You are absolutely right. My personal range for hunting is 30 yards and maybe 40 depending on the situation. Most of where I hunt 30-35 yards is about all you can get anyways. I only shot long ranges during practice mostly for fun and to help tighten my groups at closer distances.
Thanks for the replies guys!! I guess sometimes I feel like I don't shoot to the ability that I should!!! Maybe it aint as bad as I thought!!
I agree with all the other guys that 1" for ever 10 yards is an acceptable group. I also believe that when practicing you should be spot of out to double YOUR hunting range. For me that was always 30-35 yards (before I had a rangefinder and a good bow) but now it is 40 and if situations are perfect maybe a tad longer. The ethicality comes into the shot at that point. The deer may duck etc causing your arrow to not hit mark. Long distance training is the best. I would say if you are within the 1" per 10 yards for double your effective hunting range than you are good. But everyone can get better so keep moving back and keep improving!
It's the first shot that counts. Groups are hat they are. Step out to any yardage, unmarked, estimate without a range finder and shoot. If you are within a couple of inches, you are good to go. I do this from 10-60. It is very rare I miss by more than a couple of inches. Within 30, I hit in the 1" circle it may be the edge but, the arrow is touching 95% of the time. If I miss, it's only by an inch or two inside 30. I feel confident I will hit my mark on a deer within 30yd. Do I think you should use my practices as your guide, nope. Just thought I would share. I think 1" for every 10 is a great rule of thumb.
I'm kinda new to all this but I shoot one arrow and then wait 5 to 7 minutes before shooting another and never shoot 2 back to back from same distance , I feel you only get one shot at this in real life so you should put your all into that one shot as opposed to racking up a pattern.... i also find now my first shot is always my best
One thing I like to do is on a nice day when I'm working in the yard I leave the target out and take a shot every 20 minutes or so. I judge how I shoot a single arrow while "cold" and kinda let that determine how confident I am. It's easier to hit your mark after you have been shooting a few dozen arrows than the one shot you get from the stand after you have been sitting a few hours. Just my way of judging myself.
When I was shooting trad, I used to string my bow and fire a single arrow, then go to work. Then I had to think about that shot all day. It really helps train you to make the first shot count, just like hunting.
I like to tell myself a that I have to get groupings tight enough to wrap my fingers around it , because if I shoot at that standard it will leave me plenty of room for error
