking your form from time to time.
 I’m saying that there are a lot of archers that can shoot tight 20yd groups and still have problems a field.
   My form is far from perfect to begin with and less than that shooting from a tree and or under/over brush. I don’t think groups tell you anything more than your consistent at a certain yardage move from that yardage or take away the bright blotch of feathers or dot on the target and its all together different.
     Stump shooting and or 3D are more beneficial than tight groups for hunting practice IMO. You will soon get to know the odds of making or not making a shot at whatever distance.

[Otto]

I know some folks aren't into trying to pound a dozen arrows into a pop can turned on end.  It can become tedious and it takes a tremendous amount of concentration.  You know how hard you have to concentrate on the 1 arrow group you shoot?  Try that times 12 and you'll realize the concentration it takes.  And yes, roving and shooting from different yardage makes it that much tougher.  When the weather is a bit nicer, I like to try and shoot those tight groups anywhere from 10 feet to 30 yds, varying my shot anywhere between those extemes.  More often than not the guy who can shoot a tight group of arrows is a better than average shot in the field. And, buck fever aside, the old wives tale about a guy who is lights out on targets but is a crappy shot in the field is just that.  An old wives tale.  There may be SOMEBODY out there like that, but I ain't never met him.  

I think there are too many archers who ignore the bad shots they make on a target and only focus on the ones that hit the bull.  It's certainly not encouraging to your confidence to look at a target with arrows sticking out all over the place like a voodoo doll.  Those bad shots need to be evaluated and the cause understood.  Failure to do that only serves to perpetuate the mediocre shooting that is on display at most shoots today.

You want a real test of your skill?  Shoot at that same bull just as I stated above.  Vary your yardage.  Shoot over a branch, under a limb.  But shoot em all at the same target.  If you've got a softball size group of half a dozen arrows or more, great.  If they're the size of a (gasp!) paper plate...you got plenty of room for improvement.  

As George stated.  Multiple shot groups  and one shot groups compliment one another.

[Arwin]

I like the one arrow at a time approach. I think if we shoot a bunch of arrows at a target in one sitting, all we do is compensate on each shot. One at a time will develope a hunting scenario shot better, IMO.
 Stump shooting for me has been a huge help because I can practice all the different angles and unknown shot distances I want.
 Another thing I like to do is go out on public land and shoot garbage. I take a trash bag and go clean up the land while getting in vital practice. Sometimes we shoot enough beer and pop cans for a trip to the ice cream store,LOL!
 Shot distance will be totaly up to you. I can  shoot targets at a 3-D range up to 40yds, but wouldn't want to try beyond 22yds while hunting deer. Stay in your comfort zone. I like to consistantly put an arrow into a 6 inch circle at 17yds to feel comfortable hunting game.

[Deadsmple]

Wow a lot of great replies here. I sorta agree with a few. But you most likely won't like my reply.

If you have to ask us then you are not ready to hunt.

[Rico]

What was the largest group you felt comfortable with your cb I don't see where that would change for ya. The distance would change but not the group size that you felt was accurate enough for hunting.

[brettlandon]

In response to Deadsmple:  Asking others their opinions to asses your own is not a bad thing.  That's what makes this forum great (and all the GREAT tradgangers).  Questioning your readiness is something that drives all good archers to practice (whatever your technique), and to pass on that shot you didn't feel confident in.
Success breeds confidence, and practice breeds success.  It's not that I don't like your reply, as much as I think it oversimplifies a healthy concern for practice.  Eventually the shot must be taken in the field and that success or failure will dictate the next shot.  And in taking that next shot.........a hunter is born!  My 2 cents worth.

-Brett

[Three Arrows]

I learned practice techniques from a couple old timers about 20 years ago.  Here they are:  take a piece of cardboard and make a life sized deer sillouhette, pencil in the legs on the main body.  Then you go and shoot.  All your arrows better be in the kill zone or you don't take shots at that range.  You don't lawyer up and try to argue whether a shot is a miss or a vital.  It is or is not by your best viewpoint. If you are confident you can get them all in at 30 yards, by all means take your 30 yarders.  We all miss a few, but we need to be as prepared as possible not to miss at our hunting range.  Anyone ever have to go out at night to help a buddy find a wounded deer?  Lose time at work to help find a wounded deer?  Ever lose one yourself?  We ask and seek answers in here just out of curiousity sometimes to see if others feel the same way.  I for one love that about this TradGang!  Some might not respond the way we like, but the responses are there!  

[swampbuck]

I need to feel that I can make the shot offered without dought.The distance changes from time to time depending on what ever.

I really don't care for the paper plate(9") idea even if that is the size of the kill zone.Try the sm size 6" plate that allows a little room for excitement or Mr Murphy to show up.If you insist on the 9" groups than I'd say thats great if it's over the course of 100 or so arrows it's best to be more than good enuff when a life is at stake than just good enuff.

In the end it's a personal choice that we must each make on our own.Shoot if YOU feel ready from how ever far ya wish....Good luck

[The Whittler]

To me it's not how many I can put in a group at  diff. yardages, it's how many times I can put 1 arrow in the right spot at diff. yardages.

Alan

[smoke1953]

When I hunted with the compound I would concentrate on that perfect pocket shot.  Now with the longbow it's important to me to give myself the greatest chance at hitting the vitals.  Instead of concentrating on that perfect spot behind the shoulder I'm trying to maximize on that 4 to 6" accuracy by concentrating on the center of that ball that is located behind the shoulder. Since I may vary right,left, up or down as long as it is in that ball I'm hitting vitals. If I just concentrate on that spot immediatly behind the shoulder I have cut my chance of hitting the vitals in half if my shot strays to the shoulder side. I'm now more conscious that looking for that perfect spot directly behind the shoulder is limiting so I want to make more of an effort to concentrate on the center of the ball located behind the shoulder.

[jrchambers]

as for the argument that groups dont help hunting,  no mater the format as long as you are shooting arows you are doing right by the animal you are hunting. I started up again a few years ago one winter, the only shooting was a indoor range, started just slamming out group after group at a nfaa target 20 yrds,  then the guy got a 3d range up to 30 yards we would play horse.  when i was consistantly shooting my 20 yard groups i could dominate the 3d course calling eyeball and ear shots to 25 yards. my point, any way you can loose some arows is a good way.

[laddy]

Accurate is what my son is when ever I get a brand new arrow dead on target.  He does everything in his power to break my arrows.