What do you consider to be an "accurate" shot?

Just wondering what your thoughts are on shot accuracy. When you are in the back yard practicing, at what point do you determine you're ready to shoot at a deer? Is it being able to hit a paper plate from any distance 100/100 times? Or is it being able to shoot through the loop of a life saver 100/100 times from any distance? What personal standard do you hold yourself to before you set foot in the woods? What do you consider to be an "accurate" shot?

Sorry for all the questions, just wanna know what you guys think.

 

When at any given distance you can hit within 6" inches of what you are aiming at consistently.

Edit: 3" inches

 

If I shoot 3 arrows and they are all within about 2-3 inches at 25yds then im good. Most of my stands only allow for a rough estimated max range of 25 yds otherwise I may practice farther but dont need too

 

Listening and watching "Cameron Hanes" (a youtube guy) talk about his shooting. He says that for every 10 yards, add a inch to your grouping. For instance, he was shooting at 160 yards and he said he'd be happy with a 16 inch grouping.

20 yards - 2inch 30 yards - 3 inch 40 yards - 4inch... etc.

So that's what I shoot for.

 

Thats a good one

 

Yup! It gives you a better set understanding of how accurate and consistent you are from the different distances.

 

Same thing I use but I always try to be better


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Very true. I'd love to improve at all times but it's a good rule of thumb for me.

 

I feel confident when I can flip a dime in the air and hit it with my hunting rig.
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So I just go hunting without feeling confident.
Lol, I like Cam Hanes' approach and pretty much already used the same standards except I don't shoot out to 160 yards, lol.

 

I'd don't get too crazy and should probably try to get a little more accurate but if I'm only shooting in back yard I use my glen-del buck. I'll put a piece of white athletic tape somewhere on target and if I'm consistently hitting that or within a inch or two then I'm good. Anything past 40 yards I go to farm I hunt and put a paper plate with about a 4 inch circle, whatever the bottom or a solo cup us, in the center on a round bale and do the same. Normally I feel I'm doin good to at least be hitting the plate or within couple inches of circle I drew on it.

Most of my shots while hunting are within 30 yards though so I only practice at longer distances to make those shots at 20 or 30 easier.

 

At 20yds if my arrows arent touching i would call it a bad day. 30yds i like to keep em in a 2" group, 40yds i want all 6 arrows in the heart, 50yds the same, and 60-70yds if i can keep all my shots in the front half of the lungs i feel very confident out to 40yds on an animal

 

I like to practice angles. Where I live in NH there are so many trees that I might have a deer come in such an angle, that if I hadn't practiced it I would have missed. I don't have to worry about long range here. 20 to 30 yard shot is the longest. The last deer I shot came up on my right side a little behind me. I was watching my daughter as she was drawing on one of the does we spotted. When I turned my head to see where the other doe was and it was 20 feet to my right over my shoulder. Tough angle but I got her. So I practice angles.

Hutch

 

I don't give myself more allowance if I wanted to shoot further away. I want my shooting at 20 yards to be as good as it is at 10 yards hence why I rarely shoot pass 15 to 18 yards unless I'm absolutely dead on and in the zone. I've never understood why missing by 5 inches is ok at 30 yards but its not ok at 10 yards.

 

"Confidence" in your shooting skills also has a BIG affect. IMHO.


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I am good when I never leave a 3 inch circle. That is how I determine my effective range. I often find myself shooting more accurate groupings at 40 than 20... probably just a mental thing. I don't take 40 yard shots though... that is just too much to chance.

 

If I can't slap shafts at a given distance, I won't shoot a deer at that distance.

 

I like to sling arrows 50-60 yards but wont shoot over 40 on an animal.

 

That would lock me in at say, 32 inches. LOL

 

We play a game where we have one guy in the tree stand in hunting clothes, and another guy on the ground throws a block target at random distances out to 40yds. The guy in the tree has to hit it dead center, where it lays, without the use of a rangefinder. It humbles you pretty quick! Big difference from shooting at known yardages, on flat ground, in a tee shirt, that's for sure.

 

I've got a pattern the size of a grapefruit out to 40 yards and I'm happy with that, so that's my max range. I practice out to 60 yards and my pattern is about the size of a paper plate, maybe a little bigger. Admittedly, I don't practice enough.